"Staten Island: The Forgotten Borough" on New York Illustrated, late 1960s

A documentary about the rapid, uncontrolled overdevelopment of Staten Island after the opening of the Verrazano Bridge in 1964, and the fight by local activists to preserve the Island's unspoiled Greenbelt from the planned Richmond Parkway.

[@Triangulove]

They thought it was over developed then? Wow, I can only imagine what they would think of it NOW.

[@deniseg812]

Saturated.

[@driccio2]

They slowly eased is down your throat. When Gov talks about plans for beauty, help and improvement, you should know then, you’re done!

[@johndavis9321]

@@driccio2 yup

[@grasmereguy5116]

The craziness is that I talk to even more recent transplants/visitors who are coming over from Brooklyn in the past decade and they talk like Staten Island is so bucolic and has so much open space and little congestion. I'm like, "Whadd'ya talking about, we're overpopulated, traffic jams on Hylan!" It's all relative. My family came over in 1970, definitely after-bridge people, when I was an infant, but my late father bought an old 1920s-era house, into a "before the-bridge" neighborhood (and after living in Brooklyn and also places like Mexico, Uruguay and Israel, I'm back in my childhood home in my 50s). Our neighbors were all before-bridge veterans so we almost kind of got grandfathered in as "B4 Bridge" Islanders, or at least our B4 Bridge neighbors eventually accepted us. Now we are the old-timers. I talk to these recent transplants, many of them Russian-speaking Jews who moved here from Brighton Beach in the 2000s-2010s, and moved into these even tinier houses that are popping up all over, and they say things like "Staten Island, so wonderful, so much space, it's like country!" They have no idea.

[@tony8490]

I said the same thing

[@albertangeloro5832]

not forgotten by republicans, bigots, racists and now Trump voters. this has always been the definition of Staten Island.

[@crabstick250]

Thats why I moved 35 yrs ago. But my family is still there. There are people who are not right wing, racist nutwings lol.

[@mascara1777]

My grandparents lived on Chesterton Avenue. My grandfather was a hardworking man from Central Italy. I miss Caggiano's bakery store, best Italian bread.

[@dddlll2471]

mascara1980....I'm still in Oakwood hts....we all miss that bread...used to bye 3 and only get home with 2

[@MrLarryDallas45]

Unfortunately, yes, they went out of business some years ago. They were also in Brooklyn. I worked for them at their 11th Avenue location, as a kid.

[@firstnamelastname-dm6go]

I think it's a dollar store now . I never went in there . They replaced the goethals bridge too.

[@theguy6199]

@j.denino57 Are you related to the Denino family (it's still there in 2019) that has been in business selling the best pizza on Staten Island since the 1930's? Denino's Tavern on Port Richmond Avenue!

[@thethomasj1795]

Cagiano's was so good. Yes, they had the best bread and meats too. It was a huge loss when they closed. From what I understand The only reason they closed was because the family didn't want the business anymore. Whenever I drive by there and see the dollar store it makes me sad.

[@MicrosoftHQ500]

Thank god they never built that parkway. Today the greenbelt still exists and is accessible for those who want peace and quiet away from the three core problems the island faces today: pollution, overcrowding, and traffic.

[@onelgalagedara4472]

For real man. As a teenager that green belt has given me so much relief from a stressful home. I’m so glad the NYC parks has protected that land.

[@stealth423]

ruined by poor planning and corrupt politicians

[@riley6863]

You speak the truth I'm sure so please educate me. I was an 80s SI child and would like to hear from those before me plz.

[@reginalddorsey6190]

Who grew up in the 70's remember jersey street.

[@anthonysosio]

Growing up on Staten Island in the late sixties early seventies was awesome being part of New York City but yet feeling like a small town, the biggest problem was when they started development in the late sixties early seventies they should have stuck with single-family detached homes only no semi's no town houses, that would have cut the population down and things would have been far better then they are now

[@dustywaxhead]

Lord forbid too many people live in an area

[@grasmereguy5116]

@j.denino57 And they're still doing it. Look at Mt Manresa.

[@deniseg812]

Friendly foreign and near.

[@s.chuang4469]

They’re still second wealthiest in average compared to other boroughs

[@FrancieItaly1-eq5iv]

Brooklyn girl here ,greenpoint I love ny

[@mredwards3000]

Great. These old documentaries are fascinating. .

[@toshiojohnston3732]

Yes yah right they are fascinating because although nostalgia is great these films remind us that life the good,bad,ugly always happens in real time.just reme.ber all the things that were a big deal as a teen now you look back at laugh at it all.

[@RELIC3862]

If they had only known what S.I. would become: an overcrowded borough filled with potholes.

[@driccio2]

They knew exactly what was coming!

[@mustang2005]

@@driccio2 yup they laughed all the way to the bank

[@robcop993]

Potholes? Try craters. I live in Midland Beach and it's like driving on the surface of the moon. The city has not repaved any of the streets (around me) since we were hit by Superstorm Sandy. But they have no problems spending money on speed traps/cameras.

[@nickk5263]

Haha, we didn't get sewers in Huguenot until the 1990's, so they were 30 years away :) Nice documentary, I was born and raised on Staten Island, it's turned into Brooklyn now though, they should have never put up the bridge. Moved out of there and never looked back, and do not miss the smell of the dump

[@MrBGB2012]

I just saw this old documentary on "STATEN ISLAND:THE FORGOTTEN BOROUGH" (NBC,1968)....It's a great history lesson,and it makes you realize the more things stay the same! Development in S.I.,parts of Brooklyn & of course, NYC...you realize,people,it's all about money! Then,as well as NOW!!!

[@reginalddorsey6190]

I was born in staten island Dec 67.❤

[@jensaccenti7306]

I was born here in 1948. My family is italian. They came to ellis island. Worked their asses off in new york hard every day then came to the island. I am proud of my parents and grandparents. They all learned english. Italian people are hard workers. Salud to the italians of Staten Island.

[@brandyquick5581]

Jen Saccenti No body worked harder than the Hebrew israelites (The real Jews are black people) that built america and never got paid! You italians and" Jew-ish" claim you built your selves up..but you had help from the government, they looked out for their own.

[@matthewcircosta7353]

I agree Jen

[@basitk12]

Brandy Quick you're a dumbbell

[@Its303AcidBass]

@@brandyquick5581 your culture is in decay. You have 75% children born to single mothers. Check yourself.

[@alllivesmatter3561]

@@brandyquick5581 shut yo clown self up 🤡.

[@pope414]

I loved growing up on Staten Island during the 60`s-70`s ..it was pure heaven

[@joem2916]

Born and raised on Staten Island. Enjoyed this documentary. 50cents for the bridge, which should have been paid off long ago. $19 now. I'm retiring and moving to North Carolina. Island definitely not the same anymore

[@Zanybandz123]

Then it turned to garbage island, now its drug island. But its home

[@yankees29]

NYC’s garbage dump! 🤣

[@rapman5791]

Even Big Ang wouldn’t recognize Staten Island today.

[@Clau-xm4mt]

my family currently lives in staten island victory blvrd ... a beautiful place

[@yoyo8303]

A MAFIA HEAVEN AN ITALIAN RUSSIAN MOB TERRITORY

[@kidfromstatenisland]

This makes me very sad. Very sad, indeed.

[@frankmarcia5956]

i was stationed at base St George while i was in the United States Coast Guard. i loved the island and at the time 1965 to 1966 i thought about moving to the island. i now live in Tampa Florida and let me tell you something the builders here are doing just what they have done on the lsland with what we call mac mansions that all look the same and that are all overpriced. these new homes sit on property that used to be double lots with one house one story and lots of grass to cut and nice big back yards. it's a shame people don't care about having property with grass and trees and a nice back yard to enjoy.

[@michaelpauw6186]

Who can tolerate living in these disgusting buildings? Brooklynites I guess.

[@MrLarryDallas45]

Not ALL us Brooklynites now. I've lived on the Island for a total of 13 years, & appreciate the peace & quiet I didn't have back in Brooklyn.

[@gregorypizzini]

it is weird to see the house I grew up in this video! @ 14:36 , that A frame house is the one my dad designed in 1964and still is there!

[@michaelpauw6186]

Gregory Pizzini Wow- where is it located?

[@gregorypizzini]

It is in Annadale off of Barclay age

[@takethisl629]

Gregory Pizzini haha thanks, now i know where you live

[@marko11kram]

I grew up at 415 Edgegrove Ave. Once the Bridge was opened, The entire character of the Island was fundementally changed. We moved 'upstate' to Dutchess Co. Now I lice in Putnam Co, and the threats to the area echo those from staten Island

[@michaelpauw6186]

Even in Putnam County, huh? Incredible. We've got to figure out some tactic that will stop the necessity to keep running.

[@smilingskull7827]

Moved off Staten Island 3 years ago, I was tired of communicating with my middle finger.

[@rainbowskies5796]

where did you go? I'm sick of staten island already. 5 years here now

[@mmi4745]

Staten Island is horrible

[@Seek147.]

​@@mmi4745 go to Brooklyn then have fun

[@Paperbacknovel]

A big Thank You to the Green Belt people, who were ridiculed by local press (Staten Island Advance, etc) as heretics back in the 1970's, but actually saved the borough. See 20:20 mark -- Robert Moses wanted to put a highway thru the center of the island which would have destroyed the island.

[@TheMikerandazzo]

Would’ve alleviated so much traffic. Fuck the trees

[@tommcconville4270]

Robert Moses was the biggest creep that ever walked the planet. He ruined both the outer boroughs of Staten Island and Queens, where we came from, with grotesque highways and housing projects. And he destroyed the Bronx too.

[@edforeman6401]

@j.denino57 Wolfe's Pond Park hasn't changed. Ir's in the South Shore, not the Greenbelt.

[@onelgalagedara4472]

God I’m so glad that didn’t happen SI is already a hell scape of stroads

[@TL2354]

Now there’s more cars everywhere else, including residential streets. That highway through the greenbelt would’ve helped with traffic

[@susiearviso3032]

Its hard to believe that builders just care about the money, and not the people they are building for.

[@michaelpauw6186]

Hahaha, good one.

[@johnvalentino1698]

That's me nailing sofit and talking to Larry Simmons !!!

[@Fony_turgeson]

Really. Wow. That's kool

[@Denis-rz7qn]

thats so strange to think about. The people, the concepts in this video is so alien and distant to me in the 21st century. And here I am (supposedly) replying to one of the gentleman in the video. It might be my strong anti-development bias, but after the few times I have watched this video, I absolutely despise that Simmons fellow. His tone and attitude tells me that he is arrogant, and unpleasant. Did you know him well enough to get a guess at his personality?

[@ratrod426]

Great job on making Staten Island all it is today ! LoL should of left it a forgotten borough ...

[@andya5068]

Nahh

[@Denis-rz7qn]

Where did you find this video? Wanted to find some more footage of rural staten island.

[@patriciareeps3389]

My husband and I grew up on Staten Island in the 40’s and 50’s. It was very rural with plenty of open lands. We both took the ferry to work in NY city. After the bridge opened to Brooklyn, houses rose in prices. We moved with our family to New Jersey and bought a beautiful large home, never looked back

[@missyallthat6207]

Last time I took the bridge it was $18 from Brooklyn to Staten Island and free the other way. I remember taking my car on the ferry before 9/11 when they stopped allowing cars on ferry and it was $4 then went up to $6

[@michaelpauw6186]

Who can afford to live in New York City anymore?

[@superblue2983]

It's 2016 now and the S.I. ferry looks the same as it did back in the late 1960s.

[@superblue2983]

Salvatore Lanzieri no, her husband is.

[@superblue2983]

Salvatore Lanzieri LOL! That's funny pally, :-)

[@zipthepinhead]

That's because the ferry builders construct them to look as they did during the first half of the 20th century and paint them all the same color they've used for decades, called "Municipal Orange". While a couple of the ferries actually are quite old by now (the John F. Kennedy being the oldest, built in the mid 60's) many of them are quite new, built in the 2000's. The old style design is largely for historic and nostalgic reasons.

[@grasmereguy5116]

@@zipthepinhead The JFK will be retired soon. I will miss its wooden seats. :(

[@sandraa2971]

It’s amazing that Generation after generation nothing ever changes. Staten Island was beautiful also in the 80,s and 90,s. around late 90,s Developers were knocking down beautiful older homes and putting up cookie cutters houses. One home on a nice size Property only to put four new big homes on the same lot the single house was on. Now in 2022 every thing that was said in this video never changed. Our elected official that do not live on the island think they know what’s best for the island. How about listening to the people who live here.

[@michaelpauw6186]

Nicole Malliotakis feasts with the Savo Brothers and Max Rose wants more and more Section 8 and public housing. All the rest are bought off and sold out; they always have been. We are mere prey for the politicians and the builders to exploit.

[@deniseg812]

McMansions.

[@kctyphoon]

Its funny to hear them mention the lack of sewers in SI back then. My fathers house in Annandale just had city sewers installed within the last few years. I think they said it was one of last areas/ blocks to get them. Its eye opening to see how far the “standards” of what people expected for their money have slid backwards.. Shown in the film - With only Dad working, Mom was at home in a brand new house, with 4 kids, a newer car probably, and the idea of paying 50 cents to cross into Brooklyn was unacceptable. These days most young couples would kill to live like that.. Life WAS better without all the technology. People lived in as a society, talking to neighbors, seeking to be around each other. Now we have a bunch of individuals at each other’s throats, living in homes they will never pay off, stressed by the boots of the politicians who’ve designed an environment to keep people from climbing higher.

[@18thAveGR]

Such an accurate statement.

[@TDTam11]

8:50 Ladies & Gentleman.....The 2 most Staten Island Ladies Ever!!!

[@scarsinizm]

TDTam11 the one on the right had me cracking up

[@iadorenewyork1]

“Numbah one ... no more septic tanks. It should be down the drain. .... Every time you turn around, there’s something back in’ up.” A vivid personality!

[@sleepingwithcats5121]

Brooklyn ladies!

[@rosetorres8441]

I used to live on Staten Island, for about 9 years, until I moved away to East Brunswick with my family, I hate East Brunswick! I wish I could move back

[@Michelle-jz8vl]

Izzy Why? Staten Island is a disgrace now! It ain’t what it use to be! I left the first chance I got.

[@kraken138]

Sadly, the developers and politicians finally did destroy Staten Island. Now, old-0time residents are fleeing as fast as they can, crime is up, and the quality of life has plummeted.

[@bkborn4256]

The bridge was 50 cents and the ferry was a nickel lol.

[@sleepingwithcats5121]

The ferry is free now

[@adm712]

Keep in mind, in April 1963 a huge brush fire charred and destroyed significant amount of land on the south shore. As most of the public utilities at the time were antiquated, modernization as well as development was a good thing for Staten Island during the 1964-1980 time period. By 1980 there was a very good mixture of modern development, land saved for conservation as well as historical preservation. However post 1981 is what I call the "obnoxious development" period. This was where you destroyed any tree standing, or any past cultural remnent on the island in favor of an ugly condo or a strip mall. Kudos for this upload. This is truly an awesome obscure gem!

[@Janotes]

They are still doing it now. Nothing has really changed.

[@captaincoconut8967]

I’m a before the bridge islander an it was a better place to live the bridge destroyed

[@jeffbrown1518]

got a kick out of the ladies my grandmother always worried about the cesspool i remember the honey wagon and the sewage in the yard

[@JVCPhotography]

"Staten Nylan" The Verrazano bridge was 50 cents. Imagine to think the same bridge is close to $20 to cross in 2020.

[@pingadol1555]

When I was 16 my piece of crap car couldn't make it up the ramp of the Verrazano bridge and they ended up pushing it from the Brooklyn side over to the tolls.Plus the curve at the end of the bridge used to scare the shit out of me as a kid.

[@sammiesamsung37]

$20,000- $30,000 for a house?! Wow.

[@sunfishdana]

40,000 for a house on Long island on the water in 1966 !!!

[@Adam-qv2bd]

"it's not beautiful no more". Nice double negative.

[@missyallthat6207]

I knew this guy about 20 years ago from Brooklyn who used to sell crack to rich white people on SI. He used to make a few thousand a day and some of the customers were doctors & lawyers. For someone who grew up in the Midwest I found it entertaining at the time. Some of my family lived there and to this day I can still remember that smell from the dump especially by the mall- its distinct

[@Sonicfalcon16]

Sometimes being forgotten is a good thing. means the wont ruin what you like.

[@TL2354]

The who?

[@519forestmonk9]

I grew up in Bayonne. Staten Island should’ve always been part of New Jersey. They would have been better off

[@1enaan]

I disagree.

[@grasmereguy5116]

@@1enaan I agree with your disagreement. I hate it when people from the other boroughs say SI isn't legitimately part of NYC. Many of the people who I've heard this from are themselves transplants from other parts of the USA who have never been to SI, but settled in Manhattan or Park Slope, and they say "Staten Island?! That's in NJ, hah hah! I'm a real New Yorker I would never go there." Meanwhile they are originally from Ohio, Oregon or Wisconsin.

[@tfarr8138]

@@grasmereguy5116 I agree with you 110%

[@peskypigeonx]

@@grasmereguy5116 I mean, I consider the East Coast of the Island under the influence of SIRR to have that NYC style, just a bit quiet. I only consider the western parts more Jersey-like.

[@grasmereguy5116]

@@peskypigeonx Well, I am an East Shore guy (we refer to "shores" not "coasts" of Staten Island), half a mile from the Verrazzano, so I see what you are saying, I feel more under the influence of Bay Ridge here, and yes, we have a the SIRT (now called "SIR") trains here, almost like a subway (I am three blocks from the Grasmere train station, whisking me to the ferry terminal in just about 10 minutes). Other neiighborhoods that feel more Brooklyn-like here are Rosebank, Stapleton, Tompkinsville.

[@mariannelynnlatjow5641]

12:45 Huguenot!! Man, I never thought I would say this, but I miss this place!

[@sleepingwithcats5121]

I Iived in South East Annadale! The best! That area.

[@davidjames666]

My heart is in Staten Island, but I couldn’t raise my own family there, as it got too dangerous with all the cars

[@TrishB-kn3ps]

So you live in a place where there aren’t any cars?? 🤨

[@davidjames666]

@@TrishB-kn3ps key words were “all the cars”. there are much fewer cars, much fewer people. I am up in the mountains where the only people who come near my home are my few neighbors. My street on Staten Island had people speeding thru as a shortcut to avoid Hylan blvd. my wife would guide me out of the driveway, as cars would be doing 50 in a 25 regularly. Trucks and busses would be stopped or parked blocking my view. too many cars and activity around there. the streets were not designed for it.

[@TrishB-kn3ps]

@@davidjames666 true, people race down my block too.. si just is what it is now

[@frankesposito2182]

Look....its a Great Place to Live! But People think Development means....Building New Homes and that is Not Development when it is OVER-DONE! We still have Parks enough to Fill 5 Central Parks! That should be left alone.

[@tfarr8138]

My great uncle who was part of "the greatest generation" lived on Staten Island before the bridge. He told me if you were driving down Hylan Blvd and you hit Richmond Ave, Hylan was a dirtroad to Tottenville. My grandmother who was born in 1921 and grew up in Brooklyn called Staten Island "the country" because when compared to Bklyn it was so under developed as opposed to now. Any way this is a great video looking back into the past.

[@mmi4745]

Staten still underdeveloped fuck is you talking bout

[@tfarr8138]

@@mmi4745 What are you talking about? Every bit of land that isnt Parks department as a townhouse or duplex plopped on it.

[@reginalddorsey6190]

West Brighton project's 1075 calseton yeah boy

[@Danuta628]

Wagner HS - I use to have my recitals - Miss Maryann’s dancing studio

[@andreahart9237]

I was born and brought up on Staten Island AND it was a grreat place to live until they built that bridge!!!!! I changed everything. We were no longer a suburb we became part of Brooklyn and were invaded by Brooklynites......

[@sunfishdana]

Was that the Verrazano?

[@reginalddorsey6190]

Child hood memories Stapleton west Brighton p.s.18r

[@dorothysewing9997]

I could see the north tower being built when they showed the Manhattan skyline.

[@FSTOPMAFIA]

awesome. Love the history. very cool vid

[@edforeman6401]

I grew up in Annadale (1949- 1967), and moved back to SI in 1994. There's pros and cons then and now. I'm glad the dump closed (now it's a park) and the beaches have a better boardwalk. The Greenbelt is great, but expressway traffic is bad. It's still much more livable than the other boros.

[@mechanicalpirate664]

Wow crazy watching this seeing our house at around 25 min mark on shirley and Arden ave what a different place today

[@AaronT129]

Then along came the WU-TANG CLAN! 😂🤦🏾‍♂️

[@marko11kram]

They disregarded the wishes of the Staten Islanders

[@mariannelynnlatjow5641]

5:02 Every block has that one house that all the kids play at, that one favorite yard....

[@michaelpauw6186]

Yes, that's how it was. Now the developers have built endless attached houses with no yards. What do kids do?

[@stereovenus]

Do you know what was the worst thing that happen to SI? when impractical jokers said suck it to it's neighbors lol jk the worst thing was Willbrook State School

[@Denis-rz7qn]

wish I lived during the rural era of the island

[@kidfromstatenisland]

I grew up in the 40s. You wouldn't believe how wonderful and safe it was.

[@theguy6199]

@@kidfromstatenisland -what neighborhood did you come out of?

[@Fony_turgeson]

Thanks other boroughs for ruining us. We were happen being the forgotten borough. We had detached houses with huge property. No traffic. And we loved it. We should have been our own city. Not part of nyc the dumpster

[@thedon1029]

Italians still dominate the island 🇮🇹🇮🇲

[@nate9213]

Damn im 20 and im learning everday and love reading about things i live in staten island now and i love the history

[@louis-vd3ur]

As a native Brooklynite who always saw SI as a far-off-mythical place and who has grown bitter at NY State politics, I can only say that NY is a hotel, not a home. We have to leave for elsewhere if we really want an American life. What we don't want to let go of is our immigrant status and sentiment, landscape and social memories, and other very rich aspects of life. Our very accent breathes life into us.

[@michaelpauw6186]

We thought we found a home when our ancestors came here from across the sea. And now we're being dispossessed again, most to sterile and souless suburbs.

[@ramencurry6672]

If I was a New Yorker, I would stay in the area. Most other parts of America are bland. But it also depends on what your interests are. If the population density is too much, you could possibly move to Pennsylvania and drive back 2 hours to New York for visits

[@shangrila73eldorado]

let's go down the list...connor, molinari, molinaro, oddo, debi rose...and all the bums before them who were on the take and changed zoning laws that allowed this malfeasance...if there's a god they will be punished

[@jamesscarano7843]

Was born on Staten Island in '71, lived there until 1998. Can't tell you how many times I heard the expression "This borough was nice until that bridge went up and all the shit came over from Brooklyn." :) Ah, good times . . .

[@Junior-jw1bb]

Staten Island sucks. Everyone drives like their trying to escape it and the young ladies are the worst drivers I’ve ever seen.

[@michaelpauw6186]

How many "Staten Islanders" are really from Brooklyn...or Russia?

[@Fony_turgeson]

@@michaelpauw6186 now Albania and muslims chinese

[@MrLarryDallas45]

You get a lot of folks from Jersey that drive like Maniacs when they come on out to SI.

[@JAB-bc9uv]

Now they are allowing 3 story buildings to eother side of the SIRT.....one mile each way.....we really are Brooklyn.

[@stevelamb4684]

Amazing !! Thanks for sharing. Wonderful history brings back very fond memories !! 👍🏻🐑

[@ZeacorZeppelin]

Wow my house was built in the 80s, but damn they're exactly the same level of production value.

[@causeseffects6573]

Wu-Tang

[@wmbrown6]

I suppose Doug Downs who was credited with photography in the end credits is one and the same as who lensed the first several episodes of "The Honeymooners" in 1955?

[@michaelpauw6186]

Wow, that's an obscure catch!

[@purplesword5536]

guidos from brooklyn and queens overran Staten island..

[@mariannelynnlatjow5641]

I call he coojeens! Lol

[@andyrehorn7541]

Plain and simple greed has overrun the development of the island over the last 60 years. The money, it's ALWAYS about the money....

[@speed8701]

My parents were natives. Their parents were natives. I was born in 1957. The place is a shithole now. Corrupt building dept took bribes to build and that why I took off out of there in 1982.

[@alllivesmatter3561]

1982? It was awesome then compared to what it is now. I wish I grew up during that time..I was born in 92.

[@robertwilliams3527]

I came to Staten Island back in 1847 After signing the Declaration of Independence I was a late signature 😊

[@sevenkings2354]

now it's heroin island

[@vp1470]

Ghetto island

[@PRG013]

I would love to see some of the uncut footage that was taken. What a shame. My family lived there since the 1900's. They were butchers, Ice and coal delivery and furniture movers. By the year 2000, none of my family remains there. We all fled to greener pastures.

[@michaelpauw6186]

+Kolby V. What pastures would those be?

[@PRG013]

+Michael Pauw New Jersey, Washington State, Long Island

[@michaelpauw6186]

+Kolby V. Well, Washington State might be greener, but NJ and LI? Ug.

[@Amidat]

+Michael Pauw - Actually NY state is more forested than Washington State.

[@michaelpauw6186]

+Amidat Yes, upstate NY is quite beautiful, but that's not what you said. You said your family fled to greener pastures in NJ and LI. From my experience with those places, I would hardly describe them as greener pastures, at least not anymore.

[@TisEyerish1]

What happened to Staten Island was an absolute disgrace. I grew up on the North Shore, which was already very developed already, but still a great place to live. My old neighborhood still looks pretty much the same...but it is also very different. That bridge was the worst thing that ever happened to SI.

[@Amidat]

+TisEyerish1 Which bridge? One of the ones to New Jersey?

[@michaelpauw6186]

+Amidat What do you think? It was the Verrazano that changed SI.

[@stealth423]

true

[@TheMikerandazzo]

Putting up the projects in Stapleton, Jersey Street, West Brighton, and Park Hill ruined Staten Island. Would be a much better place without them.

[@Michelle-jz8vl]

TheMikerandazzo Fucc outta here. You racist 💩. SI is the most racist and disgusting place to live. Ughh.

[@rapman5791]

“They’re puttin’ houses up like boxes”!! Aahhhh…… I hate to break it to you but a house is a box with windows. 🤷‍♂️

[@johngallo4159]

Watching this video brings back so many memories, I move to si in 1970 ,eltingville, Augusta ave,we had septic problems as well,I remember telling my dad there was poop in the basement slop sink, he was so mad..the woman sitting on the steps I'm eltingville I bet were on Willson and Pompey ..I remember my neighbor hood

[@reginalddorsey6190]

Is seaview morgue still there my dad worked there over 40plus years. Picking up bodies all over the 5 burrows

[@SandyRiverBlue]

Well, he got what he wanted. Staten Island definitely went in a direction that hasn't been followed by the other boroughs

[@fgjfdgjf]

Interesting..

[@crabstick250]

I grew up in Concord. I love all the New Yawk accents bahaha. It makes me cry to see what's happened on the Island.

[@deniseg812]

It was the beginning of the end. I moved to Staten Island in 79, because of love and the love for an Island that was still very rural. I moved to Tottenville. It's been ruined not only by over building, but ignorant people, 8 times out of 10.

[@FrancieItaly1-eq5iv]

Where are these ladies now ?

[@toshiojohnston3732]

​@@FrancieItaly1-eq5ivif 1968,69 and 29 to 34 years old if alive 83 to 89.

[@Lolabelle59]

I haven't watched this in a while. Sorry to complain, but I don't remember the volume being so low.

[@kaywhygg6980]

55 seconds in imagine if she saw the island now it’s disgusting!

[@denisesimpson591]

I had a friend who lived in New Dorp for about a year back in the early '90s. She detested it.

[@matthewcircosta7353]

Well look at it now

[@mallew32]

Oh wow!

[@RRDB92]

how did SI even became a borough?? it shouldve been a part of new JOISY..🤣🤣🤣

[@jameshaggerty8348]

Strongly disagree

[@michaeloshea3090]

I lived here all my life I'm 60.My parents and grandparents also were native staten islanders. This island has hit rock bottom!

[@sleepingwithcats5121]

All of NYC has, and the world now.

[@JRAHIT]

Wow, that’s so sad to hear, l used to live there in the early 90’s,, and I loved it.

[@CB545A]

I live in NJ now but I'm originally from Bennsonhurst Bklyn and moved to Great kills in 1999 .I miss SI alot now. I dont like Barnegat NJ and had I not inherited my home I would've never left St George ((by the ferry )) 😢

[@michaeloshea3090]

@@CB545A That's the problem , no native Staten Islanders. This Island was ruined by the Ginny gang plank. Staten island was never Italian, it was German, Irish, Hungarian and in sandy ground freed blacks. All hard working people.

[@jamesscarano7843]

@@michaeloshea3090 Um, sir, it's spelled "Guinea" gang plank. If you are going to insult us, at least get the spelling correct. Thank you.

[@shaolin2129]

This comment section is awfully bent outta shape about stuff 😔 😠😤

[@emanueleiosue2885]

It is so interesting to see how people thought before the bridge think the same way people think now! People hated the bridge because of how it changed the island. People who moved in after the bridge feel that it is so different today!

[@energyasylum997]

The ladies in the beginning sound like Karen Hill!