Author: Madhav Bhatt (page 1 of 1)

I don’t think I’ve ever had a trip that has caused such a change in my views as the trip to Capitol Hill.

I was raised in India, and the notion there is, those who are drug addicts, mentally unstable or lazy, are homeless. That notion was carried when I came to New York. The homeless were a product of their traits, lazy, crazy or a combination of both. It was a very ignorant mindset.

My research on the topic for the midterm paper as well as the trip to Capitol Hill showed me the exact opposite.

I had the pleasure of learning about a few stories from those who lived in the permanent housing at Capitol Hill. Every single one of the tenants were there due to a series of unfortunate events. We visited one SRO occupant whose disability coverage fee was so high, his salary was not enough to pay for the disability services as well as his rent. The disability was poor circulation, something that was not his fault. Another tenant was forced into homelessness because his original landlord was unable to pay his rent, forcing him to sell the entire building.

I honestly feel guilty that I had those ignorant predisposed thoughts about the homeless when I had never met any of them, nor heard any of their situations. This goes to show that people just don’t know, and it is our duty, as a citizen and an agent of change, to do something about it.

• Madhav Bhatt

I oppose the Broken Windows policing policy for two separate reasons. One is the implicit bias tied with the execution of the policy as well as the use of fear as the primary mode of social control. While the idea is sound in theory it can’t be practiced in a city like New York City; a city that is home to hundreds of ethnicities and immigrants of different socioeconomic classes.

The policy pushes social biases in action. The development of a quota system motivates enforcers to act to an unnecessary degree on those ethnicities who are “more likely” to commit a crime or economic classes that have “more of an incentive” to commit a crime. With such expectations, enforcers are bound to not only hold themselves to a higher level to civilians (which they are, but should still be understanding) but also be making unnecessary arrests to ensure that they get their paycheck at the end of the month.

The policy is also a policy of fear. The policy doesn’t teach civilians why crime is bad, it shows the repercussions of committing anything remotely close to a crime. At that point, you are not teaching, you are disciplining. For example, when a lion performs in a carnival, you don’t call him a well-taught animal, you call him a well-trained animal. The lion doesn’t know his act will impress the crowd, he just knows if he doesn’t do it, he’ll get whipped. The animal is living in fear. Humans are not animals, we have the capacity to learn the difference between right and wrong.

-Madhav Bhatt

The window from my room at home in Astoria, Queens captures the beauty of the East side skyscrapers, the East river and the Triboro Bridge. On my runs, I make my way to Astoria Park, around the pillars that root the Triboro bridge into Queens. I have so much admiration for the structure, yet, I would never take the bridge on my daily commutes.

$8 one way? Are you crazy? I opt for taking 35 extra minutes in my commute and take the Queensboro bridge or the subway. Sam Schwartz’s Move NY plan seems very plausible and can significantly benefit my neighborhood.

His plan suggests to increase tolls that lead to the financial areas of New York and decrease the tolls on bridges such as the Triboro, Throgs Neck and any other bridge that doesn’t connect to the financial sector of the city. When Mr. Schwartz told us about how Queens officials were so adamant about not having the plan, it seemed ridiculous.

I also highly appreciate the idea of pedestrian walk bridges, if that is a possibility, in the future, I genuinely see myself using the bridge daily. Not only would it promote a healthier living, but the views you can possibly get on such bridges could be breath taking.

In all, I really see how this plan can possibly help New York City’s economy as well as help reduce the city’s pollution, something as my tourist relatives like to point out, the city is infamous for.

Madhav Bhatt

There is no doubt that Robert Moses’s systemic urban development of New York City’s significantly enriched the city’s economic and social development, but Moses’s empire was built on the foundations of dishonesty and inflamed egotism. Early in the passage, it was easy to recognize Moses’s defining traits. His initial proposal for the development of a Minority Association told of this disdain for those who are different. His dishonesty about the directing of funds and his willingness to quit over such a minuscule detail shows his egotism. It was no doubt that these qualities are what helped Robert Moses ascent to power

“He had used the power of money to undermine the democratic processes of the largest city in the world, to plan and build parks, bridges, highways and housing projects on the basis of his whim alone.” More than a planner, Moses was a politician, he knew how to work the media and other politicians. Moses demanded for the seat to Park Development after Wagner’s swear in and fully hearted lied to the media about his plans. What can you say about a man who was even feared by the president of the time, Franklin Roosevelt? What stood out to me was his development of a secret police to patrol his areas and do his bidding. These methods are comparable to those uses by some of the most famous dictators in the world.

Once again, it is undeniable that Robert Moses has enhanced the structural integrity of New York City, but his character and the methods used cannot go unnoticed.

Madhav Bhatt