I remember when the only way you could get to Staten Island, at least from Brooklyn, was by ferry. The opening of the Verrazano Bridge, tall, curved to contour the earth, was a big deal. It coincided with the bad days of Brooklyn, when people's neighborhoods became dirty and crime-ridden.
Those who moved to Staten Island were hoping for a respite. I used to know a black family who moved there for precisely the same reason. Probably that's why Staten Islanders tend to be more conservative. Of course, crime has caught up with them there too.
And of course, there's Todt Hill.
Some beautiful areas on Staten Island. It used to be agricultural. Think about Frederick Law Olmsted pursuing farming there, once upon a time.
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@B.
You have a good memory. Yup, many of us moved to Staten Island because our fathers had served in the war and benefitted from the GI bill, allowing the working class to obtain a mortgage. So you either headed to Levitt Town, or to Staten Island. The real agri areas were Tottenville or New Dorp. Many of us went back to family and friends in Brooklyn almost every weekend and holiday.
That Brooklyn-SI ferry was def not for tourists. Green thing, not well kept, Many riders just remained in their cars during the crossing. It was functional, not much else.
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@Billy from Brooklyn
Let's not forget that Blacks were barred from buying houses in Levittown. It also opened much earlier, in 1947. The Verrazzano Narrows Bridge opened in 1964.
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Glad that the Metro diary alerted me to reading the eye chart with both eyes. I likely would have also covered one eye. I'm due to renew.
I see that I can renew my license by mail by having a doctor fill our a card which certifies that I had an eye test. But it makes no mention of having a photo taken, as one does for a passport. I guess I either renew online and keep the old photo, or come in to renew and get a new picture.
So I've decided to go to the DMV, which should have the famous sign over the door, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter", or something like that. Dante isn't from NYC and he said things like "ye".
The reason I want a photo is that the one on my license is so old that it looks like that of an offspring, or some distant, younger relative. When I last renewed, I believe it was eight years ago, they kept the photo from the previous renewal. I'm turning seventy, and the thought of someday being seventy-seven, with a license picture of myself when I was fifty-six, is ludicrous. People will think I stole the drivers license from someone. Nah, better that it look like me as I look today, as bad as that is. The classic, scary old Irishman with sparse white hair and thick black eyebrows!
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@Billy from Brooklyn
You might want to get the Enhanced or REAL ID license, which will soon be required for airport security. You'll need to bring additional proof of residency. - I think 2 are required, but check the DMV website.
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@Billy from Brooklyn
agree with amy re procuring the enhanced driver's license. please note: any documentation you bring with you in furtherance of the enhanced dl, must be an original, e.g., social security card, birth certificate, etc. over the years, my birth certificate has been folded & refolded so many times that it was in danger of disintegrating. for that reason, the dmv employee almost rejected it. fortunately, an old-timer employee was nearby & showed the newbie how to scan in my bedraggled bc. good luck with yours.
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It's just as hard to think that any Representative from New York City would be against supporting an impeachment inquiry, as it is completely understandable that the only undecided voice would come from Staten Island.
And anyone who's ever been there knows why.
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@N. Smith
Excuse me. I live on SI - been here for 50+ years. I never supported Trump nor would I ever support a member of the GOP. And I support impeachment proceedings. Don’t always assume or be so judgmental, ok? It seems very Republican of you...
P.S. Max Rose is entitled to his opinion and his being cautious is fine with me.
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"And anyone who's ever been there knows why."
??
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@Elle
Did I say EVERYONE on S.I. voted for Donald Trump?? -- NO!!
FYI.
I too lived there for a bit and like it or not, it's far more of a Republican stronghold than other parts of the city.
I'm not saying anything that isn't a well documented fact, nor is this any kind of judgement on Mr. Rose.
We're still living in a Democracy after all.
No need to take offense where none is meant.
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