This short film tells the story of several people in Astoria and their relationship with the Kaufman Studios. For some the new movie studio has helped their businesses grow and introduced the neighborhood to new movie theaters and restaurants. Others are unhappy about changes that have been made to their neighborhood, which includes the closing of a street and a rocky relationship with film crew workers. Residents in Astoria feel as though they were uninformed about the drastic changes made to their neighborhood, but in reality many new measures were openly voted on in a public council meeting. Many feel as though the changes are taking away from Astoria’s authenticity, but Kaufman Studios has an elaborate history dating back to Hollywood’s Studio Era. And of course the big question of everyone’s mind is: has Kaufman Studios gentrified Astoria? For now it is too early to tell, but within 20 years Astoria will be radically different.
An article that peaked my interest was one in the Wall Street Journal this week that discussed a new plan that would permit young people who have originally come to the US as illegal immigrants to join the military and then eventually become permanent legal residents. Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, California Representative Howard Buck McKeon spoke with his panel on Thursday about including this provision to his version of the National Defense Authorization Act .Also known as the NDAA, it is a federal law that stipulates the expenditures an budget of the United States Department of Defense. Each year the act incorporates new provisions through Congress. A committee aide has expressed that no finite promises or decisions will be made unless the provision will receive support. Within Congress there are groups who are staunch advocators and groups that are adamantly against this new provision. Opponents of the provision have already taken to organizing against its passage. Representative Mo Brooks is the process of completing a letter that will circulate among House members stating that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to take jobs within the American military. He has been quoted saying “There is always a risk when you rely on foreigners for your national security…..the risk is misplaced loyalty. It really comes down to who you prefer – American citizens or illegal aliens? And I prefer American citizens.” Since the
House members who head Latino districts find themselves in a tight spot, since the Senate passed an extreme immigration over haul 9 months ago. These representatives headed by Rep. Jeff Denham of California have been pushing to add the measure to last years military authorization bill since last June. Rep. Denham has been quoted saying “This is one opportunity for those that have gone to school here, that have graduated from high school, that are in our communities, to show their ultimate support for this great nation and are willing to sacrifice in support of our country.” After the provision brought about an argument on the floor with its opponents the provision was withdrawn from the floor but will be used as part of the broader immigration debate. This has been promised by chairman of the Judiciary Committee , Rep. Bob Goodlatte from Virginia. “There is no doubt that individuals brought to the United States as young children by their illegal immigrant parents are the most sympathetic group of people not lawfully present in the United States today, and that is particularly true of those who desire to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States,” Mr. Goodlatte said on the floor. Currently Rep. Denham is working on to persuade Mr. McKeon to add the provision to this year’s bill from the start so that it will not require floor votes for its passage. This new version of the defense authorization bill will be introduced by Mr. McKeon in May.
What are your opinions?
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303847804579479932176206484
http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2014/11/5pointzprotest_web_2014_03_14_q.html
Located at at 22-44 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City, 5 Pontz (also known as the Institute of Higher Burning) and the Graffitti Mecca was whitewashed overnight on November 19, 2013. The abandoned warehouse also considered to be a landmark among many was used by internaitonal graffitti artists to create work ranging up to 200,000-square-feet, and simultaneously featured 350 murals. Another factor that makes 5 Pointz important is the fact that it once housed Crane Street Studios: utilized by 200 artists and costing less than the average market prices for studio space. in 2009 it was estimated that a 450 square foot studio cost $600 in rent. Originally founded in 1993 by Pat DiLillo, through a program called Graffitti Terminators, with a mission of providing street artists with a formally display their art work: some important artists who have featured their work at 5 Pointz have been Stay High 149, Cope2, Part, TAT CRU, and SPE. It is interesting to note that the name of 5 Pointz is symbolic of artists from each of the 5 boroughs merging together to create art, however 5 Pointz has been fortunate to feature international artists from Japan, Brazil, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Canada. Sadly, the New York City Planning Commission took a unanimous vote to consent to building condos where 5Pointz now stands. David Walker, the developer of this project is planning to demolish the building entirely. This $400 million plan was approved in October by the New York City Council in order for a the creation of 1,000 apartments and 210 housing untis, although ground level facades will still be used by curated artists. The art communtiy has been enraged since the whitewashing of 5Pointz and in a bold statement of retaliation artists from Brooklyn known as gilf! and BAMN (By any means necessary) hung a yellow caution tape banner across the building on which reads “Gentrification in Progress”. Unfortunately the banner was removed Monday, but it has been nice to see some artists taking the initiation to retaliate. I was lucky enough to visit 5 Pointz several weeks before the whitewashing, and would like to share with you some of the amazing art wor that was on display. I hope that a stronger petition will emerge, and I hope that New York will not lose such a beloved landmark, influential both for its art work and its history and culture.
Hello peopling class. So here goes: my parents met and married in Brooklyn but are originally from the former Soviet Union. My father is originally from a small town in the Zakarpathian region of Ukraine called Khust. This town is close to the Hungarian border. My mother is from a 4,000 year old town by the Caspian Sea in southern Russian called Derbent. My father speaks Yiddish and my mother speaks Juhuri ; the language they have in common is Russian. At the age of 12 my mother moved to Israel where she lived for I think a little under a year in a settlement on a mountain top in the town of Chicundalet, Tveria. (Pardon the spelling, I sounded it out.) Tveria over looks the Red Sea, it is truly gorgeous. After Israel she moved to Vienna where she lived until early adulthood and then moved to Brooklyn New York . Majority of my mothers side of the family live in Ashdod, Israel excluding for her siblings and their children which are my immediate and only family. My fathers brother and his family live in Jersey so I seldom see them, although his father lives in Rehovat, Israel; a town only a half hour drive out of Tel Aviv. Within the Russian community and among Jews I am considered to be a bit of a conundrum because of my mixed heritage.
I am unsure about what I want to major in but am deciding between fine arts, film and theater. I have been drawing since I’ve been a kid and like to practice by sketching people on the train. I am also interested in writing and think that maybe that could be something I could do professionally one day. I don’t know specifically what I want to do with my life but I know it has to be something creative. I attended Mark Twain and Midwood Highschool. A good portion of my highschool experience was spent at DeFarro’s pizza on Avenue J. And like Anna I also share a passion for food. I love reading plays and especially love Eugene O’Neill. I have a younger sister by the name of Jackie, who is much smarter than I am. During the summer I spent every day riding my bike on the boardwalk from beginning to end and back . My favorite season is summer, and I love when its 98 degrees outside and the humidity drives people crazy. It’s legitimately my favorite time of year. Although I also have a soft spot in my heart for Christmas mostly because I don’t celebrate it, and think it’s a fabulously magical holiday. Anyway …I think that just about covers the basics. So I look forward to the rest of the class, and if anyone wants to chat I’m on the second floor at Brookdale. 🙂
