Posted on 12/05/2001 10:24:07 AM PST by Hildy
Hi all. I'm back from a four day trip to New York. It was part business, mostly pleasure.
First of all, I want to tell you that I was born in Plainview Long Island New York. I graduated college from SUNY Albany and I worked for ten years in Manhattan. In 1990, I was so disgusted with New York, I moved to San Diego and never had one minute of regret.
I lived in New York during the Ed Koch into David Dinkins era. And for those who lived or live there, you know what I'm talking about. My memories of New York are not pretty. I remember stepping over people in the streets, in the subway. I remember NEVER venturing into Times Square once the sun went down, let alone go to or transfer through the Times Square subway station. The city was ugly, the people were ugly and that's how I remember it.
This was my first trip back in 10 years and I am still in shock. This is not the city I left. Rudy Giulianni should be given a Nobel Prize for what he's done to this City. We stayed at a hotel in Times Square and we had such a great time. The place is awesome. Clean, friendly. I know some people don't like the "glitz" of the New Times Square, but most people there did.
Ten years ago I couldn't wait to get out of New York City. Now, I can't wait to go back! Please go and support New York. They need the tourism!
More later about my airport experience which was not as good!
People in restaurants greeted me and said, "Thank you", and "Have a nice day." Hell, I thought I was back in California. Rudy worked on people's behavior early on in his first term. He has pulled off a miracle.
We flew into the airport at Islip, on Long Island, which made the airport experience very quick and easy.
I'd love to go back for a longer visit someday!
On a serious note, we walked down to the WTC area and shed some tears. The Memorials were still set up all around town. We did alot of walking in the four days and it was so wonderful to see how people were treating each other and respecting the Police and Firemen. Even the gift stores and sidewalk stands were selling Police and Fireman themed trinkets, along with mostly patriotic wares.
It was beautful.
Willie Brown actually had the gall to say recently that he "wasn't interested in the Giuliani vote", i.e, the growing number of San Francisco residents who think the so-called homeless need a swift kick in the butt (and a felony warrant check), not another 200 million dollars in aid.
First time I was in NYC was before the cleanup. I've been back the last few summers on holidays and still am amazed at the change, not only in the safety but also the attitudes of people. Not being forced to live in a sewer does that to people, I suppose. I am not what anyone would refer to as a physically intimidating looking individual and felt no issue walking around (normal big city sense and precautions a given) anywhere in Manhattan.
Being from Toronto, we tend to take safe cities for granted up here. When I told friends about the rebirth of New York they generally didn't believe me until they went for themselves. It truly is the greatest city in the world, IMHO. Here's hoping that the new administration doesn't undo all of Rudy's great work.
Sounds like NYC. Everything there's more expensive; I guess even the homeless have decided to join in.
From Colonial Quad to the Student Ghetto, SUNY-Albany was quite a place to be in the late 70's and early 80's. Back then at least, the University was ranked as "highly selective" and often described as "Harvard on the Hudson" and the "Paupers' Princeton." And while most of us studied long and hard, we also had the well-earned reputation as one of the top party schools in the Country.
BTW, welcome back to New York. Although there are times that I wish I had moved anywhere other than here, NYC is without a doubt the greatest city in the world -- second to none -- period -- end of debate.
It would be unrealistic to expect things to get *better* from here, but Bloomberg is far far more likely to limit backsliding than any of the other guys who ran.
Oh yeah. Things were pretty damned bleak here for a few years, especially during Dinkins. The city's done a remarkable job in bringing back Central Park, where I spend a lot of time (the BATHROOMS are open again, after being padlocked for at least a decade, and the paths and bridges are no longer an obstacle course of homeless and mentally ill people) and Times Square. You know how big the transformation was when people actually complain that Times Square is now "too clean".
I was tempted to move away myself in 1990, but things started improving rapidly after Rudy took office. Glad I stayed, and glad you enjoyed your visit!
Must admit, though, to this day, I can't drink Genny Cream...
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