New York City by itself is pure craziness. A sea of taxi cabs, an army of people from the four corners of the world, towering buildings. That is the pace of modern life in one of the most cosmopolitan cities around the world.
(Cartoon by nycvisit.com)
Its restless regular energy got doubled as the UN Summit took Manhattan. Some streets were closed and some parts of the city interdicted. Commuters maneuvered roadblocks, detours and barricades.
Coupled with that, there were some small protests against Ahmadinejad and nuclear Iran (as always).
But also against the Hilton Hotels.
The Hilton Hotels?!
Yes, you heard right.
When you want to sort some problem out or smooth differences over you have to face it, right? So I refuse to comment any further on this protest against Iran issue.
With all that, taxi drivers were driven mad and locals were a bit discontent at the UN.
Countless times ABC, NBC and CBS questioned the fact of the UN being established in NYC. First, because with all the world leaders gathered together the city becomes a mess. Secondly, because all the costs regarding world leaders’ security were covered by the town hall. Do I need to say it irritated a lot of tax payers?
The UN had to send a representative in front of the cameras to say that it would reimburse part of the costs. And this representative gave her best trying to calm down fierce journalists by saying the city gained a lot.
Based on that and on some talks I had with some taxi drivers and other inhabitants, anyone could see the city general feeling sat outside the feeling most of us were expecting for. For most New Yorkers, those days had nothing of special, besides extra stress.
That was the general feeling some people asked me for.
And I agree with your post Luan! Ahh I kept on seeing those ads against “Nuclear Iran"everywhere…buses…walls…
I remember the little chat we had about it…Thank you!
Luan, thanks for this post, I think it gives one quite a good idea of how the summit was perceived by people of the NYC.
Perhaps they’re used to all the fanfare and the big events because the UN office is there. But thanks for this Luan. It gave me an idea of how things were.
Thanks for this Luan. So the MDGs summit was nothing but extra stress for New York! Well, that says a lot, doesn’t it.
And of course they moaned about having the UN HQ there! Do you know that initially, it was supposed to be in Boston, San Francisco or Philadelphia, but once a certain Rockefeller provided the money, they chose New York?
@Andrea, those ads against it and that people chanting was madness. They have to be face to face to solve their differences right? And then US delegation walks out. They have cross purposes. And while it is like that, problems will persist. Unfortunately.
Thank you, my dear friends…missing you!
@Helena, Iris and Giedre: thanks a million for reading. It was just like that and I really tend to agree with you. They are kind of used to such big events. Nothing new for them. It really saddens me. And worse was the media, which focused only on Obama, Ahmadinejad and money ‘wasted’ on the summit. What a pity…
And thanks for telling me this, Giedre! I didn’t know that about Rockefeller. Good to know…
@Helena, CONGRATS!!! 8-)