Today we look at how Bay Ridge nativism affects the neighborhood discourse (and thus, our politics). We’ll interview former and current Bay Ridge residents, as well as political candidates, to see what they think. We’ll explore different ways of looking at Bay Ridge based on where and when you were born. Does an emphasis on birthplace and/or residency drown out and discourage other voices and opinions? Does an idea have to start in our neighborhood to be of value or improve our lives?
In short, does local nativism make Bay Ridge more — or less (and we’re betting you can guess which side we’re on) — welcoming? And given that, how does this phenomenon manifest in our politics, and how can we work to counter (or eliminate) it?
News Updates
- CORRECTION: Giselle Mendez’s sister is protected by DACA; the 14-year-old was speaking out to ask Congressman Donovan his position on passing a clean DREAM act. Check out Giselle’s interview skills here | Giselle in her own words from the Staten Island Advance. Want more info? Click here.
- News coverage of Dan Donovan’s Bay Ridge “Coffee with your Congressman” event. Brooklyn Daily | Brooklyn Reporter | Video of the #CD11Handmaids at Staten Island’s Shouth Shore Coffee with your Congressman” event.
- Find out more about Justin Brannan’s transition team, including application information, here
- Councilmember-elect Justin Brannan was interviewed by Bklyner this week, and talked about something we’re going to delve deeper into in our next episode: the new school he promised us during the election!
- Every candidate for city council speaker is in favor of extending term limits. Which candidate do you want our councilmember to vote for? Learn more about this race and its importance here. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Show Notes
Jack Joseph
- Read more on Hinsch’s here.
- Ever played stickball? Check out some random internet stickball rules we found. Also, check out an old-timer’s “three-sewer-ball” reunion from the Brooklyn Daily.
- Jack’s old teacher, Mr. Walter Kassenbrock, was also the co-founder of the Bay Ridge Community Council! There is a scholarship in his name that continues to this day.
- The Meyer & Blohm restaurant Jack mentions is now Skinflints.
- Growing up, Jack sold newspapers out of a storefront beside the old Harbor Theater (now Harbor Fitness, hence the name!) He mentions both Il Progresso and Nordisk Tidende as among Bay Ridge’s numerous foreign-language newspapers.
- If you’d like to get back in touch with some old Brooklyn foodie roots… here’s the Ebinger’s Blackout Cake recipe!
Omar Vaid
- Bay Ridge office: Mubarez Travel, 7207 5th Ave, Brooklyn
- Staten Island office: Almashhadani Services: 469 St Marks Pl, Staten Island.
- Web: OmarVaid.com, FB/T: @omarvaid
- Paneantico – A favorite Bay Ridge restaurant
- While the schwarma place that drew Omar to Bay Ridge is gone, his new recommendation is Alsalam, 7206 5th Ave. (Couldn’t find their website – if you know it, drop us a line!)
- “The debate” is referred to a few times; these refer to the Xavarian debate prior to the 2016 city council elections. Listen to the debate here (don’t forget the drinking game), and our debate analysis here.
- Article: Man Charged With Scrawling Swastika, Anti-Semitic Slur On Staten Island Garage
- Article: Staten Island Neighborhood Shocked After Swastika, Anti-Semitic Graffiti Are Scrawled On Garage
- Article: Car on Staten Island vandalized with racial slur, NYPD investigating as possible hate crime
- Campaign Promise Alert! Omar went on record here as saying he’ll get the average commute in the district down to an hour, and he’s willing to resign after his term if he can’t do that.
- Omar also promised cookies at his office; if you end up stopping by to say hi, let us know if he’s keeping his word!
Alan Holt
Run, do not walk, to your local bookstore.” http://www.bookmarkshoppe.com/
Alan Holt
- Follow Alan on Twitter @AlanWHolt1
- We talk about intersectionality, a term originated by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw; thank you to listener Rachel Posner for passing on this link to Crenshaw’s TED talk, The Urgency of Intersectionality.
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.
- Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis