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Location: Concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
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My parents always told me to stay away from Jackson Heights because it's the "drug capital of the world." My dad grew up in Queens (in the 50s and 60s) and my mom in Manhattan. They told me this before I moved to Queens from LI. I didn't really believe any area of the city was THAT bad still, so I went there and it was fine. I can't picture it being all that bad just 20 years ago. My dad kind of lives in the past when it comes to his views of certain parts of the city.
So, was it really that bad? any stories of what it was like? or pictures?
I don't know how bad it was. Currently it has a slight problem with central american gangs. But no biggie.
Also I think you're parents exxagerated quite a bit in calling it the "drug capital of the world" in the 70's/80's. The 70's would have to go to Harlem and the mid to late 80's Washington Heights.
I've been to Jackson Heights quite a bit and I do not find the area bad at all. Queensbridge and Far Rockaway were probably worse than Jackson Heights.
I don't know how bad it was. Currently it has a slight problem with central american gangs. But no biggie.
Also I think you're parents exxagerated quite a bit in calling it the "drug capital of the world" in the 70's/80's. The 70's would have to go to Harlem and the mid to late 80's Washington Heights.
I've been to Jackson Heights quite a bit and I do not find the area bad at all. Queensbridge and Far Rockaway were probably worse than Jackson Heights.
I agree. I think they did use JH for Maria Full of Grace though.
But I have also heard the drug problem was much much worse in those years. But wasn't it worse throughout all of NYC? Weren't there lots of areas in Manhattan to stay away from at that time too like what used to be called Alphabet City and now seems to be merely called LES?
My dad kind of lives in the past when it comes to his views of certain parts of the city.
Same with my parents. My mom thinks Central Park equals guaranteed mugging. But I would avoid Fresh Meadows Park at night.
The Jackson Heights/ Elmhurst/ Corona/ Lefrak City areas were affected a lot during the crack epidemic. Stick ups, break ins, gangs, mafia, drugs, prostitution, poverty, and on top of that, the area was ethnically diverse; ethnic mobs. It started getting better around '95-97.
The movie "A guide to recognizing your Saints," made 80's Astoria look like a real crappy place. But then again much of the city was pretty rotten in the 80's. We really have made huge leaps in progress.
The movie "A guide to recognizing your Saints," made 80's Astoria look like a real crappy place. But then again much of the city was pretty rotten in the 80's. We really have made huge leaps in progress.
My parents always told me to stay away from Jackson Heights because it's the "drug capital of the world." My dad grew up in Queens (in the 50s and 60s) and my mom in Manhattan. They told me this before I moved to Queens from LI. I didn't really believe any area of the city was THAT bad still, so I went there and it was fine. I can't picture it being all that bad just 20 years ago. My dad kind of lives in the past when it comes to his views of certain parts of the city.
So, was it really that bad? any stories of what it was like? or pictures?
Jackson Heights was a working class neighborhood at that time and west of 74th Street along Roosevelt with a strong Irish element. North-east of 74th and Roosevelt would have been Greek and what was then called Yugoslavian, southeast of 74th and Roosevelt was Yiddishkeit with a blooming Chinese community and Colmbians and Filipinas were starting to fill in all over.
I'm sorry I just don't find the area to be bad. There's no open drug market and I don't even hear of shootings. Not saying the neighborhood is something to brag about, but it's not by any means something to say as the drug capital of the world in the 70s. I believe the Bronx to be. Although, in current times I don't find Jackson Heights to be bad. I have friends there who are Colombian, good people. As for mafia, get outta here!!!!!
I'm sorry I just don't find the area to be bad. There's no open drug market and I don't even hear of shootings. Not saying the neighborhood is something to brag about, but it's not by any means something to say as the drug capital of the world in the 70s. I believe the Bronx to be. Although, in current times I don't find Jackson Heights to be bad. I have friends there who are Colombian, good people. As for mafia, get outta here!!!!!
I don't think anyone said current Jackson Heights is bad. The thread is specifically about the 70-80's. I grew up in Uptown Manhattan so I have no clue how that area used to be.
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