Views From The Apple/ My New York

           Some may call New York the city of dreams, where anything can happen. I feel that comes from the people who are not from New York and see this big city as a dream come true. Being that I was born in New York, Brooklyn to be exact. Where hope stays alive, but luck is rare. In this generation I look at New York like, it's who you know and not what you know. You need connections now in days, the average New Yorker would help a family member or a friend before they will help someone they don't know, no matter what that person can bring to the table. Growing up in Williamsburg I've seen the bad of my neighborhood, as far as abandon and burned building, crack bags on the streets, drug addicts on every corner, graffiti everywhere, it was just awful. Now my neighborhood is beautiful with condos on every block, luxury hotels, private owned businesses and city businesses. The bad thing about it is gentrification is at an all-time high. People have been living here for decades and are now being forced to move because of the outrages living expenses, so the city can build a new condos or expensive attraction in the neighborhood.

            What makes the situation worse, my neighborhood is 20 minutes away from Manhattan, where there is Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Central park, Statue of liberty, Empire State Building, and Times Square just to name the most visited and talked about. Also 20 minutes from Downtown Brooklyn, where the Barclay center is located, Albee Square, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Metrotech center. This causes prices to get hiked up on everything and you're expected to have the money for it. In order to have it more jobs need to be created for individuals like myself. There are millions of students from New York who graduate from college and still find themselves in the dark hole after college. Whether its student loans or they can't find a job. There's eleven senior colleges in the city which are Baruch College, The City College of New York, Brooklyn College, Staten Island College, Lehman College, Queens College, John Jay College, Hunter College, City Tech College, York College and Medgar Evans College. If there's a large amount of students with degrees from working their ass off with no career opportunities after school how credible are these schools.

          Then again, like I said it's not what you know, it's who you know. Be prepared to work your ass off and not get the credit you deserve. I'm fed up with this City and can't wait to leave. It's too crowded and people don't know how to mind their own business. When you do get a chance to own a house or a piece of real estate whether it was passed down from family generations or you spent your life savings. You will be hit with all type of policies and a large amount of property tax. It's like if you are not connected you can't win in this city. A true New Yorker is determined to win and not stay stagnated. 

         Then you have the good ole subway, number one word to describe that would be overcrowded. Overcrowded every day because millions are trying to get to their destination. With Twenty two routes, some numbers and most letters, early in the morning's train after trains are still packed, so be prepared to be a sardine for a while with the stench of stink breath in the air. Don't forget the homeless people stinking up the carts and platforms, or asking you to give them money. At nights be careful because there is a rat fiesta in New York's subway they might be on the plat form or on the steps looking for their next meal. You also have to watch out for the crazy people who ride the train acting a fool or trying to do you harm. This is what the city lacks they push to be this luxury rich city but they don't take care of the inner city problems we as citizens face every day. Some people need help and more resources, everyone is not rich and that's what the high powers don't understand.

          When you have the upper hand on people, you might own a car which is better than the train any day. In New York City that may not be the case, you're always supposed to be safe when driving but on New York streets expect to be extra safe. People drive like maniacs out here, especially taxi cabs who try to cut you off whenever they feel. Or people who act like they don't see the Don't Walk sign and decide to run across the street while cars are speeding by. This is a rush city so everyone's on the move and patience are irrelevant for most. I love my city without a doubt, I'm just tired of it and its unfair policies. I feel they don't care about the citizens that were born here. They only care about the next money move for the city. Enter this City at your own risk because it's not the glamor and glitz you usually here about, it's the real deal and called the rotten apple for a reason.