GC Hempstead
From Journalism80
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'''Why is the Grass Greener on the Northern Side?''' | '''Why is the Grass Greener on the Northern Side?''' | ||
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Latin Beat | Latin Beat | ||
Natalia Guzman | Natalia Guzman | ||
| - | Maybe the grass truly is greener on the other side, of Second Avenue that is. For Hempstead residents living on the border of Garden City there is great economic inconsistency between the north and south side of the street separating the two parallel cities. | + | Maybe the grass truly is greener on the other side, of Second Avenue that is. For Hempstead residents living on the border of Garden City there is great economic inconsistency between the north and south side of the street separating the two parallel cities. |
| - | Nassau County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it is known for its proximity to New York City, well educated workforce and high quality of life, such as low crime rate and great schools. These attributes of Nassau County don’t seem to be evenly distributed through all of its cities. The two cities are divided by racial and class lines in addition to their set political boundaries. | + | Nassau County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it is known for its proximity to New York City, well educated workforce and high quality of life, such as low crime rate and great schools. These attributes of Nassau County don’t seem to be evenly distributed through all of its cities. The two cities are divided by racial and class lines in addition to their set political boundaries. |
| - | Hempstead shares a border with Garden city where the median family income is nearly three times of that in Hempstead NY. The irregularity does not just lie in that of income but that of racial and social class as well. Garden City is 92 percent white as is the mayor and all of the school board members. Hempstead’s population is 52 percent black and 31 percent Hispanic. The mayor of Hempstead is black as are all school board members but one. The two cities are divided merely by a hedge that symbolizes the political boundary, which might as well be the great wall. In crossing from the north side of Second Avenue from Garden City over to the south side into Hempstead the street change from smooth pavement to cracked and potholed gravel. This hedge directly divides the cities with racial and class lines. Although Nassau County is known for its high quality of life it seems that such boundaries makes drastic changes in the school system and crime rates. | + | Hempstead shares a border with Garden city where the median family income is nearly three times of that in Hempstead NY. The irregularity does not just lie in that of income but that of racial and social class as well. Garden City is 92 percent white as is the mayor and all of the school board members. Hempstead’s population is 52 percent black and 31 percent Hispanic. The mayor of Hempstead is black as are all school board members but one. The two cities are divided merely by a hedge that symbolizes the political boundary, which might as well be the great wall. In crossing from the north side of Second Avenue from Garden City over to the south side into Hempstead the street change from smooth pavement to cracked and potholed gravel. This hedge directly divides the cities with racial and class lines. Although Nassau County is known for its high quality of life it seems that such boundaries makes drastic changes in the school system and crime rates. |
| - | + | Miraim Gonzalez Hempstead resident, mother of three daughters and restaurant cook states, “ No es justo, que mi ninas no tengan las mismas oportunidades y seguridad porque vivimos de este lado” – Its not fair that my little girls don’t have the same opportunities and safety because we live on this side of the street. Gonzalez works two jobs and does not feel safe with her daughters home alone while she and her husband are at work and there are not enough after school programs to keep the girls occupied till they can have supervision. The Hispanic residents of Hempstead clearly see the racial and class distinction between them and their wealthy neighbors and speak up against the injustices they face. Luis Reyes a Columbian Hempstead resident angered by the injustices during harsh winter conditions states, “ aqui no vino nadie a limpiar la nieve. Solamente porque somos latinos no significa que no necesitamos sacar nuestro carro de la nieve.No son solamentes los Mercedes, los Toyotas tabien necesitan ir a trabajar”- No one came here to plow the snow. Just because we are Latinos doesn’t mean we don’t need to get our cars out of the snow, its not only the Mercedes, the Toyotas also need to get someone to work. | |
Mayor of Hempstead, Wayne Hall has taken the issue of distinction between the two cities very seriously and formulated the H-E-A-L-T-H-Y Hempstead Plan. The plan aims to diminish any visible division between the cities. It focuses on Housing quality, Economic development, aesthetic quality, living standards, taxes, health and youth. Despite Halls efforts, the Hispanic public has seen very little change and is skeptical of any true change. When asked about his expectations of the H-E-A-L-T-H-Y plan Reyes responded, “Esa ciudad es de blancos ricos y no importa que Hall trate de hacer, si siguimos una ciudad de latinos y africanos nunca vamos a ser tan importanto como una ciudad de blancos ricos.” That is a city of rich white people and it doesn’t matter what Hall tries to do, if we stay a city of Hispanics and Blacks we will never be as important as a city of rich white people. The Second Avenue separation does not only separate Hempstead from Garden city, it separates’ Hispanics and Blacks from the great standard of living that Nassau County is suppose to offer. | Mayor of Hempstead, Wayne Hall has taken the issue of distinction between the two cities very seriously and formulated the H-E-A-L-T-H-Y Hempstead Plan. The plan aims to diminish any visible division between the cities. It focuses on Housing quality, Economic development, aesthetic quality, living standards, taxes, health and youth. Despite Halls efforts, the Hispanic public has seen very little change and is skeptical of any true change. When asked about his expectations of the H-E-A-L-T-H-Y plan Reyes responded, “Esa ciudad es de blancos ricos y no importa que Hall trate de hacer, si siguimos una ciudad de latinos y africanos nunca vamos a ser tan importanto como una ciudad de blancos ricos.” That is a city of rich white people and it doesn’t matter what Hall tries to do, if we stay a city of Hispanics and Blacks we will never be as important as a city of rich white people. The Second Avenue separation does not only separate Hempstead from Garden city, it separates’ Hispanics and Blacks from the great standard of living that Nassau County is suppose to offer. | ||
Revision as of 08:06, 28 March 2007
Why is the Grass Greener on the Northern Side?
Latin Beat Natalia Guzman
Maybe the grass truly is greener on the other side, of Second Avenue that is. For Hempstead residents living on the border of Garden City there is great economic inconsistency between the north and south side of the street separating the two parallel cities.
Nassau County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it is known for its proximity to New York City, well educated workforce and high quality of life, such as low crime rate and great schools. These attributes of Nassau County don’t seem to be evenly distributed through all of its cities. The two cities are divided by racial and class lines in addition to their set political boundaries.
Hempstead shares a border with Garden city where the median family income is nearly three times of that in Hempstead NY. The irregularity does not just lie in that of income but that of racial and social class as well. Garden City is 92 percent white as is the mayor and all of the school board members. Hempstead’s population is 52 percent black and 31 percent Hispanic. The mayor of Hempstead is black as are all school board members but one. The two cities are divided merely by a hedge that symbolizes the political boundary, which might as well be the great wall. In crossing from the north side of Second Avenue from Garden City over to the south side into Hempstead the street change from smooth pavement to cracked and potholed gravel. This hedge directly divides the cities with racial and class lines. Although Nassau County is known for its high quality of life it seems that such boundaries makes drastic changes in the school system and crime rates.
Miraim Gonzalez Hempstead resident, mother of three daughters and restaurant cook states, “ No es justo, que mi ninas no tengan las mismas oportunidades y seguridad porque vivimos de este lado” – Its not fair that my little girls don’t have the same opportunities and safety because we live on this side of the street. Gonzalez works two jobs and does not feel safe with her daughters home alone while she and her husband are at work and there are not enough after school programs to keep the girls occupied till they can have supervision. The Hispanic residents of Hempstead clearly see the racial and class distinction between them and their wealthy neighbors and speak up against the injustices they face. Luis Reyes a Columbian Hempstead resident angered by the injustices during harsh winter conditions states, “ aqui no vino nadie a limpiar la nieve. Solamente porque somos latinos no significa que no necesitamos sacar nuestro carro de la nieve.No son solamentes los Mercedes, los Toyotas tabien necesitan ir a trabajar”- No one came here to plow the snow. Just because we are Latinos doesn’t mean we don’t need to get our cars out of the snow, its not only the Mercedes, the Toyotas also need to get someone to work.
Mayor of Hempstead, Wayne Hall has taken the issue of distinction between the two cities very seriously and formulated the H-E-A-L-T-H-Y Hempstead Plan. The plan aims to diminish any visible division between the cities. It focuses on Housing quality, Economic development, aesthetic quality, living standards, taxes, health and youth. Despite Halls efforts, the Hispanic public has seen very little change and is skeptical of any true change. When asked about his expectations of the H-E-A-L-T-H-Y plan Reyes responded, “Esa ciudad es de blancos ricos y no importa que Hall trate de hacer, si siguimos una ciudad de latinos y africanos nunca vamos a ser tan importanto como una ciudad de blancos ricos.” That is a city of rich white people and it doesn’t matter what Hall tries to do, if we stay a city of Hispanics and Blacks we will never be as important as a city of rich white people. The Second Avenue separation does not only separate Hempstead from Garden city, it separates’ Hispanics and Blacks from the great standard of living that Nassau County is suppose to offer.
