A Protest... Finally

Its refreshing to see elected officials finally standing up for what they believe in and look to curb this national epidemic of gun violence. Will the bills they want to take up solve all of the problems? Not even close, but any progress is worthwhile right now. We've stood still for too long with bogus straw man arguments.

We have to go beyond these public displays and keep the conversation going. The NRA is focused on this issue everyday, not just after a mass shooting. Its about time the public has the same focus on this issue. Maybe this time will be different than all the others, at least one can hope.

We Are Orlando

It's really taken a day to process the events of this past weekend. I was at work as all of this was happening, so naturally working in news it was everywhere. I immediately thought of the people I know around the area and hoped they were far from the scene, which luckily they were. And watching and listening to the people looking for their loved ones. This woman stuck out to me with her pleas for answers and just wanting to be with her son, knowing that his boyfriend was already dead.

Nothing I could write would eloquently describe this woman's pain, or the pain of all of those who lost someone, or the horrors these people saw that night when all they wanted was a night out with friends, to be themselves in a safe place.

I know this has instantly become a politicized event in many ways, with gun control and LGBT rights, but for now I won't dive into that. For now it's time to support those who have lost someone and show love.

Research

I've found a mini passion project it seems, and we'll see if anything comes from it.

It all boils down to one word: Traffic. Now that doesn't seem like a sexy subject by any means, but its something that I think we need to be more aware of, not just upset about. This isn't about alleviating traffic jams, but instead using traffic to create communities built for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users.

This may seem silly, or even boring, to some. Coming from Syracuse and having lived throughout Upstate New York, its become clear that the biggest issue in the region is the flow of wealthy individuals out of the cities and into the suburbs. That problem is well documented so there's no point in reiterating the point. The important and less focused upon topic is how traffic can become a solution to this white flight.

I won't spend this post writing all that I've learned over the past couple months, but instead I'll be researching further and hopefully, once I have a sound enough footing on the facts and figures, begin reaching out to professionals in that business. My hope is to craft a short documentary on the subject, highlighting past mistakes and bringing to light some solutions that may help revitalize Upstate cities. This has definitely become a passion of mine and I would be thrilled to create something that may be able to persuade these cities that I love to take a few risks. We'll see what comes of it, but even if the project goes nowhere, I hope to at least encourage others to begin focusing on these issues and do what they can to improve their own communities.

April - New York's Primary

April 19th is New York's primary and I wanted to take a moment to express my support for Senator Bernie Sanders, a man who has worked hard on the behalf of working class families for his entire career.

Syracuse, NY is the perfect example of why we need someone like Bernie; a city built on manufacturing but struggling to find its way in the modern economy. I don't believe manufacturing will make a comeback to the area, instead we need to focus on education to create a modern workforce to attract upcoming industries. 

The struggles Bernie has fought for are the struggles the people of Syracuse live each day and so I felt it was the perfect backdrop for what he speaks to. Its time for a revolution to fight for those in need.

Post- Undergrad Life Begins

The seventeen years of the formal education path I set forth upon at the age of six has come to an end. This is not to say formal education will never return in my future, but that the marathon I worked diligently through has finished and a new one has begun.

This new chapter of my life seems as though it will be marked by frequent travel and relocations in order to gain the experience my professional goals require. From articles I've read and from those I know working in this field, this seems to be a trend for our generation. Gone are the days of stable employment for thirty years with a guaranteed retirement.

This isn't to say those jobs are impossible to find, but for those in a creative field the security is no longer there; although some would argue the security was never there to begin with. This is not to say I'm not up for the challenge, but it creates a difficult conversation between those of this generation and our parents. The cliché of parents being concerned for their children who pursue the arts is understandable, but now their concern is relevant for all of their children. Many of us will never have a career that provides us with benefits and a 9-5 work schedule. Many of us may not want that to begin with.

From working overnights in the city, to working beyond early hours in Albany, the first year beyond college has thrown some interesting pitches and has allowed me to gain some experiences I never would have foreseen. To me, these experiences are invaluable and have given me a new appreciation for the work that must be done (and when it must be done). This blog will be a reflection on projects I've taken on, personal experiences that influence me and my work, as well as observing what's going on in the world, in my business of choice and in the world at large. This may be insightful to some and may give you an inside look at at least one person's creative process.