1st paragraph

The once private neighborhood that my house sits atop has changed greatly in the past few decades. It once was supposed to house only electricians and their families, but as times went on, the dynamics of this small community have greatly changed. Electchester was supposed to be a haven for eletricians to escape their long days of working by providing affordable housing in a safe area. The neighborhood has everything from a school, to a shopping center complete with a grocery store and a drug store. Since Electchester has losened its exclusivity, the neighborhood has began to slowly decline in social, economic and religious views.

Interview

I had the privlege of interviewing Shawn Kretzschmar, a long time resident of my neighborhood who comes from a family of electricians. His father is an electrician, he is an electrician, his sister works for Local 3 and his youngest sister is going to school to help prepare her to do the same kind of work. He has been living in the neigborhood for over 30 years and says that the change he has watched has shocked him. I asked him many different questions about the life of the neighborhood, who he has seen come and go, and what he thinks of things as they are right now. He told me that the people he has seen come into the neigborhood recently seemed respectable, but the way they treat the area is horrible. He thinks that the neighborhood is unsafe and he thinks its a shame that there have been many cases of anti-semitism.

"This isnt the neighborhood I remember growing up in, we usto play outside at night and not have to be home when it gets dark, now you would be a fool to let you kid stay out after the street lights go on".

The greatest news to many residents ears is that they are going back to the old ways. In order to live here, you must be an electrician. When Shawn told me that, his face was glowing and he seemed like he just learned that he had won the lottery. "I've watched some great ideas go wrong, but i dont think that is possible in terms of improving the neighborhood".

1. How long have you lived here?
2. What made your parents move here?
3. Did the area you live in have an impact on your career choice?
4. what changes have you seen while living here?
5. How has the anti-semitism affected you
6. Do you think that the neighborhood has room for change?
7. If you could move out now and never come back, would you?

Library research pt 1.

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HOLLOWAY, LYNETTE. "NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: CENTRAL QUEENS; At Last, the 107th Moves In. " New York Times [New York, N.Y.] 17 Apr. 1994, Late Edition (East Coast): A.9. National Newspapers (27). ProQues

The first article I found was about the 107 police station. The article told how after many in its desired home spot, just across the street from the Electchester shopping center. The police would have moved into the building earlier, but there were many repairs needed. When it all came down to it, a deal was made and the police would move out of their old building, into the newly renovated building which had been teasing them for months now. Although the police had an old headquarters, it was not as roomy as they would have liked. They used to stay in a building, which once was a one-story parking garage. Prior to the police station being taken over, cops used to park in residential areas, taking spots, which could have been used by the people. When the project was done, the police had a parking lot equipped with 122 parking spots. Although the people of electchester felt more safe after the police moved into the station and patrolled the area more carefully. Although there were complaints about how effectively they do there job, residents were still happy. months of fighting and many repairs being needed, the station was finally going to be built.