"New York State Of Mind"October 7, 2024Start spreading the news, you're leaving today I wanna wake up in that city, that doesn't sleep You always make it there, you make it anywhere In New York, New York I wanna wake up in that city, that doesn't sleep These little town blues, they have all melted away New York These are the lyrics to the song “New York, New York” made famous by the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra. There was a time when the words expressed in the song had sparkle and emotion, and for that little town resident was an invitation to that golden city on a hill, where dreams could come through. But things change, and life in the big city has gone through a transformation, regrettably much of it for the worse. The results have been catastrophic. The hill is now a cliff and the city perches precariously on the edge. As I walk the streets of New York, New York, the places, businesses, and faces I once knew are gone, they're unrecognizable, all are part of a vanishing way of life, long since faded into the distant past. The people are diverse, of various races and ethnicities; their traditions and language have a tendency to clash at times, creating some tense moments, and at times violence. I ask myself, will they ever assimilate? The once-clean, tree-lined, sanitized streets are now unkempt and strewn with litter and assorted refuse, which has manifested into a rat problem. New York is a sanctuary city; the recent influx of illegal migrants has added to the demographics and created a monumental crisis, both financially and culturally. This has led to cutbacks in a number of vital areas and a drain on services; libraries and city-run programs have been negatively affected. Storied and luxuriant hotels have been converted to house migrant families, and sports fields are now populated by male migrants in fabricated dwellings. These changes have created animosity and conflict between residents and migrants. Crime committed by migrant gangs has created great trepidation and fear. People must be on their guard, constantly weary, and vigilant when walking, as I often do. There have been too many incidents of random, unprovoked attacks on innocent people. Law enforcement's hands are tied in a city governed by radical progressive leftists, most of whom are anti-police. There has been a breakdown in the quality of life, compounded by inflation and the rising cost of vital necessities. With the exception of certain exclusive areas, the five boroughs of NYC: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, are all feeling the hardships that come when conventional standards and traditional institutions fail, especially government. The pandemic added to the misery, as thousands of people succumbed to the virus, many were hospitalized, and the business community was decimated. The New York State government, under Democratic rule, was flustered and began issuing mandates that resulted in closures of businesses and churches, while only those providing vital services could remain open. To this day, most business offices are still empty; employees continue to work from home. The people's anxiety and emotional distress is palpable. They are caught up in a maelstrom of vile and unspeakable activities by the criminal element and political class. To add to the people’s burden, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury in a federal probe for fraud. This has manifested into several agency heads resigning from their posts, including the Police Commissioner, and the Education Secretary. I won’t bore you with all the particulars and charges in the indictment, but suffice it to say this has thrown the city into even more chaos. If you think this reads like a eulogy of a once great place to live, you’d be right. So, let me conclude here with this. I’m going to “start spreading the news.” Hold off on your desire to “be a part of it.” Put aside for the present your “little town blues.” Allow yourself time to think things over, stay put for a while wherever you are. You may want to “wake up in a city that never sleeps.” But there’s the possibility you might not have to wake up at all, because you didn’t get to sleep - it can get rather noisy here. Hopefully, perhaps one day I can write of a renaissance. New York, the golden city on a hill is back, better and brighter than ever. But the only way that can happen, is if the people, the legal residents, come to the realization that leftist progressive Democrats are devoid of leadership qualities and incapable of governing. We hope and pray for that day.
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Visit Bob Pascarella's website at www.ShortStoriesInVerse.com
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