How could you fuhgeddaboudit?!
The 1970s
New York City’s quality of life hit a sharp decline once the 1970s rolled around.
The city was considering declaring bankruptcy, crime ran rampant, prostitution and drugs inhabited the streets surrounding Times Square. The subway system was among the most dangerous spaces, and the homelessness crisis was out of control. Gang activity was at an all-time high and contributed to NYC’s menacing reputation. In an effort to maintain authority over organized crime, the state implemented “New York City’s Off-Track Betting Corp.” to control gambling linked with mob activity; the U.S. government took over the program in 2008.
Economic hardship also gave way to countless union strikes affecting the postal service, construction, and education, with one of these strikes leading to the Hard Hat Riot of 1970 in which 400 construction workers and 800 police officers tried to break up and inadvertently fought 1,000 student protestors. In happier news, the New York Department of Parks and Recreation was formed 1976. Construction on the World Trade Center was finished in April of 1973, the building was the tallest in the world until the Sear Tower in Chicago took its spot the following year. Also in 1974, French stuntman Phillip Pepe performed his infamous tightrope walk between the Twin Towers.
In response to the Stonewall Riots of 1969, NYC hosted the first Pride Parade in June of 1970.
The 70s was a renowned decade of entertainment history. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought their legendary 1971 boxing match at Madison Square Garden, they would later go on to have two rematches, one in 1974 and another in 1975, both in MSG. The Godfather premiered in 1972, the movie was based around Frank Costello’s life: the crime boss of NYC’s Luciano family. John Lennon made his last concert apprenticing in 1974, joining Elton John on stage at Madison Square Garden. Multiple beloved bands formed during the 70s, Kiss in 1973, The Ramones in 1974, and The Talking Heads in 1975…just to name a few. The notorious Studio 54 opened in 1977, the club quickly became a mecca for party-goers and celebrities to experience authentic 70s vibes regardless of status. Saturday Night Fever premiered in 1977, marking the rise of disco clubbing.
1977 also marked the first time that “I ♥ NY” was advertised by the city, a new campaign set to combat New York’s rough reputation.
The 1980s
New York continued to rapidly progress in the 1980s.
While its name was still synonymous with the crime and drugs affecting its streets, the underground subway system was more dangerous than ever. Ironically, it was also more colorful than ever as graffiti rose in popularity. Street artists, like: Taki183 and Zephyr started their careers by tagging Manhattan’s underground. More street art meant further needs for desirable painting space. Lucky for them, the 1980s proved to be a great year for urban development. The Jacob Javits Convention Center opened in 1986, the Limelight Club opened in 1983 inside an old church. The World Financial Center was unveiled in 1988, and the Angelika Film Center launched the year after.
In 1989, New York became a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants.
Entertainment blossomed, bands like RUN-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Sonic Youth formed in the 80s. Late Night with David Letterman started in 1982, and Paper Magazine began publication in 1984. Since 1988, Phantom of the Opera has become the longest-running play on Broadway with 13,370 performances. The New York-treasured sitcom Seinfeld began broadcasting in 1989.
The 80s, however, weren’t always “totally tubular.” December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside of The Dakota, his NYC apartment building. Later, NYC would name a portion of Central Park “Strawberry Fields” in memory of the late singer. The Palm Sunday Massacre was the 1894 Brooklyn homicide that took the lives of 10 people. Studio 54 closed in 1986 after the owners were convicted of tax evasion and the club failed to thrive under new ownership. The closing of the 70s-haven marked the end of disco music and the beginning of the “Club Kid” era.
The 1990s
The 1990s served as the Hollywood-styled clean-up montage.
Newly elected mayor Rudolph Giuliani enacted laws to help curve the crime and homeless issues. Regardless, NYC was not safe from tragedy. The first World Trade Center bombing occurred in 1993, the murders of Tupac Shakur (1994) and Biggie Smalls (1997) shook up the Hip Hop community.
Hip-hop group, Wu-Tang Clan, formed in 1991 on Staten Island. Probably the weirdest piece of lost history in 1993 revolved around Harvey Weinstein saved by NYPD after being held in a 14-foot pit for two weeks under the demand of ransom. 1994 saw the beginning of the New York Underground Film Festival, the debut of Friends which was set (though not filmed) in the Big Apple, and the city celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. April of 1995 saw a socio-political shift, the Smoke-Free Air Act banned smoking in all restaurants that welcomed +35 guests, this new law formed an overseer for the tobacco industry.
As the decade came to a close, the Y2K Scare was in full effect. In 1999, people waited with bated breath as the clock and calendars changed from 12/31/1999 to 1/1/2000, anticipating a total financial, technological and societal breakdown.
The 2000s
The 2000s, a new century, a new perspective.
By 2000, the population of NYC reached 8 billion people. Clean-up efforts were still on-going as Mayor Giuliani continued delegating until his term ended in 2001; Michael Bloomberg succeeded him as Mayor. Some of Mayor Bloomberg’s initiatives included the creation of 311 and NYCMedia in 2003, as well as The High Line initiative in 2009.
September 11, 2001, a day that will live in NYC infamy as four planes were hijacked, two crashed into the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse and the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers. One plane crashed into the Pentagon building in Washington, the last aircraft was allegedly headed for the White House but was retaken by the passengers and crashed into a field. The 9/11 attacks marked the worst terrorist attack to happen on American soil. In 2006, reconstruction on One World Trade Center began. In 2008, Times Square bombing took place, again shaking up an already traumatized city. 2008 also marked the beginning of the Housing Crisis that ultimately led to a recession – a financial fumble that the U.S. economy is still recovering from.
In pop culture news, How I Met Your Mother began airing in 2005, Yankee Stadium and Citifield stadium both opened in 2009. Bernie Madoff was arrested for his involvement in creating one of the biggest Ponzi schemes the U.S. Government had to deal with up until that point. In 2009, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, a move that would be praised and criticized by New Yorkers and government officials.
The 2010s
The 2010s reaped the benefits of the 30-year effort in cleaning up the city.
Since gentrification began in the mid-90s to early 2000s, NYC witnessed a massive socio-economic shift. No longer was the city a place for the homeless and drug-addicted, now the streets were lined with figurative gold. The cost of living rose exponentially, making NYC one of the most expensive cities in the world. But that was not the only reason why the 2010s was an era of growth.
In 2010, Humans of New York began publication, the online forum began documenting and telling the stories of any New Yorker willing to share his/her story. Occupy Wall Street Movement began in 2011, and the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in that same year. In 2012, the 9/11 Memorial Museum opened on the same block as the original Twin Towers. Hurricane Sandy devastated the Tri-State area in 2012 as winds reached a speed of 80mph and caused millions of dollars in damages. Mayor Bloomberg stepped down in 2013, he was succeeded by Bill DeBlasio.
2014 was a busy year, the last phase of The High Line project opened to the public, and One World Trade Center was unveiled for the first time since the 9/11 attack. That same year also marked the killing of Staten Island resident Eric Garner, whose murder at the hands of White NYPD officers was the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter protests of 2014 and onward. The Disabilities Pride Parade began in 2015 – a massive win for the disabled community in terms of representation. Broadway’s Hamilton musical became an overnight sensation, changing the ways we thought about the construct Broadway musicals.In 2016, World Trade Center Transportation Hub was completed and opened to the public, it replaced the station that was destroyed in the 9/11 attack.
Republican Donald J. Trump, son of multi-millionaire Donald Trump Sr. and Queens-native, was elected president in 2016. His election caused massive post-election protests and riots to erupt worldwide as people rejected his racist and dangerous rhetoric. In 2017, President Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States,
2019 was the last eventful year before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic halted NYC for the first time in a century. The 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots was celebrated in 2019, meanwhile the NYPD apologized for the discrimination the placed against the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Jeffery Epstein was found dead in his jail cell after being charged with soliciting prostitution and procuring a child for prostitution. In 2019, climate activist Greta Thunberg completed her two-week sail around the world, finishing in NYC by giving a speech at the U.N.
As we continue onto the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our concept of normalcy, hence it is important to use the history of NYC as a lesson. No matter how bad life becomes, no matter how crime-ridden, drug-fueled, illness-infected life can alter, it will rise with a bit of hope and New York perseverance. If it doesn’t, then just fuhgeddaboudit!
