THREE weeks, could be the longest stretch without a post on LICtalk. I’ve been hibernating, in St. Bart’s, and thus been a bit derelict in my duties. What have we missed?
A frozen river for one. Not much else though. I mean there’s food – an interesting story about eating your way through NY’s ‘New Chinatown,’ which while interesting, errantly refers to all of that section of LIC as ‘Dutch Kills.’ Sorry if I’m a stickler when it comes to the home town enclaves. Getting it right, is a short video of Hooni Kim (Meju), eating at Casa Enrique. Followed by a little real estate news. But none of that really interests me.
What does, is an article in yesterday’s WSJ titled ‘How Remaking the Neighborhood Could Boost Poor Kids’ Futures.’ Wherein:
“The Harvard University economist and his co-authors have documented how poor kids in some neighborhoods can grow up to earn far more than others who grow up just blocks away. The difference: When poor kids move to thriving neighborhoods, they have more social connections and proximity to kids from higher-income families, and their economic futures improve.
That prompted a question: “Can we bring opportunity to people where they currently live, rather than simply moving people to opportunity?” asked Chetty, who directs Opportunity Insights, a Harvard-based institute that studies how to improve upward mobility.”
Answer: YES – “Chetty and his team looked to a government experiment that started over 30 years ago to demolish and replace rundown public housing projects with housing that had mixed-income levels. Upward mobility can be imported into neighborhoods, according to results just released by Chetty and his co-authors
We have been saying this for 10 years in regards to Queensbridge: “The poor will be mainstreamed instead of isolated”
With proof positive, it would be a shame for our new mayor – whose former district was adjacent to Queensbridge, and our current councilwoman, who is cut from the same cloth ideologically as our new mayor, to not seriously consider this monumental undertaking. For the latter, everything else one can do as a council member barely moves the meter in terms of making an impact -it’s just patching holes. For the former, this is exactly the type of forward-looking project that is documented to truly helping people at the lowest rungs with upward mobility. Everything else is just taking from one segment of the middle class and giving to another. Raze Queensbridge!
How Remaking the Neighborhood Could Boost Poor Kids’ Futures
How to eat your way across Long Island City’s burgeoning Chinatown
Rollin Bagels, Utopia Bagels | New York’s Best Bagel
NYC’s hidden Michelin star: Incredible Mexican food with chef Hoony Kim!
I usually agree with you, but not about QueensBridge. What’s not to love about Queensbridge? Home to many people, waterfront park, senior center, playgrounds, library, outstanding cultural history (going to re-listen to Rewind by Nas immediately after posting this), nearby public transit and even some decent retail.