is ny really safe?

Have you ever been caught up in a situation where you felt as though you had to move and start a new life in a different country because gang activity interfered with your everyday life? Maria Elena Yanes has when she experienced a moment no mother would want to. While she was back home in Honduras, the gang MS-13 busted her door down, came with weapons, and tried to force her 10 year old son to become a member of their gang. (Robbins) That experience terrified her so much that she moved all the way to Long Island, New York. While living in Long Island, she still witnessed many killings due to the MS-13 gang and relocated again further down Long Island where there seemed to be no gang activity. The gang MS-13 is known for rape, rob, extorting and murder. It’s been discussed that there are more than 40,000 members worldwide, including 10,000 in the united states. (Schallhorn) April 2017, the uprising gang committed a crime again as multiple bodies were discovered in the woods in Long Island. Our recent president, Donald Trump actually made it a “priority” to combat MS-13 members due to their violent and illegal activities within the U.S.






WORK CITED 

Robbins, Liz. "The Gang Murders in the Suburbs". New York Times. 7/12/2017. New York Times Company. 11/10/2017

Schallhorn, Kaitlyn. "What is MS-13, the violent gang Trump vowed to Target?". Fox News. 10/24/2017. Fox News Network. 11/10/2017

Who You Are is Where Your Mom is From

Understanding the gifts Jackson's mother bought him were from drug money, the house being crowded, broken down and not feeling the sense of having a real family was rough (Cent). But because not one person on the earth's surface can decide where or what family they are born into, Jackson took the struggle as an opportunity; being from the Southside was going to be his win (Huguenin). Some children are born poor with no visible escape, some are born in the middle class, and others are born into fortunes and sometimes, even fame. Although Jackson is who he is today, wealthy and famous, he was not one of the children born into this. Jackson was born into the lower middle class, the South Side of Queens, with no escape he could reach. The South Side of Queens around the year he was born, 1975, was declared "the largest officially designated poverty area in Queens" by the Human Resources Administration. In the late 1960s and continuing through the 1970s, South Jamaica and other Southeast Queens neighborhoods saw increasing rates of drug sales and usage, including cocaine and heroin epidemics. In In the 1980s and 1990s, South Jamaica was one of several New York City neighborhoods victimized by the national crack cocaine epidemic (Brown). So, being born into an area with gang violence and drugs might not acquire everyone into that lifestyle; but for Jackson, it was different (Huguenin). Jackson's family, especially his mother, being born into the South Side of Queens caused her to get sucked up into that life. She was one of the hottest drug dealers of the area and got murdered because of that. So by the time, Jackson was born, drugs and violence were at the peek. And the drug dealer career was always seeking for employment, although the rate of drug dealers was not low. But if Jackson's mother hadn't been so into that life, and caused Jackson to be born into it, Jackson would not have taken the path he did, which caused him to be 50 Cent, a similar name to a local drug dealer in the 60s, today (Brown).

Brown, Ethan. Queens reigns supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent and the rise of the hip-Hop hustler. Anchor Books, 2005.

Huguenin, Patrick. “50 Cent writes about his life.” NY Daily News, 23 Oct. 2007, www.nydailynews.com Accessed Oct. 27 2017

“50 Cent.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 5 May 2017, www.biography.com. Accessed Oct 24, 2014

Health Problems Caused by 9/11

One of the immediate effects which 9/11 had on New Yorkers was the negative health implications of the twin towers’ collapse. As citizens fled in fear, many first responders such as firemen, policemen, and paramedics rushed towards the smoke and destruction. A cloud of smoke engulfed New York City’s skyline for days after the terrorist attack which brought down two of Manhattan’s largest buildings. Without many realizing, this cloud of smoke and the other chemical remains from the collision left in the air and ground presented New Yorkers with major health issues. These carcinogens included “jet fuel, asbestos, lead, mercury, and fibrous gas” which seeped into the homes and workplaces of residents in the lower Manhattan area (Ramsey). Much of lower Manhattan from the subways to businesses and especially the air surrounding “ground zero” became contaminated. The cleanup process was lengthy and many understood that carcinogenic substances were present especially at ground zero. This did not stop the resilient New Yorkers that wanted to see this rebuilding process through, wanted to find any survivors stuck in the ruble, and needed to put their city before themselves. Over time health experts have found a correlation between the likelihood of developing health problems such as “cancer, asthma, mental health disorders and gastrointestinal diseases” and those who stayed in the area. As of 2016, 127 firemen have passed away due to illnesses caused by their exposure to ground zero, over 1000 have developed cancer, and thousands more suffer from other illnesses. (Mohney). With many suffering, this prompted the United States government to come up with a solution to help both first responders and citizens that were normally in the area from students, workers and of course residents. This became the World Trade Center Health Program which has a membership of nearly 80,000 individuals that have been effected by a wide range of conditions due to the events 9/11 (Ramsey). The program has helped cover the medical expenses of those afflicted, many of which went into debt due to their medical bills following 9/11. Despite this effort to help those at major health risk, there are still some problems. Some effected are still not covered due to misinformation or lack of awareness of the program entirely. Determining if an illness was caused by something 9/11 related is also very difficult and requires information that can prove the correlation.

Work Cited

Mohney, Gillian, “9/11 First Responders Battle Toxic Exposures 15 Years Later,” abcnews.com, Sep 11, 2016, 11/09/17.

Ramsey, Lydia, “Why people are still getting sick 16 years after 9/11,” businessinsider.com, Sep. 11, 2017, Henry Blodget, 11/09/17.

Processing at Ellis Island

        For the vast majority of Ellis Island immigrants the journey to America shared a singular narrative. If one was rich enough to afford first or second class, then all that was required was swift inspection abroad the ship by a federal medical officer, and they were allowed entry into the country. However, the poorer immigrants, who far outnumbered their wealthy counterparts, had to take yet another boat to Ellis Island for their chance to become citizens. This process was neither quick nor simple, it could take days and involved examines, inspections and interviews that called every piece of their lives into question. Immigrants were seen by a trio of doctors, the last doing the most through job by inspecting each hopeful patient carefully for any infection diseases, including tuberculosis and other common contagions of the day. They also had to endure a very painful eye examine that involved forcing ones eyelid back to find any traces of trachoma, a contagious disease that could result in blindness. Immigrants were also examined to ensure that they had no mental or physical disabilities, as those with these conditions were barred from the United States after 1882. Next, they were required to submit to various interviews about every aspect of their lives - including questions about wealth, martial status, job prospects, and religion. These question fielded out those that were deemed as a threat to American society, including polygamists, unwed mothers, rabble rousers and anyone that may require public assistance. For many, it was fine line they had to walk during their interviews. If it seemed that they had no opportunity for work in the United States they would be sent home so the government didn't have to support them, but having a job lined up could label one as a “contract worker,” someone that took job away from those born American.  Women that came through Ellis Island required a male sponsor to take responsibility for them, and many waited for days to only have to make the return voyage because no one ever came for them. Astonishingly, 98% of those who took part in this process were granted entry to America, after this last grueling hurdle they had finally landed.

Hillstrom, Kevin. "Defining Moments, The Dream of America: Immigration 1870 - 1920." Detroit, MI. Omnigraphics Inc. 1963. Print

HighBridge

        The High Bridge is the oldest span in all of New York City, predating the Brooklyn Bridge by some thirty years. Constructed in 1848, the arched, Roman-style bridge was built as part of the Croton Aqueduct system, to carry water from the Croton River to the city, which was then still far to the south. In its original form, the High Bridge was built from stone for its entire 1,450-foot span, but in 1928, to make it simpler for maritime navigation, the five masonry arches that carried the bridge over the river were replaced by the single steel arch you see today.Exactly why and when the High Bridge was closed is mysterious, with no official records available and people's memories putting it anywhere from 1960 to 1970. Either way, it's not as if the locals haven't been up there crossing the span, urban exploration-style, for many years anyway—or at least, that's what plenty of people claimed. But now it's legal and legit, and pretty darn fun.

Works Cited

“The High Bridge.” High Bridge Project : NYC Parks, www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/highbridge-park/planyc.

Bronx Children's Museum, www.bronxchildrensmuseum.org/lowdown-on-the-high-bridge-reviews.

Sep.11 attack and the Patriot Act

What about the shift in US foreign policy following right after 9/11? True, there was this dramatic shift in US foreign policy, the ‘Patriot Act’, for instance. The US needed to intensify the legislative powers in order to curb civil liberties of those accused of helping America’s enemies abroad.

What is the USA Patriot Act? The congress passed the USA Patriot bill on October 26, 45days after September 11. That day, president George W. Bush signed the law and as a result the Act came into effect. Supporters said they should give power to the government to prevent terror. However objectors insisted the Act threatened individual rights and freedom. The Act allowed the secret service and some criminal investigation squads to investigate people or organizations that were suspected of terror without any judicial control. In other words, government could search suspects’ houses or computers clandestinely and it also could inquire of suspects’ using record at libraries, bookstores, hospitals and banks. Moreover terror suspects could be detained for an indefinite period. Wiretapping of telephone and e-mail was allowed without a warrant through this Act.

Such need prompted the signing into law and now the US extended defense beyond American borders after 9/11. Heightened sensitivity increased its surveillance on non-Americans. The governmental powers to restrain citizens, and freeze financial assets to those suspected of aiding terrorism were obvious measures used by the Bush administration. However, this would not be some phenomenon that had never happened in its history. Although the mood created due to the 9/11 was fearful enough, such a mood has definitely happened in American history. The captivity of Japanese Americans during World War II, the concentrated effort to gain accord from the radicals regarding American participation in World War I, and the financial and military aid in the Vietnam and Korean Civil war during the time of Cold War can all be the precedents of the Patriot Act.

Work cited

“2001 George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act.” Http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-w-bush-signs-the-patriot-act. ND. Nov.9 2017

McKay, David.  “American Politics and Society.”  WileyBlackwell, p. 249. Sep.18 1997. Paperback. Nov.9 2017