Over the months, we’ve featured a number of maps on QueensNYC – what can we say, we think maps are pretty interesting, especially the interactive ones. Here’s a roundup of maps that have caught our eye – we hope you enjoy them a second time around!
Using this interactive map, republished by the CUNY Graduate Center from a 1943 “NYC Market Analysis” newspaper feature, we can see snapshots of what life used to be like back in the day. The roads looked a lot calmer, with only a few cars and no lane markings; vertical store signs were abundant on commercial streets, too. The original population statistics and real estate information are viewable on the website as well.
Many people were out to vote today – we heard about lines of enthusiastic citizens looking to exercise their constitutional rights. Governor Cuomo came through with this announcement, which is particularly helpful to those in the Rockaways:
Governor Cuomo just signed an executive order allowing registered voters in New York who were displaced by Hurricane Sandy to vote at any polling station by signing an affidavit. “We want everyone to vote & we want to make it as easy as possible,” the governor tweeted from his account.
The governor cautions that while displaced voters can cast a ballot at any precinct in the races for President and US Senate, ballots for local races must be cast at your designated polling place. 60 of them have been relocated due to Hurricane Sandy, and you can find that list here.”
We asked if you were able to vote today and how it went at the polls, and we got some great responses that were overwhelmingly positive.
A Nor’Easter is on its way – troubling news for already damaged coastal communities
We are preparing for another storm to come our way, this time it’s a classic Nor’Easter. It may bring just rain, or it might bring sleet and/or snow. The weather people seem to change their forecast regularly. We are concerned for folks in places like the Rockaways, Staten Island, and the Jersey shore, who really suffered during Hurricane Sandy. Even a 2-4 foot surge could cause real problems for them and their communities. Let’s hope, as Gov. Christie says, that the storm turns to the right when it gets to us.
Broad Channel subway station is in bad shape
Hurricane Sandy also did a real number on the Broad Channel subway stop. This is the A station where people transfer to the shuttle to get to the Rockaway peninsula. This means getting there by train is impossible. So what happened exactly? From MTA Chief Joe Lhota:
“The amount of destruction on the A-train over Broad Channel is indescribable. I’ve seen it, I’ve seen pictures of it, the amount of damage, this was almost a direct hit. It’s over water, it’s through marshland, it’s going to take quite a long time to rebuild this, and I’m talking about rebuilding this. I’m talking about the water that went underneath and really affected the structural integrity. This part of the world, what happened in the Rockaways was really devastating.”
Hot mint tea at Harissa in Astoria hits the spot
Over on QueensLove, one of the contributors posted about the hot mint tea at Harissa, a wonderful North African restaurant on 30th Ave in Astoria. The tea comes in your own pot, so you can pour it at your own pace. It really is lovely (be sure to get it sweetened), and it goes great with pretty much everything on the menu.
We know since the hurricane, access to polling places in some parts of the city have been a challenge. How was your voting experience today? Were you able to get to your polling place easily or was it more difficult than usual? What kind of structure hosted your polling place? We’d love to know. Leave us a comment here or via twitter at @queensnycity
Over at SPIN magazine, they are doing a series called “Spin Election 2012: Musicians on the Key Issues.” This week they talked to Dapwell of Das Racist (AKA Ashok Kondabolu, seen elsewhere starring in the indie film Dosa Hunt) and his views on the importance of voting, though his mother’s experience as a naturalized citizen. He grew up in Queens, in an apartment at 74th Street and Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights. (more…)
