Given all the attention in recent weeks about the long-problematic intersection of 14th Street and First Avenue (background here), we're revisiting this EVG post from May 24, 2012...
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Karen Loew, who lives near 14th Street and First Avenue, passed along the above video ... which explores the chaotic crossroads in "Intersection: Babel." It premiered last Thursday at the LABA Festival at the 14th Street Y.
The video includes interviews with people on the street as well as community leaders to explain what is unique (and not!) about 14th and First. Per the description, "'Intersection: Babel' is a documentary short looking at a place that's all about leaving it."
Among other things, the video explores the hazardous transportation environment here... from the crisscrossing M14s and M15s (and placement of the bus stops) ... the access road to Stuy Town at the northeast corner ... the tricky left turn for autos (and pedestrians) from eastbound 14th onto northbound First ... the L entrance/exit that's pretty much in the intersection on the southeast corner...
Monsignor Kevin J. Nelan of the Immaculate Conception Parish says it's like "a mini Times Square." City Councilmember Dan Garodnick says that there's "a lot of activity but not a lot of personality" here.
Agreed!
Directed and produced by Karen Loew.
Videography and editing by Cory Antiel.
Dance by Julie Gayer Kris.
This is a crazy intersection to say the least. Been here both day and night. Very active but lacking identity.
ReplyDeleteL.O.L.
ReplyDeleteFile under New York City makes a problem, then New York City gets a problem.
Make a problem, get a problem, then solve the problem by tearing everything up for years either by NYC DOT or NYC Public Parks or NYC Public Housing.
Next step: over Police the local residents to keep everyone safe when all that is being done is more police harassment of people who have been displaced by DOCP's approval of super tall residential high rises and 600 foot tall non profit palliative care hospital towers sited 35 feet away from 547 residential 5 story walk ups.
Allen Ginsberg poet who lived and died in the loft located on 14th Street and First Avenue has much to say when he was alive and writing and observing East Village people on streets, please read his song lyrics poem
"New Lines for Amazing Grace."
We used to say, "There but for the grace of G-d go I."
Now we only have compassion for millionaires and billionaires and their problems and inconveniences.
Each of us knows how easily problems can be solved with kindness, compassion and imagination.
The problem is the lie the biggest lie that there isn't enough money, food, shelter, air, water, hospital beds, Dr.s and Nurses, Teachers, Life Guards, E.M T.'s etc to go around.
There is plenty. There is excess.
Or as my friend said to me half the world is starving and the other half is on a diet.
The greatest city in the world needs to bring back the Love !
Then we may ALL have a quality of LIFE once again !
Please sir may we have Public housing, Public Hospitals. Public Parks with open use amenities like a place to sit in peace and meet one another again as human beings on this Planet Earth.
Grieve, thanks for reposting this...the intersection is certainly in the spotlight. - Karen, filmmaker
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