Nice to meet you. How did you hear about the project?
Well, I learned from a text or an email from her name is Terry Kennedy of the manual Baptist Church. So she sent an email out and I saw and I became very interested, but I'm not in my, in my home. Now. I'm currently at the Grace a guard, older adult club at Fort Greene at Fort Greene Council, which is at not 966 Fulton Street, so I couldn't get home in time, so I'm here.
Okay. Well, thank you for, you know, being available and being interested in participating. So, you know, we typically are doing about an hour long interviews in and I know where I think you have to go at 330. So, we'll go ahead and get started. Okay. All right. So what is your name?
My name is Carol. IMANI Parker,
to have permission to record this interview.
Yes, you can.
Wear and when were you born?
Well, I won't tell you exactly when but I was born in Harlem. Harlem Hospital. No, no, November the 11th 1111. I just had a birthday. Well, I'll tell you as long as Oh, you have to you have to beat this out. I was born in 1942. Don't tell anyone.
All right. Um, can you talk about your childhood? Did you grow up in Harlem? Or where did you grow up? And can you talk about your, your family and growing up in Harlem? Oh, well, I
grew up in Harlem on 144th Street to be exact. And I was raised by my grandmother and we had an extended family. My uncle, my aunt and anyone who came from Virginia for the for the week or the month would stay at our house. So we had we had always had an extended family.
And you talk about your your family's relationship to transportation growing up.
Wow, transportation. Well, I guess I'm old enough to let you know that my father was one of the first people to have a little red Ford in the block. It was parking completely complete parking on the block. We traveled primarily by double decker bus and, and in some way in the on the subway as well, which has straw seats. So there was no real rapid transportation as we have it today.
Where, sorry, let me backtrack. I skipped a question. How would you define yourself in terms of race, ethnicity and nationality?
Well, I'm truly an African American. I guess that's all there is to say about race. Because sambil black if that's if that's the color we want to use black. I wasn't Negro at one point. But I became I became an African American eventually.
Where do you currently live? How long have you lived there? And you know, where all have you lived throughout your life.
Interesting enough. I have lived in Brooklyn, or more than I lived in Harlem. I left Harlem and that was 20 years old. I got married and someone told me about a place called Art slope. And I had never heard of Park Slope and I thought Brooklyn was a foreign country. But I I took the I took the lead and I said okay, let me get let me go and see what the About. So when I moved to Brooklyn Park Slope, we were one of the only black families on the block. There was mostly a towel, you know, Irish, and that we live near the park. And I thought it was a real step up from living in Harlem with rats and roaches. I thought I hadn't really moved up on the east side as they say. So I lived in Park Slope for many years. And then I eventually moved into Park left political prospect Lefferts gardens. And currently, I'm now at in Fort Greene. Now I live in Fort Greene,
where we're about exactly in Fort Greene.
I live University towers, which is across the street from Long Island University across the street from June us across the street from Trader Joe's, which was not always there, around the corner from the Ingersoll houses. And in Myrtle Avenue was a whole different world when I moved there.
When did you move?
I think I've been there since 1989. Yeah, around a 1989. I moved to Fort Greene.
Can you talk a little bit about what Myrtle Avenue was like, when you when you moved over there?
Interesting enough, they were all all kinds of stores. grows at what do you call it a supermarket around the corner with stale food, they had a liquor store that efficient market, and cleaners and all of the little establishments, mom and pop stores I would assume. And I saw them being burned down, as I saw them being torn down. And, and I knew something was coming because before I moved to where I am now, I had gone to a I had gone to a little demonstration of what Myrtle Avenue would look like in the future. So it was a done deal. They look like they didn't look like the Myrtle Avenue that I moved into. But in a little bit of time, I'd say and maybe five, six years, it changed drastically. Now all I used to see the Empire State Building now all I see is terraces across from me, no sunshine. But it has changed drastically from the time I moved there in 1989. To today, and it still is still changing.
Can you talk a little bit more about the plan that you I guess the myrtle have a new plan that you saw? And do you remember who was making the proposal or who all was involved in creating the plan?
You know, I'm not too sure. I would like to say the Regional Planning Association. But I don't know I'd be guessing. I we went. I just wanted to see what what that area would look like. Because when I moved to Lefferts gardens, I thought it would be a better neighborhood. And it turned out not to be as nice as I thought it would be. So before I actually moved into university towers, I wanted to get an idea sense of what Myrtle Avenue would look like. Well, I will say one thing when I first moved there, I was disappointed because I heard fire engines and police cars constantly. And I said oh, I thought I moved out of the quote, I forget. But it moved right into it. And there was like really a lot of shootings out there and cetera. And when I moved but all the time it began to change and began to develop. And even in my own complex changed. I was initially on the board with maybe four other black folks. Now we're with the minority there now. But it was really it when I was there was all mostly black I it's 65%. And then they gradually started moving because the complex became koa. And had I moved in there today I would not have been able to move there. But now it's very expensive. The maintenance is extremely high. And it's impossible for anyone to hurt by and then now, people of color especially. And because many of them were subleasing or subsidized they had to move. So now it is completely changed for the better or worse I can't say I think that it's I'm safe there and and uncomfortable in the sense that everything is around me now. We didn't have a lot of supermarkets and we didn't have a Trader Joe's in a target's before. But now we have everything there and all kinds of activities. So it's a very comfortable and convenient location.
Um, you've, you've gotten into it a little bit, but can you just give us a little bit of an overview of your life from from childhood to now and then we'll starting start getting into the more transportation focus questions
from childhood to now that's a long stretch. I've come a long way. Well, I was I grew up and I didn't know I was po', I didn't say poor-po'. And to the point where I didn't have all the luxuries I have today, of course, and my grandmother struggled as she was a domestic worker. And my father was, was a bus driver. So I didn't have a lot of the luxuries that I have now. So I grew up with but I grew up my my grandmother was very concerned about my education. But her sense of success was getting a high school diploma, that's all she wanted to see was oh, if you get a high school diploma, and you don't get pregnant, you're fine. So but you have to marry the right one there, you know, marry the right man, so you won't have to do anything. So she coaxed me to get back my high school diploma, which she shipped, she showed off to everyone in the neighborhood that I did get it. And once I got the high school diploma, and then I did get married, shortly, had has had a son. And I bless I said, when I moved to parks, I felt I was doing I was growing up in the world. So I was I did a little bit better. I've always been successful in terms of careers. And that was a great part of my life of having a successful career. Because I was always pretty ambitious. In that sense. I wanted to get out of that sense of poverty, and to do better. And so I got I ended up going back to college. But before went back to college, it was interesting, I went to college, after high school, and wasn't doing too well, because I had to work while I was while I was going to high school. And so I decided to drop out of high school out of college because I couldn't, I couldn't keep up with the pace. So by dropping out of college, I had to get a skill, I had to get a skill somewhere to take well, in that during that time I, my husband and I separated. And I was a single mother now. So I in order to take care of my son, I had to make some money somewhere. And I became one of the top secretaries. I mean, it really interesting move for me that I became a good secretary, and to the point where my job paid for my for my college education almost. So I started going to college, and I graduated, I wouldn't say what is the next to Summa Laude, I did very well, because I hadn't asked since then of who I was, who I was and what I wanted to do. So I did graduate from from Brooklyn College. And then I decided I wanted to keep going. And I did and I got my masters. And the reason I say I had I ended up with a successful career was because I didn't know what I really wanted to do. But I always wanted to be a teacher. And at one point when I was getting ready to to pursue that career, they said, Oh teach us I'll make that much money, you should go on to social work. So I said, Okay, so I went on another line, and when it decided to get my degree in sociology, and then in my master's, I decided to get human resources management. I didn't know what all of this was about and where it was going to lead me. But what happened is I skipped over the fact that I did pursue an acting careers Well, I wanted to I I've always wanted to be an actress. I was I was a child actress. Whenever I wanted something, I would cry or whatever. So acting was in the background, but acting was not the main career because it wasn't feasible. It wasn't practical, should I say to be the actress? So I decided okay, maybe I'll do this I'll maybe I'll do that human resources manager. Why not? And the reason I mentioned that was because I like to tell a lot of young people not to follow my not to follow my thing because what I did is I dropped out of school for a while and then I went back and I was I was not young when I went back to college. So it It was a struggle taking care of my son going to school working full time, all of that was happening at the same time. And it wasn't easy. So, as a result, I ended up working, I ended up going to Oh, when I went started going to a church. And for some reason I was I was really led to teach Sunday school. So and I read, the reason I bring that up is because my love for children was phenomenal. I really loved working with children. So I work with children in the Sunday school. And that was not easy that they had the same children who were in school in the regular school. I worked with Sunday school students. And then in my career, which was interesting, I ended up working for the governor of New York back then, I'm not gonna say his name because I don't want to get political here. But I worked for the governor. And I worked in a Defense Department called division for women, which was very interesting. Now we're talking about blending my work career with my acting career. Because what was happening is that we working with women we had to we were focused on women's issues. And so as we were, as we talked to women's groups and whatnot, I ended up being a spokesperson for black women. So at I was on stage at one time with Cicely Tyson, I was on the stage with Oprah Winfrey, and I and I performed I was supposed to give them a proclamation but I decided to put a poem in there. I was acting it, it was. So as a result, I was eventually invited to do a one woman monologue on Sojourner Truth. And I did that as a part of my job. Working with the division for women. I did the monologue on Sojourner Truth, ain't I a woman? And that escalator you asking me to tell you my life story? Well, I would love to. It's a life story. I left out a lot of stuff. But I'm trying to skip to the point where here I am now. So working with with with with women working with youth. And as a result, working with the women, I ended up going to a lot of the I went to the women's prisons spoke to women in prison. I even went up way up upstate and what worked for some of the men as well. But I, and then they said, Oh, we could use you, you know, I was doing motivational speaking. So I started speaking to a lot of the prison, the inmates and, and the young and youth, I went to a lot of the youth facilities and spoke to young people. And my love for young people. I got a job as the director of a youth program. Eventually, when when when the governor no longer had his love when the governor left, I had to find another job, of course, and I was hired to direct the youth program. So most of my life has been engaged with young people. And I don't work that much with young people. Now I'm retired. And as a part of my growth, I became a minister. So I've speak at various churches. I'm not a pastor, I do not I do not lead a church, but I like speaking public speaking. So I do I do sermons and various churches, they asked me to speak, and I do. So that's basically I think I covered almost everything except the fact that I am a poet. And I at one time I was working. I had my own poetry group. And we traveled and right behind me I see it. There's a science called the east. I used to perform at the EAS. And yeah, I mean, when I performed the oh, oh, no. Oh, cut you off. Hold on. Yeah, I performed there. I performed all over. We performed all over this the United States practically. It wasn't my poetry group. So I've had a full career. And now here I am. Hard to retire. I'm trying to slow down a bit. I am with the I'm on the board of directors with the Fort Green foot green Council, which is located in well, we have 14 centers around around Brooklyn. So I'm very concerned now. It hasn't changed from youth. But now I'm working also with older adults. And that's why I guess I'm here today, working with older adults and some of our concerns.
Okay, so I have just a couple of quick questions. They're going to segue or two of them are transportation related. So gonna segue into transportation. First and foremost, when did you get in? Or when did you become a member of a manual? And, you know, why did you decide to become a member?
That you know what you said, I only have an hour, so I can't I have to do this real quick. I'm gonna summarize this real quick. I have had a journey in terms of religion, a real serious journey. One of the things I grew up as a Baptist, my mother's a Baptist, my family were Baptists. And I grew up as a Baptist. But being the inquisitive. I say, I'm trying to find another word for myself. I was inquisitive. And I was, I was interested in other religions. I mean, I've visited all kinds of religions, Catholic, Muslim, or not Buddhists, I haven't had didn't venture into that. But I've This is different religions and studied different religions on my own. So at some point, I, I did, I was searching for something more. And I went to, I ended up as a student of Dr. Johnny Coleman in in Chicago, Johnny Cohn, miss, she's a woman, Johnny Coleman had one of the larger, largest churches in Chicago, and she was under the umbrella is affiliated with Unity, Unity that prints the daily word. And her and she broke away to become the universal foundation for better living, which has about 30 member churches around the country, and, and in Canada, and in South America and in the Caribbean. So I became a part of that of that institution. For many years, for almost 30 years, I was a part of that institution. And still m in the sense that I, I'm affiliated with them in terms of speaking etc, and speaking engagements and family friends. So that has been that has been my thesis. And then to make a long story real short. I went to Africa, I went to South Africa, to the it was called the Kenyan, think of the name of it. If there were all religions there, Parliament of world religions. And as I said earlier, I was interested in all religions, and we were there to honor Nelson Mandela when he was freed. And when I went there, people from every conceivable religion was there. And they asked us at one time to pray in our own way, and all these religions for pray. If I felt the spirit right then and there. It was, like one, no matter what, what language no matter what nationality, no matter what religion, it was, it was all one. So when I came home, I was full. There was a woman on there was a woman on the when we were going out to Robben Island to visit the cell of Nelson Nelson Mandela, there was a woman sitting next to me. Her name was Amy Olatunji. She asked me she says, Oh, a minister. I said, No, no, she says you are. I feel you. I feel that you are administered because you you have that spirit and that energy. And I said it really. And I didn't think about it until I came back to New York. And a friend of my very close friend of mine happened to call me. She said, Imani there is a there is a school for a for she's an interfaith interfaith school. And I said really? She said, Yeah, they study different religions. And I said, I'd like to, I'd like to check that out. So I went to check that out. And I'm saying, Oh, what is this about and people from all religions, all faiths? They were they were part of this and it was called one spirit. One Spirit interfaith seminary. And after the first half of the course, a year later, they said, You are now ministers in training. I said, What I just came to find out about these religions. I didn't I didn't come here to be a minister. But I kept going and they eventually named me Reverend Carolee. Money Parker, which was interesting. Now, Immanuel Baptist Church. Wow. Going to interfaith ministry does not mean that I don't have my personal, my roots, my roots, and it's always been Baptist, the spirit, the energy that just the feeling itself of, of being in a being a Christian. It was there and never left me, in spite of all of the jumping around, I did. But I learned a lot and I incorporate those teachings. I incorporate it into everything I do. And I live that kind of life. And I follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ. So when I found Emmanuel, I wanted to go to a big church because I had come out of a small church, as I told you, Johnny Coleman, up in Chicago had several churches, and she had a couple of them in Brooklyn. And so I ended up in the one in Brooklyn, which tended to be small. And I was called on for every conceivable role, everything you could think of platform chair, and this and that, and everything they could think of, and I was served, I served, I was the superintendent of the Sunday School for over 20 years. And but at some point, I hate to use this word, but I got burned out. I just wanted to hide, I just wanted to, I want to be fed. Instead of feeding. I mean, I didn't have any more to give, I wanted to, I wanted to get something myself. And I felt I need I needed that nourishment. And so when I went to Immanuel Baptist Church, I felt that I felt that, oh, here's a place I can hide out. Nobody, nobody knows me. And I can be quiet, I can be still like a listen, I can learn. And so that's 20, I think is 20 years later, 20 years later. So and I pick question because they say, Well, you, your minister, interfaith minister, and you Yeah, and and yes, I'm all of that. But I think you know, in terms of growth, it has all brought me to where I am today. And I'm at peace. And I know that I'm, you know, I, I know that I'm grounded in terms of my faith in terms of my beliefs. And nothing can turn that around, nothing can can get me to a to another level, I mean, another level of high level maybe, but not below who I am, beneath who I am. And it has sustained me through all of this, in spite of all of the adversities, in spite of all the challenges that are around us. I am grateful. And I tried to I try to share that gratefulness, a joy with other other people. And that's who I am. And I hope that that describes me to a tee, let's get to transportation.
So you mentioned working at the Division of women and working on women's issues, and you said that you're working with older adults at Fort Greene Council, our transportation issues. Do they come up? Or have they come up?
Yes, constantly. Yeah.
And what are those issues that that people talk about?
Well, let me say this, well, one of them is fear of the of the subway, my mother, fortunately, my mother, mother is 96 will be 97. Soon she's in a nursing home. And she's constantly afraid that I'm going to be murdered or something or kidnapped or shoved off the train trips, shoved off the subway, in the subway. She's constantly it's a lot of fear among a lot of elderly. And fortunately, I had a little physical challenge and was able to get access to right and that's why what I really wanted to address because most of the discussions are centered around the the atrocities of accessorized and that's what I really wanted to address today.
I will go ahead and talk about it. What what are the atrocities with accessories?
Before I get to atrocities, I want to talk about the benefits. It is wonderful. I don't know what we would do without ACCESS-A-Ride because it has really enabled me number one, I get to see my mother who's in a nursing home for four years. And I would not have been able to do that had I had it not been for accessorize. I can call them in and get get there and get back and get to doctor's appointments. And and this is a joke and can I joke on the on the on this program. Interviewer Yeah, I'll tell you a joke. You see, at this age, I have more dates than I've ever had in my life. Oh, and I only I only date professional men. On Monday, I went to see a podiatrist. And he was so Oh, he took care of my feet, he really took care of my feet. He had me just squirming when he when he massage my feet. And then the next day, I met with a cardiologist. And then I mean, it's just so many so many men that I've been dating, since I've gotten to this stage in my life. And then when I met a man who was a, he happened to be a physical therapist, and he massaged me from my head all the way down to my toes. And you know, he had the nerve to ask me, Are you covered by Medicare? Anyway? It's a no, it's my joke, that every day, there's a doctor's appointment. And most of the women that I know, that's what they're going through, they have to go to the doctor, they and it's a lot of problems, a lot of atrocities with accessorize, which they brought to my attention. And I've also had some myself. And the only thing I can say about the atrocities is that as recipients, if they don't improve it in some way, what we have to do is to learn how to negotiate. And the reason I say that is because I almost missed a plane with accessorized one day. I mean, I was scheduled for a ride and it ended up not getting me there almost it almost didn't get me there on time. But fortunately, I was able to run through everything with with Mr. Mr. Author left me and let me run through the airport to get to my plane. But accessorize can be it can be a challenge. And it can be a challenge physically and mentally. Because sometimes they don't, they're not always on time. And a good example, and I have to, and I really have to stress this, I have it in I have a complaint and now that I got in it last week and the man did not speak it, the driver did not speak English at all, at all. And when he passed my and when he passed the direction with the entrance we were supposed to go, he ended up going into Manhattan. On the east side, I suppose go to Queens, he ended up on the east side. And he's driving slowly through all of this traffic on the east side. The other person in the car said please let she called an interpreter. He didn't understand a word. He didn't listen to GPS, nothing. And so we ended up in Manhattan when I got to 14th Street. So let me out of this car. And I said he wouldn't he didn't understand what I said. I hit that almost hit him to stop the car. So at 2030 Finally, I jumped out at the light. Now fortunately, I could still walk. Fortunately, I wasn't complete Lee cripple anything. So I was able to jump out. I was able to cross the street, it was cold as I don't know what get a Crosstown bus, and then a train to go back home because I had missed my my appointment. So that was to me that was a catastrophe. How could you allow someone to drive who doesn't speak any English at all? That was the worst one I've had. I've had several. But I still say on top of all of that, that I'm grateful because I'm learning how to negotiate. And one way one of the things that I tell people, don't give them the last minute, give him a couple get or go early, wherever you're supposed to be sit there and wait for a while wherever you go. But make sure you don't wait to the last minute like my plane ride. I only gave him two hours. I should have given them for unfortunate That's unfortunate. But that those are some of the things you have to do if you don't want to be stressed. And so a lot of people are stressed to the point where they give it up. Isn't Nevermind, I don't need this and I was at the table today we're speaking to some women and they said they don't bother with accessorize. They'd rather they I mean they take Uber they spend them they spend a little savings on Uber and what have you. And you know, Uber has gone up to the to the height. I mean, Uber and Lyft you know, $30 for a five minute ride sometimes. So those are some of the issues that I found with transportation especially when as an elderly person
can you talk a little bit about your decision to start using accessorized. And I guess when that was and, and you know, what happened? Did you have an injury? Yeah. Can you just talk a little bit about that?
Well, a few years ago, I was diagnosed with a big, well lower back pain. There's a there's a word for an MSR, Attica, whatever the issue was, I could barely walk. I mean, it was really, really difficult climbing up and down with the subway and with the bus, I couldn't walk a block, even. So eventually, my mother who lost both legs, my mother is now a double amputee, she encouraged me you need you really need to check out, you know, you need to check out accessorial Because it's painful, I couldn't go I could not visit her at all, because I couldn't walk. And eventually I made an appointment. And they did they did come and get me they took me to the to the headquarters where I was supposed to test her. And I took a little test and I filled out the application. My doctors, in fact, encouraged me because the doctor said, you know, you really need help. Because climbing up and down those subway stairs is sometimes you know that there are no elevators or no escalators, even where I live now there's one one area where there's no escalator, you have to walk all the way up. And one day the escalator was broken. And so I had to walk up all of those steps in even my my respiratory problems were getting in the way, walking up all of those steps. And another thing thing, thinking about the steps. I hate to say this, Alan, what young people have no respect for older people. I'm walking down the subway steps slowly. They knock me down. They not that not literally but they boom, boom. And then they standing there standing downstairs on the platform waiting or train. So why do you why do you have to knock me down and don't say excuse me at all, they just said she's in the way. And that is my biggest fear that and I have to hold on tight because I don't know who's behind me and who's going to run and run and say you're walking too slow, and they decide they're going to knock me down instead. And that happens. That happens. So I'm when I got off the off track in a way. But we were talking about the problems with the with the oh how long I've been involved. So that's how I got involved because I was the fear and all the pain that I was experiencing. And that was about four years now. Because my mother, you know, like I said I could not have visited her if I didn't have accessorize. And I will say 90% 90% They're good. So the little bit they're not good. Like I said, we have to learn how how do we protect that last week, I had to wait two hours for for to come home. So I played games on my on my phone, you know. And I was I was coming out. I was completely comfortable. In my mother was she was upset because I hadn't gotten home yet, you know, and it was like I was supposed to get leave at five and instead I left at seven. So it's not always a pleasant situation. So we I guess when I say negotiate, we have to learn to be patient. And we have to see the good and be grateful that we do have something because years ago there was nothing. You know, there was no no no accessorized. And now at least we have something to to call to count on especially for those doctor's appointments, that sometimes the doctor's appointments are way out and you can't get there by subway or bus. So I guess that's about it with the transportation.
Can you talk a little bit more about your experiences riding the subway and riding buses? And particularly, you know, in downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, you know that area?
Well, fortunately, now, I don't ride the subway in the buses that much now. And in the past, I did of course, when I was working I, you know, experienced the crowds and running for the trains and the buses. Now it seems to be much better than it was most of the buses that I do take if I do take a bus, then it's not too bad, and for the way too long anymore. And now that they have the you know, you can see at what time the buses are coming in, et cetera. You can kind of gauge your time. I don't always know how to do that. But I find myself the longest I've ever waited for bus is about to, I'd say 15 minutes. You know, that's not a problem. You know, I can wait 15 minutes, even when it's cold I found a place to go inside if I can. Um, so now I'm not to, to experience with writing this buses and so and the subways I tried to avoid as much as possible. One thing I do, you know, if I do have to go by train, in fact, I try not to use excess rapid everything. Because I don't want to, you know, there's some things I see I can get there without a lot of problems. I try not to use accessorize. But if I see that I, there's no other way to do it. Then I then I call on them. And they like I said, they did pretty good. And for those people who complain, yes, they are complaints. What it's not as you can get, I think they're more positive than they are negative. Definitely more positive than he is negative.
So moments ago, you talked about, I guess, the the attendees from the meeting, or earlier today, and how they use Lyft and Uber, rather than accessorize. Can you talk about your experience with Lyft, Uber and taxis and other for hire vehicles? Black cars?
Well, when I stopped, I used to use Uber and Lyft. Before accessorized to use them. In fact, if I see them going, not too far, then I'll and another thing about using not using excess, right is you have to call them a day in advance. And sometimes you don't always know. So sometimes I've used Uber or Lyft. In the past before COVID It was reasonable. I could do it. They have gotten a what's the word? I was gonna say atrocious is a word I was gonna say they've gotten terrible in terms of their pricing. I was trying to get a lift one day to the Botanical Gardens from downtown Brooklyn, and they want to charge $30. And then I call so I called the private car. And I said I needed when I called the private car. It was $10. Why would you charge $30. And I couldn't afford that. Anyway. So that has become it got to the point where I don't use them anymore. I called the private cars, and they're not as bad. Right now. They're not as bad. So if you hear any music in the background, that's because I'm in a place now where they're putting the music on for some reason. So I hope that doesn't disturb you.
We can still hear you clearly, we can, you know, hear a little bit every now and then. But I think I think we're good.
Okay, that's good. Because in a minute, I'm gonna get up and start dancing, but but I'm feeling much better now. I am feeling 100% Better, although those complaints with with accessories, I don't know. It's like I said, I don't know how to resolve them except to do the best you can in terms of giving them time. And allowing for two hour wait, and what have you and when you have any kind of emergency, you just have to bear with it. But emergencies too. You can't you know, you can't get access to ride. If you just need one right now, if I needed an access, right right now I couldn't get it, I'd have to take public transportation, I'd have to take Lyft or Uber. And their prices have gotten out of control. I feel they've gotten out of control. And in the people who I've been I was sitting with, yes, they are saying the same thing. They don't know what to do anymore. Some of them used to drive and they can't drive anymore now.
You've been I guess over in this area for since the 80s. Late 80s. Right. And over by you over at university towns since the late 80s. And just curious what your experience has been with the BT QE you know whether that be QE is the I guess whether as like a pedestrian walking over by the beat QE or whether you were riding the bus, or you know whether you're driving or as a passenger, I guess Can you just talk about what the be QE? what impact that has had on on you, if any?
No, it hasn't had a real impact. I will say that. My mother is in a nursing home in Queens and flushing. So we do take the BQE. And fortunately, I will tell you I, the traffic is not as heavy as I thought it would be. Usually it isn't that heavy from from downtown. It doesn't get heavy until we get near LaGuardia. But but but downtown, it seems to go pretty smoothly. So I haven't had any problems with the BQE. Now, I know that they're going to make some changes there. But I don't I don't know what those changes are. And I don't know how it will affect me in the long run. But right now we get on pretty easily from where I am. So only a block away. So I don't have any real serious problems with the BQE right now.
And you are you know, aside from or? Well, first, can you talk about what improvements you'd like to see to accessorized? And then, can you also, you know, after going into that talk about what other transportation improvements that you'd like to see locally? Well,
accessorize, I start with accessories, what improvements there are a lot of a lot of impute, because I didn't mention the fact that when you do have problems with accessorize, one night, I was they left me stranded, and I couldn't even get them on the phone. I doubt and held on for over an hour I kid you not bad wasn't a real serious problem. Because I was out in the cold, the place that I had visited was closed. And all I could do was stand there in the cold and cry. And I kept calling access, right? They wouldn't answer. There was no bus in that particular area, there was no place to go. And when I finally called 311, and the person tried to help me, because not only did I was standing in the cold, I had to use the pad to go to the restroom. And I was really miserable. And and it was very, very difficult getting through to accessorize. So somehow that has to tighten up, this is still going on in terms of communication. Because even last week, I tried to call when I got out of that car seat, when I got out of the car with the driver put in Drive, I tried to call them to cancel my trip coming back. Because of that. It was time for me to come back by the time I got off out of that car. And I tried to call them I held on for an hour from the bus all the way to the train subway I held on and no, they said we'll be back in five minutes. We'll give me with you shortly. But they never came back until it was too late. When I finally heard a voice and cancel, they said I would be penalized because it was over it was less than two hours. I loved the call them two hours before it was less than two hours. And so they were going to penalize me. So that is that's one thing that has to be improved. I don't know what's what's happening with their phones. But it's that has been a real serious issue. In terms of the subways and buses, I guess it's going to take time to clean up this web app is happening. I don't know if this was happening before with all of the the incidence on the on the subway. That's scary, you know that you and I hold on to the rail, you know, to make sure no one can push me off. But there's a lot of fear going on there for me. You know, some people just you know, well, so what, and I call on the Lord all the time, you know, the light of God surrounds me, but it's still scary, because you don't know who's around you. So they may have to clean up some of the stuff that's going on with the mentally ill or whatever. But that's that's the problem that I see with the subways. What would encourage me to take the subway more would be I guess that getting rid of that fear, being able to ride safely. And that's that's what I would be concerned about. Even with the elevators Sometimes I'm afraid to get in that little elevator because you don't know who's there. You don't know what they're up to. They're not dirty or anything but they're like, you know, you don't know who's going to get on that. That elevator with you. So bad has been a little fear too. So and when talking to other people. That's the That's the basic problem with him as well, that that fears of writing
that these are older adults seniors.
Yeah, mostly older adults.
Do you recall what it was like running or riding the subway and buses in the 70s and 80s in the 90s, I guess when crime was was higher in the city,
it made it I don't didn't remember any, a lot of incidents on this. I don't remember, a lot of incidents, not like, you know what is publicized more now to write. Maybe it wasn't publicized. So that that increases your fear. But I don't remember being afraid to write so I would. Now I'm gonna tell you a little bit a little secret about Reverend Parker. I'd be out there partying at four o'clock in the morning, right on the subway fall asleep. I'm the airhead. didn't have that kind of fear. I fell asleep one one time on the train I was in I don't know what time it was. But someone woke me up said Ms. Almost missed my stop. I didn't have that kind of fear. And maybe because I was younger, too. That that's a part of that. You know, that's fear syndrome. Because the older you get, the more skeptical you become of everything. But I wasn't aware of a lot of crime back then on the subway. So I didn't have that problem. In fact, even in the street, I didn't have as many problems about walking the street, as I do now.
Well, can you talk a little bit about walking in the street now? And and maybe any safety issues, whether that's related to other people or snow or puddles of water? Or, you know, whatever? Can you just talk about that a little bit?
Well, the only and one of the reasons to that I really had to get access, right, I fell twice in the street. And mainly because of the, the, what do you call it the gaps in the sidewalk or whatever, they, I fell twice and one of my I was busted my whole jaw and, and had to have a lot of medical attention for that. And went to the hospital. And then and then another time, I was afraid to go to the hospital a second time because as they're gonna think I'm doing this purposely, but I'm falling, I'm tripping on these, these these gaps and, and I'm finding that they seem to be improving the streets now a little bit, because it used to be when and I look now I do look down very cautiously. Because I'm always afraid I can't fall again. And that's what's been happening. And it's not that I'm weak in the legs, anything. I'm not weak I exercise and all of that. But it's just that those little gaps you never know, you know. So that has always best been a fear. But other than that I'm not, I don't feel unsafe walking the street. I try my best to keep keep my my my belongings close to me and what have you. And so I don't feel unsafe in that sense. But in terms of the sidewalks and all of that and crossing that oh, let me say let me talk about crossing the street again, I forget about the bikes. Oh my god. I'm in the habit of looking both ways. I try. But sometimes these bikes come home and they turn it's coming in a different direction. They don't stop for the lights, that they're really a hazard. And I'm afraid sometimes to cross the street because of those those bikes in the way. And even today there was there was a bike that could skate when zooming around the corner without me seeing it. So that that's been a real issue lately. Especially those little you know, the little delivery bikes them, they ride up on the sidewalk and they ride out, you know, they ride everywhere and you don't know when they're coming in at night, you don't see them, I have to really look hard to see whether a bike is coming.
Have you had any close calls with cars or trucks or anything?
No more with those bikes. I have almost I had a lot on set. Because it came zooming. Fortunately, it zoomed around me but you know, I in my heart stopped. You know. So those are the kinds of things that are happening, but I haven't had any real close calls yet. I won't have any close calls.
Well, I have a few more questions, but Luca wanted to see if you have any questions you you want to ask.
I'm not right now. I think you just keep going and it's also it is yeah, we have a free 25 So yeah, I feel like you've covered so much And again, you can't hear me or see me but I'm laughing at
you laugh with my joke. My, my jokes show the men. Yeah, I
like that a lot. That's really good. And I'm also just like nodding. And so you know, all your stories, your travels your career, like it's all credibly incredibly interesting. And I'm just enjoying listening and hearing everything. So I'll let Alan, answer the or ask the last couple questions
that you gave me two more hours, you can hear that now you can hear some stories. I was trying. I was trying not to tell it all, you know, but what I told him I think was pretty, pretty good summary of who I am and where I am now. This is a whole new world. I'm, I'm trying to adjust to the changes. And there are changes, you know, I'm not, you know, my mother thinks I'm still 20. So she doesn't, you know. But I know that things have changed in my life, and especially with, you know, the my relationship to others.
So, maybe four more questions. Some of them might be real quick. So are you interested at all in, I guess, activism or advocacy around accessorized? And, you know, are you aware of advocacy around accessorized? Or have you been aware of other kinds of transportation, advocacy? You know, issues?
Yeah, I could be, especially with the accessorize. I haven't been involved lately, because I've been involved in so many other little things. I'm in groups that are involved with it. Like, I'm with the Myrtle Avenue senior Advisory Council. I work with them. Not really heavily. But I mean, I'm a part of that group, and also the fourth green Council. And this, is there anything else? That's basically it? Yeah, yeah, I'm involved with them. And anytime I can, anytime I can help it anything I can say or do I would be more than likely willing to participate? Because there have to be some changes. You know, I'm not not just for myself, because my issues are so minimal in comparison to some of the other people. I mean, some people really, really, really need access, right. And they are they have given up. They've given up completely. And they stay home. They don't go anywhere.
This is a very specific question. And massing just because, you know, you're right on the edge of downtown Brooklyn, and in an area where this is has been an issue. But are you familiar with close subway station entrances? And if so has that had any impact on you? And by closed subway entrances, I just mean like staircases. It used to be open that you know, lead to the subway, but have been closed the rillette closed from the 70s through the early 90s. Specifically in central Brooklyn and downtown Brooklyn, but in other parts of the city.
I'm not really aware I saw one one day and I said gee, how are these people going to get into the subway? No, around where I am. Everything seems to be opened as they want everyone to come to Trader Joe's I guess. So. Everything is open. I don't I haven't experienced any closed subway stations. Okay, the cow. I'm like at the DeKalb Avenue stop.
Yeah, there couple of close staircases at that at that station. Really? Yeah.
Not that I know. Okay. I didn't know because I don't I don't take some I know there's one around the corner from me. And if they close that one, then I'd have to walk down to the cow. So I'm not sure I'll have to check that out today.
Yeah, the the ones that DeKalb I think are right on Flatbush between my really, I can't remember this this street names but
okay, not the one Nevins. Please don't close that one. That's Nevins and Flatbush.
Yeah. Oh,
God, I'm not aware, I have to check them out, because that would be a catastrophe. Because those are the closest ones to where I am.
So last two questions. And these are questions that we, you know, we asked everybody, for generations that will be listening to this and viewing this in the future. What would you like to tell people as it relates to transportation? What would you like them to know? Hmm.
The only thing I can say about transportation is, be careful. That's all I can say. Because I don't know what else what else to say in terms of subways and buses, be careful. Give yourself enough time, don't leave at the last minute. You know, because sometimes they have that sometimes they have issues that they can, again, be as timely as they should be. And in terms of accessorized, you definitely have to give yourself more time, don't, don't wait to the last minute and say, I can get there in 15 minutes, because that's not always possible. So to relieve yourself, of a lot of stress, give yourself time, even if you get there early, get there early, so you can wait inside where you're supposed to go and not miss your appointments. Especially if they have doctor's appointments, you have to be there. And I guess many people have adjusted to that. And don't give up. And also be proactive and not. And don't wait until the last until the situation happens. Be proactive and maybe get together with other people to see if you can, as a group, sign a petition or whatever, to get the improvements that you're looking for.
That's great. I'm just remembered one question that I I glossed over, but meant to ask earlier. So I'll ask it now. What impact if any, has your race, gender or class had on your ability to get around in in Brooklyn and in the city?
I don't think I've hit those many. I don't think I paid it. No. I know. Because no, I don't private cabs. I mean, I call up a company that I am familiar with. And they're always willing to take me whether I do international car service, they, you know, they have all kinds of drivers and what have you. And I have not, not only once I had a little issue, but it was a political. It was a political discussion. But that was it. You know, it was a political thing. And I disagreed. he disagreed with me. I disagree with him. But it wasn't it didn't have an impact on me whatsoever. Because we all have differences. And we have a lot of similarities as well.
All right. And last question. For now. We may want to talk to you at some point in the near future. Or talk to you again in the near future. Who else should we talk to? You know, who do you think would be good for us to talk to, to participate in this project?
Are you in touch with Ryan Grinch, who I think is his name? He's with the Myrtle Avenue?
You Ryan Greenlaw. Yeah. Oh,
yeah, he's one. He's one. And also, I would say 14 can also because all seniors are here. I mean, they don't know. We're not seeing us anymore. We it's an older adults club. And you have people from all over. They have 1414 centers around the around this the barrel, 14 centers. So you that would be a wide audience. A wide participation.
Do you know if any of them were, I guess, born and raised and lived their whole lives and that and Fort Greene are in the immediate area?
I'm certain okay, I'm certain you know what I find most people who are in Brooklyn have always lived in Brooklyn. I find that I'm a transplant but everyone else seems to be here you know they had brown stones or their parents homes or whatever. But But Harlem we didn't own anything. We just came you know, an apartment and when we as soon as we got to a certain age we moved out. So but I think Brooklyn is most stay where people have been in the all of their lives grew up in in the same house and what have you. So I think Brooklyn is pretty stable. So I think what green council would be a good possibility, and you could interview people from that, from that arena.
And so would we connect to people through you? Or is there someone that at Ethics Council, who we should connect with?
Claudette? She's out with the flu now? Claudette Macy Ma, C E. Y, is the is the executive director of what green Council councils she's in charge of all 14 sensors. Okay, so she would be the the appropriate person, I don't think she would mind me giving you her name. All right. Well,
we definitely appreciate that. So one final bit of housekeeping. So, you know, we have pledged to compensate everyone who participates $75 and was wondering if you wanted that by cheque? And if so, you know, what your mailing addresses?
Well, we can do that off camera can send email you.
Yeah, you can do that.
Also, the other thing I hated. Last month, I did all this talking. What is this? Where is it going? Who's going to who's the audience? When is a good way? You know, what is the whole purpose of this, this interview? And I should have asked that before I began telling you all my businesses, especially my age.
So we're, we're really interested in, I guess, you could say collecting, you know, personal stories and experiences around transportation, and infrastructure, and transportation issues. And, you know, maybe any associated activism on that, specifically looking at elders in central Brooklyn, in kind of Vinegar Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy, but kind of the Northern torn portions of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy around a little bit around Myrtle Avenue and north, maybe a few blocks south of Myrtle Avenue, but we're just interested in this area, for a lot of different reasons. Okay. Yeah,
what we encountered would be the EMF, the baths, because they have all of those areas. And I've met when you were asking me who, who gave that demonstration of the changes? I believe it was Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, I believe that's where I got because I know I went to this big it was a huge meet thing. And they they should they did get the Predict the I said the prediction of what what was going to happen this area, years before we even knew.
And this was in the late 80s.
That that was probably in the yeah, probably in the early 80s. Early 80s. Yeah, I would say before 89, because I moved here in 89. But before that, I went to that particular, I can't even think what it was called, but what they were able to show us what was going to happen with this area, we saw the promenade, we saw all of that, in that particular setting. And they had the plan. I mean, the plan was there. But it was a matter of time. And when I saw the the way they would destroying Myrtle Avenue the way it was, I said all then it was empty, was vacant for a while and then all of a sudden, they started building. So that has been in the plan.
I know that you were I mean, you didn't move until I guess two decades after the Myrtle Avenue l came down. But do you ever remember using the Myrtle Avenue elevated? When you were younger? Or did you have any, I guess, interaction with the elevated
this is probably off record. But when I was a teenager, I had three cousins who lived in those they call afford green projects over there. And the l ran through it. And when we when I was a teenager we used we rewrote that I didn't know anything about Brooklyn then. I mean, I thought that was a foreign country as I said out Brooklyn, and we wrote on that that lol And then years later, it was gone. You know, so I didn't see the gradual change there. But I remember riding on that. When I was a teenager I must have been about 1415 years old.
Okay, All right. Well, I know we're past our time. It's 340. But it's been a pleasure to talk with you. And hopefully we can continue talking. If you're interested, I can connect you with someone who is an organizer around accessorized for New York lawyers for the public interest. And so, you know, that would be a potential way to get involved.
Okay, well, I'll email you and your Alan. Yes, I'll email you and give you my address and my name, so that you can have it. But I'll see, you know, because my mother is very upset with me. She says, You're, you're doing to let you're always involved in and I said, What am I supposed to do sit home and die or what? But I am truly concerned about our future. And especially for our young people. I think that's, that's, that's truly my passion is to deal with with what's gonna happen with them. I just lost my son two months ago in September, so I want an only son. Yeah. So you know, I I feel for children. He wasn't a child. You know, he was a grown man and I had two grandsons. But I'm really concerned about the future. And about breaking that cycle, you know, what's going on with the young people now. So that's basically who I am. And thank you, for you for for helping me to, to reminisce to reflect and all of that, and I now I can go home, I was concerned that I would not be able to do it because I was at this event upstairs. And I had to beg someone, can I please have a room, you know, and they, they gave me this room and I didn't realize my phone was so effective. I can use my phone and get the same result. So I'm glad I was able to do so. So you have a wonderful day and thank you. Okay, thank you for weekends. Sorry. Okay, you too.
