Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Manhattan Avenue

manhattanave9122013456pm

Taken today, September 12th 2013 at 4:56 p.m.

Williamsburg Photos Du Jour: Hope Street

September 5, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11211, Gentrification, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn, WTF 

Hope Street 952013 Detail

140HopeStreet9520134pm

As stumbled upon by yours truly today at 4:00 p.m. Words honestly fail me. Thankfully for such (rare) occasions, I have my camera handy. Welcome to the New & Improved Williamsburg…

New York Shitty Day Ender: McCarren Park

Taken June 3, 2012.

Reader Contribution du Jour: McGolrick Park

May 14, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Per the tipster who sent me the above image:

(Taken) 4/21, but he was there till 4/22 as garbage piled up around him.  This is just an impossible, totally depressing situation.  And personally, as someone who grew up in a house where substance abuse was present, it makes me relive the anxiety and sadness I couldn’t wait to get away from – that’s why I’m so sensitive to it, and why I HATE that my kids are exposed to it…

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Sonia

January 23, 2012 ·
Filed under: Bronx, New York City 

Sonia: Hunts Point Bronx

Sonia, forty-six years old and the mother of five, is a crack addict who “sells her body for drugs.” Smart, polite, and well-spoken she told me and my friend Nina of her life-long battle with her addiction. She started when she was twenty-two, an overwhelmed single mother of three children working two jobs. She got into prostitution, becoming “a five dollar whore,” trading sex for drugs with neighborhood dealers.

When we asked her how much money she needs a day for the drugs she said “as much as I can. I can’t stop. I get some money, go and buy it, smoke crack, relax for thirty minutes. I have to get some more. It’s non-stop. Until I keep walking back and forth and nothing nothing nothing gives, that’s when I will say, ‘God says go home.'” She has a “significant other,” a wonderful man who’s been with her for seventeen years. He does not drink, smoke, or do any drugs.

She has been clean before, something she says can only come from her. She started crying telling us of the eight-year period when she was clean. “I went to a program, mothers and children, everything was great, I came out, got a job, felt good, had money.” She fell back four years ago.

When I asked her how she wanted to be described she responded, “I am good person with a very bad disease.”

Many of you have undoubtedly seen the work of Chris Arnade. He has been a major contributor to my photo pool for some time. He is also a really nice guy. His latest series is called Faces of Addiction and Sonia is part of it. If/when you have the time, gentle readers, do take a moment to read the stories he has assembled thus far. It is really compelling stuff.

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part III: Luis

December 29, 2011 ·
Filed under: Bronx, New York City 

Luis: Mott Haven Bronx

Chris Arnade (who took the above photograph) writes:

Luis, a day laborer from Mexico and heroin addict, has been living with Jamie and some others for the last month. I found them soon after the sanitation department had come and taken away all of their possessions: Winter blankets, carts, clothes, everything. They spent the cold, wet day collecting new beddings.

Luis and the rest were in good spirits. He insisted on having his picture taken with the Santa hat. I asked him if he was okay with me posting his picture, and he said “Yes, who knows, maybe my family in Mexico will see it.”

You can view Chris’s set, “Faces of Addiction”, by clicking here.

  • NYS Flickr Pool

    The One CrewSnowy SeagullsWalking the Dog in the Snow
  • Ads