Community Description

Photo courtesy of www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com

I have chosen to focus on the Italian Market area of South Philadelphia. This area is home to the oldest and largest outdoor market in an urban area in the United States. Given the name of the market, it is obvious that the market began as an enclave of Italian immigrants that opened businesses and provided services for one another. The neighborhood has since become a center for immigrant business opportunity. There are still many Italian businesses and residents that remain in the area, but other ethnic groups have also begun to settle in the same area. Asian and Mexican vendors, restaurants, and businesses have surrounded and entered the original Italian market. The Italian also known as the 9th Street market incorporates fresh produce with an urban area on a daily basis at an affordable price.

I chose the Italian Market due to the impact that it has on the surrounding community and on the city as a whole. The market is a center for cultural history in the city. There are also quite a bit of problems that come along with having a large outdoor market in an urban area. There is trash, rodents, smell, traffic of consumers and deliveries, and difficulty of accessibility in such small spaces for those with disabilities. This area has very active community groups which help to target some of the above problems.

With the area changing more and more as years go by, this area is a perfect research focus for the historical community memory aspect of the class. This area is unique because it is a point of interest for not only the city of Philadelphia, but for the Italian community at large. This area is home to some of the oldest restaurants and shops in the country. The Italian Market has been featured time and again in movies, on television, and in text. It has also been a center of Italian mafia activity in the city.

The area of interest stretches beyond the geographic outline of the market itself to the surrounding neighborhood that relies on the market for work, food, and services. The main outdoor market runs along 9th Street between Christian Street and Washington Avenue. Other businesses are located further north and south on 9th Street, along Christian Street, and along Washington Avenue.

The visual landscape of the Italian Market is rather run-down. Vendors’ areas are made up of make-shift tables covered with fruit, vegetables, and random household items. There are uncovered, burning trashcans in the winter and awful smells in the hot summer. While most people look at this with disgust and could not imagine living in this area, it is an area filled with culture, character, history, and entertainment.

There is also quite a bit of new development going on in the area. This is an urban landscape juxtaposition because there are very old stores and homes right next to modern condominiums and houses.

Environmental Ethical Dilemma

My ethical framework for environmental issues follows closely with my moral stance on many issues. Most of my ethics surrounding environmental issues are related to fairness and the rights of others. Even this idea is biased because I am basing others' rights on what I believe that they are. I do not believe that the earth is in place merely for our survival. I believe it serves a greater purpose than to sustain human life. I do not believe that we are meant to do whatever is necessary to support our economy and excessive lifestyles. Just because we have the mental capacity and the materials to do something does not mean that it needs to be done.

Some important environmental objectives to me are climate change and the policy issues that surround climate change, wildlife protection, maintaining open space and minimizing development, preserving forests and wetlands, and water shortages. Nearly all of the ethics that I believe create my framework are derived from early socialization. My parents were very conservative at home about energy and water consumption. I was exposed to environmental problems early in my school years and became attached to environmental issues at a very young age. I became vegetarian at 12 years old, which has also contributed to my compassion for the environment.

In the end, I do not view the earth as open to manipulation by humans. I view it as our home, but also as a home to millions of animals and plants as well. I have struggled with how to rank what is important, but I can't seem to place everything on a continuum. I believe that we all have a right to life.

An environmental ethical dilemma in urban settings is the competition between greenspace and economic development. A more exact example of this dilemma is the decision between having a park or a high rise apartment complex with businesses on the first floor. The American Planning Association provides an informative briefing paper on the benefits of parks for overall health improvement. In my opinion, parks and greenspaces provide a greater benefit to the entire urban environment, including human health and well-being, animal habitat, environmental quality, and indirect economic strength for the area. As stated in a previous blog entry, we once again are faced with the classic economy versus environment.

Should we directly strengthen the economy by creating high cost living and more retail outlets or improve the health and well-being of the urban environment?

There will never be a clear answer.

NYC Horse and Carriage Controversy

On January 2, 2006 an accident occurred between an empty horse-drawn carriage and a station wagon in New York City. The accident was caused when the horse suddenly became spooked and darted into traffic. The carriage driver¹ was injured and hospitalized. The horse was also injured and then euthanized. This accident has become the fire for animal lovers and activists alike to attempt to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The photos² of the accident are shocking and are enough to make most people consider at least more strict regulations on the current industry.

I believe that there should be a complete ban on horse-drawn carriages, especially in a congested city such as New York City. I was a part of the class group that was in support of a ban of horse-drawn carriages. Half of the group consisted of people that wanted a complete ban, which I supported, and the other half was willing to compromise, which would allow carriages only in Central Park³ at certain times and with strict regulations on working conditions. The view to keep horse-drawn carriages in the park is shared by activists as printed in a New York Daily News article and most view it as the most viable option to make any changes at all.

I believe a ban should be implemented due to many incriminating facts about the horse-drawn carriage industry and personal moral beliefs. To begin, 80% of all horse and carriage accidents occur when the horse is spooked. The high concentration of vehicles, humans, and general noise can easily do this to a horse at any time, especially in New York City. Drivers of carriages are poorly trained and are able to obtain a license quite easily⁴. The health of the horses is also a huge concern. Most carriage horses only remain employed for four years. This is due to the working conditions and especially being exposed to noxious fumes from vehicles. Most other major cities have already taken the step to ban horse-drawn carriages and New York City should follow suit. The economy will not fail due to a removal of these carriages. This is the classic case of economy versus environment, which is the health environment of horses. We must take a step in the direction of doing what is right rather than what will make our wallets larger.

Those opposed to a complete ban have referred to an economic decline, loss of tradition, and loss of an environmentally-friendly source of transportation as reasons to keep the horse-drawn carriages in New York. As expected, these are well supported issues in America, but in this case the benefits of a ban far outweigh the costs.

Many citizens have been trying to pass a ban⁵ and there is an ability on the internet to sign a petition.

Urban Landscape Juxtaposition

Urban landscape juxtapositions can vary greatly in size and impact. They can range from a lack of ramps on sidewalks to houses being far too close to nuclear power plants to the gentrification of neighborhoods. Urban landscapes are filled with juxtapositions everywhere you turn.

The urban landscape juxtapositions that I noticed while walking around the city were minor problems found in urban environments. My first example is something that I have noticed a few times before while riding my bike on 11th Street from South Philadelphia to Temple University. One or two of the schools that I passed had children playing on small playgrounds that were crowded with teachers' parked cars. This is a problem of not having enough open space. It seems quite unfair that the only time children have during the school day to play outside has to be a game of avoiding teachers' cars for fear of getting in trouble. The schools were in neighborhoods where there would not be a problem of street parking, but safety might be an issue, I assume. There have been a few documented cases in New York, including the East Village and Brooklyn where schoolyards had been taken over as parking lots and after protest were turned back into schoolyards. There is definitely room for adjustment in these situations. Children in urban schools should not be subject to confinement. Looking around the city there are examples of solutions to this problem. Many schools have rooftop playgrounds, which is a great alternative to a lack of open space. Rooftop playgrounds utilize unused space.

My second example follows along the same lines of the horse and carriage controversy, but on a much smaller scale. I have noticed many city dwellers that own very large or high-activity dogs. This is definitely an urban landscape juxtaposition because of the combination of high-density living, little open space, small living quarters, large dogs that need large amounts of exercise, and people with tight schedules in most cases. I believe that if a person living in a city is going to have a dog for companionship then the life of the dog must also be taken into consideration. Most large and high energy dogs need much more exercise than can be offered in an urban environment. Ideally, they should have large yards and open spaces to run and play. Most dogs that live in urban areas only get to utilize pocket parks, dog runs, but most likely just walks on the sidewalk. This also brings up the problem of sanitation and waste. Not all dog owners clean up after their dogs, which can lead to the spread of disease. A possible resolution to this problem would be to require dog owners to register their pets with the city, which would involve a documentation of home size and health record. I believe this could help to make dog owners a little more aware of the conditions they are forcing upon their pets. Quite a few websites offer advice about which dogs to adopt for certain living conditions, including the ASPCA and Canis Major.

My Community

The above map shows my interpretation of my current community. I define community as the area in which I interact on a daily basis, which includes neighbors, businesses, services, buildings, streets, and the overall environment. My view of community is constantly changing just as landscapes tend to change as well. My idea of community shapes the way I go about my daily activities. I rarely travel east or south of my home, which is why I placed myself in the southeast corner of the map. I tend to remain in my community to meet my daily needs except when another area provides a better service. For example, I leave my community every day to attend school, but still use public transportation, which is offered only a few blocks from my home to get there. I will also venture to other areas of the city to visit friends or family, shop, run, ride bike, or just get fresh air. My community does not offer most of these benefits, but since I do not interact with them on a constant basis I do not consider them a part of my community.

My community, specifically, encompasses approximately 8 city blocks in the Italian Market neighborhood of Philadelphia also known as Bella Vista. When depicting my community I did realize that I only know the names of three of my neighbors. I still include all of those people that live within “my community” since we all share most of the same services and environment. We have many things in common. Many residents in the area are homeowners and take great pride in the Bella Vista neighborhood. Bella Vista is home to a very active town watch and civic association. Both organizations are committed to making and keeping the neighborhood, which in this sense is used only geographically as being bound by South Street, 11th Street, 6th Street, and Washington Avenue, well organized, safe, and clean.

Understandably juxtapositions are everywhere, but I struggled to find one of significant importance. There are a few things in my neighborhood that are puzzling. There is an amazing piece of property on Montrose Street between 8th and 9th Streets. It was formerly a swimming pool with large brick walls. It is a gorgeous structure that has sadly become run-down. Another interesting aspect of my community is that it was previously comprised of primarily an Italian population. Currently there is quite an array of residents. There are a number of Asian businesses and residents that have become a part of the Italian Market and the surrounding area. This is just an indication that the cultural history of the area is changing. Another interesting fact about Bella Vista is that in Italian the term means beautiful sight, which at the time the neighborhood is anything but. There is a massive amount of construction, which in turn is blocking views of the city skyline. There is trash, awful smells, and rodents from the outdoor market on 9th Street.

I have also decided to base my community project on the Italian Market area, so I will be elaborating on many of the points I brought up in this entry.