THIS WEEKEND: Films At 3rd Ward

November 6, 2008 by missheather
Filed under: Bushwick, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg

One of the things I cannot wrap my head around is the fact so many people are under the (greatly mistaken) that razing great swathes of (formerly industrial) land and erecting condominiums on them somehow creates jobs. Just take the area around Union Avenue and Roebling Street, for example. There used to be a number of businesses there (including a chocolate factory!). Now there is area is little more than a bunch of vacant lots interspersed with luxury residential properties. Somehow I do not see much job creation coming out of this.

Unless of course one includes baristas who whip up the tenants’ double mocha lattes, bartenders sating the younger set’s thirst for intoxicating beverages or nannies tending after their rapidly increasingly brood of young ‘uns. While the previous are all indeed forms of employment I doubt they and their many service-related brethren have done much to make up for the jobs they have supplanted in terms of sheer numbers or wages. This is a travesty.

There are a great many factors which have led to the situation our fair city finds itself in now. I am currently reading a book entitled “Working Class New York” and it explains a fair number of them. Very well, I will add. Those of you who are interested in learning more about the white collarification of New York should give it a read. For the rest of you who lack the patience to read such a tome 3rd Ward will be screening a short film this weekend that might be of interest.

Per 3rd Ward’s press release:

…Daniel Ross and Tom Vigliotta examine the decline of NYC’s manufacturing industry in Uncertain Industry.Â Over the last 50 years manufacturing jobs in NYC have shrunk from 1 million to 100,000.Â The filmmakers explore what losing losing this vital source of jobs meant for New York City’s economy.

You can read more about this film (Uncertain Industry) by clicking here. Preceding it is an equally interesting feature which explores the so-called “swing states” and the people who live in them. This event is absolutely FREE and a discussion with the filmmakers will follow. Check it out!

3rd Ward Moviehouse
November 9, 2008, 8:00 p.m.
195 Morgan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11237

Be advised that you have to RSVP for this event. You can do so via email at:

nbagli (at) 3rdward (dot) com

Miss Heather