All posts by Stephanie Herbert

Writing on Readings

Soda Ban: Sweet or Sour?

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In 2014, Bloomberg attempted to implement a ban on the sale of soft drinks larger than 16 ounces within NYC as a means to combat the increase in obesity (particularly childhood obesity) in America. According to the CDC, about a third of Americans are obese. Obesity can cause a myriad of health risks such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gallstones, and certain types of cancers. Obese children are also at risk of developing diabetes and breathing problems (such as asthma) in response to their weight and are more likely to be overweight as adult.

On the one hand, putting a cap on the amount of soda an individual can buy per cup/container is a seemingly effective solution. Not unlike increasing the sales tax on cigarettes, putting a limit on the size of soft drinks available to the public (and potentially making them pay more if they want to purchase more than 16 oz.) would deter people from consuming large quantities of soda and help prevent health issues (such as diabetes) and weight gain. However, limiting the availability of soft drinks may prompt the city to put a limitation or ban on other “unhealthy” food choices (particularly on fast food).

While consistent consumption of “fast” and processed food can be harmful due to the high salt, caloric, and cholesterol content, people in certain areas of the city and under certain economic constraints rely on fast food to feed their families. With the increasing divide between the upper, middle, and lower class as well as the disappearance of supermarkets from Manhattan, some New Yorkers find themselves in “Food Deserts” or areas of the city where supermarkets and bodegas with fresh food are not readily available. Other New Yorkers simply do not have the time to cook for their families while working multiple jobs or cannot afford the increasing cost of fresh fruits and vegetables (due to the supermarkets hiking up their prices in order to cover their rent). Without the availability (both economically and geographically) of fast food chains, these individuals may not be able to reliable feed their families.

In my opinion, it would be more effective to educate the public on the life-long effects of obesity and promote increased outdoor activity and healthy eating habits (including liquid consumption) rather than outright banning sugar-y drinks, which only curtails the American public’s access to sugar rather than striving to cure it’s addiction to it.

 

Grynbaum, Michael M. “New York’s Ban on Big Sodas Is Rejected by Final Court.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 June 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2017. <https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/nyregion/city-loses-final-appeal-on-limiting-sales-of-large-sodas.html?_r=0>.

 

“Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Dec. 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2017. <https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html>.

 

“Adult Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 01 Sept. 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2017. <https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html>.

 

Assignment 4, Writing on Readings

Hurricane Sandy

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Personally, Hurricane Sandy was probably one of the most fascinating and scariest weather events I have ever witnessed ( and I’ve seen waterspouts in person). I live pretty close to Stuyvesant Town and I can see the Con-Ed plant on 14th street from my window, so my area was caught in the blackout zone of lower Manhattan. During the storm itself, I remember watching the rain when I saw a weird blue/white light coming from the Cod-Ed plant that was steadily getting brighter. I pointed it out to my Dad, who said it was probably one of the transformers shorting out due to flooding and that the power would probably go out soon. Sure enough, there was a bright flash of light from the power plant as the transformer blew and about 30 seconds later all the power in downtown Manhattan went out. Since I live in a fairly large apartment building and they use electrical pumps to get the water to the higher floors, this also meant that we didn’t have running water. My parents decided that instead of waiting out the blackout at home, we would get a hotel room uptown.

I remember that walking around downtown Manhattan during the blackout was very surreal. Everything seemed unusually quiet south of about 30th street, but everything north of it (especially around the Times Square area) was as busy and active as usual. It was interesting being able to walk down the street and clearly seen the boundary point between the two electrical systems that supplied the city with its power. It was also very weird (at least to me) how quickly and effectively a storm of sufficient size (and flooding) would bring such as large portion of New York City to a grinding halt. It also drove home the point that, as storms get more intense with our changing climate, Sandy-sized storms would likely become more frequent and that the city would have to take measures to prevent such widespread blackouts and damages from occurring.

Assignment 3, Writing on Readings

Assignment 3, Homelessness

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While I have been fortunate enough to never have to experience being homeless, I have encounter homeless people both in my day to day life and when I used to volunteer at a food pantry. At the pantry, I usually helped with the bagging and distribution of the food, so I got to personally interact with the people there. On any given Saturday, between 100 and 300 people would show up to get their weekly groceries. They would file into the church basement by themselves or with their families and wait for their number to be called so they could get their food. I distinctly remember being a little startled how friendly everyone was, both as a “surly” New Yorker and due to the stigma often associated with homelessness. I found that the more that I volunteered at the food pantry, the harder it was for me to traverse the city and my everyday life without consciously registering the sheer number of homeless people around me.

As average New Yorkers going about everyday life, certain things become very commonplace. We don’t blink at flashmobs, parades, protests, or performances that spring up in front of us on the street. We walk by iconic buildings and busloads of tourists while texting on our phone or rushing for the subway. We also barely glance at the homeless people who inhabit our city. We encounter them every day on the sidewalk, in the parks, and particularly on the subway. While we may feel a twinge of sympathy as we walk by, we are soon swept up in our fast-paced lives and forget before we reach the next corner. Sadly, observing other human beings in need of help has become so normal that we either don’t notice them to begin with or only register them superficially before moving on. This normalization of homelessness, as well as the stigmatization and stereotypes of laziness, drunkenness, and mental illness associated with it, has created a sense of apathy and indifference towards those in our city and across the US who may need assistance to get back on their feet or to simply survive in this “nation of plenty”.

Assignment 2

My Police Experience

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While I have not had any significant interactions with on-duty NYPD in my everyday life, I do have a number of former officers as family members. In particular, my Aunt Maryann and Uncle William (brother and sister) were both officers of the NYPD. My aunt (who retired as a homicide detective) started fresh out of the academy on solo foot patrol in the early 80s Bed-Stuy. Maryann, during her patrols, became a familiar face to those on her beat and actively sought to know those she was protecting. When she was informed that the pensioners in her sector were being robbed on Social Security Check Day, she personally coordinated with the elderly residents on her beat. On that day, she would collect them from their houses and walk them, as a group, to the bank. Checks cashed, she would then walk them to the local supermarket, wait outside while they did their daily shopping, and escort them all home. My aunt’s intelligence and compassion, as well as her personal interactions and relationships with those on her patrol, not only decreased the crime on her beat but also improved the safety of those she swore to protect. Because she was so well known in her sector, with a connection to those in her care, it also served to increase her respect and safety in the community. Having the trust of that community, she was also privy to valuable information about ongoing activities and individuals in her area. This communication created a beneficial relationship between the community and their “local cop”. She didn’t see herself as just working in the community but also a part of that community.

In contrast, my uncle was a police sergeant. While I do not have any poignant stories about his time on the force, I can say from my interactions with him that, while he is not an “evil” person, he is an extremely closed-minded individual and does not share my aunt’s compassion or drive to connect with ALL of NYC’s residents. My father, William’s and Maryann’s brother, was constantly regaled by my uncle with tales of “getting these people under control” and various gleeful anecdotes of abuse and mistreatment of those under his watch. His overall demeanor regarding this was heavily laden with his contempt for those he was supposed to serve.

To this day, I enjoy the time that I spend with my aunt discussing any and every subject, the retired bomb dogs she and her husband adopt, and her view of life in general. The time that I spend with my uncle I often find quite uncomfortable. He is highly opinionated (although poorly informed), regarding the relationship between the NYPD and the city’s various citizens. He expresses extreme biases, racism, and a discriminator mindset which I could see presenting a barrier to him doing his job in a professional and ethical manner. He stories convey that many officers that he worked with shared a similar mindset. This prejudice, lack of understanding, and poor communication, in my opinion, fosters the mutual fear and widens the gulf between the officers of the NYPD and those they swore to serve and protect. In stark contrast, my aunt and uncle demonstrate that, despite being siblings with the same upbringing and taking on the same calling, they viewed and undertook this duty in very different fashions. Through them I can see that police officers are individual people with their own minds, hearts, and thoughts which dictate their actions both on and off duty. While there are many officers that enter the force with open minds, professionalism, and empathy for those they serve, there are so many others that enter the department with closed minds, serious biases, and pre-formed dysfunctional views of what their job should entail. Unfortunately, those of the latter mindset find themselves comfortably falling in line with so many others of a similar perspective and perpetuate the narrative of “us versus them”. This is often fostered by the sense of “Police Culture”, peer pressure within the department, and guidance from their like-minded superiors. As this framework progresses, it engenders fear in the populace and evokes powerful reactions, which in turn can feed and “validate” the police’s fear. Such a cycle is ineffective and detrimental to all parties and promotes increasing fear, distrust, and violence between the two groups. Although there have been many attempts at instituting programs to improve the relations between the people and the police, perhaps it is time to promote respect and concern between the NYPD and the community. If mutual trust can be restored, if the police can become a positive (and accepted) part of the community, and if the current adversarial relationship be converted to one of understanding and unity, I feel that the populace and its protectors can eventually co-exist without significant friction.

About Us, Assignment 1

About Me and Transit Experience

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ABOUT ME:

My dad was born in blue collar Brooklyn to a first-generation Irish American mother (whose father was chased out of Ireland for being in the IRA in 1922) and a German American father. My mom was born in London in the mid 50s, but grew up in what was then Yugoslavia (currently Croatia) and later moved to Astoria Queens. My twin brother and I are born and raised New Yorkers from the Lower East Side. I spent nursery through eighth grade in Catholic school (despite being an atheist) and another four years at Saint Vincent Ferrer High School (which is three block south of Hunter). I have had the same best friend since kindergarten and I am currently double majoring Mathematics and Environmental Science.

One thing that I love about living in New York City is the sheer number of people located in such a small area. There are roughly 8.4 million people in the five boroughs according to the United States Census Bureau (2013). People from almost every country and background are currently living and sharing their ideas and themselves, which in turn makes New York a globally cognizant and diverse city. This constant exposure to different people, ideas, ideologies, and life styles helps to connect New Yorkers with one another as well as make them aware of cultures outside that of the United States or their own backgrounds.

While the large and diverse population has helped to create a mostly accepting and (in my opinion) interesting environment, it also instills a sense of anonymity that can hinder forming close social networks. In a smaller town, it is easier to connect and get to know your neighbors on a personal level. In a large city like New York, it can be difficult to know the people in your own apartment complex, let alone everyone on the same block. This anonymity can make one feel isolated if they don’t have means or opportunity to connect with people outside of work or school.

Another thing that I like about New York City is that it has a number of beautiful parks. From Battery Park to Fort Tryon Park, there appears to be a patch of green grass or a few trees within walking distance where one can escape the concrete and hot asphalt of the city for a little while. The parks also provide the city’s resident with areas for recreational activities like sports or outdoor plays.

Another repercussion of New York city’s large population is the number of pets. Specifically, the number of dogs in the city. While I love animals, and am always ecstatic to see a cute dog walking along the street, one thing that I have noticed is that New Yorkers tend to be lackadaisical about cleaning up after their pets. Despite the numerous signs reminding people to “Curb your dog” and to pick up their waste, it is common to see the flow of humanity walking down the sidewalk part around a pile of dog poop in the middle of the block.

One last thing that I greatly enjoy about living in New York City is the amount of information, art, and history that is readily accessible. Not only do we have the New York Public Library system, we also have the American Natural History Museum, the Met, the Frick Museum, The Metropolitan Opera, The Museum of Modern Art, the Cloisters, the Brooklyn Science Museum, the Tenement Museum, and a multitude of other museums and galleries! George Washington took the oath of office outside Federal Hall and Alexander Hamilton is buried in Trinity Church. The history of New York predates the founding of our country and fixtures from the past stand side by side with our homes, schools, and local Starbucks.

MY TRANSIT EXPERIENCE:

The New York City transit system is both the arteries connecting all the boroughs together as well as a seemingly separate entity with its own reality and rules.While people cram into the middle cars by the entrance to the subway, the last two cars are usually empty. There seems to be at least one line with delays during rush hour and the local buses and trains sometimes outpace the express. While New York City buses “supposedly” have a schedule where a bus arrives every 10 minutes or so, it is not uncommon to see 3 m101 buses at the same stop and then not see another one for over an hour.

Two transit experiences that best sum up our city’s metro system occurred during my first two years of high school. Since classes started at 8 o’clock, I usually had to get up at 6 and leave the house by 7 in order to catch the 7:10 bus. One thing I noticed was that the same people seemed to be at the bus stop every single morning. There was “The Guy with the Cactus Bag”, “The Girl with the Black Purse”, “The Old Man with the Cap”, and “The Kid with the Backpack”. It became such a habit for me to see these people on my bus that I could usually tell what time it what based on who was at the stop (“The Guy with the Cactus Bag” was usually the first person at the stop while “The Kid with the Backpack” showed up just as the bus arrived).

My second interesting experience with the New York City Transit system occurred on my way home from school in freshman year. I was sitting in the back of the bus reading a murder mystery when the person next to me tapped me on the shoulder and excitedly informed me that the book I was reading was the basis for one of their favorite horror movies and then asked me what I thought about it so far. This encounter in turn lead to a 20-minute-long discussion about horror movies (of which this person was an enthusiastic fan). While I was a little weirded out by a random adult bouncing in their seat while discussing their favorite horror films, I feel like this experience highlights how people from all across the city connect, no matter how briefly or tangentially, with one another while traversing our city.