Change is inevitable. It is the norm, the ever-changing and the dynamic environment that brings about the transition. White in his book ‘Here is New York’ gives an insight of the changes that have struck New York since the year 1947. From the tall buildings that existed ages ago to the trees that are no longer as it made the author think that the city has altered itself at the most incredible pace. He saliently describes the transition of various roads and avenues which have not only vanished from sight but also from the memories. The thought inclines one even to think that the book should now be changed to ‘Here was New York.' However, the description is all about the good and the bad changes. It is not about the negative changes but rather how New York has heightened in both structural and the environment in place, nature. The city's transition gives a spotlight of the turn of events, a deviation from the expected course and further, the developments that accrue with time.
Impression
The book has demonstrated the aspect of change. White vividly puts forth that specific observation in his book are no longer right in the city when primarily owed to the passage of time. For instance, the Lafayette Hotel which has been stated during the summer of 1948 is no longer in place. He was in the hotel trying to figure out how particularly New York has experienced such changes. He thinks that it is not the author's responsibility to take New York to change but instead the reader must bring it to date. Many of his place and references are long gone. He gives the examples of the neighborhood ice-coal-and-wood cellars, Schrafft’s restaurant on 5th Avenue and the Queen Mary with her mournful horn and the dock from which she departed. They have all vanished from the sight and even the memories. It thus gives us a glimpse of the impact of transition with time. Everything changes with time depending on the alterations which may involve the environment and the structures in place. However, for White, it is all about the transformation of the buildings and the avenues which were in place in a half a century ago.
Similarities with the New York Today
Some of the descriptions that white gives about New York are the exact picture of what it is today. In as much as there has been a lot of transitions from the last half a century, there are same such structures and the undertakings that used to take place then. He gives an example of New York being the art of commerce, religion, sports, entertainment, religion, and finance bringing all the players in place including the merchants, traders, actors, evangelist and the promoter. All of them had a niche in New York during the 1948 summer. Comparative to today's New York, all of these players have found places to carry on with their day in day out activities. Of course, every city today has at least a church, a market and various facilities to help every citizen push up their lives. The author vividly gives an image of the town, the blocks he is sitting in and furthermore how far each block is situated.
The author goes on to give a glimpse of New York, and it is what it is precisely today. Back then, New York was peculiarly constructed which is the same thing today. For instance, the structures have been put in place to absorb almost anything that comes in along. He continues to reiterate on the ocean-going North Atlantic ships in which they arrive and depart. It was the greatest in the world and remains to be at the top. Nothing has changed since then; it continues to be six hundred and five miles of waterfront across the Brooklyn Bridge. It, therefore, forms one of the similarities that still exist from the ‘old' New York to the present.
Manhattan has been associated with the growth of tall and big buildings. The author describes that it grows upwards because of the absence of any other direction in which to improve. The expansion is skywards as he puts it and even gives an instance of the backyards of the Queens looking southwest where the light in the morning strikes the steel peaks of town and considers the upward thrust to be unmistakable with the rising towers. The present New York is what almost White puts forth. The tall buildings in town are what is seen today in the city, just like a half a century ago.
Although White puts it that New York is a beautiful place but he'd hate to live in, there are some of the tourist sites that still exists up to date that was in place when he developed the interest and disinterest. During the summer in 1948, tourist made it to Statue of Liberty to languish there and spend their time. Compared to the New York of today, there are still the tourist attraction sites which include what he has described. St. Patrick's Cathedral is still in place to date, and it forms the principal point where new faces still throng the place for site viewing. The Statue of Liberty still serves as one of the tourist sites.
Lastly, White continues to give a clue of New York in the earlies, and from his reiteration of the population of the place, there has been the intermingling of millions of people from different races making it an exhibit of the phenomenon of one of the world. What happened, according to the author of a half a century ago, is what is happening today. People from all walks of life intermingle to form one thing.
Differences with the New York Today
There are a variety of differences that encompasses the recent New York with what White described in his book. Back then, every facility is inadequate. Hospital, schools, and playgrounds are overcrowded. The express highways are feverish with the deficient roads and bridges. In contrast, the recent New York is all grown with lots of facilities (White, 1949). The universities, hospitals are in plenty. There is no congestion in roads as there has been improvement and development of infrastructure. The streets have been modified to fit all the cars and the trucks moving around at a time. It thus forms the significant difference in the description of White's book.
Secondly, according to White, an outlander who stays in New York concludes that the stay can either lead to little embarrassment, disappointments, and discomfort. He puts forth some of the reasons that might bring up such to be riding along the wrong subways, noises at night that fills the room and being slapped by the bus driver for asking crazy questions. All these reasons sum up to correctly to a total contrary of what is going on in New York today. The noise pollution is something that has been outlawed and in rare cases do noises affect the New Yorkers. The laws that have been put in place does not allow the drivers to molest those on board.
Thirdly, White has brought the theme of poverty through his description of the inadequate housing. He gives a spotlight on the brick buildings and the cold menace of poverty and human suffering coupled with alcoholism. On the drummer night, the drunks are found sleeping in the open. Also, in the doorways, especially on the steps of saving banks, the bums are more often lain sleeping off. Compared to the recent and the present New York, there is a clear difference. White's delineation of New York is in contrary to the present. The city's standards of living have much heightened. What has been put forth especially alcoholism is something that is rare in the city. People have gained knowledge enough not to get drunk and sleep out in the streets but instead are busy in clubs with regulations of drinking.
There have been changes that New York has experienced since the last half a century as White has put it. The elevated railways have been pulled down. The broadways have changed since it had bony structures underneath its bright surface with the disappearance of the buildings, shops, and hotels. There are fewer newspapers than it used to be long ago.
The change in New York has been about by the many differences that come up with time passage. Unlike long ago, there have been plenty of money; Apartments have been festooned with the ‘No Vacancy' signs due to the increasing population. The taxis have become hard to find as people are chasing them instead. They roll faster than it used to be long ago. White has brought all these aspects of change since his writing era.
In his phrase, ‘It is a miracle that New York works at all' White meant that the change that it has accrued in the place is a winning outcome despite the overwhelming odds against it. Some of the happenings in New York long ago were unexpected. He puts it that some things which include the fact that it should have experienced a traffic snarl at an almost impossible pace did not come to pass. Also, he thinks that it should have failed due to the food lines failure, but all these are in vain. New York is healthy to have survived all these.
Recommendation
I would recommend anyone to read this book, ‘Here is New York.' It outlines the aspect of change and the need for it. White has vividly described New York long ago and comparing to the present allows one realize the difference and the turn of events with time.
In conclusion, the book has soundly portrayed the theme of change from the New York back in the last half a century and relating to the present; the transition is the primary component of time. Readers are in a position to determine the significant events in the early and compare to the today. It guides them into getting equipped with the knowledge and essence for change.
Reference
White B. E. (1949). Here is New York. New York: Harper " Bros.
