Mazen Hassan
Introduction to Journalism
Final Feature Story
“The Man in the Mirror”
I had lost 18 pounds in a week. Having a major photo-shoot coming up with a widely publicized up and coming designer left me incredibly nervous. As I already had my measurements taken and the clothes were made to fit accordingly. A lot of money was poured into this project; and my agents warned me that I needed to pull this off impeccably in order to secure future gigs. Needless to say, the pressure was on.
I was extremely sick at the time and couldn’t keep anything down, yet was trying to force-feed myself and do pushups to beef up. On the day of the shoot, I walked in, trembling, worried that I would be fired on the spot for being underweight. But the second I put the clothes on, I was struggling to fit into them or even close the buttons. “PERFECT, your body is just perfect!” yelled out the designer, Minh Tran, who declined to comment. “Do you do Pilates, diet, or what’s your secret to maintaining that figure?!” As I watched the stylist squeeze me into a tight-fitting turtleneck, pulled over my protruding ribs and sunken in chest, I didn’t know whether to be relieved and flattered or disturbed and offended. I was being celebrated for being emaciated. “This is what they want me to look like; this is what will make me successful?” I thought to myself. Turns out being a male model isn’t as fun or glamorous as it seems.
Abiah Hosdevlt 21, model and artist, couldn’t agree more. Hosdevlt says he “grew up loving fashion and photography, and when I was scouted I thought I had stepped into a fantasy land.” Hailing from Jamaica, he was discovered by a photographer at Washington Square Park while skating with his friends at fifteen, a mere two years after first moving to New York. “I thought the guy was some sleazy perv, but when I looked him up online with my mother, we saw that he shot some really huge legit campaigns with a lot of top models. So I decided to pursue it, though I had no idea what I was going myself into.”
Though Hosdevlt started working rather steadily, he didn’t make much money, and had to sacrifice a lot for what he did make. Hosdevlt, like many other young struggling male models, found out rather quickly that in order to not only achieve but also maintain his success as a model, he had to change and give up a lot.
Spending 8 to 10 hours everyday running around to different castings, meetings, fittings and shoots replaced spending time with his friends and family. His grades in school started dwindling, and he eventually had to drop out of high school altogether as his work hours became too much. Eating what little “healthy” food options served on set replaced his favorite and most important pastime – eating family dinners with his loved ones. He never saw much of them, and barely had anytime for himself. Things were changing rapidly, but Hosdevlt felt that it would all pay off in the end…or he hoped it would anyways.
After six months working with different photographers and building his portfolio, Hosdevlt was told by his agent in NYC that he had been requested by a booker at Ford Europe – one of the, if not the, biggest and most-well known agencies in the world. Hosdevlt recalled the miraculous moment where his career got taken to the next level. “It was unbelievable. I had these hotshot agents telling me they were flying me to Paris first class, giving me a driver and limo, and putting me into a luxury agency apartment right near the Eiffel Tower on their tab” Hosdevlt said, lost in thought at just how quickly everything took off for him, seemingly overnight he said. “It all just seemed too good to be true.”
That dream illusion was shattered shortly after Hosdevlt arrived in France, and was shown to his “luxury” apartment. He was escorted into an old cramped, dingy, unfurnished, cob-webbed apartment to meet his fellow model roommates – all eight of them, who were stuffed into a tiny open living space like model sardines.
“It was a mess. There were roaches and mice crawling over us while we’d try to sleep, which we couldn’t even do as there was no air conditioning or even a fan in the sweltering heat,” Hosdevlt said recalling those early days. “There was no space for any of us to be comfortable, even being forced to share what was essentially one room and one broken bathroom amongst nine stinky young guys…it was uninhabitable.” Though it wasn’t just the living conditions that were tough; having enough money to survive daily was an added issue. Hosdevlt claimed that “there were days we didn’t even have anything to eat, as the agency gave us the equivalent of $20 stipend a week – that’s nothing in Europe. I was literally a starving artist.”
Being in such close quarters all the time with the same guys you are competing against for work, doesn’t exactly create the smoothest living situation either. Hosdevlt said that age played a big role in the living issues, saying “even though I was only 16, a lot of the other guys were kids – 14 years old left to vie for themselves, homesick lonely and depressed. So getting booked and making money, to show that this would all be worth it was a priority for all of us,” Abiah explained as to why he kept going even though the experience had not been what he thought it would be.
Eventually the situation went from uncomfortable to unbearable, as the internal envy and jealously began to boil over with the boys in the apartment. He recalls stories of how certain models tried to sabotage each other, destroying each other’s personal belongings, taunting the younger kids to drive them out in order to have less competition. Point blank, none of the boys trusted each other, and it was every man for himself, though the agents were technically supposed to act as their guardians, seeing as most of them were minors. Hosdevlt claimed it wasn’t so, and there was no supervision as “the agents never intervened or took care of us like they promised our parents they would. We were like young malnourished painted up beasts vying for ourselves in a crazy fashion jungle.”
Having completed a slew of high profile jobs after two months in Paris, Hosdevlt had been eagerly anticipating his first big check from the agency. When he finally did get that first check though, something wasn’t right. “I looked at the gross amount of the check and saw $21,500 and was floored. I couldn’t believe I had made so much money in eight weeks!” Hosdevlt recalled how his elation quickly dissipated after the reality of the finances of this business took hold. Hosdevlt continued, “I then took a closer look at how much was actually made out to me, and saw $964 as the actual amount. I felt like I had been cheated, tricked and scammed.”
When a model is first signed to an agency, they are told upfront that all initial costs are being covered by the agency, until the model begins to make sufficient enough money. That is not always the case. Once the model starts working and making money, they first need to reimburse the agency for travel and living expenses, test shoots with photographers, the cost of their portfolio and actual pictures, any stipends handed out, placement and promotion of the model on their website, and other miscellaneous costs. No set, exact system is in place for a model’s reimbursement or rights in America; only in Europe do models have set, standard, legitimate rights (I.E. model cannot work more than X amount of hours, must be paid a “base rate”, need X amount of breaks, etc.). So in the end, the model has to essentially work just to pay back their bookers, and they are lucky if they break even to make any profit whatsoever.
Though female models endure the same thing in the beginning of their careers, they are way more in demand, bring in higher salaries, and are generally more taken care of by their agencies and the designers they work with. Male models are often overlooked, and are seen as “props” in photo-shoots, rather than the focus.
Nathan Morales, head of the men’s division at Orb Models, a boutique agency in NYC, comments on just how different the business is these days, saying “when I first got into this business in the early 90s, male models had Adonis-type built muscular bodies, were getting paid six-figure salaries, and had private jets and drivers.” Morales persisted, “the industry has changed radically, and that is the result of the designer’s vision, and ultimately what the consumer looks for – and fashion just responded.
Morales continued explaining the state of fashion and male models today “the eye has changed; clothes now are tighter and tighter. Guys are younger and younger.” When asked why he feels standards have become so rigid and why it has become even more difficult to break into and maintain success as a male model then ever before, Morales declares “designers like the skinny guy. It looks good in the clothes and that’s the main thing. At this point you might as well save money and just go over to the little boy’s department, that’s just the way it is now.”
Other industry insiders agree that the issues surrounding male models (ranging from age, maintaining strict body types, receiving accurate payment, to the rate of disposability) are prevalent, overlooked and not made a priority.
A well-known and prominent casting director, who asked to not be named in order to retain close connection with his clients and protect his brand’s anonymity, said, “if a guy comes into a casting and is over 150 pounds, I won’t even look at his portfolio. If a guy comes in and looks like he’s over 23, I won’t consider him for a second” he said without a hint of cynicism or malice. “Honestly, these days, no one wants just a beautiful women or a beautiful man anymore. People are afraid to make any statement of what it means to be adult, or a masculine adult at that – it’s all about androgyny.”
In the fall of 2009, it had been about nine months since Hosdevlt’s whirlwind descent into Europe, and he was growing restless and weary. He was constantly traveling, alone of course, if not accompanied by other models guzzling champagne or doing rails of coke on any surface that presented itself, just to deal with grueling schedule of having to be up and “on” all the time, he claims.
Though Hosdevlt said he didn’t ever get a chance to experiment like most normal teenagers his age before modeling. He eventually found himself partaking in the late night partying, excessive drinking and habitual drug usage of his fellow models, which he claims to have been rampant. He had come that far and wanted to “make it”, and felt pressured into doing it to save face and fit in. But like everything else, it began to take its toll physically and mentally.
Hosdevlt’s already thin frame was shedding even more pounds by the day due to lack of sleep, rare consumption of any food, and severe depression and homesickness. His angular face becoming gaunt to the point that he couldn’t even recognize the man staring back at him in the mirror anymore, he said. Yet he continued to get booked for more and more photo shoots.
Most photographers were bizarre, pretentious and rude he claimed; and every shoot became the same dull repeated sequence of pout, pose, and flash. “Here I was working all over Europe with famous creative people, but I was doing things and being put in positions that went against all the morals and values I had been raised with…I felt empty inside,” Hosdevlt expressed about his success and confusion to accept it. Though he did his best with situation he found himself in, and tried to remain grounded amongst the glittering prospects, vapid adulation and alluring temptations that came with the territory.
Early one morning, after having worked 14 hours straight with a seal on an ocean-themed Japanese Vogue Hommes shoot (apparently aquatics were “totally in” that season and all the rage), he decided that it gotten to be all too much, and that he needed a fresh direction. So he packed up all his things, called his agent to tell him to cancel all his bookings, and went back home to New York City.
After having taken some time off and being home, Hosdevlt is still modeling, and trying to go to college. “I don’t regret my decision to get into modeling, but I do wish I had been older, had more support, and been more educated about the business aspects of it,” he said, “because people forget - it is a business after all. And I’m just one small piece of what makes up million dollar corporations, so it is a lot of pressure,” Hosdevlt says still wrestling with whether or not this is a good or healthy career choice.
He sums up his experiences and thoughts about being a male model as a whole when asked why he’s still in a business that he claims is unhealthy and treated him harshly. “Look, at the end of the day I’m getting paid very good money to travel and take pictures – it’s not rocket science. Though my mentality is different now than it was at 16, I’m 21 now – I understand my role.”
Hosdevlt refers to the fact that every model has a “shelf life”, and at some point some new hot young guy will come alone, and he will fade into obscurity, as many male models do, if they are not careful and career-conscious. Hosdevlt acknowledges that “I know that I’m a product, so I will continue to do it and save money before people don’t care about me anymore. Fashion is all about change. Until then…I’m just trying to enjoy the ride.”
In a world where getting sick is the ideal way to lose weight, where a size zero is the definition of beauty, and where a seal gets hair and makeup done for the cover of a magazine – that’s all you can do. Buckle up and watch what happens, and hope at the end of it all, you can still look at – and respect – the person staring back at you.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Vending New York's Future (EDIT 2)
By Harrison Golden
Like clockwork, the sun rises each morning through the waters of the Hudson and above Manhattan’s West Side. From the rotation of bus and car wheels along the streets to the shooting star-like pace of the subways, each level of the city pulsates in the heat of the morning commute. But even with the crowds, the towering buildings, and government tension, there is still room for people like Grant DiMille and Samira Mahboubian.
Before sunrise, the New York street vending duo behind Sweetery NYC loads their trademark blue van with coffee, freshly baked muffins and scones, and sets up camp along Hudson Street, where even the most stressed of workers can stop by. Large windows on each of the vehicle’s sides allow passersby to join together in pausing and glancing at the aromas of the mobile bakery, a modern twist on the centuries-old sweet shop tradition.
“We had no experience with trucks, nor did we know anything about starting up a small business anywhere, let alone a place like Manhattan,” said Mahboubian, co-founder of the bakery. “All we knew were our passions and how we wanted to give that to people. Everything else seemed to follow. Providing that pick me up has really brought people together.”
This year’s Vendy Awards, scheduled to be held September 24th on Governor’s Island, will not only honor the city’s most popular and acclaimed mobile merchants, but will also include a new category entitled “Most Heroic Vendor” in an attempt to better acknowledge the civic roles of these community leaders. Like many street vendors, DiMille and Mahboubian recognize the ongoing shift in the way consumers view the street vending industry. As sites where humbly sized carts once stood become social hotspots, the city known for its street-centric culture is redefining itself, mixing old with new and strengthening urban communities in the process.
However, despite the rise of these bonds, city vendors are still amidst a battle of their own. Since last year, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation have been working towards a plan that would reduce the amount of vendors in city parks by 75 percent.
“This is a culture that the government has spent decades suppressing instead of recognizing,” said Sean Basinski, Director of the Street Vendor Project, sponsors of the awards. “As far back as seventy years ago, city officials tried to chase vendors off the street, calling them distractions and disruptions. Although there is still a ways to go, these awards allow people to become more aware of the ways that street vendors keep New York moving.”
The Vendy Awards committee has, in part, created this new heroism award in an effort to acknowledge the contributions of street vendors like Duane Jackson, who, during last May’s attempted Times Square car bombing, spotted a suspiciously smoky Nissan Pathfinder from the corner of his eye and immediately described his observation to nearby authorities on 7th Avenue. After spending time working with police, the Vietnam War veteran was able to not only identify the presence of the bomb, but to also divert passersby from the scene of the threat. Eventually, police were able to effectively isolate the area and disarm the vehicle following his tip.
“I heard a pop, pop, pop,” Jackson told reporters at a press conference following the scare. “Initially, I thought the car was on fire. I never thought there was propane and gasoline inside.”
Jackson’s mixture of curiosity and calmness provided leadership to those in and around the traffic-heavy tourist attraction. In addition, it exposed the city’s pedestrians to the street savvy roles of vendors.
“Things add up,” Basinski said. “And by simply recognizing what these people do to help their communities, perhaps the government will understand how necessary they are.”
Even in more local ways, street cart operators have gradually gained popularity in communities all around the city. In the Astoria section of Queens, Farez Zeideia has transformed his childhood love for falafel into an award-winning royal tradition. The Falafel King, as his business is called, won two Vendy Awards last year, including “People’s Choice” and the “Vendy Cup.” In addition, it has helped rejuvenate an area struggling with population loss. Due to large amounts of people flocking out of Astoria, threats continue to exist that could potentially affect federal funding, but also congressional representation.
“I grew up here,” said Zeideia, who considers himself the Sam Malone of falafel. By simply watching over a line of his regular customers, ranging from children to great-grandparents, he can point to a familiar face and recollect their usual orders to a near-exact science, from shawarma to chicken and rice.
“My people are here, ones I’ve known for years,” he continued. “And I like to think that this is a way to keep it all together. There’s a lot going on, but the idea of neighbors, of people who can stop by and tell you about the things they enjoy can’t be lost right now.”
Aside from providing his community with acclaimed Middle Eastern cuisine, Zeideia has reinstated a feeling, within the people, of faith and unity, not only in an economic sense, but also in a social and civic manner.
“I pass by him everyday, and I know that among everything else that goes on, I can always rely on his truck, the delicious smells it provides and the personalities on both sides of its windows,” said Momed Rawajan, a twenty-year resident of Astoria. “He gives great moments to this community and we can always count on him.”
Even though many New Yorkers still face the everyday struggles of working, they feel that passing through the artistry, the leadership, and the charisma of street vendors allows them to take a bite out of urban interaction in a way more colorful than ever before.
“It keeps me going,” said Ryan Harkin, an investment banker at a bank near Sweetery NYC, in the process of purchasing his morning muffin and cup of coffee. “Lately, I see myself actually smiling in the morning. It’s so strange. But then I think about the feeling of friendliness and security I get while holding my breakfast, and suddenly it all makes sense.”
Vending New York
Like clockwork, the sun rises each morning through the waters of the Hudson and above Manhattan’s West Side. From the rotation of bus and car wheels along the streets to the shooting star-like pace of the subways, each level of the city pulsates in the heat of the morning commute. But even with the crowds, the towering buildings, and government tension, there is still room for people like Grant DiMille and Samira Mahboubian.
Before sunrise, the New York street vending duo behind Sweetery NYC loads their trademark blue van with coffee, freshly baked muffins and scones, and sets up camp along Hudson Street, where even the most stressed of workers can stop by. Large windows on each of the vehicle’s sides allow passersby to join together in pausing and glancing at the aromas of the mobile bakery, a modern twist on the centuries-old sweet shop tradition.
“We had no experience with trucks, nor did we know anything about starting up a small business anywhere, let alone a place like Manhattan,” said Mahboubian, co-founder of the bakery. “All we knew were our passions and how we wanted to give that to people. Everything else seemed to follow. Providing that pick me up has really brought people together.”
This year’s Vendy Awards, scheduled to be held September 24th on Governor’s Island, will not only honor the city’s most popular and acclaimed mobile merchants, but will also include a new category entitled “Most Heroic Vendor” in an attempt to better acknowledge the civic roles of these community leaders. Like many street vendors, DiMille and Mahboubian recognize the ongoing shift in the way consumers view the street vending industry. As sites where humbly sized carts once stood become social hotspots, the city known for its street-centric culture is redefining itself, mixing old with new and strengthening urban communities in the process.
However, despite the rise of these bonds, city vendors are still amidst a battle of their own. Since last year, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation have been working towards a plan that would reduce the amount of vendors in city parks by 75 percent.
“This is a culture that the government has spent decades suppressing instead of recognizing,” said Sean Basinski, Director of the Street Vendor Project, sponsors of the awards. “As far back as seventy years ago, city officials tried to chase vendors off the street, calling them distractions and disruptions. Although there is still a ways to go, these awards allow people to become more aware of the ways that street vendors keep New York moving.”
The Vendy Awards committee has, in part, created this new heroism award in an effort to acknowledge the contributions of street vendors like Duane Jackson, who, during last May’s attempted Times Square car bombing, spotted a suspiciously smoky Nissan Pathfinder from the corner of his eye and immediately described his observation to nearby authorities on 7th Avenue. After spending time working with police, the Vietnam War veteran was able to not only identify the presence of the bomb, but to also divert passersby from the scene of the threat. Eventually, police were able to effectively isolate the area and disarm the vehicle following his tip.
“I heard a pop, pop, pop,” Jackson told reporters at a press conference following the scare. “Initially, I thought the car was on fire. I never thought there was propane and gasoline inside.”
Jackson’s mixture of curiosity and calmness provided leadership to those in and around the traffic-heavy tourist attraction. In addition, it exposed the city’s pedestrians to the street savvy roles of vendors.
“Things add up,” Basinski said. “And by simply recognizing what these people do to help their communities, perhaps the government will understand how necessary they are.”
Even in more local ways, street cart operators have gradually gained popularity in communities all around the city. In the Astoria section of Queens, Farez Zeideia has transformed his childhood love for falafel into an award-winning royal tradition. The Falafel King, as his business is called, won two Vendy Awards last year, including “People’s Choice” and the “Vendy Cup.” In addition, it has helped rejuvenate an area struggling with population loss. Due to large amounts of people flocking out of Astoria, threats continue to exist that could potentially affect federal funding, but also congressional representation.
“I grew up here,” said Zeideia, who considers himself the Sam Malone of falafel. By simply watching over a line of his regular customers, ranging from children to great-grandparents, he can point to a familiar face and recollect their usual orders to a near-exact science, from shawarma to chicken and rice.
“My people are here, ones I’ve known for years,” he continued. “And I like to think that this is a way to keep it all together. There’s a lot going on, but the idea of neighbors, of people who can stop by and tell you about the things they enjoy can’t be lost right now.”
Aside from providing his community with acclaimed Middle Eastern cuisine, Zeideia has reinstated a feeling, within the people, of faith and unity, not only in an economic sense, but also in a social and civic manner.
“I pass by him everyday, and I know that among everything else that goes on, I can always rely on his truck, the delicious smells it provides and the personalities on both sides of its windows,” said Momed Rawajan, a twenty-year resident of Astoria. “He gives great moments to this community and we can always count on him.”
Even though many New Yorkers still face the everyday struggles of working, they feel that passing through the artistry, the leadership, and the charisma of street vendors allows them to take a bite out of urban interaction in a way more colorful than ever before.
“It keeps me going,” said Ryan Harkin, an investment banker at a bank near Sweetery NYC, in the process of purchasing his morning muffin and cup of coffee. “Lately, I see myself actually smiling in the morning. It’s so strange. But then I think about the feeling of friendliness and security I get while holding my breakfast, and suddenly it all makes sense.”
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Feature Story: Draft 2 (Emily Katz)
[Feature Story: Draft 2] Some College Cafeterias are Sparkling Clean, Others a Little Less Sanitary
Emily Katz
May 11, 2011
The phone rang around nine in the morning on November 19th, 2010, as Wilfredo Granell and his colleagues who work at The New School’s Café 55 were serving breakfast. On the other end of the phone was his supervisor, calling to inform the staff that the inspectors were here—two female inspectors from the New York City Department of Health had arrived unexpectedly to give the facility a sanitation inspection grade.
The inspectors checked that thermometers were installed in all the devices and “took temperatures for everything,” including the oven, refrigerator, and the freezer according to Wilfredo. He recounted that he wasn’t particularly nervous about the surprise inspection. He had received food safety training at orientation and has worked for Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services for three years. “Rags cannot be on top of anything but the sanitizer bucket,” said Wilfredo, as he describes the many sanitary precautions he takes. He carries a deli meat thermometer in the pocket of his white chef shirt. The dining services staff go through lots of pairs of plastic gloves, as they have to wear a new pair every time they make a new sandwich or salad to avoid cross contamination. As students work on their art projects in Café 55, the cleaning crew regularly stops by to sweep the floor and take out the trash.
It has been nearly a year since the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented the new sanitary inspection grading system for restaurants. The new system mandates the posting of sanitary inspection grades near restaurant entrances. “Letter grading enables diners to make more informed choices about where to eat,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, the New York City Health Commissioner in the press release last year.
College dining facilities are subject to the same sanitary inspections, and the letter grades reveal that some are performing well while others have disappointed students who don’t always have a choice but to spend their meal plan money and eat at their school’s cafeteria—sanitary or not.
The grading rubric is based on a points system for sanitary violations. Failing to store food at the right temperature is considered a “public health hazard” and will attribute at least 7 points, while the presence of rats or mice in the facility’s food or non-food areas, considered a “critical violation,” triggers at least 5 points. A “general violation,” such as handling food with bare hands, adds at least 2 points. The lower the total score the better. An inspection score of 0-13 points merits an A grade, 14-27 points for a B, and 28 or more points for a score of C. Letter Grade or Grade Pending card needs to be “conspicuously posted and visible to passerby,” according to the Department of Health website.
According to the NYC Restaurant Inspection Information available on the Department of Health website, the inspection of The New School dining facilities located at 55 West 13th street resulted in 7 points of sanitary violations and the issuance of an A Grade card. The facility had one “critical violation” and was cited for improper storage and use of sanitized equipment and utensils.
***
Austin Delaney, a sophomore and Information Technology major at Pace University, and his friends were in for a shock when they arrived at the campus cafeteria, Café 101. On the door was a note stating that the establishment had been shut down by the New York City Department of Health. According to Austin, the president of the University, who was amonst the students, “turned red in the face” and stormed off to his office. As the president of the University got on the phone with Lackmann Culinary Serivces, Austin and his friends created the Facebook group “Boycott of Pace/Lackmann Food Services.”
According to the NYC Restaurants Inspection Results, the cafeteria had received 79 points, far exceeding the 28 points that merits a C grade. The same document shows that the cafeteria had nine instances of “critical violations,” which included food workers not using proper utensils to eliminate bare hand contact with food, the absence of thermometers in food storage and preparation facilities, the lack of hot and cold water for cleanliness, and the absence of hand washing facilities near food preparation area. The inspectors also observed tobacco use and food workers in food preparation and storage areas. According to the Department of Health, food establishments that receive a B or C grade have the option of posting a “Grade Pending” card and appeal to the Health Department’s Administrative Tribunal. However, the condition of Café 101 merited an immediate shut down.
With no cafeteria to eat at, the students could not use their meal plan money to purchase food; rather, they had to eat at local eateries and present receipts for reimbursements from the university.
Student groups met with the university president. “We wanted accountability,” said Austin, “the dining services and administration were blaming each other.”
Stephen J. Friedman, the President of Pace University wrote in a letter to parents, “We understand that cafeteria service is an important part of daily life for college students.” Friedman called Lackmann’s behavior “inexcusable,” and in period of time that the cafeteria was closed, Lackmann was fired and Chartwells, the same company that caters The New School, took over as the new campus dining service.
“There were hugely noticeable changes. The food looked much fresher, much more appealing,” said Austin.
According to Peter Taback, Senior Director of at the Office of Communications and External Affairs at The New School, the university has had a contract with Chartwells since 2002. Mr. Taback referred to Chartwells as a company of “experts who know how to serve, prepare and keep food sanitary.”
In a letter to Pace University students, Chartwells promised that it will “pursue the goal of achieving a letter grade A on the New York City Department of Health Inspection to gain [their] trust in dining service operations.”
***
Nathan Wong, a freshman at New York University, eats at his college’s dining halls about twice a day. He feels that the dining services “gets the job done, are conveniently located, are well-stocked, and are efficient.”
Of the twelve New York University dining halls inspected, nine received A’s, two received B’s, and Hayden Hall, with 31 violation points, received a C. According to the NYC Restaurant Inspection Information, Hayden Hall had three instance of “critical violations,” including the evidence of mice present in food and non-food areas, the food was not protected from potential sources of contamination, and the food contact surfaces were not properly sanitized after each use. As of March 25, 2011, Hayden Hall has a “Grade Pending” card.
Nathan read about the grade that Hayden Hall received in the New York Times and feels that the C grade is “unacceptable.” He has only eaten at Hayden Hall a couple of times but didn’t really notice anything suspicious. The cafeteria serves “just normal college stuff,” like pizza, chicken and noodles. “But there’s a lot that goes behind the scenes,” Nathan said.
According to Owen Moore, the Director of Operations and Business Development for Campus Services at New York University, all dining locations on campus are inspected within the first 30 days they open.
“I won’t eat there until they have improved,” said Nathan, “then again, the food wasn’t that great there to begin with.”
***
The New School’s Library Café, which “proudly brews Starbucks coffee, was also inspected on November 19th and received an A grade. Dariana Cepeda, 22, was serving customers when the inspectors came. She trained to wear gloves at all times and to always sanitize. She has to change the coffee every two hours and check temperatures frequently. The milk has to be kept at 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and the measuring cups are labeled “nonfat,” “soy,” and “whole” to avoid cross-contamination. The inspectors tasted some of the “Outtakes” sandwiches and salads, which are made fresh daily in the kitchen on the second floor.
Dariana was very proud of the sanitation inspection grade her station received. “I was so excited! In the two years I’ve worked here, I’ve never seen roaches, no mice, no bugs,” she said, with a bright smile.
Word Count: 1363
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Reading Journal
Meredith Pollack
Reading Journal
After such a heavy news week (so soon after the news and media frenzy not so long ago with Egypt and the unrest in the Middle East) the media is now prepared for this sort of big news. However, with nearly ever article in the New York Times world section related in some way to Osama Bin Laden, Americans are all aware that they are being bogged down with facts and possibly too much information. It appears that every article I read contradicts the next, and there is little hope that even if someone tells me exactly what happened and how, I probably wouldn’t be able to sift through the mess of news to find it. Many short hard news articles about the Bin Laden raid describe the unrest of the people wanting to learn more. Including an article by _ with a headline that reads U.S. Still Waits for Access to Bin Laden Widows. He writes, “Some information given by intelligence officials appears intended to cast doubt on the account of the raid as presented by American officials; none has been independently verified.
Initial reports indicated that 12 women and children were in the compound; it now appears that there were 17.” In many articles it appears that the journalists themselves are stumbling through the facts, and basically saying that no one really knows the answers.
So, in order to escape the over reported Bin Laden death in the last week as well as to do a little extra research for my blog, I turned to reading many different kinds of film magazines. Some, including Entertainment Weekly (which surprisingly has some good movie reviews), tends to focus more on the Hollywood aspect of film making. These articles often describe the actors themselves, money, and box office numbers. Other magazines like FILM monthly go into great detail about plot and the general quality of films. However, I find that they are a little too nice, giving most movies more than 3 out of 5 stars. While, following weekly reviews by well respected film critic Leonard Maltin, I enjoy his direct criticism of movies without being incredibly harsh. He says what he has to say quickly and with the fewest words possible it seems. My favorite line from his THOR review explains a strong opinion, but without telling the reader how to feel. Leonard writes, “ I was also put off by the utter artificiality of Asgard. It’s hard to imbue a set of characters with credibility when they’re play-acting on such clearly computer-enhanced sets. 3-D added nothing to the experience, I’m sorry to say.”
I’ve most enjoyed keeping up with the New York Times movie articles. I like that they often have current and timely aspects. Also, each article explores a different side of the movie business, as opposed to certain magazines which tend to all write about the same thing. An article in the times published last week by Michael Cieply wrote a very interesting article about a movie in the making set to release next summer called “Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter)”. His article was very coy, and not an op-ed piece at all. However, he wrote quite cleverly and arranged his facts in a way that told the reader subtly that the movie was both a ridiculous idea from Fox, and after Avatar, this movie is destined for failure. However he describes this by saying “A box-office slump finds theater attendance down by 15 percent from a year ago, and Fox is last among the major studios after an impressive showing in 2009 with its innovative “Avatar.” But “Vampire Hunter” is one of a handful of projects from Fox and other studios that promise to shake things up. No picture in the works is quite as audacious, however.”
Reading Journal
After such a heavy news week (so soon after the news and media frenzy not so long ago with Egypt and the unrest in the Middle East) the media is now prepared for this sort of big news. However, with nearly ever article in the New York Times world section related in some way to Osama Bin Laden, Americans are all aware that they are being bogged down with facts and possibly too much information. It appears that every article I read contradicts the next, and there is little hope that even if someone tells me exactly what happened and how, I probably wouldn’t be able to sift through the mess of news to find it. Many short hard news articles about the Bin Laden raid describe the unrest of the people wanting to learn more. Including an article by _ with a headline that reads U.S. Still Waits for Access to Bin Laden Widows. He writes, “Some information given by intelligence officials appears intended to cast doubt on the account of the raid as presented by American officials; none has been independently verified.
Initial reports indicated that 12 women and children were in the compound; it now appears that there were 17.” In many articles it appears that the journalists themselves are stumbling through the facts, and basically saying that no one really knows the answers.
So, in order to escape the over reported Bin Laden death in the last week as well as to do a little extra research for my blog, I turned to reading many different kinds of film magazines. Some, including Entertainment Weekly (which surprisingly has some good movie reviews), tends to focus more on the Hollywood aspect of film making. These articles often describe the actors themselves, money, and box office numbers. Other magazines like FILM monthly go into great detail about plot and the general quality of films. However, I find that they are a little too nice, giving most movies more than 3 out of 5 stars. While, following weekly reviews by well respected film critic Leonard Maltin, I enjoy his direct criticism of movies without being incredibly harsh. He says what he has to say quickly and with the fewest words possible it seems. My favorite line from his THOR review explains a strong opinion, but without telling the reader how to feel. Leonard writes, “ I was also put off by the utter artificiality of Asgard. It’s hard to imbue a set of characters with credibility when they’re play-acting on such clearly computer-enhanced sets. 3-D added nothing to the experience, I’m sorry to say.”
I’ve most enjoyed keeping up with the New York Times movie articles. I like that they often have current and timely aspects. Also, each article explores a different side of the movie business, as opposed to certain magazines which tend to all write about the same thing. An article in the times published last week by Michael Cieply wrote a very interesting article about a movie in the making set to release next summer called “Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter)”. His article was very coy, and not an op-ed piece at all. However, he wrote quite cleverly and arranged his facts in a way that told the reader subtly that the movie was both a ridiculous idea from Fox, and after Avatar, this movie is destined for failure. However he describes this by saying “A box-office slump finds theater attendance down by 15 percent from a year ago, and Fox is last among the major studios after an impressive showing in 2009 with its innovative “Avatar.” But “Vampire Hunter” is one of a handful of projects from Fox and other studios that promise to shake things up. No picture in the works is quite as audacious, however.”
Monday, May 9, 2011
Bin Laden
Mazen Hassan
Introduction to Journalism
Reading Journal
5/6/2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/opinion/08haidt.html?ref=osamabinladen
Yes, Osama Bin Laden is dead. Everybody knows, and apparently, everyone still cares, as it is covered on every single newspaper, magazine, blog, TV show, Facebook status – you name it. Yes, of course he was a bad man who had what was coming to him; but I found myself extremely disturbed at just joyous everybody seemed to be at the announcement of his death. For the families who actually lost loved ones in 9/11, I can more so sympathize as to why they would celebrate (though, I do think it more appropriate to do so privately), and though it’s not to say every American wasn’t affected by that horrific tragedy, I feel that the merriment has gone a bit too far.
At the end of the day, this was still a human – a person (regardless of how horrible he may have been), and I believe that supporting the end of an era of living in fear of him and what he might potentially do is acceptable, but to discuss his death so openly and nonchalantly, to me, says a lot about one’s character and our country as a whole.
In reading this article (“Why We Celebrate Killing”) in the New York Times, I immediately thought it was a smart decision to have a social psychologist write the article, as she may have more perceptive and sympathetic insight as to why people are reacting this way, and whether or not it is “proper” and/or healthy. At first I thought she was relating to people like me, who were slightly appalled at the level of excitement and merriment, when I read the very (true and accurate) quote - “we should seek justice, not vengeance...Doesn’t this lower us to “their” level?” She even used a very clever and accurate analogy; comparing celebrating the death of Bin Laden, to a family throwing a huge party at the gates of a prison after their daughter’s murderer is executed. I thought it was a brilliant comparison as, she states that yes the parents (Americans in this case) should feel relief and private joy; but to go above and beyond to get drunk and rejoice openly on the streets is “a celebration of death and vengeance, not justice,” which I 100% agree with.
Though delving deeper into the article, as I feared, she ended up having the same mentality as everybody else. She essentially goes into the history of psychology, and how it is a natural instinct in humans, when going through a great tragedy, to unite – she’s saying that people’s belligerence last week was a sign of unity, solidary and patriotism. She closes the article by saying she believed the outcry last week was “good and healthy.” So much for the perception of sensitive psychologists.
Introduction to Journalism
Reading Journal
5/6/2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/opinion/08haidt.html?ref=osamabinladen
Yes, Osama Bin Laden is dead. Everybody knows, and apparently, everyone still cares, as it is covered on every single newspaper, magazine, blog, TV show, Facebook status – you name it. Yes, of course he was a bad man who had what was coming to him; but I found myself extremely disturbed at just joyous everybody seemed to be at the announcement of his death. For the families who actually lost loved ones in 9/11, I can more so sympathize as to why they would celebrate (though, I do think it more appropriate to do so privately), and though it’s not to say every American wasn’t affected by that horrific tragedy, I feel that the merriment has gone a bit too far.
At the end of the day, this was still a human – a person (regardless of how horrible he may have been), and I believe that supporting the end of an era of living in fear of him and what he might potentially do is acceptable, but to discuss his death so openly and nonchalantly, to me, says a lot about one’s character and our country as a whole.
In reading this article (“Why We Celebrate Killing”) in the New York Times, I immediately thought it was a smart decision to have a social psychologist write the article, as she may have more perceptive and sympathetic insight as to why people are reacting this way, and whether or not it is “proper” and/or healthy. At first I thought she was relating to people like me, who were slightly appalled at the level of excitement and merriment, when I read the very (true and accurate) quote - “we should seek justice, not vengeance...Doesn’t this lower us to “their” level?” She even used a very clever and accurate analogy; comparing celebrating the death of Bin Laden, to a family throwing a huge party at the gates of a prison after their daughter’s murderer is executed. I thought it was a brilliant comparison as, she states that yes the parents (Americans in this case) should feel relief and private joy; but to go above and beyond to get drunk and rejoice openly on the streets is “a celebration of death and vengeance, not justice,” which I 100% agree with.
Though delving deeper into the article, as I feared, she ended up having the same mentality as everybody else. She essentially goes into the history of psychology, and how it is a natural instinct in humans, when going through a great tragedy, to unite – she’s saying that people’s belligerence last week was a sign of unity, solidary and patriotism. She closes the article by saying she believed the outcry last week was “good and healthy.” So much for the perception of sensitive psychologists.
Meredith Pollack feature draft
Meredith Pollack
New York City Restaurant Grading System First Draft
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is nearing the one year anniversary of implementing advertised grades of the more than 24,000 restaurants in the city. The announcement came in June 2010, that not only would inspectors be coming around for their annual surprise visits to food establishments, but they would be grading the restaurants on their performance giving them an A, B, or C. To recieve an A, a restaurant must have between 0 and 13 violations, for a B, 14 - 27 violations, and for a C, 28 or more violations. Restaurants are also allowed to plead their cases and change their grades in front of Health Department’s Administrative Tribunal, which is when you see out front of a restaurant that their grade is pending.
The advertising of the grades in store windows is what has some restaurant owners upset even now a year later. The Department of Health has very strict guidelines as to where these grade placards must be posted. According to a letter grading FAQ posted online by Thomas Farley, the commissioner of the NYC Department of health, “The grade (or grade pending) card must be posted on a front window, door or outside wall where it is
easily seen by people passing by. The card must be within 5 feet of the entrance and from 4 to 6 feet off the ground or floor. “
The Department of Health clearly states in this same FAQ form that the reason for this is strictly for the consumer and their safety. However, the violations that inspectors are grading on have hardly been changed since the displaying of grades. They make it clear that grades are only based on food and consumer safety, and have nothing to do with the dining atmosphere or the quality of the food served in the restaurant. With an overwhelming support of the public, who are thankful for now knowing where not to eat, this concerns the restaurateurs who have performed consistently at a B or even C level without complaints.
The angry owners however are not just the ones who are getting shut down for the absurdly high amount of violations that would call for doing so, but even executive chefs as well known as Marc Murphy, the owner of three Manhattan restaurants. In a widely circulated statement that he made last year, he expressed his deep concerns with how the grading system will effect the choices that consumers make. He says, “What I find most frustrating about this proposal is the arbitrary nature of its content. For example, if this is really about keeping the public safe, then why aren’t food carts, hospitals and school cafeterias included in this letter grading initiative? And if this is, as the DOH says, a way of informing the public about restaurant cleanliness, then will it take the human error factor into consideration? “
He goes on to express concern about the personal nature of inspection that is never seen by the public. He says that human error will not be accounted for, expressing distrust in inspectors as the same one will rarely come twice, and will often look over things that others will count as violations. He also believes that things other than food safety should be accounted for in the letter grading as well.
{dont really know what to do with this segment} Dan Richardson, the afternoon manager of Vinnie’s Pizza on Bedford Ave. in Brooklyn says that he’s not sure how he feels about the grading just yet. “As far as business goes I don’t think we’ve really been affected. The fans of our pizza are pretty loyal.” he said with a small laugh of hesitation. Vinnie’s is located on a busy street just off the subway. In the two and a half blocks from the Bedford Avenue L Station, there are three cafes, two bars, another pizza place, and two restaurants, all displaying big blue A’s in their window fronts. Vinnie’s Pizza displays a grade pending sign. “We’re working on an appeal in front of the board right now I guess... but that’s all I’m willing to say about that,” says Richardson. }
While the Department of Health sees this as a positive aspect of their grading system, it does appear to be flawed. When a hungry consumer walks by a restaurant with a large lettered placard amongst the menu’s in the front window, they may be led to believe that this grade defines the restaurant as a whole, including the taste and quality of the food, and the safety of things such as wiring and even structural soundness of the restaurant itself.
New York City Restaurant Grading System First Draft
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is nearing the one year anniversary of implementing advertised grades of the more than 24,000 restaurants in the city. The announcement came in June 2010, that not only would inspectors be coming around for their annual surprise visits to food establishments, but they would be grading the restaurants on their performance giving them an A, B, or C. To recieve an A, a restaurant must have between 0 and 13 violations, for a B, 14 - 27 violations, and for a C, 28 or more violations. Restaurants are also allowed to plead their cases and change their grades in front of Health Department’s Administrative Tribunal, which is when you see out front of a restaurant that their grade is pending.
The advertising of the grades in store windows is what has some restaurant owners upset even now a year later. The Department of Health has very strict guidelines as to where these grade placards must be posted. According to a letter grading FAQ posted online by Thomas Farley, the commissioner of the NYC Department of health, “The grade (or grade pending) card must be posted on a front window, door or outside wall where it is
easily seen by people passing by. The card must be within 5 feet of the entrance and from 4 to 6 feet off the ground or floor. “
The Department of Health clearly states in this same FAQ form that the reason for this is strictly for the consumer and their safety. However, the violations that inspectors are grading on have hardly been changed since the displaying of grades. They make it clear that grades are only based on food and consumer safety, and have nothing to do with the dining atmosphere or the quality of the food served in the restaurant. With an overwhelming support of the public, who are thankful for now knowing where not to eat, this concerns the restaurateurs who have performed consistently at a B or even C level without complaints.
The angry owners however are not just the ones who are getting shut down for the absurdly high amount of violations that would call for doing so, but even executive chefs as well known as Marc Murphy, the owner of three Manhattan restaurants. In a widely circulated statement that he made last year, he expressed his deep concerns with how the grading system will effect the choices that consumers make. He says, “What I find most frustrating about this proposal is the arbitrary nature of its content. For example, if this is really about keeping the public safe, then why aren’t food carts, hospitals and school cafeterias included in this letter grading initiative? And if this is, as the DOH says, a way of informing the public about restaurant cleanliness, then will it take the human error factor into consideration? “
He goes on to express concern about the personal nature of inspection that is never seen by the public. He says that human error will not be accounted for, expressing distrust in inspectors as the same one will rarely come twice, and will often look over things that others will count as violations. He also believes that things other than food safety should be accounted for in the letter grading as well.
{dont really know what to do with this segment} Dan Richardson, the afternoon manager of Vinnie’s Pizza on Bedford Ave. in Brooklyn says that he’s not sure how he feels about the grading just yet. “As far as business goes I don’t think we’ve really been affected. The fans of our pizza are pretty loyal.” he said with a small laugh of hesitation. Vinnie’s is located on a busy street just off the subway. In the two and a half blocks from the Bedford Avenue L Station, there are three cafes, two bars, another pizza place, and two restaurants, all displaying big blue A’s in their window fronts. Vinnie’s Pizza displays a grade pending sign. “We’re working on an appeal in front of the board right now I guess... but that’s all I’m willing to say about that,” says Richardson. }
While the Department of Health sees this as a positive aspect of their grading system, it does appear to be flawed. When a hungry consumer walks by a restaurant with a large lettered placard amongst the menu’s in the front window, they may be led to believe that this grade defines the restaurant as a whole, including the taste and quality of the food, and the safety of things such as wiring and even structural soundness of the restaurant itself.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Osama Bin Laden media overdose
I think every person with a brain has already had this debate: yeah, we're happy a terrorist was killed, but isn't it wrong to celebrate a death? Does this mean anything for the war? This and that--all over the news, and the op-eds, and the seminar discussions.
I wanted to go on another tangent though. Yesterday I learned about Sohaib Athar--the civilian who lived in Abbottabad, Pakistan (you know, where Bin Laden was caught) who was Tweeting about the raid unknowingly as it happened. It literally took me a minute or two to process that when I heard it before rushing to a computer.
Sohaib Athar, @ReallyVirtual tweeted the following on May 1st, I'm assuming late at night because Twitter doesn't provide the time:
ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar
Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event).
1 May Favorite Retweet Reply
ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar
Go away helicopter - before I take out my giant swatter :-/
1 May Favorite Retweet Reply
ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar
A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something nasty :-S
1 May Favorite Retweet Reply
The tweets continued until he read the news and realized what was going on. The media frenzy fired on him and he even had to create a FAQ about his "tweets" and the legitimacy of his site. Though I still remain a bit skeptical about this, the issue/concept of immediacy is what really strikes me. Literally, before I went to bed on Sunday, checked my e-mail and saw NPR Update: Osama Bin Laden is Dead, Sohaib Athar had already "reported" on it first hand in one way or another. I agree with Google when it says "The Web is what you make of it".
So my question is--is this journalism? Is Sohaib Athar now considered as legit as a Pulitzer Prize Photographer who puts his life at risk for the news? But wait--he didn't know he was reporting on anything so drastically important. Does it still count as journalism?
I've come to a conclusion about journalism--it's not something that can be studied, it can just be practiced. Willingly or unwillingly we are all journalists on a daily basis. We are constantly reporting, googling, researching, tweeting, updating on any given subject that interest us. For this guy, well, he thought he was just reporting on neighborhood occurrences, when in fact he was tweeting about the most important capture of the decade. Wow.
EDIT 3: Organizations and Citizens Work To Fill In The Gaps Of Hunger
By Harrison Golden
For Amanda Woods, the weeks are more than just days crossed off on her pocket-sized calendar. They are moments filled with sharing, engaging, and interacting with the world around her. Whether she is walking her six-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter to and from school, packing their lunches, or cooking them dinner, she sees how food unites people and develops foundations for the future. Every Saturday morning, she wakes up, makes herself and her family a quick breakfast before riding the subway from her West Village home to the soup kitchen at the Bowery Mission, where she shares her time, handing out food to anyone hoping for a quality meal.
“It’s such a routine I have,” Woods said, in between handing out helpings of potatoes and chicken soup to those standing on line. “Without even thinking, we base our lives around meals. It drives us to connect in ways that nothing else can, which is why there is no reason not to get involved. It strengthens the ties between so many people.”
Within the nation’s largest cities, stronger efforts are being made to establish connections between not only the state-operated and private anti-poverty organizations, but also between those struggling with hunger and volunteers at food banks, all in an effort to solidify growth for poverty-stricken Americans.
According to Joel Berg of the New York Coalition Against Hunger, 700,000 more New Yorkers are accessing food stamps than did so five years ago. While he acknowledges that federal initiatives such as the 2008 Economic Recovery Rebate and stimulus funds from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have allowed for a continuation of citywide anti-poverty, anti-hunger programs, these efforts are still under much daily strain.
Last week, members of the New York State Legislature and newly elected Governor Andrew Cuomo agreed to provide $300 million to hunger programs throughout the state, the same amount as last year. However, state lawmakers also consented to halt the planned increase in basic welfare grants despite a $1.3 billion donation from the federal government. Officials from the Hunger Action Network condemn the move, calling it an act of fiscal regression during a time that should be marked by progress and unity.
“Quite too often, people make it about politics, taking partisan business into consideration,” said Triada Stampas, Director of Government Relations, Policy, and Public Education at the Food Bank For New York City. “But these are lives and livelihoods at stake. And the best way to meet these goals is to ensure quality from all angles—government, organizations, citizen involvement. By working together through all these approaches, we have no choice but to help the food banks and poverty programs prosper.”
In an effort to move forward on the city’s fight against hunger without overloading the demand for government-issued food stamps, food banks such as City Harvest and the Food Bank For New York City, as well as activist networks like the New York Coalition Against Hunger, have collectively encouraged everyday citizens and businesspeople to donate increased amounts of time and effort to their cause, regardless of organizational or political preferences.
In light of ongoing statements from Congressional leaders threatening the future of federal funding for food banks and soup kitchens, cities across the nation are also working to find ways of decreasing poverty.
In Los Angeles County, over 1.7 million residents were reported to have struggled with hunger in 2009, the most recent year in which information was available, according to a study from Feeding America, the country’s largest network of food banks.
However, participation for food stamps in California is close to an all-time low. Last year, over fifty percent of the state’s households missed the cutoff for food stamp qualification, earning more than 130 percent of the poverty level. But members of the California Food Policy Advocates group, as well as officials from the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, insist that people and organizations both remain active in the fight against hunger, supporting all citizens facing hunger, regardless of qualifications.
“Over the last two years of this economic recession we’ve seen an enormous increase in demand for food assistance throughout the county,” Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, told the Associated Press.
During the past few years, the food bank has successfully increased its range of impact, distributing food to more than one million people last year, compared to about 600,000 in 2006. Flood attributes the progress to volunteer involvement. In 2010, approximately 24,000 citizens participated in their efforts to decrease food insecurity. In addition, the organization currently comprises of 600 member agencies, which primarily include soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the region.
“With food and fuel prices rising and an unemployment rate in the county at nearly 13 percent, we expect 2011 to be another demanding year,” Flood added, noting the importance of consistent, well-rounded commitment from member agencies, activist organizations, and volunteers alike in fighting to decrease hunger.
In Houston, groups such as Volunteer Houston and the Houston Food Bank are aiming to widen their resources and recruit more volunteers, hoping that doing so will more adequately balance demand for both government food stamps and non-government organizations, or NGOs.
According to a 2009 study from Feeding America, about one in five children in the state experience hunger, higher than any other state in the country. In addition to an 8.8 unemployment rate, over 17 percent of Texans live below the poverty line, including nearly 26 percent of children, leading poverty activists in both Houston and the state as a whole to treat the issue with increased alarm.
“Loss of jobs and lower wages mean more families and individuals need help keeping food on the table,” said Brian Greene, President of the Houston Food Bank, the largest of its kind in the region. “We must count even more on our donors, volunteers, and other community partners to stand with us in alleviating the suffering caused by hunger.”
In 2010, 65 million pounds of food were donated to the bank, up about 40 percent from two years ago. Through its nearly 500 hunger relief agencies, including church food pantries, homeless shelters, and nutrition sites for the youth and elderly, the Houston Food Bank has fed people at an annual rate of 865,000. Public advocates and political analysts attribute this to a rise in volunteerism, as roughly 260,000 hours are spent per year assisting the food bank in meeting demand. With continued involvement, volunteers not only hope to gradually give more opportunities to those dealing with hunger, but to also ease the burdens of unemployment.
“I think Texas is on the comeback, faster than other states,” said Talmadge Heflin, Director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy. “Obviously we got hit by the recession. People are feeling that, but we are coming out of it sooner.”
Meanwhile, as the sun tries to peak its way above the Bowery Mission, Woods hands out her final helping of the day’s lunch and gets ready to pick up her daughter from a friend’s house. Her manner is not in a way that seems rushed or blindly obligated, but rather careful and savory of all that the moments seem to offer her. She makes her way out the front door, holding it open for an elderly couple making their way through.
“Above all, getting rid of poverty involves looking around and realizing the beauty of all that we tend to overlook,” she adds. “The hours, the meals, and meeting the people is crucial, but once you find those small moments, you really see the picture and what it’s worth.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)