Fascinating but it's a shame that the photographs are loaded too fast. I hope the original uploader can fix that.
Superb - compliments my fascination with NYC , and in particular the way that the city just went so wrong - but pulled back again. First trip was in 1984 when the subway in particular was still edgy and graffiti marked , the streets were not exactly safe andf clean. Whilst the cleaned up city of today is great - and not wishing to go back to the anarchy then - it is quite remarkable. A good friend of mine who scaped the money to live on W79th St then related how carefull you had to be in walking home at night - certain streets were almost "no go" - compared to the middle class (but still a bit radical) area it is now. She had left the Bronx in the early 70's - her home born apartment on 174th St went from Jewish to burned out wreck in a few years - but is now refurbished and a good place to live. The resiliance of the city ......
I liked that. It reminded me of a novel - quite an odd one - that I read once. It's called Time and Again, by Jack Finney. It was written in 1970, but is about a New York illustrator who is recruited by a secretive agency to travel in time to the winter of 1882. What's odd about the novel is the inclusion of photographs, drawings and diagrams. These play a big part in the narrative. So what you get is a very visual contrast between the New York of 1970 and the New York of 1882, as the old skyline is being replaced by ever higher buildings. A fascinating look at the life of a city, its buildings, and its transport systems. I'd recommend it to anyone who knows New York. Digression. But it's what sprung to mind when I watched the clip.
I recently read a book called "South Bronx Rising" which chronicles in detail what you mention in your post. I am fascinated by the story of New York in the 70s and how somewhere so famous, so central to modern society nearly fell apart completely.
Very much so - the city had a virtual death wish (for many reasons , including a huge laissez faire approach to city budgets etc) , virtually bankrupted "Ford to NYC , Drop Dead" being the answer printed in the Daily Post when a bale out was asked from the Federal administration, - yet not without pain has rebuilt its status , and many of its ravaged areas. Some people miss the edginess , and it must have been both invigorating and challenging to get by - yet cities are all about people and resilience. I am glad I did a run out to the Bronx in the late 80's when you could still see some of the desolation - albeit from the safety of the elevated 6 train !
