IConey Island, NY (Iifoto ngu-Celeste Sloman / kwiNew York Braganca) U-Keith Suber wazalelwa kwisibhedlele i-Coney Island ngoSeptemba ka-1966, kanye ngexesha lokupela elalihlwayele iConey Island kwingcinga zehlabathi, edibanisa indawo yokudlala yabantu kunye neBaghdad elwandle, ekugqibeleni yaphuka. Ungumzalwana kaMolock obuleweyo, owayebaleka i-Seven Immortals street gang-inkuthazo Iimfazwe -Nonyana ka-Romeo Samuel, owayesebenza ekwakheni kwaye ezenzela ukunqaba. Ukuthi asebenzise ifani kamama ebengazi ukuba mhlawumbi uyimbeko kuMary Suber, umakhulu owamkhulisayo de wayekwishumi elivisayo kwiiNdlu zeGravesend, ihlathi lezakhiwo zeGunya lezeZindlu laseNew York kwiNeptune Avenue.
Umdikoni kwiNdibano yeVangeli yaseConey Island, apho umfundisi owaziwa njengoMzalwana uJack wongamela, uDade Suber wayesebenzela iSebe likaRobert Moses ’Park, ejongana nokugcinwa kwezindlu zokuhlambela ecaleni kwendlela. Wayefundisa ngecawe esikolweni kwaye wayehlala nomzukulwana wakhe ecaweni. Iinkumbulo zikaKeith zobuntwana zilawulwa sisisa sikaMzalwan 'uJack kunye nemisebenzi egqityiweyo kwindlu yecawe, ngesidima sikaninakhulu nokuzola kwakhe.
Ukuhamba naye ngolunye usuku xa wayeneminyaka eli-11, wakhomba kumfana osandul 'ukulala kwi-Seven Immortals regalia ehamba kwi-Surf Avenue ngaphandle kwe-Renaissance Revival hulk ye-Shore Theatre endala, apho u-Al Jolson noJerry Lewis babedlala khona, Ibhotwe labadala lefilimu. WayenguRaymond Samuel, inkokeli yemigulukudu eyayisaziwa esitratweni njengeBlue. UKeith akazange amqonde. Ngubhuti wakho lowo, umakhulu wakhe wamxelela.
Ixesha lalifikile, waziva, lokuba uKeith ahlangane kwicala likayise wosapho. Kwiintsuku ezimbalwa emva koko, uRaymond wazisa uKeith kwabanye abantakwabo-abafana abasesitratweni ababehamba ngeMousey, uTimmy noColonel-abanye abazalwana abayi-14 bebonke, uKeith wayengoyena mncinci kubo.
Waqala ukugcina ixesha emva kwexesha kwiprojekthi yeCarey Gardens apho abantakwabo babehlanganisana khona, betshaya intsangu, besela, behlutha izipaji kwaye bengena ezimotweni. Wayeza kuba ngunyana wakhe wokuqala eneminyaka eli-17 kwaye ajoyine uCasanova Crew, iklatshi ye-DJs esele ikhulile ngexesha Ukonwaba kukaRapper . Wayeza kubaleka kunye nabaSkeeter Boys, ababetyhala i-heroin kunye nokuqhekeka kwiiprojekthi zaseConey Island ngee-1980 kwaye babanjiswa kwisibambiso se-DEA esasibophelela abatyholwa abangama-24.
Kwi-forearm kaKeith luphawu olucwebezelayo lokutsha olubonisa ubungakanani kunye nokumila kwengqekembe yeedola ye-Eisenhower. Ezingalweni nasemilenzeni, imizila emibala yamanxeba embumbulu. Ulele kwiintolongo e-Elizabethtown, eNew Jersey naseAllenville, ePennsylvania, ebhasini esuka eFort Worth esiya eSeagoville, eTexas, esiya eMemphis, eTennessee. Kwintolongo yase-El Reno, e-Oklahoma, wajoyina i-CRIPS. Emva kokugqiba isigwebo seminyaka esibhozo, wagoduka ngo-1997. Kodwa ebambelele kwimbonakalo ekhohlakeleyo nengalalanisiyo-kwaye engaqinisekanga ngendlela yokwenza ubomi ngaphandle kwezoqoqosho olungekho mthethweni-wayebuyela ngamanye amaxesha entolongweni iziqwengana ezimfutshane ezizayo. Ishumi leminyaka.
Ngentsasa yakutshanje, uKeith wavuka kwigumbi lamagumbi eConey Island apho ahlala khona kwaye wandihlangabeza kufutshane neNathan's Famous kwiSurf Avenue. Kwakungekabikho i-11, kodwa ilanga laliphezulu kwaye iindwendwe ezinqamlezileyo zazisele zifikile emgceni weetogs. Oko wabuyela kwindawo awazalelwa kuyo ngo-2008 esuka eAlbany, apho wachitha khona iminyaka embalwa ezama ukuzikhusela kwisilingo sedolophu yakowabo, uKeith uye wanikela ngamandla akhe amaninzi kwi-Suber Foundation, umbutho wokucebisa nokubekwa emsebenzini waqala ukunceda abafana esenza ukhetho olufanayo nolwakhe. UKeith Suber, owayeyinkokeli yeqela lemigulukudu, usebenza ukuqeqesha nokufumana umsebenzi kubafana abasokolayo eConey Island. (Ifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Iqela lemigulukudu yabazalwana bakaSamuel liphelile, kodwa iinkomo ezindala-kunye nenkcubeko yemipu omnye umhlali ekudala endichaza njengokukhumbuza iWild West- kuyaqhubeka. Olu luntu oluncinci, utshilo uKeith. Zintle kakhulu zonke iimbambano ozibonayo ubukhulu becala zezobuqu: 'Inkwenkwe yakho yenze into kumzala wam kwiminyaka eyadlulayo,' shit kanjalo. Aba bantwana bathatha kanye apho besishiye khona.
Ukuvuselelwa kwaseBrooklyn akuzange kusasazeke eConey Island, ayisosiqithi kwaphela-indawo yomlanjana wayo ongaziwayo eyayizaliswe kwiminyaka eyadlulayo-kodwa usingasiqithi osisiqingatha seekhilomitha ubude kumda wesithili sedolophu. Umntu omnye kwabathandathu abangama-50 000 abahlali bahlala kuphuhliso lwe-NYCHA, uninzi lwazo lumi lucace gca ngezinto ezinomtsalane kumkhosi ongakhathalelwanga obizwa ngokuba yiWest End.
Intswela-ngqesho ekuhlaleni ibhabha malunga neepesenti ezili-13 — phantse inani eliphindwe kabini eManhattan kunye neepesenti ezi-4 ngaphezulu kunomndilili waseBrooklyn — kwaye iindawo zolonwabo zoluntu kunye neenkqubo zinqabile. Iinketho zentengiso, ngakumbi eWest End, zezinto abathengisi bezindlu abazibiza ngokuba azikakhuli, abathengisi abathengisi, iikhemesti kunye nezinye iziseko. IConey Island ihlala phakathi kwezithili ezinobundlobongela eNew York, ngereyithi yokubulala ka-2013 ethelekiswa neBrownville.
Iinkuthazo zobuqu zikhokele i-odyssey kaKeith: ukusweleka komntakwabo, wadutyulwa izihlandlo ezithathu entloko kwiprojekthi phakathi kwiminyaka yoo-90; abantwana bakhe, ngoku unezine; Ukubulala umzala oneminyaka engama-25 ngo-2010. Kodwa ulawulo lweBloomberg iConey Island Revitalisation Plan, eyamkelwa libhunga lesixeko ngo-2009, yanika izikhuthazi.
Naphi na apho ubona khona ukusika apha, sijonga njengethuba, utshilo uKeith, ebonakalisa iibhloko ezingqongileyo. Kule minyaka mihlanu idlulileyo, isixeko sigalele i-140 yezigidi zeedola kuphuhliso lwezoqoqosho, siququzelela ukuvulwa kweepaki ezimbini zokuzonwabisa-iLuna Park kunye ne-Scream Zone-ukulungiswa kweebhodi kunye nezinye iiprojekthi. Isongezelelo se- $ 150 yezigidi sabelwe uphuculo lwezixhobo, isidingo esibi esaye sagxininiswa zizikhukula ngexesha nasemva kweNkanyamba uSandy.
Siye sanyuka ngerempu saya kwibhodi yendlela, apho abantu baphakathi evekini bahamba ngokungakhathali. U-Keith wakhomba kwiiplanga ezinyangiweyo zemozulu phantsi kweenyawo zethu nasempuma, apho amanani ehip-hop athabatha kumtya weentsimbi ezintsha kunye neefestile. Inkqubo yolutsha yendawo kunye namaziko olonwabo kunqabile. (Ifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Waye wafaka amadoda aselumelwaneni — abanye babo ekusenokwenzeka ukuba babekade besenza izinto ezingenamveliso ingako — ukwenza umsebenzi wokudiliza kwiindawo zokutyela kunye nokubeka amaplanga ebhodini, ukubonelela ngezifundo ezisisiseko zesivumelwano njengoko kufuneka. Ngoncedo lweenkokheli zalapha ekhaya, ufumene izithembiso zemisebenzi yokwakha kwiiprojekthi zabucala nakwindawo ezixhaswa ngemali yimvuselelo kunye nemali yokubuyisela eSandy: kwizindlu zikawonke-wonke, kwi-aquarium- ethi iphucule i-157 yezigidi zeedola- kwi-amphitheatre yezigidi ezingama-64 zeedola ngenxa ukugqitywa konyaka olandelayo nakwezinye iindawo.
UKeith yindoda ebanzi, yokunyanzelwa, i-280 yeepawundi enobunzima obuphakathi kunye nomlinganiso ofanele umatshini wokuthengisa we-ambulensi. Unxibe umtya weendiza kunye neempahla ezirhuqwayo, iiteki kunye neepephethi ezithe tyaba. Ngokuchasene nobunzima bakhe, amanxeba akhe anefuthe lamanqaku e-bramble kwisigebenga. Mna ekubeni ndingubani, ukuba yi-OG kwaye ndinentlonipho endiyenzayo apha, ndinokuba nefuthe njengabanye abantu abanakho, utshilo. Andibalisi bali ndilifunde encwadini. Ndiyiphile.
Okwangoku, ukufakwa kweSiseko seSiseko kubanjwa njenge-catch-can. Isixeko sicebisa ukuba isicwangciso saso sivelise imisebenzi yokwakha engama-25,000 kunye ne-6,000 esisigxina, $ 14 yezigidigidi kwimisebenzi yezoqoqosho ngaphezulu kweminyaka engama-30. Kodwa iqela leenkokheli zasekuhlaleni zindixelele ukuba bambalwa abahlali bendawo abaye baqeshwa kwiindawo ezintsha zokusebenza kwezokhenketho; uqeqesho olungonelanga, imfundo kunye nobunzima ekufumaneni ubulungu bemibutho yabasebenzi kuphazamise ukuqesha. Imisebenzi evelisiweyo ukuza kuthi ga ngoku ihlawulwa kakhulu-ngamaxesha athile, okwethutyana okanye zombini.
Isicwangciso sokuvuselela, esiveliswe yiNkampani yoPhuhliso lwezoQoqosho eNew York kunye nenkxaso-mali engasasebenziyo ngoku-iConey Island Development Corporation-ikakhulu inovuko lwamva nje lweConey Island edlulileyo. Kodwa indlela umbono onokuthi uhlale kunye nendawo yokuhlala engafani ncam naleyo yayimi ecaleni kwee-coasters kunye ne-carousels zakudala ihlala ingacacanga. Isibheno salapha-kwaye-ngoku senkulungwane ye-20 yeConey Island honky-tonk-isakhono sayo sokuxhasa uhlobo lwendawo ekumgangatho ophakamileyo apho abacwangcisi abasebhankini-nayo ingangqinwanga.
Ukufika kwam ekhaya, ndandingenguye umfana olungileyo okwethutyana, uKeith wabonakalisa. Bendingafuni ukuphithizela kwakhona. Bendingafuni ukubuyela entolongweni. Njengabantu abaninzi apha namhlanje, bendifuna ukutshintsha ubomi bam, kodwa bendingazi ukuba kanjani.
Ekhohlo, igrafu eyomelezayo. Ekunene, ukutsiba kweparashute kujongwe kude. (Ifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Ukuba ukubonwa kwamanani esazisi kugqame kumava aseMelika kunye neConey Island kumongo wenkcubeko yesizwe, ayothusi into yokuba ubumelwane obunembali yayo obuninzi buxhalabile kukungabikho kokuphinda kwenzeke. Ukuqaphela ngaphezulu kwenkulungwane yenkulungwane ukusukela oko kwakhiwa ihotele yokuqala eConey Island, ngo-1937 INew York Times sayibiza ngokuba yindawo yaseNew York kwaye uninzi lwaseMelika lwazi ngokusondeleyo… lutshayelwa ngamaza atshintshayo okuphumelela nentlupheko. Sele ibonile imigulukudu, urhwaphilizo kunye nomlilo — ubukrelekrele, emva koko-ubumnandi obubonakala ngathi bubutsha kumavili nakwimibhobho yaseFerris. Ukusuka kwimfazwe yamakhaya ukuya esiphelweni senkulungwane, uConey wayethetha iilwandle zabucala kunye namakhaya ehlotyeni, emva koko… umdyarho wamahashe, imonto enamakhadi amathathu, abafazi abanxibe kakuhle, inkukhu, ilobster kunye ne-champagne.
Ngoo-1930, ukuphuculwa kwendlela yokuhamba yayikhwelisa abantu abazizityebi baseNew York besiya kwiindawo ezikude kakhulu, kwaye beyisa eConey Island ngobuninzi babo babengenako ukuya kude ukuzonwabisa kwabo kunemali yeekhilogram ezintlanu okanye ezilishumi [ababezakuphatha]. Ukuxinana kunye nokuxinana, kugcwele yirenti yerenti ephantsi, yayinikezelwe ikakhulu, kwaye kubonakala ngokusisigxina, kwixesha leziselo zeorenji, isarsaparilla kunye nebhiya ye-nickel. Kwakungokufutshane, nje luhlobo lwento uMkomishinala wePaki uRobert Moses ayithiyileyo. Ngokuqinisekileyo, watsho, akukho sizathu sokwenza ngaphandle ukugcwala kwabantu kwizindlu zethu.
Njengosihlalo kasodolophu weSkum Clearance Committee kwii-1950s zakuqala, uMoses waqala inkqubo enoburharha yokuvuselelwa kwedolophu- ngokucacileyo ukudala indawo yolala, unyaka wonke kunye nokohlwaya indawo yolonwabo- eya kuqhubeka de kube ngu-1970, xa iCarey Gardens ' isitena sokugqibela sabekwa. IConey Island yakudala, uMoses wayeyiqwalasele, yayiyintando yasebusuku kuphela kunye nasehlotyeni, ibola ngaphakathi nangaphandle ngaphandle kwentsomi. Indawo engaphambi kwamanzi e-Coney Island elunxwemeni. (Ifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
U-Edwin Cosme wayengumntwana omncinci owayehlala nabazali bakhe kwigumbi elingaphantsi komhlaba xa iNkanyamba uDonna yawela eConey Island ngo-1960. Emva koqhwithela, besindisa konke okusemandleni abo kwikhaya labo elonakeleyo, usapho lwafudukela kumgangatho wesibini I-West 20s kwaye kamva, kwiNdlu yeGravesend.
Unyana wabaphambukeli basePuerto Rican-umama wakhe wayejonge endlwini ngelixa utata wakhe esenza i-bootleg rum kwaye edlala ngokubolekisa ngemali-uMnu. UCosme wakhula phakathi komlilo kunye nobundlobongela bemigulukudu. I-Bulldozers zikhukulisile iindawo zase-bungalow ezinembali kunye neendawo zokugcina eziphezulu zabantu abahlwempuzekileyo nabakhulileyo besi sixeko bakhula kumdaka wabo. Iigraffiti kunye nezilwanyana ezirhubuluzayo zahluma kwindawo ekuhlalwa kuyo ngezakhiwo ezimnyama kunye neqashiso elahliweyo kwindiza emhlophe. Ukhenketho lwehlile.
Oko wasebenza entolongweni kwiminyaka yama-80s yokurhweba ngabantu ngemipu, uMnu.Cosme ube ngummeli wabahlali kunye noluntu, eqhuba amashishini kunye nenkqubo yeembaleki yolutsha. Ityityiwe kwaye icekeceke, ngentetho ecothayo kunye neentshukumo ezinemincili, ubuliswa esitalatweni ngabantu abadlulayo abankqonkqoza kuye ngokungakhathali, ngokungathi ngutatomncinci othandekayo nongenangqondo.
NgolwesiHlanu emva kwemini ngoMeyi, wandamkela kwindawo yokubhaka iMermaid Avenue anayo kwaye uhlala ngentla, sahamba saya kwindawo yakhe yokwenza iinwele kwiminyango embalwa ezantsi, apho iqela elincinci labasetyhini lancokola kamnandi ngeSpanish abantwana bedlala kufutshane. Ngasemva kwesakhiwo, sakhwela kwizinyuko ezothusayo ukuya kwipatio kwaye uMnu.Cosme walungiselela izitulo ezisongeleyo ezijikeleze itafile yamakhadi etyhafileyo. Kude lee, iWonder Wheel kunye neParachute Jump zenza umfanekiso ophuphayo nxamnye nesibhakabhaka esingenamafu.
Umnumzana uCosme luphawu lophuhliso olungathandabuzekiyo. Kwakumnandi ukuya kukhwela njengomntwana, utshilo. Kodwa kwakunzima ukukhula ebumelwaneni. Andilwi nophuhliso, kodwa yonke imali iyabuya. Uluntu aluxhamli kolu lonwabo.
Ekuvukeni kweNkanyamba uSandy, abacebisi kunye namaqela angenzi nzuzo abonakala ehla kwindawo yakhe kwikhonsathi eerie nemali yoluntu esandula ukufumaneka. Bangaza njani aba bantu kwi-West End ngoku? Ubuze. Babephi ngaphambi kukaSandy? (Bexakeke kukuhamba kancinci ukuya kumaxhoba esiqhwithi, uceba weedolophu uMark Treyger, omele iConey Island, kutshanje wazise umthetho oyilwayo -kunye no-Eric Ulrich, waseQueens-becela iSebe lezoPhando ukuba libeke iliso ekusetyenzisweni kweebhiliyoni zeedola Ukubuyisa imali iNew York ifumene, kunye nokuphanda ubuqhetseba kunye nokuxhatshazwa.)
Ekucaciseni amathandabuzo anjalo, uMnu.Cosme nabanye endithethe nabo babonakala bengabhekiseli kulungiso lwamva nje lwaseConey Island, kodwa kwimbali ende yezithembiso ezingazalisekiswanga ezenziwe egameni lamathuba.
Ukusukela ukuba ndiyintombazana encinci, bebesoloko besithi, 'iConey Island izakuba yile, iConey Island izakuba yiyo,' undixelele uMathylde Frontus. Kukho imvakalelo yokuba unabahlali kwelinye icala kunye namandla akwelinye.
UNks Frontus ngumseki kunye nomphathi olawulayo weeNkonzo zeeNdawo zaseziDolophini, engenzi nzuzo ebonelela ngeenkqubo ezahlukeneyo zokuxhasa. Ngaphandle kwexesha e-Harvard, Columbia nase-NYU, uhlala eConey Island kuyo yonke iminyaka engama-36. Umsindo kunye nokudakumba okuninzi kuphume kukuziva ngathi ulibele njengabantwana bokuzalwa epakini, utshilo. Ukubona izixhobo ezihamba zihombisa ukutsiba kweparashute, umzekelo, kuyaphazamisa. Kukho abantu apha abagcina iimvakalelo ezinzima kwiminyaka emininzi eyadlulayo. (I-EDC izinikele nge-5 yezigidi zeedola ukutsiba.)
Uqikelelo lwearhente yokuthengiswa kwezindlu, kunye neefleams kunye neeflashows ezisecaleni, zimele enye yezona ndawo zityebileyo zobumelwane. Ngeminyaka yoo-1960, uFred Trump wathenga umhlaba okwakuhlala kuwo iSteeplechase Park engasekhoyo — eyokugqibela ukuvalwa kweepaki zegolide zaseConey Island — evakalisa ixesha lokuzonwabisa lifile ngolindelo lokwakha iikhondomu zodidi. Kodwa isixeko asivumi ukuphinda siyenze indawo yokuhlala ipasile kwaye uTrump wayiqeshisa kumqhubi wecarnival wexesha elincinci, eyithengisa ekugqibeleni esixekweni phakathi komhlaba oxhokonxwa kukuvela kwamakhasino. IiCasino, nazo, aziphumelelanga ukwenzeka, kwaye isikram sikarhulumente-sabucala sibandakanya abathathi-nxaxheba abahlukeneyo kunye nezindululo zokusetyenziswa komhlaba kwaye zikhokelela, ikakhulu, ekwandeni kweqashiso elingenamntu, kwaqhubeka nge-1990s.
Ngo-2005, i-Thor Equities, umphuhlisi owaziwayo ngamaziko okuthenga kunye nokuprinta iipropathi, wazityhila izicwangciso zekarishi, indawo enesitayile eLas Vegas kwisithili sokuzonwabisa, apho inkampani yayihlanganise iphecana elininzi. Phakathi koqhanqalazo lwabantu basekuhlaleni aboyikayo ukuba uphawu lwembali yaseConey Island-nangona ibonakele-iyakupheliswa, ulawulo lweBloomberg, olwaluzizo zonke iiakhawunti olwaxoxwa ngokuthethelekileyo sisikhulu seThor uJoe Sitt, wathenga iihektare ezingama-6.9 kumqambi $ 95.6 yezigidi. (I-Thor igcina indawo zibambe kakhulu-indawo enkulu yazo, kukumangaliswa kwabo bonke abachaphazelekayo.)
U-Ed Cosme e-salon yakhe kunye no-Mathylde Frontus kwi-ofisi yeeNkonzo zasekuhlaleni zase-Urban. (Iifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Ukusika iribhoni yokusika irabha, kufuneka ilanga, kwaye ekuqaleni kukaJuni kungqineke kungasebenzisani. Okokugqibela, ngo-Mgqibelo wesibini enyangeni, imvula yanika intsasa yobukrelekrele obukufutshane, kunye nesikere esilingana nekatala safika kwibhodi yendlela ukuya kucheba umsesane kwiThunderbolt entsha, i-9 yezigidi zeedola yentsimbi epholileyo. Iplanga yadilizwa kwiminyaka eli-14 eyadlulayo. Isandla sokuthimba isihlwele esele sivuya mhlawumbi i-50 yayingumongameli wesithili saseBrooklyn u-Eric Adams, useneta welizwe uDiane Savino kunye nomongameli we-EDC uKyle Kimball.
Sonke siyinxalenye yolu hlaziyo eConey Island! UNks Savino ubhengeze evela kwindawo ethintelweyo ebekelwe izithethi kunye noonondaba. UMnu Kimball waxela kwangaphambili ukuba ubumelwane buya kubuyiselwa kwibala lokudlala laseMelika. UMnu Adams ukhumbule i-cameo yokuqala yeThunderbolt UAnnie Hall . Akukho nto ikhankanyiweyo ngenkangeleko yakudala yokukhwela kwi ukuzama iphupha .
I-confetti yesilivere kunye nemisinga yegolide ekhutshwe ngentla kwesango lokungena, kwaye abakhweli bokuqala abaseburhulumenteni bangena kwi-coaster ye-orenji yomkhondo we-orenji, onamaqhina ajika kumhlaba omde, omxinwa womhlaba ucebisa ngeentambo ezimbini ze-dutch ezifriziwe emoyeni. Ukusuka kwibhodi yokuhamba, ukukhwela kwakubonakala kusebenza phantse kuthe cwaka.
Njengokuba isihlwele sasichithakala, ndajoyina uNate Bliss, usekela mongameli omkhulu e-EDC, kwitafile yangaphandle kwenye yeeresityu apho kuqeshwe khona abasebenzi beSuber Foundation. (Lo mbutho uthathe inxaxheba kulwakhiwo lweThunderbolt.) Umnumzana Bliss ebesebenza eConey Island isithuba seminyaka elithoba, esebenza njengomongameli we-CIDC kwaye mvanje edlala indima yophuhliso lwe-czar.
Ngokungaqhelekanga ngaphezulu kwama-30, wenza umbono womntu iminyaka eliqela emncinci kodwa elindile ngokungaqhelekanga. Chetywa kwaye uchebe ucocekile, enxibe iincakuba kunye nehempe emhlophe ecekeceke, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayebalekela indlu yeengwevu yabafundi. Unethemba elingenakuphikiswa lomgqatswa, elicatshulwe kukugculelwa kwesardoni, kunye nomoya wobomi obungapheliyo.
Ngesizathu esivakalayo, uMnu Bliss uyathandwa ebhodini. Ukutyelelwa kwandile minyaka le ukusukela kwesisaqhwithi, kufikelela ngaphezulu kwesigidi se-3 ngexesha le-2013 kwaye, ngokubalwa kwe-EDC, kusetwa irekhodi yosuku olunye lokuzimasa ngeSikhumbuzo kulo nyaka. (UMnu Bliss wenqabile ukubiza inani elichanekileyo; ngoJulayi 4, 1947, abantu abazizigidi eziyi-1.3 kucingelwa ukuba badibanise iilwandle.)
USandy wayeyiblip kwi-radar ye-arc yesithili sokonwaba, wandixelela.
Iindwendwe ezikufutshane neConey Island Wonder Wheel. (Iifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Ukubuyela umva kuququzelelwe lulungelelwaniso lwango-2009 kucando-mhlaba lwaseConey Island, olwaluphelelwe lixesha kakhulu, luthintela umda omkhulu wobumelwane ekuzonwabiseni kwangaphandle ukukhuphela ngaphandle uphuhliso olwahlukeneyo. Ukuncitshiswa malunga neehektare ezili-12, isithili sokonwaba ngoku simi kumhlaba opakiweyo okhuselweyo osisixeko, kwaye songezwe ngeehektare ezili-15 ezongezelelekileyo ezenzelwe ukonwabisa, ukhenketho kunye neenjongo zokuthengisa.
Phambi kocingo kwakhona, iiConey Island zokuzonwabisa zazimbalwa kwaye zigula. Ukuba uphulukana nokuzonwabisa, ulahlekelwa luphawu lweConey Island, onokulufumana ekudaleni amathuba otyalo mali lwabucala, ukuvula izindlu ezifikelelekayo, utshilo uMnu Bliss. (Inxalenye engafezekiswanga yesicwangciso se-EDC ibonelela ngeeyunithi ezingama-5,000 zezindlu, ezingama-900 zazo ezifikelelekayo; umakhi ovumayo akukafaneli enze izinto kwaye aqhubele phambili ekuphuculeni imisebenzi yoluntu kuye kwacotha.)
Ezemidlalo ipolishi entsha, iindawo zasekuhlaleni zokupheka ezinje ngoNathan, indawo yokutyela yaseRuby kunye nentombi kaPaul zibambisene nemixokelelwane yalapha neyesizwe kubandakanya neGrimaldi's, Applebee's, kwaye kungekudala, zikaJohnny Rocket. Ivenkile enkulu yokuthengisa, kubandakanya iivenkile ezinkulu, kufuneka zilandele. Ngoku sinomxube omnandi wakudala kunye nomtsha, utshilo uMnu Bliss. I-Surf Avenue ine-strip evumela ukuba ixakeke ngemini enethayo, ngosuku lobusika. UnamaJapan, amaTaliyane namaJamani afumana indlela ezantsi apha ngoJanuwari.
Yilapho izinto zikhohlisa. Icebo lesixeko lifuna indawo yokujikeleza unyaka wonke etsala abakhenkethi basekhaya nakwamanye amazwe. Akukho, nangona kunjalo, akukho ndlela icacileyo iya kuloo mveliso-akukho modeli yanamhlanje ephumeleleyo kuyo. Ukunxiba kwibhodi yendlela ehleliyo ngokungaqhelekanga. (Ifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Okwangoku, abantu baseConey Islanders baziva bephantsi. Indawo yokuhlala ikhuthaza ukunyaniseka. Ukundwendwela kwam kwiProjekthi yeMbali yeConey Island, imyuziyam encinci kunye nokungenzi nzuzo ebaleka phantsi kwendlela, intatheli, umbhali kunye nomhlali osondeleyo uCharles Denson wanikezela ngethemba: Abantu babengaqondi ukuba kutheni uluntu lungonwabanga malunga nomjikelo wamva nje wophuhliso, utshilo. Ewe, sidlule apha ngaphambili. Kunzima ngokwenene ukuhlehlisa okwenziwe nguRobert Moses. Awunakho ukubeka nje ukukhwela okutsha kwaye ube nayo yonke into ulunge. Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, le nto uyibonayo ayisiyonto ininzi yamathuba exesha elide-sisicwangciso seminyaka engama-30. Asikaboni elinye icandelo layo okwangoku.
Kwaye elinye icala lihlala lingacacanga. Xa i-aquarium igqityiwe, isahlulo esixhaswa ngemali sesi sixeko sokuvuselelwa kwesithili sokuzonwabisa siya kugqitywa. Izakuwela kumashishini abucala ukuqhubela phambili ukukhula, kwaye akukho ndlela isebenzayo yokudibanisa abahlali namathuba amatsha oqoqosho, ukuba banokufika. Kunzima, ekugqibeleni, ukukhulelwa kweendwendwe ezihamba ukuya kuchitha iKrisimesi kwihotele ehamba ngaphantsi komhlaba kwi-Broadway. Izinja ezishushu, iivenkile zeevenkile kunye neepaki zamanzi zinomtsalane omncinci kuphela.
Kodwa umnumzana uBliss wanyanzelisa, ukuba ayisiyonyani ncam le: Singakhangela iimodeli imini yonke, utshilo. Ngokwenyani, ayifani nezinye izinto ezijolise kwezothutho, ukusuka eDowntown eBrooklyn ukuya kwiiyadi zaseHudson. Siyicinga phantse njengenye indlela kunxweme lwaseJersey, kufutshane kuphela. Kodwa ndicinga ukuba iConey Island yinto yayo. Le yindawo evelisa umnqweno onamandla. Eyona mpembelelo ilungileyo kwikamva lesiqithi saseConey yinyani edlulileyo yeConey Island.
Ukufika kwakhe ngo-1909, uFreud wagweba iConey Island ukuba ayiyazi iminyaka yobudala, ukuvavanywa okungekho-ngokupheleleyo, okubonisa ukuba indawo leyo yahlula njani izandi zexesha. Namhlanje, kwiilwandle ezishushu zasehlotyeni zaseConey Island, enye inamagumbi okuphefumla, njengakudala. Unokuva isiNgesi esincinci, nangona amaTshayina kunye neSpanish athabathe indawo yamaJamani kunye ne-Italiya yakudala. Izithethi zihamba imini, ikakhulu, kunye namalungu abasebenzi baseNew York abasebenzayo. Abahambi beendlela kunokwenzeka ukuba basebenzise isaphulelo kwiindawo zokuhamba kwi-Intanethi ukufikelela kwiMaldives, Patagonia okanye kwiitempile zaseCambodian ezikrwitshiwe.
Ikhitshi yaseConey Island ayisasebenzi. Ayibonakalisi ukubetha kwesixeko-singasathethi ke ngelilizwe — ukubetha kwentliziyo. Umnqweno wenkcazo kaMnu Bliss ngokwenene yinto ebuhlungu, engaziwayo kunye nokulukuhla ngakumbi-ulangazelelo lwexesha elimbalwa kuthi esinokulikhumbula, kwaye olo luvuko lubonakala ngathi lunokwenzeka okungenasiphelo. Isimema ukuba sikhe sidlule kwizahluko ezingathandekiyo zokungenelela. Kodwa ukuba umtsalane weConey Island eyimbali awungeni kwiminqweno yabakhenkethi banamhlanje, iimbali zakutshanje zivelisa isikhokelo malunga nendlela eya phambili. Kunokuba nzima ukwamkela ukuba ukubuyisela eyona nto uyiyo ngekhe kwanele ukuhlamba iimpazamo zexesha elidlulileyo. Abafana abahamba ixesha esitratweni eConey Island. (Ifoto nguCeleste Sloman)
Mna noKeith sikhwela ikhabhathi eqhutywa ngumqhubi oqhelekileyo waseCaribbean ongakhathaliyo ngemali yakhe. Sisuka kwisikhululo sikaloliwe esingasasetyenziswa eStillwell Avenue, apho oololiwe baka-D, F, N kunye no-Q baphela khona, sibuyele kwiMermaid, sidlula kwimarike yemveliso esecurbside apho indoda ephethe imela ephethe iplastiki imi ngakwivenkile yeziqhamo ezi-spiny zetropiki. Sidlula indawo yokucheba iinwele enomnyango ocoliweyo, kuqhuma umculo we-rap kwisandisi-lizwi, nakwigumbi lokuluka iinwele laseAfrika. Sidlula indawo yokubhaka i-Ed Cosme kunye neofisi engaphambili kwivenkile yeeNkonzo zabaMelwane baseziDolophini, iindawo zokuthengisa ezileleyo kunye neecawe zivaliwe ukusukela isaqhwithi.
Sidlula eCarey Gardens nakwiGravesend Houses, apho omnye oneminyaka eli-17 ubudala wabulala omnye u-Eva wokugqibela weKrisimesi, kunye neprojekthi e-27th Street, apho uShawn White oneminyaka engama-25 wadutyulwa wabulawa kwizinyuko kwiintsuku ezimbini kamva. Sigqitha kwikona apho inkwenkwana eneminyaka elishumi ubudala ibhaqe khona ngoMgqibelo wokugqibela ngoJuni. Sidlula kwizibonelelo ze-NYCHA apho izikhubekiso zomngundo kunye namaziko oluntu emi evaliwe, apho ebusika ophelileyo, iibhoyili zaphuka kwaye izindlu zabanda. Ngokucothayo, siqengqeleka sisikhumbuzo eseludongeni apho uninzi lwamagama zipeyintwe khona.
Ndiyazi damn kufutshane wonke umntu kolo donga, Keith uthi.
Sikwi-West End ngoku. Uluhlu lweeprojekthi zezindlu lubonakala lukopa okanye luziphinda. KuKeith, asinakuba kwenye indawo, kodwa kumntu wangaphandle, iimpawu zomhlaba azibonakali. IConey Island carnivalesque ayikho kubungqina. Olona phawu lubalaseleyo lokwahlulahlula — olona phawu lwendawo eselunxwemeni lolwandle — ngumonakalo wesaqhwithi kunye nomoya obhudlayo.
Ilanga liqaqambile kwaye iibhloko ikakhulu zingenanto. Ngaphandle kwe-bodegas, abafana abatsha abajikelezayo, abagobe ngaphezulu kweekreyiti zeplastiki eziguqulweyo. Sijika siye emantla emva koko siye ngasempuma kwiNeptune. Kwindlela esika phakathi kweendawo zokupaka iiprojekthi ezimbini zezindlu, indoda engenahempe ikhwaza ngokungaziwayo kwisithuthuthu.
Uninzi lwabantu, uKeith uthi, abazi nokuba oku kulapha.
