TheNewYorkReviewofBooks

NewYork:SentimentalJourneys
January17,1991byJoanDidion
1.
Weknowherstory,andsomeofus,althoughnotallofus,whichwastobecomeoneofthestorysseveral
equivocalaspects,knowhername.Shewasatwentynineyearoldunmarriedwhitewomanwhoworked
asaninvestmentbankerinthecorporatefinancedepartmentatSalomonBrothersindowntownManhattan,
theenergyandnaturalresourcesgroup.ShewassaidbyoneoftheprincipalsinaTexasoilstockoffering
onwhichshehadcollaboratedasamemberoftheSalomonteamtohavedonetopnotchwork.Shelived
aloneinanapartmentonEast83rdStreet,betweenYorkandEastEnd,asubletcooperativeshewas
thinkingaboutbuying.Sheoftenworkedlateandwhenshegothomeshewouldchangeintojogging
clothesandateightthirtyorninethirtyintheeveningwouldgorunning,sixorsevenmilesthrough
CentralPark,northontheEastDrive,westonthelesstraveledroadconnectingtheEastandWestDrivesat
approximately102ndStreet,andsouthontheWestDrive.Thewisdomofthiswaslaterquestionedby
some,bythosewhowereaccustomedtothinkingoftheParkasaplacetoavoidafterdark,anddefended
byothers,themoreadroitofwhomspokeofthecitizensabsoluterighttopublicaccess(Thatpark
belongstousandthistimenobodyisgoingtotakeitfromus,RonnieEldridge,atthetimeaDemocratic
candidatefortheCityCouncilofNewYork,declaredontheopedpageofTheNewYorkTimes),othersof
whomspokeofrunningasapreemptiveright.RunnershaveTypeAcontrolledpersonalitiesandthey
dontliketheirschedulesinterrupted,onerunner,asecuritiestrader,toldtheTimestothispoint.When
peoplerunisafunctionoftheirlifestyle,anotherrunnersaid.Iampersonallyveryangry,athirdsaid,
Becausewomenshouldhavetherighttorunanytime.
Forthiswomaninthisinstancethesenotionalrightsdidnotprevail.Shewasfound,withher
clothestornoff,notfarfromthe102ndStreetconnectingroadatonethirtyonthemorningofApril20,
1989.ShewastakenneardeathtoMetropolitanHospitalonEast97thStreet.Shehadlost75percentofher
blood.Herskullhadbeencrushed,herlefteyeballpushedbackthroughitssocket,thecharacteristicsurface
wrinklesofherbrainflattened.Dirtandtwigswerefoundinhervagina,suggestingrape.ByMay2,when
shefirstwokefromcoma,sixblackandHispanicteenagers,fourofwhomhadmadevideotapedstatements
concerningtheirrolesintheattackandanotherofwhomhaddescribedhisroleinanunsignedverbal
statement,hadbeenchargedwithherassaultandrapeandshehadbecome,unwillingandunwitting,a
sacrificialplayerinthesentimentalnarrativethatisNewYorkpubliclife.
NIGHTMAREINCENTRALPARK,theheadlinesanddisplaytyperead.TeenWolfpackBeats
andRapesWallStreetExeconJoggingPath.CentralParkHorror.WolfPacksPrey.FemaleJogger
NearDeathAfterSavageAttackbyRovingGang.RapeRampage.ParkMaraudersCallItWilding,
StreetSlangforGoingBerserk.RapeSuspect:ItWasFun.RapeSuspectsJailhouseBoast:SheWasnt
Nothing.Theteenagerswerebackintheholdingcell,theconfessionsgoryandcomplete.Oneshouted
hitthebeatandtheyallstartedrappingtoWildThing.TheJoggerandtheWolfPack.AnOutrage
AndAPrayer.And,ontheMondaymorningaftertheattack,onthefrontpageofTheNewYorkPost,with
aphotographofGovernorMarioCuomoandtheheadlineNONEOFUSISSAFE,thisitalictext:A
visiblyshakenGovernorCuomospokeoutyesterdayontheviciousCentralParkrape:Thepeopleare
angryandfrightenedmymotheris,myfamilyis.Tome,asapersonwhoslivedinthiscityallofhis
life,thisistheultimateshriekofalarm.
Lateritwouldberecalledthat3,254otherrapeswerereportedthatyear,includingonethe
followingweekinvolvingtheneardecapitationofablackwomaninFortTryonParkandonetwoweeks
laterinvolvingablackwomaninBrooklynwhowasrobbed,raped,sodomized,andthrowndowntheair
shaftofafourstorybuilding,butthepointwasrhetorical,sincecrimesareuniversallyunderstoodtobe
newstotheextentthattheyoffer,howevererroneously,astory,alesson,ahighconcept.Inthe1986
CentralParkdeathofJenniferLevin,theneighteen,atthehandsofRobertChambers,thennineteen,the
story,extrapolatedmoreorlessfromthinairbutleftlargelyuncorrected,hadtodonotwithpeopleliving
wretchedlyandmarginallyontheundersideofwheretheywantedtobe,notwiththeDreiserianpursuitof
respectabilitythatmarkedtherevealeddetails(RobertChamberssmotherwasaprivatedutynursewho
workedtwelvehournightshiftstoenrollhersoninprivateschoolsandtheKnickerbockerGreys)butwith
preppies,andthefamiliartoomuchtoosoon.
SusanBrownmiller,duringayearspentmonitoringnewspapercoverageofrapeaspartofher
researchforAgainstOurWill:Men,WomenandRape,found,notsurprisingly,thatalthoughNewYork
Citypolicestatisticsshowedthatblackwomenweremorefrequentvictimsofrapethanwhitewomen,the
favoredvictiminthetabloidheadlinewasyoung,white,middleclassandattractive.Initsquite
extensivecoverageofrapemurdersduringtheyear1971,accordingtoMs.Brownmiller,theDailyNews
publishedinitsfourstarfinaleditiononlytwostoriesinwhichthevictimwasnotdescribedinthelead
paragraphasattractive:oneofthesestoriesinvolvedaneightyearoldchild,theotherwasasecondday
followuponafirstdaystorywhichhadinfactdescribedthevictimasattractive.TheTimes,shefound,
coveredrapesonlyinfrequentlythatyear,butwhatcoveragetheydidconcernedvictimswhohadsome
kindofmiddleclassstatus,suchasnurse,dancerorteacher,andwithafavoredsettingofCentral
Park.
Asanewsstory,Joggerwasunderstoodtoturnonthedemonstrabledifferencebetweenthe
victimandheraccusedassailants,fourofwhomlivedinSchomburgPlaza,afederallysubsidized
apartmentcomplexatthenortheastcornerofFifthAvenueand110thStreetinEastHarlem,andtherestof
whomlivedintheprojectsandrehabilitatedtenementsjusttothenorthandwestofSchomburgPlaza.
Sometwentyfiveteenagerswerebroughtinforquestioning;eightwereheld.Thesixwhowerefinally
indictedrangedinagefromfourteentosixteen.Thatnoneofthesixhadapreviouspolicerecordpassed,in
thiscontext,forachievement;beyondthat,onewasrecalledbyhisclassmatestohavetakenprideinhis
expensivebasketballshoes,anothertohavebeenafollower.Imasmoothtypeoffellow,cool,calm,and
mellow,oneofthesix,YusefSalaam,wouldsayintheraphepresentedaspartofhisstatementbefore
sentencing.

Imkindoflaidback,butnowImspeakingsothatyouknow/Igotusedandabusedandevenwasputon
thenews.
Imnotdissingthemall,butthesomethatIcalled
TheytriedtodismelikeIwasaninchsmall,likeamidget,amouse,somethinglessthanaman.

Thevictim,bycontrast,wasaleader,partofwhattheTimeswoulddescribeasthewaveof
youngprofessionalswhotookoverNewYorkinthe1980s,oneofthosewhowerehandsomeandpretty
andeducatedandwhite,who,accordingtotheTimes,notonlybelievedtheyownedtheworldbuthad
reasonto.ShewasfromaPittsburghsuburb,UpperSt.Clair,thedaughterofaretiredWestinghouse
seniormanager.ShehadbeenPhiBetaKappaatWellesley,agraduateoftheYaleSchoolofManagement,
aCongressionalintern,nominatedforaRhodesScholarship,rememberedbythechairmanofher
departmentatWellesleyasprobablyoneofthetopfourorfivestudentsofthedecade.Shewasreported
tobeavegetarian,andfunloving,althoughonlywhentimepermitted,andalsotohavehad(these
weretheTimessdetails)concernsabouttheethicsoftheAmericanbusinessworld.
Inotherwordsshewaswrenched,evenasshehungbetweendeathandlifeandlaterbetween
insentienceandsentience,intoNewYorksidealsister,daughter,Bachrachbride:ayoungwomanof
conventionalmiddleclassprivilegeandpromisewhosesituationwassuchthatmanypeopletendedto
overlookthefactthatthestatescaseagainsttheaccusedwasnotinvulnerable.Thestatecouldimplicate
mostofthedefendantsintheassaultandrapeintheirownvideotapedwords,buthadnoneofthe
incontrovertibleforensicevidencenomatchingsemen,nomatchingfingernailscrapings,nomatching
bloodcommonlyproducedinthiskindofcase.Despitethefactthatjurorsinthesecondtrialwould
eventuallymentionphysicalevidenceashavingbeencrucialintheirbringingguiltyverdictsagainstone
defendant,KevinRichardson,therewasnotactuallymuchphysicalevidenceathand.Fragmentsofhair
similar[to]andconsistentwiththatofthevictimwerefoundonKevinRichardsonsclothingand
underwear,butthestatesowncriminologisthadtestifiedthathairsampleswerenecessarilyinconclusive
since,unlikefingerprints,theycouldnotbetracedtoasingleperson.Dirtsamplesfoundonthedefendants
clothingwere,again,similartodirtfoundinthepartoftheparkwheretheattacktookplace,butthestates
criminologistallowedthatthesampleswerealsosimilartodirtfoundinotheruncultivatedareasofthe
park.Tosuggest,however,thatthisminimalphysicalevidencecouldopenthecasetoanaggressive
defenseto,say,thekindofdefensethatsuchcelebratedNewYorkcriminallawyersasJackLitmanand
BarrySlotnicktypicallypresentwouldcometobeconstrued,duringtheweeksandmonthstocome,asa
furtherattackonthevictim.
ShewouldbeLadyCouragetoTheNewYorkPost,shewouldbeAProfileinCouragetoThe
DailyNewsandNewYorkNewsday.ShewouldbecomeforAnnaQuindleninTheNewYorkTimesthe
figureofNewYorkrisingabovethedirt,theNewYorkerwhohasknownthebest,andtheworst,andhas
stayedon,livingsomewhereinthemiddle.ShewouldbecomeforDavidDinkins,thefirstblackmayorof
NewYork,theemblemofhisapparentlyfragilehopesforthecityitself:Ihopethecitywillbeableto
learnalessonfromthiseventandbeinspiredbytheyoungwomanwhowasassaultedinthecase,hesaid.
Despitetremendousodds,sheisrebuildingherlife.Whatahumanlifecando,ahumansocietycandoas
well.ShewaseventhenforJohnGutfreund,thechairmanandchiefexecutiveofficerofSalomon
Brothers,thepersonificationofwhatmakesthiscitysovibrantandsogreat,nowstruckdownbyaside
ofourcitythatisasawfulandterrifyingasthecreativesideiswonderful.Itwaspreciselyinthis
conflationofvictimandcity,thisconfusionofpersonalwoewithpublicdistress,thatthecrimesstory
wouldbefound,itslesson,itsencouragingpromiseofnarrativeresolution.
Onereasonthevictiminthiscasecouldbesoreadilyabstracted,andhersituationsoreadilymade
tostandforthatofthecityitself,wasthatsheremained,asavictimofrape,unnamedinmostpressreports.
AlthoughtheAmericanandEnglishpressconventionofnotnamingvictimsofrape(adultrapevictimsare
namedinFrenchpapers)derivesfromtheunderstandablewishtoprotectthevictim,therationalizationof
thisspecialprotectionrestsonanumberofdoubtful,evenmagical,assumptions.Theconventionassumes,
byprovidingaprotectionforvictimsofrapenotaffordedvictimsofotherassaults,thatrapeinvolvesa
violationabsentfromotherkindsofassault.Theconventionassumesthatthisviolationisofanaturebest
keptsecret,thattherapevictimfeels,andwouldfeelstillmorestronglyweresheidentified,ashameand
selfloathinguniquetothisformofassault;inotherwordsthatshehasbeeninanunspecifiedwaypartyto
herownassault,thataspecialcontractexistsbetweenthisonekindofvictimandherassailant.
Theconventionassumes,finally,thatthevictimwouldbe,werethisspecialcontractrevealed,the
naturalobjectofprurientinterest;thattheactofmalepenetrationinvolvessuchpotentmysteriesthatthe
womansopenetrated(asopposed,say,tohavingherfacecrushedwithabrickorherbrainpenetratedwith
alengthofpipe)ispermanentlymarked,different,evenespeciallyifthereisaperceivedracialor
socialdifferencebetweenvictimandassailant,asinnineteenthcenturystoriesfeaturingwhitewomen
takenbyIndiansruined.
Thesequitespecificallymasculineassumptions(womendonotwanttoberaped,nordotheywant
tohavetheirbrainssmashed,butveryfewmystifythedifferencebetweenthetwo)tendingeneraltobe
selffulfilling,guidingthevictimtodefineherassaultasherprotectorsdo.Ultimatelyweredoingwomen
adisservicebyseparatingrapefromotherviolentcrimes,DeniElliott,thedirectorofDartmouthsEthics
Institute,suggestedinadiscussionofthiscustominTime.Weareparticipatinginthestigmaofrapeby
treatingvictimsofthiscrimedifferently,GenevaOverholser,theeditoroftheDesMoinesRegister,said
aboutherdecisiontopublishinFebruary1990afivepartpieceaboutarapevictimwhoagreedtobe
named.Whenweasasocietyrefusetotalkopenlyaboutrape,Ithinkweweakenourabilitytodealwith
it.SusanEstrich,aprofessorofcriminallawatHarvardLawSchoolandthemanagerofMichael
Dukakiss1988presidentialcampaign,discussed,inRealRape,theconflictingemotionsthatfollowedher
own1974rape:
Atfirst,beingrapedissomethingyousimplydonttalkabout.Thenitoccurstoyouthatpeople
whosehousesarebrokenintoorwhoaremuggedinCentralParktalkaboutitallthetime.Ifitisntmy
fault,whyamIsupposedtobeashamed?IfImnotashamed,ifitwasntpersonal,whylookaskance
whenImentionit?
Therewere,inthe1989CentralParkattack,specificcircumstancesthatreinforcedtheconviction
thatthevictimshouldnotbenamed.Shehadclearlybeen,accordingtothedoctorswhoexaminedherat
MetropolitanHospitalandtothestatementsmadebythesuspects(sheherselfrememberedneitherthe
attacknoranythingthathappenedduringthenextsixweeks),rapedbyoneormoreassailants.Shehadalso
beenbeatensobrutallythat,fifteenmonthslater,shecouldnotfocushereyesorwalkunaided.Shehad
lostallsenseofsmell.Shecouldnotreadwithoutexperiencingdoublevision.Shewasbelievedatthetime
tohavepermanentlylostfunctioninsomeareasofherbrain.
Giventhesecircumstances,thefactthatneitherthevictimsfamilynor,later,thevictimherself
wantedhernameknownstruckanimmediatechordofsympathy,seemedabelatedwaytoprotectheras
shehadnotbeenprotectedinCentralPark.Yettherewasinthiscaseaspecialemotionalundertowthat
derivedinpartfromthedeepandallusiveassociationsandtaboosattaching,inAmericanblackhistory,to
theideaoftherapeofwhitewomen.Raperemained,inthecollectivememoryofmanyblacks,thevery
coreoftheirvictimization.Blackmenwereaccusedofrapingwhitewomen,evenasblackwomenwere,
MalcolmXwroteinTheAutobiographyofMalcolmX,rapedbytheslavemasterwhitemanuntiltherehad
beguntoemergeahomemade,handmade,brainwashedracethatwasnolongerevenofitstruecolor,that
nolongerevenknewitstruefamilynames.Theveryfrequencyofsexualcontactbetweenwhitemenand
blackwomenincreasedthepotencyofthetabooonanysuchcontactbetweenblackmenandwhitewomen.
Theabolitionofslavery,W.J.CashwroteinTheMindoftheSouth,indestroyingtherigidfixityofthe
blackatthebottomofthescale,inthrowingopentohimatleastthelegalopportunitytoadvance,had
inevitablyopeneduptothemindofeverySoutherneravistaattheendofwhichstoodtheoverthrowofthis
taboo.Ifitwasgiventotheblacktoadvanceatall,whocouldsay(oncemorethelogicofthedoctrineof
hisinherentinferioritywouldnothold)thathewouldnotonedayadvancethewholewayandlayclaimto
completeequality,including,specifically,theevercrucialrightofmarriage?
WhatSouthernersfelt,therefore,wasthatanyassertionofanykindonthepartoftheNegro
constitutedinaperfectlyrealmanneranattackontheSouthernwoman.Whattheysaw,moreorless
consciously,intheconditionsofReconstructionwasapassagetowardaconditionforherasdegrading,in
theirview,asrapeitself.Andacondition,moreover,which,logicornologic,theyinfalliblythoughtofas
beingasabsolutelyforceduponherasrape,andhenceaconditionforwhichthetermrapestoodastruly
asforthedefactodeed.
Norwastheideaofrapetheonlypotentiallytreacherousundercurrentinthiscase.Therehas
historicallybeen,forAmericanblacks,anentirecomplexofloadedreferencesaroundthequestionof
naming:slavenames,mastersnames,Africannames,callmebymyrightfulname,nobodyknowsmy
name;stories,inwhichthespecificgravityofnaminglockeddirectlyintothatofrape,ofblackmen
whippedforaddressingwhitewomenbytheirgivennames.
That,inthiscase,justsuchaninterlockingofreferencescouldworktofuelresentmentsand
inchoatehatredsseemedclear,anditseemedequallyclearthatsomeofwhatultimatelyoccurredthe
repeatedreferencestolynchings,theidentificationofthedefendantswiththeScottsboroboys,the
insistentlyprovocativerepetitionofthevictimsname,theweirdandselfdefeatinginsistencethatnorape
hadtakenplaceandlittleharmbeendonethevictimderivedmomentumfromthishistoricalfreight.
Yearsago,ifawhitewomansaidaBlackmanlookedatherlustfully,hecouldbehunghigherthana
magnoliatreeinbloom,whileawhitemobwatchedjoyfullysippingteaandeatingcookies,Yusef
SalaamsmotherremindedreadersofTheAmsterdamNews.ThefirstthingyoudointheUnitedStatesof
Americawhenawhitewomanisrapedisroundupabunchofblackyouths,andIthinkthatswhat
happenedhere,theReverendCalvinO.ButtsIIIoftheAbyssinianBaptistChurchinHarlemtoldThe
NewYorkTimes.YougoingtoarrestmenowcauseIsaidthejoggersname?GaryByrdasked
rhetoricallyonhisWLIBshow.
Imean,shesobviouslyapublicfigure,andaverymysteriousone,Imightadd.Well,itsafunny
placeweliveincalledAmerica,andshouldwebesurprisedthattheyreuptotheirusualtricks?Itwasa
trickthatgotushereinthefirstplace.
Thisreflectedoneoftheproblemswithnotnamingthisvictim:shewasinfactnamedallthetime.
Everyoneinthecourthouse,everyonewhoworkedforapaperoratelevisionstationorwhofollowedthe
caseforwhateverprofessionalreason,knewhername.Shewasreferredtobynameinallcourtrecordsand
inallcourtproceedings.Shewasnamed,inthedaysimmediatelyfollowingtheattack,onlocaltelevision
stations.Shewasalsoroutinelynamedandthiswaspartofthedifficulty,partofwhatledtoadamaging
selfrighteousnessamongthosewhodidnotnameherandtoanequallydamagingembattlementamong
thosewhodid,inManhattansblackownednewspapers,TheAmsterdamNewsandTheCitySun,andshe
wasnamedaswellonWLIB,theManhattanradiostationownedbyablackpartnershipwhichincluded
PercySuttonand,until1985whenhetransferredhisstocktohisson,MayorDinkins.
 ThatthevictiminthiscasewasidentifiedonCentreStreetandnorthof96thStreetbutnotin
betweenmadeforacertaincognitivedissonance,especiallysincethenamesofeventhejuvenilesuspects
hadbeenreleasedbythepoliceandthepressbeforeanysuspecthadevenbeenarraigned,letalone
indicted.Thepolicenormallywithholdthenamesofminorswhoareaccusedofcrimes,theTimes
explained(actuallythepolicenormallywithholdthenamesofaccusedjuveniles,orminorsunderage
sixteen,butnotofminorssixteenorseventeen),butofficialssaidtheymadepublicthenamesofthe
youthschargedintheattackonthewomanbecauseoftheseriousnessoftheincident.Thereseemeda
debatablepointhere,thequestionofwhethertheseriousnessoftheincidentmightnothaveinfact
seemedacompellingreasontoavoidanyappearanceofarushtojudgmentbypreservingtheanonymityof
ajuvenilesuspect;oneofthenamesreleasedbythepoliceandpublishedintheTimeswasofafourteen
yearoldwhowasultimatelynotindicted.
Therewere,earlyon,certainaspectsofthiscasethatseemednotwellhandledbythepoliceand
prosecutors,andothersthatseemednotwellhandledbythepress.Itwouldseemtohavebeentactically
unwise,sinceNewYorkstatelawrequiresthataparentorguardianbepresentwhenchildrenundersixteen
arequestioned,forpolicetocontinuetheinterrogationofYusefSalaam,thenfifteen,onthegroundsthat
hisTransitAuthoritybuspasssaidhewassixteen,whilehismotherwaskeptwaitingoutside.Itwould
seemtohavebeenunwiseforLindaFairstein,theassistantdistrictattorneyinchargeofManhattansex
crimes,toignore,attheprecincthouse,themothersassertionthatthesonwasfifteen,andlatertosuggest,
inopencourt,thattheboysagehadbeenuncleartoherbecausethemotherhadusedthewordminor.
ItwouldalsoseemtohavebeenunwiseforLindaFairsteintotellDavidNocenti,theassistantUSattorney
whowaspairedwithYusefSalaaminaBigBrotherprogramandwhohadcometotheprecincthouseat
themothersrequest,thathehadnolegalstandingthereandthatshewouldfileacomplaintwithhis
supervisors.Itwouldseeminthisvolatileacaseimprudentofthepolicetofollowtheirnormalprocedure
bypresentingRaymondSantanasinitialstatementintheirownwords,copphrasesthatwouldpredictably
seemtosomeinthecourtroom,astheexpressionofafourteenyearoldheldovernightandintothenext
afternoonforinterrogation,unconvincing:
OnApril19,1989,atapproximately20:30hours,IwasattheTaftProjectsinthevicinityof113th
St.andMadisonAvenue.Iwastherewithnumerousfriends.Atapproximately21:00hours,weall
(myselfandapproximately15others)walkedsouthonMadisonAvenuetoE.110thStreet,thenwalked
westboundtoFifthAvenue.AtFifthAvenueand110thStreet,wemetupwithanadditionalgroupof
approximately15othermales,whoalsoenteredCentralParkwithusatthatlocationwiththeintenttorob
cyclistsandjoggers.
Inacaseinwhichmostofthedefendantshadmadevideotapedstatementsadmittingatleastsome
roleintheassaultandrape,thislessthanmeticulousattitudetowardthegatheringanddisseminationof
informationseemedpeculiarandselfdefeating,thekindofpressuredorunthinkingstandardprocedurethat
couldnotonlyexacerbatethefearsandangersandsuspicionsofconspiracysharedbymanyblacksbut
conceivablyopenwhatseemed,onthebasisoftheconfessions,aconclusivecasetothekindofdoubtthat
wouldeventuallykeepjuriesout,inthetrialofthefirstthreedefendants,tendays,and,inthetrialofthe
nexttwodefendants,twelvedays.Oneofthereasonsthejuryinthefirsttrialcouldnotagree,Manhattan
LawyerreportedinitsOctober1990issue,wasthatonejuror,RonaldGold,remaineddeeplytroubledby
thediscrepanciesbetweenthestory[Antron]McCraytellsonhisvideotapedstatementandtheprosecution
scenario:
WhydidMcCrayplacetherapeatthereservoir,Golddemanded,whenallevidenceindicatedit
happenedatthe102Streetcrossdrive?WhydidMcCraysaythejoggerwasrapedwhereshefell,whenthe
prosecutionsaidshedbeendragged300feetintothewoodsfirst?WhydidMcCraytalkabouthavingto
holdherarmsdown,ifshewasfoundboundandgagged?Thedebateragedforthelasttwodays,with
jurorsdroppinginandoutofGoldsacquittal[forMcCray]camp.
AfterthejurorswatchedMcCraysvideoforthefifthtime,Miranda[RafaelMiranda,another
juror]knewitwellenoughtocitethetimecodenumbersimprintedatthebottomofthevideotapeashe
rebuffedGoldsargumentswithspecificstatementsfromMcCraysownlips.[McCray,onthevideotape,
afteradmittingthathehadheldthevictimbyherleftarmasherclotheswerepulledoff,volunteeredthat
hehadgotontopofher,andsaidthathehadrubbedagainstherwithoutanerectionsoeverybody
wouldjustknowIdidit.]ThepressureonGoldwasmounting.Threejurorsagreethatitwasevident
Gold,worndownperhapsbyhisowndisplaysoftemperasmuchasanythingelse,capitulatedoutof
exhaustion.WhileabitterGoldtoldotherjurorshefeltterribleaboutultimatelygivingin,Brueland
[HaroldBrueland,anotherjurorwhohadforatimefavoredacquittalforMcCray]believesitwasallpartof
theprocess.
IdliketotellRonniesomedaythatnervousexhaustionisanelementbuiltintothecourtsystem.
Theyknowthat,Bruelandsaysofcourtofficials.Theyknowwereonlygoingtobeabletotakeitforso
long.Itsjustamatterof,youknow,whosgotthegutstostickwithit.
Sofixedweretheemotionsprovokedbythiscasethattheideathattherecouldhavebeen,foreven
onejuror,evenamomentsdoubtinthestatescase,letalonethekindofdoubtthatcouldbesustained
overtendaysortwelve,seemed,tomanyinthecity,bewildering,almostunthinkable:theattackonthe
joggerhadbythenpassedintonarrative,andthenarrativewasaboutconfrontation,aboutwhatGovernor
Cuomohadcalledtheultimateshriekofalarm,aboutwhatwaswrongwiththecityandaboutits
solution.Whatwaswrongwiththecityhadbeenidentified,anditsnameswereRaymondSantana,Yusef
Salaam,AntronMcCray,KhareyWise,KevinRichardson,andSteveLopez.Theynevercouldhave
thoughtofitastheyragedthroughCentralPark,tormentingandruiningpeople,BobHerbertwroteinthe
Newsaftertheverdictscameinonthefirstthreedefendants.
Therewasnowayitcouldhavecrossedtheirviciousminds.Runningwiththepack,theywould
havescoffedattheveryidea.Theywouldhavelaughed.
Andyetithappened.Intheend,YusefSalaam,AntronMcCrayandRaymondSantanawerenailedbya
woman.
ElizabethLedererstoodinthecourtroomandwatchedSaturdaynightasthethreewerehauledoff
tojail.Attimesduringthetrial,shelookedabouthalftheheightofthelongandlankySalaam,who
sneeredatherfromthewitnessstand.
SalaamwasapparentlytoodumbtorealizethatLedererthispetite,softspoken,curlyhairedprosecutor
wasthejoggersavenger.
Youcouldtellthatherthoughtswereelsewhere,thatshewasthinkingaboutthejogger.
Youcouldtellthatshewasthinking:Ididit.
Ididitforyou.
Dothisinremembranceofme:thesolution,then,orsosuchpervasivefantasiessuggested,wasto
partakeofthesymbolicbodyandbloodofTheJogger,whoseidealizationwasbythispointcomplete,and
wasrendered,significantly,indetailsstressingherdifference,orsuperiorclass.TheJoggerwassomeone
whowore,accordingtoNewsday,alightgoldchainaroundherslenderneckaswellas,accordingtothe
News,amodestgoldringandathinsheenoflipstick.TheJoggerwassomeonewhowouldnot,
accordingtothePost,evendignifyherallegedattackerswithaglance.TheJoggerwassomeonewho
spoke,accordingtotheNews,inaccentssuitedtoboardrooms,accentsthatmightthereforeseem
foreigntomanynativeNewYorkers.Inherfirstappearanceonthewitnessstandshehadbeensubjected,
theTimesnoted,toquestionsthatmostpeopledonothavetoanswerpubliclyduringtheirlifetimes,
principallyaboutheruseofadiaphragmontheSundayprecedingtheattack,andhadansweredthese
questions,accordingtoaneditorialintheNews,withanindomitabledignitythathadtaughtthecitya
lessonaboutcourageandclass.
Thisemphasisonperceivedrefinementsofcharacterandofmannerandoftastetendedtodistort
andtoflatten,andultimatelytosuggestnottheactualvictimofanactualcrimebutafictionalcharacterof
aslightlyearlierperiod,thewellbroughtupmaidenwhobrieflygracesthecitywithherpresenceand
receivesinturnatasteofreallife.Thedefendants,bycontrast,wereseenasincapableofappreciating
thesemarginaldistinctions,ignorantofboththenormsandaccoutrementsofmiddleclasslife.Didyou
havejoggingclotheson?ElizabethLedereraskedYusefSalaam,bywayoftryingtodiscredithis
statementthathehadgoneintotheparkthatnightonlytowalkaround.Didhehavejoggingclothes,
didhehavesportsequipment,didhehaveabicycle.Aperniciousnostalgiahadcometopermeatethe
case,alongingfortheNewYorkthathadseemedforawhiletobeaboutsportsequipment,aboutgetting
andspendingratherthanabouthavingandnothaving:thereasonthatthisvictimmustnotbenamedwasso
thatshecouldgounrecognized,itwasastonishinglysaid,byJerryNachman,theeditoroftheNewYork
Post,andthenbyotherswhoseemedtofindinthisaparticularresonance,toBloomingdales.
 SomeNewYorkstoriesinvolvingyoungmiddleclasswhitewomendonotmakeittotheeditorial
pages,orevennecessarilytothefrontpages.InApril1990,ayoungmiddleclasswhitewomannamed
LaurieSueRosenthal,raisedinanOrthodoxJewishhouseholdandatagetwentyninestilllivingwithher
parentsinJamaica,Queens,happenedtodie,accordingtothecoronersreportfromtheaccidentaltoxicity
ofDarvocetincombinationwithalcohol,inanapartmentat36East68thStreetinManhattan.The
apartmentbelongedtothemanshehadbeen,accordingtoherparents,seeingforaboutayear,aminor
assistantcitycommissionernamedPeterFranconeri.PeterFranconeri,whowasatthetimeinchargeof
elevatorandboilerinspectionsfortheBuildingsDepartmentandmarriedtosomeoneelse,wrappedLaurie
SueRosenthalsbodyinablanket;placedit,alongwithherhandbagandID,outsidethebuildingwiththe
trash;andwenttohisofficeat60HudsonStreet.Atsomepointananonymouscallwasmadeto911.
Franconeriwasidentifiedonlyafterherparentsgavethepolicehisbeepernumber,whichtheyfoundinher
addressbook.AccordingtoNewsday,whichcoveredthestorymoreextensivelythantheNews,thePost,or
theTimes,
InitialpolicereportsindicatedthattherewerenovisiblewoundsonRosenthalsbody.But
Rosenthalsmother,Ceil,saidyesterdaythatthefamilywastoldtheautopsyrevealedtwounexplained
bruisesonherdaughtersbody.
LarryandCeilRosenthalsaidthosefindingsseemedtosupporttheirsuspicionsthattheirdaughter
wasupsetbecausetheyreceivedacallfromtheirdaughterat3AMThursdaysayingthathehadbeaten
herup.Thefamilyreportedtheconversationtopolice.
Itoldhertogetintoacabandgethome,LarryRosenthalsaidyesterday.ThenextIheardwas
twodetectivestellingmeterriblethings.
TheME[medicalexaminer]saidthebruisesdidnotconstituteabeatingbuttheyweregoingto
examinethemfurther,CeilRosenthalsaid.
Thereweresomeminorbruises,aspokeswomanfortheofficeofthechiefmedicalexaminer
toldNewsdayafewdayslater,butthebruisesdidnotinanywaycontributetoherdeath.Thisisworth
rerunning:ayoungwomancallsherparentsatthreeinthemorning,distraught.Shesaysthatshehas
beenbeatenup.Afewhourslater,onEast68thStreetbetweenMadisonandParkAvenues,afewsteps
fromPorthaultandPratesiandArmaniandSaintLaurentandtheWestburyHotel,atatimeofdayinthis
partofNewYork10021whenJimBucksdogtrainersareassemblingtheirmorningpacksandHenry
KravissBentleyisidlingoutsidehisParkAvenueapartmentandtheconstructioncrewsareclockingin
overneartheFrickatthemultimilliondollarhousesunderreconstructionforBillCosbyandfortheowner
ofTheLimited,thisyoungmiddleclasswhitewomansbody,showingbruises,getsputoutwiththetrash.
Everybodygotupsidedownbecauseofwhohewas,anunidentifiedpoliceofficerlatertoldJimDwyer
ofNewsday,referringtothemanwhoputtheyoungwomanoutwiththetrash.Ifithadhappenedto
anyoneelse,nothingwouldhavecomeofit.Asummonswouldhavebeenissuedandthatwouldhavebeen
theendofit.InfactnothingdidcomeofthedeathofLaurieSueRosenthal,whichmighthaveseemeda
naturaltabloidstorybutfailed,onseverallevels,tocatchthelocalimagination.Foronethingshecouldnot
betrimmedintotheroleofthepreferredtabloidvictim,whoisconventionallypresentedasfatesrandom
choice(LaurieSueRosenthalhad,forwhateverreason,takentheDarvocetinsteadofataxihome,her
parentsreportedtreatmentforapreviousValiumdependency,shecouldbepresumedtohaveknownover
thecourseofayearthatFranconeriwasmarriedandyetcontinuedtoseehim);foranother,sheseemednot
tohaveattendedanexpensiveschoolortohavebeenemployedinaglamourindustry(noIvyGrad,no
WallStreetExec),whichmadeithardtocastheraspartofwhatmakesthiscitysovibrantandsogreat.
InAugust1990,PeterFranconeripleadedguiltytoamisdemeanor,theunlawfulremovalofa
body,andwassentencedbyCriminalCourtJudgePeterBeniteztoseventyfivehoursofcommunity
service.Thiswasneithersurprisingnormuchofastory(onlytwentythreelineseveninNewsday,onpage
twentynineofthecityedition),andthecasesresolutionwasformanypeopleakindofrelief.Thedistrict
attorneysofficehadaskedforsomeincarceration,theamountusuallydescribedasatouch,butnoone
wanted,itwassaid,tocrucifytheguy:PeterFranconeriwassomebodywhoknewalotofpeople,
understoodhowtoliveinthecity,whohadforexamplenotonlytheapartmentonEast68thStreetbetween
MadisonandParkbutahouseinSouthamptonandwhoalsounderstoodthatputtingabodyoutsidewith
thetrashwasnothingtogetupsidedownabout,ifitwashandledright.Suchunderstandingsmayinfact
havebeenthecitystrueultimateshriekofalarm,butitwasnotashriekthecitywantedtorecognize.
2.
Perhapsthemostarrestingcollateralnewstosurface,duringthefirstfewdaysaftertheattackon
theCentralParkjogger,wasthatasignificantnumberofNewYorkersapparentlybelievedthecity
sufficientlywellorderedtoincorporateCentralParkintotheireveningfitnessschedules.Prudencewas
defined,evenaftertheattack,asstayingsouthof90thStreet,orhavinganawarenessthatyouneedto
thinkaboutplanningyourroutes,or,inthecaseofonewomaninterviewedbytheTimes,decidingtoquit
herdaytimejob(shewasalawyer)becauseshewastiredofbeingstuckoutthere,runninglaterandlater
atnight.Idontthinktheresarunnerwhocouldntdescribethesilky,glidingfeelingyougetrunningat
night,aneditorofRunnersWorldtoldtheTimes.Youseelessofwhatsaroundyouandyoubecome
centeredonyourrunning.
ThenotionthatCentralParkatnightmightbeagoodplacetoseelessofwhatsaroundyouwas
recent.ThereweretworeasonswhyFrederickLawOlmstedandCalvertVaux,whentheydevisedtheir
winningentryinthe1858competitionforaCentralParkdesign,decidedtosinkthetransverseroadsbelow
gradelevel.Onereason,themostoftencited,wasaesthetic,arecognitiononthepartofthedesignersthat
thefourcrossingsspecifiedbythetermsofthecompetition,at65th,79th,85th,and97thStreets,would
intersectthesweepofthelandscape,beatvariancewiththoseagreeablesentimentswhichweshouldwish
theparktoinspire.Theotherreason,whichappearstohavebeenequallycompelling,hadtodowith
security.Theproblemwithgradelevelcrossings,OlmstedandVauxwroteintheirGreenswardplan,
wouldbethis:
Thetransverseroadswillhavetobekeptopen,whiletheparkproperwillbeuselessforany
goodpurposeafterdusk;forexperiencehasshownthateveninLondon,withitsadmirablepolice
arrangements,thepubliccannotbeassuredsafetransitthroughlargeopenspacesofgroundafternightfall.
Thesepublicthoroughfareswillthenrequiretobewelllightedatthesides,and,torestrainmarauders
pursuedbythepolicefromescapingintotheobscurityofthepark,strongfencesorwalls,sixoreightfeet
high,willbenecessary.
Thepark,inotherwords,wasseenfromitsconceptionasintrinsicallydangerousafterdark,a
placeofobscurity,uselessforanygoodpurpose,arefugeonlyformarauders.TheparksofEurope
closedatnightfall,Olmstednotedinhis1882pamphletTheSpoilsofthePark:WithaFewLeavesfrom
theDeepladenNotebooksofAWhollyUnpracticalMan,butonesurfaceroadiskeptopenacross
HydePark,andthesuperintendentoftheMetropolitanPolicetoldmethatamanschancesofbeing
garrottedorrobbedwere,becauseofthefacilitiesforconcealmenttobefoundinthePark,greaterin
passingatnightalongthisroadthananywhereelseinLondon.
Inthehighpitchoftheinitialjoggercoverage,suggestingasitdidacityovertakenbyanimals,
thispragmaticapproachtourbanlivinggavewaytoamoreidealconstruct,oneinwhichNewYorkeither
hadoncebeenorshouldbesafe,andnow,asinGovernorCuomosnoneofusissafe,wasnot.Itwas
time,accordingly,totakeitback,timetosayno;time,asDavidDinkinswouldputitduringhis
campaignforthemayoraltyinthesummerof1989,todrawtheline.Whatthelinewastobedrawn
againstwascrime,anabstract,afreefloatingspecterthatcouldbedispelledbycertainactsofpersonal
affirmation,bythekindofmoralrearmamentwhichlaterfiguredinMayorDinkinssplantorevitalizethe
citybyinitiatingweeklyTuesdayNightOutAgainstCrimerallies.
Bygoingintotheparkatnight,TomWickerwroteintheTimes,thevictiminthiscasehad
affirmedtheprimacyoffreedomoverfear.Aweekaftertheassault,SusanChacesuggestedontheoped
pageoftheTimesthatreaderswalkintotheparkatnightandjoinhands.Awomancantrunintheparkat
anoffbeattime,shewrote.Acceptit,yousay.Icant.ItshouldntbelikethisinNewYorkCity,in1989,
inspring.RonnieEldridgealsosuggestedthatreaderswalkintotheparkatnight,buttolightcandles.
Whoarewethatweallowourselvestobechasedoutofthemostmagnificentpartofourcity?sheasked,
andalso:Ifwegiveupthepark,whatarewesupposedtodo:FallbacktoColumbusAvenueandplant
grass?Thiswasinteresting,suggestingasitdidthatthecitysnotinconsiderableproblemscouldbe
solvedbythewillingnessofitscitizenstoholdordrawsomeline,tosayno;inotherwordsthata
relianceoncertainmagicalgesturescouldaffectthecitysfate.
Theinsistentsentimentalizationofexperience,whichistosaytheencouragementofsuchreliance,
isnotnewinNewYork.Apreferenceforbroadstrokes,forthedistortionandflatteningofcharacter,and
forthereductionofeventstonarrative,hasbeenforwelloverahundredyearstheheartofthewaythecity
presentsitself:LadyLiberty,huddledmasses,tickertapeparades,heroes,gutters,brightlights,broken
hearts,eightmillionstoriesinthenakedcity;eightmillionstoriesandallthesamestory,eachdevisedto
obscurenotonlythecitysactualtensionsofraceandclassbutalso,moresignificantly,thecivicand
commercialarrangementsthatrenderedthosetensionsirreconcilable.
CentralParkitselfwassuchastory,anartificialpastoralinthenineteenthcenturyEnglish
romantictradition,conceived,duringadecadewhenthepopulationofManhattanwouldincreaseby58
percent,asacivicprojectthatwouldallowthelettingofcontractsandtheemploymentofvotersonascale
rarelybeforeundertakeninNewYork.Tenmillioncartloadsofdirtwouldneedtobeshiftedduringthe
twentyyearsofitsconstruction.Fourtofivemilliontreesandplantswouldneedtobeplanted,halfa
millioncubicyardsoftopsoilimported,114milesofceramicpipelaid.
Norneedthecompletionoftheparkmeantheendofthepossibilities:in1870,onceWilliam
MarcyTweedhadrevisedthecitycharterandinventedhisDepartmentofPublicParks,newroadscouldbe
builtwheneverjobswereneeded.Treescouldbedugup,andreplanted.Crewscouldbesetloosetoprune,
toclear,tohackatwill.FrederickLawOlmsted,whenheobjected,couldbeoverridden,andfinallyeased
out.Adelegationfromagreatpoliticalorganizationcalledonmebyappointment,Olmstedwrotein
TheSpoilsofthePark,recallingtheconditionsunderwhichhehadworked:
Afterintroductionsandhandshakings,acirclewasformed,andagentlemansteppedbeforeme,
andsaid,Weknowhowmuchpressedyoumustbebutatyourconvenienceourassociationwouldlike
tohaveyoudeterminewhatshareofyourpatronagewecanexpect,andmakesuitablearrangementsforour
usingit.Wewilltakethelibertytosuggest,sir,thattherecouldbenomoreconvenientwaythanthatyou
shouldsendusourduequotaoftickets,ifyouplease,sir,inthisform,leavingustofillinthename.Here
apackofprintedticketswasproduced,fromwhichItookoneatrandom.Itwasablankappointmentand
borethesignatureofMr.Tweed.
AssuperintendentofthePark,Ioncereceivedinsixdaysmorethanseventhousandlettersof
adviceastoappointments,nearlyallfrommeninoffice.Ihaveheardacandidateforamagisterialoffice
inthecityaddressingfrommydoorstepsacrowdofsuchadvicebearers,tellingthemthatIwasboundto
givethememployment,andsuggestingplainly,that,ifIwasslowaboutit,aroperoundmyneckmight
servetolessenmyreluctancetotakegoodcounsel.Ihavehadadozenmenforcetheirwayintomyhouse
beforeIhadrisenfrombedonaSundaymorning,andsomebreakintomydrawingroomintheireagerness
todeliverlettersofadvice.
CentralPark,then,foritsunderwritersifnotforOlmsted,wasaboutcontractsandconcreteand
kickbacks,aboutpork,butthesentimentalizationthatworkedtoobscurethepork,thestory,hadtodo
withcertaindramaticcontrasts,orextremes,thatwerebelievedtocharacterizelifeinthisasinnoother
city.Thesecontrasts,whichhavesincebecometheveryspineoftheNewYorknarrative,appearedearly
on:PhilipHone,themayorofNewYorkin1826and1827,spokein1843ofacityoverwhelmedwith
population,andwherethetwoextremesofcostlyluxuryinliving,expensiveestablishmentsand
improvidentwastesarepresentedindailyandhourlycontrastwithsqualidmixingandhaplessdestruction.
Giventhisnarrative,CentralParkcouldbeandultimatelywouldbeseenthewayOlmstedhimselfsawit,
asanessayindemocracy,asocialexperimentmeanttosocializeanewimmigrantpopulationandto
amelioratetheperilousseparationofrichandpoor.Itwasthedutyandtheinterestofthecitysprivileged
class,OlmstedhadsuggestedsomeyearsbeforehedesignedCentralPark,togetupparks,gardens,music,
dancingschools,reunionswhichwillbesoattractiveastoforceintocontactthegoodandthebad,the
gentlemanandtherowdy.
Thenotionthattheinterestsofthegentlemanandtherowdymightbeatoddsdidnotintrude:
thenasnow,thepreferrednarrativeworkedtoveilactualconflict,tocloudtheextenttowhichthe
conditionofbeingrichwaspredicateduponthecontinuedneedinessofaworkingclass;toconfirmthe
responsiblestewardshipofthegentlemanandtoforestallthepossibilityofaselfconscious,or
politicized,proletariat.Socialandeconomicphenomena,inthisnarrative,werepersonalized.Politicswere
exclusivelyelectoral.Problemswerebestaddressedbytheemergenceandelectionofleaders,whocould
inturninspiretheindividualcitizentoparticipate,ormakeadifference.Willyouhelp?Mayor
DinkinsaskedNewYorkers,inaSeptemberaddressfromSt.PatricksCathedralintendedasaresponseto
theNewYorkcrimewavestoriesthenleadingthenews.Doyoucare?Areyoureadytobecomepartof
thesolution?
 Stay,GovernorCuomourgedthesameNewYorkers.Believe.Participate.Dontgiveup.
ManhattanBoroughPresidentRuthMessinger,atthededicationofaschoolflagpole,mentionedthe
importanceofgettinginvolvedandparticipating,orpitchingintoputtheshinebackonTheBig
Apple.InadiscussionofthepopularNewYorkstorieswrittenbetween1902and1910byWilliam
SidneyPorter,orO.Henry,WilliamR.TayloroftheStateUniversityofNewYorkatStonyBrook
spokeofthewayinwhichthesestories,withtheirfocusonindividualsplights,theirabsenceofsocial
orpoliticalimplicationsandideologicalneutrality,providedamiraculousformofsocialglue:
Thesesentimentalaccountsofrelationsbetweenclassesinthecityhaveaspecifichistorical
meaning:empathywithoutpoliticalcompassion.Theyreducethescaleofhumansufferingtowhat
atomizedindividualsendureastheirplucky,sadliveswererecountedweekafterweekforalmosta
decade.Theirsentimentalreadingofoppression,classdifferences,humansuffering,andaffectionhelped
createanewlanguageforinterpretingthecityscomplexsociety,alanguagethatbegantoreplacethe
threadbaremoralismthatNewYorkersinheritedfromnineteenthcenturyreadingsofthecity.This
languagelocalizedsufferinginparticularmomentsandconfinedittoparticularoccasions;itsmoothedover
differencesbecauseitcouldbereadalmostthesamewayfromeitherendofthesocialscale. *
Storiesinwhichterriblecrimesareinflictedoninnocentvictims,offeringastheydoasimilarly
sentimentalreadingofclassdifferencesandhumansuffering,areadingthatpromisesbothresolutionand
retribution,havelongperformedasthecitysendorphins,abuiltinsourceofnaturalmorphineworkingto
blurtheedgesofrealandtoagreatextentinsolubleproblems.WhatissingularaboutNewYork,and
remainsvirtuallyincomprehensibletopeoplewholiveinlessrigidlyorganizedpartsofthecountry,isthe
minimallevelofcomfortandopportunityitscitizenshavecometoaccept.Theromanticcapitalistpursuit
ofprivacyandsecurityandindividualfreedom,sotakenforgrantednationally,plays,locally,notmuch
role.Acitywherevirtuallyeveryimpulsehasbeentostifleratherthantoencouragenormalcompetition,
NewYorkworks,whenitdoeswork,notonamarketeconomybutonlittledeals,payoffs,
accommodations,baksheesh,arrangementsthatcircumventthedirectexchangeofgoodsandservicesand
preventwhatwouldbe,inacompetitiveeconomy,thenormalascendanceofthesuperiorproduct.
Therewereinthefiveboroughsin1990only581supermarkets(asupermarket,asdefinedbythe
trademagazineProgressiveGrocer,isamarketthatdoesanannualvolumeoftwomilliondollars),or,
assumingapopulationofeightmillion,onesupermarketforevery13,769citizens.Groceries,costingmore
thantheyshouldbecauseofthisabsenceofcompetitionandalsobecauseoftheproliferationofpayoffs
requiredtoensurethisabsenceofcompetition(produce,wehavecometounderstand,belongstothe
Gambinos,andfishtotheLuchesesandtheGenoveses,andapieceoftheconstructionofthemarketto
eachoftheabove,butkeepingthedooropenbelongsfinallytotheinspectorhere,theinspectorthere),are
carriedhomeordelivered,asifinJakarta,bypushcart.
Ithashistoricallytaken,inNewYorkasifinMexicoCity,tenyearstoprocessandspecifyand
bidandcontractandconstructanewschool;twentyorthirtyyearstobuildor,inthecasesofBruckner
BoulevardandtheWestSideHighway,tonotquitebuildahighway.Arecentpublicscandalrevealedthat
abatchofcityorderedPapsmearshadgoneunreadformorethanayear(inthedevelopedworldthePap
smear,atestforcervicalcancer,iscommonlyreadwithinafewdays);whatdidnotbecomeapublic
scandal,whatisstillacceptedasthewaythingsare,isthatevenPapsmearsorderedbyParkAvenue
gynecologistscangounreadforseveralweeks.
Suchresemblancestocitiesofthethirdworldareinnowaycasual,orbasedonthecolorofa
polyglotpopulation:theseareallcitiesarrangedprimarilynottoimprovethelivesoftheircitizensbutto
belaborintensive,toaccommodate,ideallyatthesubsistencelevel,sinceitisatthesubsistencelevelthat
theworkforceismostapttobecaptiveandloyaltyassured,athirdworldpopulation.InsomewaysNew
Yorksveryattractiveness,itspromisesofopportunityandimprovedwages,itscommitmentsasacityin
thedevelopedworld,werewhatseemeddestinedtorenderitultimatelyunworkable.Wherethevitalityof
suchcitiesinthelessdevelopedworldhaddependedontheirabilitytoguaranteelowcostlaborandan
absenceofregulation,NewYorkhadhistoricallydependedinsteadontheconstantwellingupofnew
businesses,ofnewemployerstoreplacethosephasedout,liketheNewYorkgarmentmanufacturerswho
founditcheapertomaketheirclothesinHongKongorKualaLumpurorTaipei,byrisinglocalcosts.
IthadbeentheoldpatternofNewYork,supportedbyanexpandingnationaleconomy,toloseone
kindofbusinessandgainanother.ItwasthemorerecenterrorofNewYorktomisconstruethishistoryof
turnoverasanindestructibleresource,theretobetaxedatwill,theretoberegulatedwheneveradollar
couldbeseenindoingso,thereforthetaking.By1977,NewYorkhadlostsome600,000jobs,mostof
theminmanufacturingandinthekindsofsmallbusinessesthatcouldnolongermaintaintheirnarrow
profitmarginsinsidethecity.Duringtherecoveryyears,from1977until1988,mostofthesejobswere
indeedreplaced,butinapotentiallyperilousway:ofthe500,000newjobscreated,mostwereinthearea
mostvulnerabletoadownturn,thatoffinancialandbusinessservices,andmanyoftherestinanareanot
onlyequallyvulnerabletobadtimesbutdispiritingtothecityeveningood,thatoftouristandrestaurant
services.
ThedemonstrationthatmanykindsofbusinesseswerefindingNewYorkexpendablehadfailedto
promptrealeffortstomakethecitymorecompetitive.Taxesgrewstillmorepunitive,regulationmore
byzantine.FortyninethousandnewjobswerecreatedinNewYorkscityagenciesbetween1983and
1990,evenastheservicesprovidedbythoseagencieswerewidelyperceivedtodecline.Attemptsat
reformtypicallytendedtocreatemorejobs:in1988,inresponsetothelengthoftimeitwastakingto
buildorrepairaschool,anewagency,theSchoolConstructionAuthority,wasformed.ANewYorkCity
school,itwassaid,wouldnowtakeonlyfiveyearstobuild.TheheadoftheSchoolConstructionAuthority
wastoreceive$145,000ayearandeachofthethreevicepresidents$110,000ayear.Anexecutivegym,
withNautilusequipment,wascontemplatedforthetopflooroftheagencysnewheadquartersatthe
InternationalDesignCenterinLongIslandCity.Twoyearsintothisreform,thebacklogonrepairsto
existingschoolsstoodat33,000outstandingrequests.Torelievethecharityoffriendsofthesupportofa
halfblindandhalfwittedmanbyemployinghimatthepublicexpenseasaninspectorofcementmaynot
bepracticalwithreferencetothepermanentfirmnessofawall,OlmstednotedafterhisCentralPark
experience,whileitisperfectlysowithreferencetothetriumphofsounddoctrineatanelection.
InfactthehighestpercapitataxesofanycityintheUnitedStates(and,asanyonerunningasmall
businessknows,thewidestvarietyoftaxes)provide,inNewYork,unlessthecitizenispreparedtocuta
sidedealhereandthere,onlythecontinuingmultiplicationofregulationsdesignedtobenefitthe
contractorsandagenciesandunionswithwhomtheregulatorshavecuttheirowndeals.Akitchen
applianceacceptedthroughouttherestoftheUnitedStatesasabasicpostwaramenity,theinsinkgarbage
disposalunit,isforexampleillegalinNewYork.Disposals,acityemployeeadvisedme,notonly
encourageratsandbacteria,presumablyinawaythatbagsofgarbagesittingonthesidewalkdonot
(becauseitis,IwastoldwhenIaskedhowthiscouldbe),butalsoencouragepeopletoputtheirbabies
downthem.
Ontheonehandthisillustrateshowafamiliarurbanprinciple,thatofpatronage(themore
garbagethereistobecollected,themoregarbagecollectorscanbeemployed),canbereduced,inthe
bureaucraticwildernessthatisanythirdworldcity,tovoodoo;ontheotheritreflectsthisparticularcitys
underlyingcriminalethic,itsacceptanceofgraftandgriftasthebedrockofeverytransaction.Garbage
costsareoutrageous,anexecutiveofSupermarketsGeneral,whichownsPathmark,recentlytoldCity
Limitsaboutwhythechainspreferredtolocateinthesuburbs.Everytimeyouneedtohireacontractor,
itsaproblem.Theproblem,however,isonefromwhichnotonlythecontractorbuteveryonewithwhom
thecontractordoesbusinessachainofdirectorindirectpatronageextendingdeepintothefabricofthe
citystandstoderiveoneoranotherbenefit,whichwasonereasonthedeathoftheyoungmiddleclass
whitewomanintheEast68thStreetapartmentoftheassistantcommissionerinchargeofboilerand
elevatorinspectionsflickeredsofeeblyonthelocalattentionspan.
Itwasonlywithinthetransformingnarrativeofcontraststhatboththeessentialcriminalityof
thecityanditsrelatedabsenceofcivilitycouldbecomepointsofpride,evidenceofenergy:ifyoucould
makeithereyoucouldmakeitanywhere,hellosucker,getsmart.Thosewhodidnotgetthedeal,who
boughtretail,whodidnotknowwhatittooktogettheirelectricalworksignedoff,weredismissedas
provincials,bridgeandtunnels,outoftownerswhodidnothavewhatittooknottogettaken.Every
touristsnightmarebecamearealityforaMarylandcoupleovertheweekendwhenthehusbandwasbeaten
androbbedonFifthAvenueinfrontofTrumpTower,beganastoryinTheNewYorkPostthissummer.
Wheredoyouthinkwerefrom,Iowa?theprosecutorwhotookRobertChamberssstatementsaidon
videotapebywayofindicatingthathedoubtedChamberssversionofJenniferLevinsdeath.Theygo
afterpoorpeoplelikeyoufromoutoftown,theypreyonthetourists,aclerkexplainedlastspringinthe
West46thStreetcomputerstorewheremyhusbandandIhadtakenrefugetoescapethreemuggers.My
husbandsaidthatwelivedinNewYork.Thatswhytheydidntgetyou,theclerksaid,effortlessly
incorporatingthischangeinthedata.Thatshowyoucouldmovefast.
Thenarrativecomfortsus,inotherwords,withtheassurancethattheworldisknowable,evenflat,
andNewYorkitscenter,itsmotor,itsdangerousbutvitalenergy.FAMILYINFATALMUGGING
LOVEDNEWYORKwastheTimesheadlineonastoryfollowingtheSeptembermurder,intheSeventh
AvenueINDstation,ofatwentytwoyearoldtouristfromUtah.Theyoungman,hisparents,hisbrother,
andhissisterinlawhadattendedtheUSOpenandwerereportedlyontheirwaytodinnerataMoroccan
restaurantdowntown.NewYork,tothem,wasthegreatestplaceintheworld,afamilyfriendfromUtah
wasquotedashavingsaid.Sincethenarrativerequiresthattherestofthecountryprovideadramatic
contrasttoNewYork,thefamilyshometowninUtahwascharacterizedbytheTimesasaplacewhere
liferevolvesaroundtheorderlyrhythmsofBrighamYoungUniversityandthereisonlyaboutone
murderayear.ThetownwasinfactProvo,whereGaryGilmoreshotthemotelmanager,bothinlifeand
inTheExecutionersSong.ShelovedNewYork,shejustlovedit,afriendoftheassaultedjoggertold
theTimesaftertheattack.Ithinkshelikedthefastpace,thecompetitiveness.
NewYork,theTimesconcluded,invigoratedthejogger,matchedherenergylevel.Atatime
whenthecitylayvirtuallyinert,whenfortythousandjobshadbeenwipedoutinthefinancialmarketsand
formertradersweresellingshirtsatBergdorfGoodmanforMen,whentherateofmortgagedelinquencies
haddoubled,whenfiftyorsixtymillionsquarefeetofofficespaceremainedunrented(sixtymillionsquare
feetofunrentedofficespaceistheequivalentoffifteendarkenedWorldTradeTowers)andevenprime
commercialblocksonMadisonAvenueintheSeventieswereboardedup,empty;atatimewhenthe
moneyhaddroppedoutofallthemarketsandtheEuropeanswhohadlentthecitytheirlanandtheir
capitalduringtheEightieshadmovedon,vanishedtomorecheerfulvenues,thisnotionofthecitys
energywassedative,aswasthecommandeeringofcrimeasthecityscentralproblem.
3.
TheextenttowhichtheOctober1987crashoftheNewYorkfinancialmarketsdamagedthe
illusionsofinfiniterecoveryandgrowthonwhichthecityhadoperatedduringthe1980shadbeenatfirst
hardtoapprehend.OursisatimeofNewYorkascendant,theNewYorkCityCommissionontheYear
2000,createdduringthemayoraltyofEdKochtoreflectthebestthinkingofthecitysvariousbusiness
andinstitutionalestablishments,haddeclaredinits1987report.Thecityseconomyisstrongerthanithas
beenindecades,andisdrivenbothbyitsownresilienceandbythenationaleconomy;NewYorkismore
thanevertheinternationalcapitaloffinance,andthegatewaytotheAmericaneconomy.
Andthen,itscitizenshadcomegraduallytounderstand,itwasnot.Thisperceptionthatsomethingwas
wronginNewYorkhadbeeninsidious,aslowonsetillnessatfirstnoticeableonlyinperiodsof
temporaryremission.Lossesthatmighthaveseemedsomeoneelsesproblem(orevencomeuppance)as
themarketswereintheirinitial1987freefall,andthatmighthaveseemedmoreremotestillasthemarkets
regainedtheappearanceofstrength,hadcomeimperceptiblybutinexorablytoalterthetoneofdailylife.
ByApril1990,peoplewholivedinandaroundNewYorkwereexpressing,ininterviewswiththeTimes,
considerableanguishandfearthattheydidso:IfeelveryresentfulthatIvelostalotofflexibilityinmy
life,onesaid.Ioftenwonder,AmIcrazyforcominghere?Peoplefeelasenseofimpendingdoom
aboutwhatmayhappentothem,aclinicalpsychologistsaid.Peoplewerefrustrated,feelingabsolutely
desolate,trapped,angry,terrified,andonthevergeofpanic.
ItwasapanicthatseemedinmanywaysspecifictoNewYork,andinexplicableoutsideit.Even
now,whenthetroublesofNewYorkareacommontheme,Americansfromlessdepressedvenueshave
difficultycomprehendingthenatureofthosetroubles,andtendtoattributethem,asNewYorkers
themselveshavecometodo,tocrime.ESCAPEFROMNEWYORKwastheheadlineonthefrontpage
oftheNewYorkPostonSeptember10,1990.RAMPAGINGCRIMEWAVEHAS59PERCENTOF
RESIDENTSTERRIFIED.MOSTWOULDGETOUTOFTHECITY,SAYSTIME/CNNPOLL.This
pollappearedintheeditionofTimedatedSeptember17,1990,whichcarriedthecoverlegendTHE
ROTTINGOFTHEBIGAPPLE.Reason:asurgeofdrugsandviolentcrimethatgovernmentofficials
seemutterlyunabletocombat,thestoryinsideexplained.Columnistsreferred,locally,tothissewerofa
city.TheTimesranaplaintivepieceaboutthesnatchingofElizabethRohatynsHermeshandbagoutside
Arcadia,arestaurantonEast62ndStreetthathadforawhileseemedtheveryheartoftheNewYork
everyonenowmissed,theNewYorkwheregettingandspendingcouldtakeplacewithoutunduereference
tohavingandnothaving,thedutyfreeNewYork;thatthishadoccurredtothewifeofFelixRohatyn,who
waswidelyperceivedtohavesavedthecityfromitsfiscalcrisisinthemidSeventies,seemedtomanya
clarionirony.
Thisquestionofcrimewastricky.TherewereinfacteightAmericancitieswithhigherhomicide
rates,andtwelvewithhigheroverallcrimerates.Crimehadlongbeentakenforgrantedinthelessaffluent
partsofthecity,andhadbecomeinthemidSeventies,asbothunemploymentandthecostsofmaintaining
propertyroseandwhathadoncebeenfunctioningneighborhoodswereabandonedandburnedandleftto
whoeverclaimedthem,endemic.Insomepoorneighborhoods,crimebecamealmostawayoflife,Jim
Sleeper,aneditoratNewsdayandtheauthorofTheClosestofStrangers:LiberalismandthePoliticsof
RaceinNewYork,notedinhisdiscussionofthesocialdisintegrationthatoccurredduringthisperiod:
asubcultureofviolencewithcomplexbondsofutilityandaffectionwithinfamiliesandthelarger,law
abidingcommunity.Strugglingmerchantsmightfencestolengoods,forexample,thusprovidingquick
coverandadditionalincentiveforburglariesandrobberies;thedrugeconomybecamemorevigorous,
reshapingcriminallifestylesandtormentingtheloyaltiesoffamiliesandfriends.Awalkdownevena
reasonablybusystreetinapoor,minorityneighborhoodathighnooncouldbecomeanunnervingjourney
intoalandscapeeerieandgrim.
Whatseemedmarkedlydifferentadecadelater,whatmadecrimeastory,wasthatthemore
privileged,andespeciallythemoreprivilegedwhite,citizensofNewYorkhadbeguntofeelunnervedat
highnoonineventheirownneighborhoods.AlthoughNewYorkCityPoliceDepartmentstatistics
suggestedthatwhiteNewYorkerswerenotactuallyinincreasedmortaldanger(theincreaseinhomicides
between1977and1989,from1,557to1,903,wasentirelyinwhattheNYPDclassifiedasHispanic,Asian,
andblackvictims;thenumberofwhitemurdervictimshadsteadilydeclined,from361in1977to227in
1984and190in1989),theapprehensionofsuchdanger,exacerbatedbystreetsnatchesandmuggingsand
thequiteusefulsensethattheyouthinthehoodedsweatshirtwithhishandsjammedinhispocketsmight
wellbeapredator,hadbecomegeneral.ThesemoreprivilegedNewYorkersnowfeltunnervednotonlyon
thestreet,wherethenecessityforevasivestrategieshadbecomeanexhaustingconstant,buteveninthe
mostinsulatedandprotectedapartmentbuildings.Astheresidentsofsuchbuildings,theownersoftwelve
andsixteenandtwentyfourroomapartments,watchedthepottedficustreesdisappearfromoutsidetheir
doorsandthegraffitiappearontheirlimestonewallsandthesmashedsafetyglassfromcarwindowsget
sweptofftheirsidewalks,ithadbecomeincreasinglyeasytoimaginetheoutcomeofaconfrontation
between,say,thereliefnightdoormanandsixdropoutsfromJuliaRichmanHighSchoolonEast67th
Street.
AndyetthoseNewYorkerswhohadspokentotheTimesinAprilof1990abouttheirlossof
flexibility,abouttheirpanic,theirdesolation,theiranger,andtheirsenseofimpendingdoom,hadnotbeen
talkingaboutdrugs,orcrime,oranyofthecitysmorepublicizedandtosomeextentinflatedills.These
werepeoplewhodidnotforthemostparthavetwelveandsixteenroomapartmentsanddoormenandthe
luxuryofprojectedfears.Thesepeopleweretalkinginsteadaboutanimmediatefear,aboutmoney,about
thevertiginousplungeinthevalueoftheirhousesandapartmentsandcondominiums,aboutthepossibility
orprobabilityofforeclosureandloss;about,implicitly,theirfearofbeingleft,likesomanytheysawevery
day,belowtheline,outinthecold,onthestreet.
Thiswasaclimateinwhichmanyofthequestionsthathadseizedthecitysattentionin1987and
1988,forexamplethatofwhetherMortimerZuckermanshouldbeallowedtobuildtwofiftyninestory
officetowersonthesiteofwhatisnowtheColiseum,seemedinretrospectwistful,thebaroqueconcernsof
bettertimes.Theresnowayanyonewouldmakeasanejudgmenttogointothegroundnow,avice
presidentatCushmanandWakefieldtoldTheNewYorkObserveraboutthedelayintheColiseumproject,
whichhadinfactlostitsprojectedmajortenant,SalomonBrothers,shortlyafterBlackMonday,1987.It
wouldbesuicide.Yourebetteroffsittinginatubofwaterandopeningyourwrists.Suchfearswere,fora
numberofreasons,lesseasytoincorporateintothenarrativethanthefearofcrime.
Theimpositionofasentimental,orfalse,narrativeonthedisparateandoftenrandomexperience
thatconstitutesthelifeofacityoracountrymeans,necessarily,thatmuchofwhathappensinthatcityor
countrywillberenderedmerelyillustrative,aseriesofsetpieces,orperformanceopportunities.Mayor
Dinkinscould,insuchasymbolicsubstituteforciviclife,breaktheboycott(theFlatbushboycott
organizedtomobilizeresentmentofKoreanmerchantsinblackneighborhoods)bypurchasingafew
dollarsworthofproducefromaKoreangroceronChurchAvenue.GovernorCuomocoulddeclarewaron
crimebycallingforfivethousandadditionalpolice;MayorDinkinscoulduptheantebycallingfor
sixtyfivehundred.WhiteslutcomesintotheparklookingfortheAfricanman,ablackwomancould
say,hervoiceloudbutstillconversational,inthecorridoroutsidethecourtroomwhere,duringthesummer
of1990,thefirstthreedefendantsintheCentralParkattack,AntronMcCray,YusefSalaam,andRaymond
Santana,weretriedonchargesofattemptedmurder,assault,sodomy,andrape.Boyfriendbeatsshitoutof
her,theyblameitonourboys,thewomancouldcontinue,andthen,referringtoayoungmanwithwhom
thevictimhadatonetimesplitthecostofanapartment:Howabouttheroommate,anybodytesthis
semen?No.Heswhite.Theydontdoittoeachother.
Glancescouldthenflickeramongthosereportersandproducersandcourtroomsketchartistsand
photographersandcameramenandtechsandsummerinternswhoassembleddailyat111CentreStreet.
Cellularphonescouldbepickedup,ashowofindifference.Smalltalkcouldbeexchangedwiththe
marshals,ashowofsolidarity.Thewomancouldthenraisehervoice:Whitefolk,allofthemaredevils,
eventhosethathaventbeenbornyet,theyaredevils.Littledemons.Idontunderstandthesedevils,I
guesstheythinkthisistheircourt.Thereporterscouldgazebeyondher,facesblank,noeyecontact,a
morecorrectformofhostilityandalsomorelethal.Thewomancouldholdhergroundbutaverthereyes,
lettinghergazefallonanotherblack,inthisinstanceablackDailyNewscolumnist,BobHerbert.You,
shecouldsay.Youareadisgrace.Goahead.Lineupthere.Lineupwiththewhitefolk.Lookatthem,
liningupfortheirfirstclassseatswhilemypeoplearedownstairsbehindbarricadeskeptbehind
barricadeslikecattlenotevenallowedintheroomtoseetheirsonslynchedisthatanAfricanIseein
thatline?Oristhatanegro.Oh,oh,sorry,shush,whitefolkdidntknow,hewaspassing.
Inacityinwhichgraveanddisruptingproblemshadbecomegeneralproblemsofnothaving,
problemsofnotmakingit,problemsthatdemonstrablyexisted,amongthemadandtheillandtheunder
equippedandtheoverwhelmed,withdecreasingreferencetocolorthecaseoftheCentralParkjogger
providedmorethanjustasafe,orstructured,settinginwhichvariousandsometimesonlymarginally
relatedragescouldbevented.Thistrial,theDailyNewsannouncedonitseditorialpageonemorningin
July1990,midwaythroughthetrialofthefirstthreedefendants,isaboutmorethantherapeand
brutalizationofasinglewoman.Itisabouttherapeandthebrutalizationofacity.Thejoggerisasymbol
ofallthatswronghere.Andallthatsright,becausesheisnothinglessthananinspiration.
TheNewsdidnotdefinethewaysinwhichtherapeandbrutalizationofthecitymanifested
itself,norwasdefinitionnecessary:thiswasacityinwhichthethreatorthefearofbrutalizationhad
becomesoimmediatethatcitizenswereurgedtotakeuptheirowndefense,toformcitizenpatrolsor
militia,asinBeirut.Thiswasacityinwhichbetweentwentyandthirtyneighborhoodshadalreadygiven
overtheirprotection,whichwastosaytherighttodeterminewhobelongedintheneighborhoodandwho
didnotandwhatshouldbedoneaboutit,totheGuardianAngels.ThiswasacityinwhichaBrooklyn
vigilantegroup,whichcalleditselfCrackBustersandwassaidtobetryingtoriditsBedfordStuyvesant
neighborhoodofdrugs,wouldbeforeSeptemberwasoutsettleanargumentbydousingwithgasoline
andsettingonfireanabandonedvanandthethreehomelesscitizensinside.Thiswasacityinwhichthe
Timeswouldsoonperceive,inthefailingeconomy,abrightsideforthecityatlarge,thebrightside
beingthatwhiletherewasbelievedtohavebeenanincreaseinthenumberofmiddleincomeandupper
incomefamilieswhowantedtoleavethecity,theslumpingmarketiskeepingmanyofthosefamiliesin
NewYork.
Inthiscityrapidlyvanishingintothechasmbetweenitsactuallifeanditspreferrednarratives,
whatpeoplesaidwhentheytalkedaboutthecaseoftheCentralParkjoggercametoseemakindofpoetry,
awayofexpressing,withoutdirectlystating,differentbutequallyvolatileandsimilarlyoccultvisionsof
thesamedisaster.Onevision,sharedbythosewhohadseizedupontheattackonthejoggerasanexact
representationofwhatwaswrongwiththecity,wasofacitysystematicallyruined,violated,rapedbyits
underclass.Theopposingvision,sharedbythosewhohadseizeduponthearrestofthedefendantsasan
exactrepresentationoftheirownvictimization,wasofacityinwhichthepowerlesshadbeen
systematicallyruined,violated,rapedbythepowerful.Forsolongasthiscaseheldthecitysfebrile
attention,then,itofferedanarrativeforthecitysdistress,aframeinwhichtheactualsocialandeconomic
forceswrenchingthecitycouldbepersonalizedandultimatelyobscured.
 Orratheritofferedtwonarratives,mutuallyexclusive.Amonganumberofblacks,particularly
thosewhoseexperiencewithordistrustofthecriminaljusticesystemwassuchthattheytendedtodiscount
thefactthatfiveofsixdefendantshadtovaryingdegreesadmittedtakingpartintheattack,andtofocus
insteadontheabsenceofanysupportingforensicevidenceincontrovertiblylinkingthisvictimtothese
defendants,thecasecouldbereadasaconfirmationnotonlyoftheirvictimizationbutofthewhite
conspiracytheysawattheheartofthatvictimization.ForTheAmsterdamNews,whichdidnotveer
automaticallytotheradicalanalysis(atypicalrecentissuelaudedtheFBIforitsminorityrecruitingandthe
HarlemNationalGuardforitshighmoraleandreadinesstogototheGulf),thedefendantscouldinthis
lightbeseenasvictimsofapoliticaltrial,ofalegallynching,ofacaseriggedfromthevery
beginningbythedecisionofthewhitepressthatwhoeverwasarrestedandchargedinthiscaseofthe
attemptedmurder,rapeandsodomyofawellconnected,bright,beautifulandpromisingwhitewomanwas
guilty,pureandsimple.
ForAltonH.Maddox,Jr.,themessagetobedrawnfromthecasewasthattheAmericancriminal
justicesystem,whichwasunderanycircumstancesinherentlyandunabashedlyracist,failedtofunction
equitablyatanylevelwhenaBlackmaleisaccusedofrapingawhitefemale.Forothersthemessagewas
moregeneral,andworkedtoreinforcethefragilebutfunctionalmythologyofanheroicblackpast,the
narrativeinwhichEuropeandominationcouldbeexplainedasadirectandvengefulresponsetoAfrican
superiority.TodaythewhitemanisfacedheadonwithwhatishappeningontheBlackContinent,
Africa,MalcolmXwrote.
Lookattheartifactsbeingdiscoveredthere,thatareprovingoverandoveragain,howtheblack
manhadgreat,fine,sensitivecivilizationsbeforethewhitemanwasoutofthecaves.BelowtheSahara,in
theplaceswheremostofAmericasNegroesforeparentswerekidnapped,thereisbeingunearthedsomeof
thefinestcraftsmanship,sculptureandotherobjects,thathaseverbeenseenbymodernman.Someof
thesethingsnowareonviewinsuchplacesasNewYorkCitysMuseumofModernArt.Goldworkof
suchfinetoleranceandworkmanshipthatithasnorival.Ancientobjectsproducedbyblackhands
refinedbythoseblackhandswithresultsthatnohumanhandtodaycanequal.
Historyhasbeensowhitenedbythewhitemanthateventheblackprofessorshaveknownlittle
morethanthemostignorantblackmanaboutthetalentsandrichcivilizationsandculturesoftheblackman
ofmillenniumsago.
OurproudAfricanqueen,theReverendAlSharptonhadsaidofTawanaBrawleysmother,
GlendaBrawley:Shesteppedoutofanonymity,steppedoutofobscurity,andwalkedintohistory.Itwas
saidinthecorridorsofthecourthousewhereYusefSalaamwastriedthathecarriedhimselflikean
Africanking.
ItmakesnodifferenceanymorewhethertheattackonTawanahappened,WilliamKunstlerhad
toldNewYorkNewsdaywhentheallegedrapeandtortureofTawanaBrawleybyavaryingnumberof
whitepoliceofficersseemed,asanactualprosecutablecrimeifnotasawindowonwhatpeopleneededto
believe,tohavedematerialized.Ifherstorywasaconcoctiontopreventherparentsfrompunishingher
forstayingoutallnight,thatdoesntdisguisethefactthatalotofyoungblackwomenaretreatedtheway
shesaidshewastreated.Theimportanceofwhetherornotthecrimehadoccurredwas,inthisview,
entirelyresidentinthecrimesdescription,whichwasdefinedbyStanleyDiamondinTheNationasa
crimethatdidnotoccurbutwasdescribedwithskillandcontrolledhysteriabytheblackactorsasthe
epitomeofdegradation,arepellentmodelofwhatactuallyhappenstotoomanyblackwomen.
Agooddealofwhatgotsaidaroundtheedgesofthejoggercase,inthecorridorsandonthecall
inshows,seemedtoderiveexclusivelyfromthesuspicionsofconspiracyincreasinglyentrenchedamong
thosewhobelievethemselvespowerless.ApollconductedinJune1990byTheNewYorkTimesand
WCBSTVNewsdeterminedthat77percentofblackspolledbelievedeitherthatitwastrueormight
possiblybetrue(asopposedtoalmostcertainlynottrue)thatthegovernmentoftheUnitedStates
singlesoutandinvestigatesblackelectedofficialsinordertodiscredittheminawayitdoesntdowith
whiteofficials.Sixtypercentbelievedthatitwastrueormightpossiblybetruethatthegovernment
deliberatelymakessurethatdrugsareeasilyavailableinpoorblackneighborhoodsinordertoharmblack
people.Twentyninepercentbelievedthatitwastrueormightpossiblybetruethattheviruswhich
causesAIDSwasdeliberatelycreatedinalaboratoryinordertoinfectblackpeople.Ineachcase,the
alternativeresponsetotrueormightpossiblybetruewasalmostcertainlynottrue,whichmight
haveseemedinitselftoreflectalessthanringingbeliefintheabsenceofconspiracy.Theconspiracyto
destroyBlackboysisverycomplexandinterwoven,JawanzaKunjufu,aChicagoeducationalconsultant,
wroteinhisCounteringtheConspiracytoDestroyBlackBoys,a1982pamphletwhichhassincebeen
extendedtothreevolumes.
Therearemanycontributorstotheconspiracy,rangingfromtheveryvisiblewhoaremore
obvious,tothelessvisibleandsilentpartnerswhoaremoredifficulttorecognize.
Thosepeoplewhoadheretothedoctrineofwhiteracism,imperialism,andwhitemalesupremacyare
easiertorecognize.Thosepeoplewhoactivelypromotedrugsandgangviolenceareactiveconspirators,
andeasiertoidentify.Whatmakestheconspiracymorecomplexarethosepeoplewhodonotplottogether
todestroyBlackboys,but,throughtheirindifference,perpetuateit.Thispassivegroupofconspirators
consistsofparents,educators,andwhiteliberalswhodenybeingracists,butthroughtheirsilenceallow
institutionalracismtocontinue.
Forthosewhoproceededfromtheconvictionthattherewasunderwayaconspiracytodestroy
blacks,particularlyblackboys,abeliefintheinnocenceofthesedefendants,aconvictionthateventheir
ownstatementshadbeenriggedagainstthemorwrenchedfromthem,followedlogically.Itwasinthe
corridorsandonthecallinshowsthattheconspiracygotsketchedin,inaseriesoffantasydetailsthat
conflictednotonlywithknownfactsbutevenwitheachother.Itwassaidthattheprosecutionwas
withholdingevidencethatthevictimhadgonetotheparktomeetadrugdealer.Itwassaid,alternatelyor
concurrently,thattheprosecutionwaswithholdingevidencethatthevictimhadgonetotheparktotake
partinasatanicritual.Itwassaidthattheforensicphotographsshowingherbatteredbodywerenotreal
photographs,thatthey,theprosecution,hadbroughtinsomecorpseforthepictures.Itwassaidthatthe
youngwomanwhoappearedonthewitnessstandandidentifiedherselfasthevictimwasnotthereal
victim,thattheyhadinthiscasebroughtinanactress.
Whatwasbeingexpressedineachinstancewasthesensethatsecretsmustbeinplay,thatthey,
thepeoplewhohadpowerinthecourtroom,wereinpossessionofinformationsystematicallywithheld
sinceinformationitselfwaspowerfromthosewhodidnothavepower.Onthedaythefirstthree
defendantsweresentenced,C.VernonMason,whohadformallyenteredthecaseinthepenaltyphaseas
AntronMcCraysattorney,filedabriefwhichincludedthebewilderinganduntrueassertionthatthe
victimsboyfriend,whohadnotatthattimebeencalledtotestify,wasblack.Thatsomewhitesjumpedto
engagethisassertiononitsownterms(theDailyNewscolumnistGailCollinsreferredtoitasMasons
slimiestargumentofthehouranannouncementthatthejoggerhadablacklover)tendedonlyto
reinforcethesenseofracialestrangementthatwastheintendedsubtextoftheassertion,whichwaswithout
meaningorsignificanceexceptinthatemotionaldeepwherewhitesareseenasconspiringinsecrettosink
blacksinmisery.Justanswerme,whogotaddicted?Irecalloneblackspectatoraskinganotherasthey
leftthecourtroom.Illtellyouwhogotaddicted,theinnercitygotaddicted.Hehadwithhimapamphlet
thatlaidoutascenarioinwhichthegovernmenthadconspiredtoexterminateblacksbyfloodingtheir
neighborhoodswithdrugs,ascenariotouchingallthefamiliarpoints,Laos,Cambodia,theGolden
Triangle,theCIA,moresecrets,morepoetry.
FromthebeginningIhaveinsistedthatthiswasnotaracialcase,RobertMorgenthau,the
Manhattandistrictattorney,saidaftertheverdictscameinonthefirstjoggertrial.Hespokeofthosewho,
inhisview,wantedtodividetheracesandadvancetheirownprivateagendas,andofhowthecitywas
illservedbythosewhohadsosoughttoexploitthiscase.Wehadhopedthattheracialtensions
surroundingthejoggertrialwouldbegintodissipatesoonafterthejuryarrivedataverdict,aPost
editorialbeganafewdayslater.Theeditorialspokeofanuglyclaqueofactivists,ofthedivisive
atmospheretheyhadcreated,andoftheanticipationwithwhichthecityscitizenshadwaitedfor
mainstreamblackleaderstostepforwardwithpraiseforthewayinwhichtheverdictshadbroughtNew
Yorkbackfromthebrinkofcriminalchaos:
Alas,inthejoggercase,thewaitwasinvain.Insteadofpraiseforaverdictwhichdemonstrated
thatsometimescriminalsarecaughtandpunished,NewYorkersheardcharlatansliketheRev.AlSharpton
claimthecasewasfixed.TheyheardthatC.VernonMason,oneoftheengineersoftheTawanaBrawley
hoaxtheattorneywhothinksMayorDinkinswearstoomanyyarmulkeswasplanningtoappealthe
verdicts.
 Tothosewhosepreferredviewofthecitywasofaninherentlydynamicandproductive
communityorderedbythenaturalplayofitsconflictingelements,enriched,asinMayorDinkinss
gorgeousmosaic,byitsverycontrasts,thiscaseofferedanumberofusefulelements.Therewasthe
confirmationofcrimeasthecankercorrodingthelifeofthecity.Therewas,intherandomandferal
eveningdescribedbytheEastHarlemattackersandtheclearinnocenceofanddamagedonetotheUpper
EastSideandWallStreetvictim,aneerilyexactandconvenientlypersonalizedrepresentationofwhatthe
DailyNewshadcalledtherapeandthebrutalizationofacity.Amongthereportersonthiscase,whose
ownnarrativeconventionsinvolvedherocopsandbraveprosecutorsgoinghandtohandagainst
crime(theSECRETAGONYOFJOGGERD.A.,welearnedinthePostafewdaysaftertheverdictsin
thefirsttrial,wasthatBraveProsecutorsMarriageFailedasShePutRapistsAway),thereseemedan
unflaggingenthusiasmfortherepetitionandreinforcementoftheseelements,andanequallyunflagging
resistance,evenhostility,toexploringthepointofviewofthedefendantsfamiliesandfriendsand
personalorpoliticalallies(or,astheywerecalledinnewsreports,thesupporters)whogathereddailyat
theotherendofthecorridorfromthecourtroom.
Thiswascurious.CriminalcasesarewidelyregardedbyAmericanreportersaswindowsonthe
cityorcultureinwhichtheytakeplace,opportunitiestoenternotonlyhouseholdsbutpartsoftheculture
normallyclosed,andyetthiswasacaseinwhichindifferencetotheworldofthedefendantsextendedeven
tothereportingofnamesandoccupations.YusefSalaamsmother,whohappenedtobeyoungand
photogenicandtohaveEuropeanfeatures,waspicturedsoregularlythatsheandhersonbecamethe
instantlyrecognizableimagesofJoggerOne,buteventhennoonegothernamequiteright.Forawhile
inthepapersshewasCheroney,orsometimesCheronay,McEllhonor,thenshebecameCheroney
McEllhonorSalaam.AftershetestifiedthespellingofherfirstnamewascorrectedtoSharonne,
although,sincethebylineonapieceshewroteforTheAmsterdamNewsspelleditdifferently,Sharrone,
thismayhavebeenanothermisunderstanding.Heroccupationwasfrequentlygivenasdesigner(later,
afterhersonsconviction,shewenttoworkasaparalegalforWilliamKunstler),butnooneseemedtotake
thisseriouslyenoughtosaywhatshedesignedorforwhom;notuntilaftershetestified,whenNewsday
reportedhertestimonythatontheeveningofhersonsarrestshehadarrivedattheprecincthouselate
becauseshewasaninstructorattheParsonsSchoolofDesign,didthenotionofdesignerseem
sufficientlyconcretetosuggestanactualoccupation.
TheJoggerOnedefendantswerereferredtorepeatedlyinthenewscolumnsofthePostas
thugs.Thedefendantsandtheirfamilieswereoftensaidbyreporterstobesneering.(Thereporters,in
turn,weresaidattheotherendofthecorridortobesmirking.)Wedonthavenearlysostronga
questionastotheguiltorinnocenceofthedefendantsaswedidatBensonhurst,aNewsdayreporter
coveringthefirstjoggertrialsaidtoTheNewYorkObserver,wellbeforetheclosingarguments,bywayof
explainingwhyNewsdayscoveragemayhaveseemedlessextensiveonthistrialthanontheBensonhurst
trials.ThereisnotabigquestionastowhathappenedinCentralParkthatnight.Somedetailsaremissing,
butitsfairlyclearwhodidwhattowhom.
Infactthiscameclosetotheheartofit:thatitseemed,onthebasisofthevideotapedstatements,
fairlyclearwhohaddonewhattowhomwaspreciselythecasesliberatingaspect,thecircumstancethat
enabledmanyofthecityscitizenstosayandthinkwhattheymightotherwisehaveleftunexpressed.
UnlikeotherrecenthighvisibilitycasesinNewYork,unlikeBensonhurstandunlikeHowardBeachand
unlikeBernhardGoetz,herewasacaseinwhichtheissuenotexactlyofracebutofanincreasinglyvisible
underclasscouldbeconfrontedbythemiddleclass,bothwhiteandblack,withoutguilt.Herewasacase
whichgavethismiddleclassawaytotransferandexpresswhathadclearlybecomeagrowingand
previouslyinadmissibleragewiththecitysdisorder,withtheentirerangeofillsanduneasyguiltsthat
cametomindinacitywhereentirefamiliessleptinthediscardedboxesinwhichnewSubZero
refrigeratorsweredelivered,attwentysixhundredper,tomoreaffluentfamilies.Herewasalsoacase,most
significantly,inwhicheventhattransferredragecouldbetransferredstillfurther,veiled,personalized:a
caseinwhichthecitysdistresscouldbeseentoderivenotpreciselyfromitsunderclassbutinsteadfrom
certainidentifiableindividualswhoclaimedtospeakforthisunderclass,individualswho,inRobert
Morgenthauswords,soughttoexploitthiscase,toadvancetheirownprivateagendas;individuals
whowishedeventodividetheraces.
 Ifthecitysproblemscouldbeseenasdeliberatedisruptionsofanaturallycohesiveand
harmoniouscommunity,acommunityinwhich,undisrupted,contrastsgeneratedaperhapsdangerous
butvitalenergy,thenthoseproblemsweretractable,andcouldbeaddressed,likecrime,bythecallfor
betterleadership.Considerablecomfortcouldbeobtained,giventhisstoryline,throughthedemonization
oftheReverendAlSharpton,whosepresenceontheedgesofcertaincriminalcasesthatinterestedhimhad
apolarizingeffectthattendedtoreinforcethenarrative.JimSleeper,inTheClosestofStrangers,described
oneofthefifteenmarchesSharptonledthroughBensonhurstafterthe1989killingofanEastNewYork
sixteenyearold,YusufHawkins,whohadcomeintoBensonhurstandbeensetupon,withbaseballbats
andultimatelywithbullets,byagroupofyoungwhites.
AnAugust27,1989,DailyNewsphotooftheReverendAlSharptonandaclaqueofblack
teenagersmarchinginBensonhursttoprotestHawkinssdeathshowsthattheyarenotreallymarching.
Theyarestumblingalong,huddledtogether,headsbowedunderthestormofhatredbreakingoverthem,
eyeswide,hangingontooneanotherandtoSharpton,scaredoutoftheirwits.They,too,areinnocentsor
wereuntilthatday,whichtheywillalwaysremember.AndbecauseSharptoniswiththem,hisheadbowed,
hisfaceshowingthatheknowswhattheyrefeeling,heisintheheartsofblackpeoplealloverNewYork.
Yetsomethingiswrongwiththispicture.SharptondidnotinviteorcoordinatewithBensonhurst
communityleaderswhowantedtojointhemarch.Withoutthetimefororganizingwhichtheseleaders
shouldhavebeengiveninordertoreininthepunkswhostoodwavingwatermelons;withoutaneffortby
blackleadersmorereputablethanSharptontorecruitwhitescitywideandswellthemarch,Sharptonwas
assuredthatthepunkswouldcarrytheday.Atseveralpointsheevenbaitedthembyblowingkisses.
IknewthatBensonhurstwouldclarifywhetherithadbeenaracialincidentornot,Sharptonsaidbyway
ofexplaining,onarecentFrontlinedocumentary,hisstrategyinBensonhurst.ThefactthatIwasso
controversialtoBensonhursthelpedthemforgetthatthecameraswerethere,hesaid.SoIdecidedtohelp
themIwouldthrowkissestothem,andtheywouldgonuts.Question,beganajokeoftentoldinthe
aftermathofthefirstjoggertrial.YoureinaroomwithHitler,SaddamHussein,andAlSharpton.You
haveonlytwobullets.Whodoyoushoot?Answer:AlSharpton.Twice.
SharptondidnotexactlyfittherolesNewYorktraditionallyassigns,formaximumaudience
comfort,toprominentblacks.Heseemedinmanywaysaphantasm,someonewhoseinstinctforthe
connectionsbetweenreligionandpoliticsandshowbusinesswassoinnatethathehadbeenallhislifethe
vesselforotherpeopleshopesandfears.Hehadgivenhisfirstsermonatagefour.Hewastouringwith
MahaliaJacksonateleven.Asateenager,accordingtoRobertD.McFadden,RalphBlumenthal,M.A.
Farber,E.R.Shipp,CharlesStrum,andCraigWolff,theNewYorkTimesreportersandeditorswho
collaboratedonOutrage:TheStoryBehindtheTawanaBrawleyHoax,SharptonwastutoredfirstbyAdam
ClaytonPowell,Jr.(Yougottoknowwhentohititandyougottoknowwhentoquititandwhenits
quittintime,dontpushit,Powelltoldhim),thenbytheReverendJesseJackson(Onceyouturnonthe
gas,yougottocookorburnemup,Jacksontoldhim),andeventually,afterobtainingagrantfrom
BayardRustinandcampaigningforShirleyChisholm,byJamesBrown.Once,hetrailedBrowndowna
corridor,throughadoor,and,tohisastonishment,ontoastagefloodedwithspotlights,theauthorsof
Outragereported.Heimmediatelywentintoawiggleanddance.
Itwasperhapsthistalentforseizingthespotlightandthemoment,thisfatalbentforthewiggle
andthedance,thatmostclearlydisqualifiedSharptonfromcastingastheGoodNegro,thecredittothe
race,theexemplaryifoftenimaginedfigurewhoserefinedmannersandgoodgrammarcouldbestressed
andwhocouldbeseentolay,asJimmyWalkersaidofJoeLouis,aroseonthegraveofAbraham
Lincoln.Itwasleft,then,tocastSharpton,andforSharptontocasthimself,astheOutrageousNigger,the
familiarroleassignedsixtyyearsagotoFatherDivineandthirtyyearslatertoAdamClaytonPowellof
theessentiallymanageablefraudwhosefirstconcernishisownwellbeing.Itwasforexamplerepeatedly
mentioned,duringthetendaysthejurywasoutonthefirstjoggertrial,thatSharptonhadchosentowait
outtheverdictnotat111CentreStreetbutintheairconditionedcomfortofC.VernonMasonsoffice,
fromwhichhecouldbesummonedbybeeper.
Sharpton,itwasfrequentlysaidbywhitesandalsobysomeblacks,representednobody,was
selfappointedandselfpromoting.Hewasanexploiterofblacks,someonewhodidthemmore
harmthangood.ItwaspointedoutthathehadbeenindictedbythestateofNewYorkinJuneof1989on
chargesofincometaxevasionandgrandlarceny.(Hewasultimatelyacquittedofthelarcenycharges;the
taxevasionchargeispending.)ItwaspointedoutthatNewYorkNewsday,workingoninformationthat
appearedtohavebeensuppliedbyfederallawenforcementagencies,hadinJanuary1988namedhimasa
federalinformant,andthathehimselfadmittedtohavingletthegovernmenttaphisphoneinadrug
enforcementeffort.Itwasroutinelysaid,mosttellinglyofallinanarrativebasedonthemagicalabilityof
leaderstoimprovethecommonweal,thathewasnottherightleader,notatalltheleadertheblack
communityneeds.Hisclothesandhisdemeanorwereridiculed(myhusbandwasaskedbyEsquiretodoa
piecepredicatedoninterviewingSharptonwhilehewashavinghishairprocessed),hismotivesderidedand
histactics,whichwerethoseofanextremelysophisticatedplayerwhocountedbeingwidelydespised
amonghisstrongercards,notverywellunderstood.
Whitestendedtobelieve,andtosay,thatSharptonwasusingtheracialissuewhich,inthe
sensethatallpoliticalactionisbasedonusingoneissueoranother,heclearlywas.Whitesalsotendedto
seehimasdestructiveandirresponsible,indifferenttothetruthortothesensibilitiesofwhiteswhich,
mostnotoriouslyinthenurturingoftheTawanaBrawleycase,aprimalfantasyinwhichwhitemenwere
accusedofacrimeSharptonmaywellhaveknowntobeafabrication,healsoclearlywas.Whatseemed
notatallunderstoodwasthatforSharpton,whohadnointerestinmakingtheproblemappearmore
tractable(Thequestionis,doyouwanttoeaseitordoyouwanttohealit,hehadsaidwhenaskedif
hismarcheshadnotworkedagainsteasingtensioninBensonhurst),thefactthatblacksandwhitescould
sometimesbeshowntohavedivergentinterestsbynomeanssuggestedtheneedforanameliorative
solution.Suchdivergentinterestswereinsteadaluckybreak,areadymadeorganizingtool,adramatic
illustrationofwhohadthepowerandwhodidnot,whowasmakingitandwhowasfallingbelowtheline;
ametaphorforthesenseofvictimizationfeltnotonlybyblacksbutbyallthoseSharptoncalledtheleft
outopposition.Wegotthepower,thechantsgoonSharptonandFulaniinBabylon:volume1thebattle
ofNewYorkCity,atapeofthespeechesofSharptonandofLeonoraFulani,aleaderoftheNewAlliance
party.Wearethechosenpeople.Outofthepain.Wethatcanteventalktogether.Havelearnedtowalk
together.
ImnolongersurewhatIthoughtaboutAlSharptonayearortwoagostillapplies,Jerry
Nachman,theeditorofTheNewYorkPost,whohadfrequentlycriticizedSharpton,toldHowardKurtzof
TheWashingtonPostinSeptember1990.Ispentalotoftimeonthestreet.Theresalotofanger,alotof
frustration.Rightlyorwrongly,hemaybearticulatingagreatdealmoreofwhattypicalattitudesarethan
someofusthought.WilbertTatum,theeditorandpublisheroftheAmsterdamNews,triedtoexplainto
Kurtzhow,inhisview,Sharptonhadbeencastasacaricatureofblackleadership:
Hewasfat.Heworejoggingsuits.Heworeamedallionandgoldchains.Andtheunforgivableof
unforgivables,hehadprocessedhair.Thewhitemedia,perhapsnotconsciously,said,Weregoingto
promotethisguybecausewecanpointuptheridiculousnessandpaucityofblackleadership.
Alunderstoodpreciselywhattheyweredoing,precisely.Alisprobablythemostbrillianttacticianthis
countryhaseverproduced.
Whitesoftenmentioned,asaclinchingargument,thatSharptonpaidhisdemonstratorstoappear;
thefigureusuallymentionedwasfivedollars(byNovember1990,whenSharptonwasfielding
demonstratorstoprotestthekillingofablackwomanallegedtohavegrabbedapolicenightstickinthe
aftermathofadomesticdispute,apolicesourcequotedinthePosthadjumpedthepaymenttotwenty
dollars),butthefigurefloatedbyaprosecutoronthejoggercasewasfourdollars.Thisseemedonmany
levelsamisunderstanding,oranestrangement,orasblackswouldsayadisrespect,toodeeptoaddress,but
onitssimplestlevelitservedtosuggestwhatvaluewasplacedbywhitesonwhattheythoughtofasblack
time.
Inthefallof1990,thefourthandfifthofthesixdefendantsintheCentralParkattack,Kevin
RichardsonandKhareyWise,wentontrial.Sincethisparticularnarrativehadachievedfullresolution,or
catharsis,withtheconvictionofthefirstthreedefendants,thecitysinterestinthecasehadbythenlargely
waned.Thosecharlatanswhohadsoughttoexploitthecasehadbeenwhisked,untiltheycouldnext
proveuseful,intothewings.Eventheverdictsinthissecondtrial,coincidingastheydidwiththemost
recentarrestofJohn(theDapperDon)Gotti,areliablefavoriteontheNewYorkstage,didnotleadthe
localnews.Itwasinfacttheeconomyitselfthathadcomecenterstageinthecitysnew,andyetfamiliar,
narrativework:aworkinwhichthevitalyetbeleagueredcitywouldorwouldnotweatheryetanother
crisis(theanswerwasaresoundingyes);awork,oradreamwork,thatemphasizednotonlythecyclical
natureofsuchcrisesbuttheregenerativepowerofthecityscontrasts.Withitsmigratorypopulation,
itsdiversityofculturesandinstitutions,anditsvastresourcesofinfrastructure,capital,andintellect,New
Yorkhasbeenthequintessentialmoderncityformorethanacentury,constantlyreinventingitself,
MichaelStoneconcludedinhisNewYorkmagazinecoverstory,HardTimes.Thoughtheprocessmay
belongandpainful,theresnoreasontobelieveitwonthappenagain.
Thesewerepointscommonlymadeinsupportofanarrativethattended,withitsdramaticlineof
crisisandresolution,orrecovery,onlytofurtherobscuretheeconomicandhistoricalgroundworkforthe
situationinwhichthecityfounditself:thatlongunindictableconspiracyofcriminalandsemicriminal
civicandcommercialarrangements,deals,negotiations,gimmesandgetmes,graftandgrift,pipe,topsoil,
concrete,garbage;theconspiracyofthoseintheknow,thosewithaconnection,thosewithafriendatthe
DepartmentofSanitationortheBuildingsDepartmentortheSchoolConstructionAuthorityorFoley
Square,theconspiracyofthosewhobelievedeverybodygotupsidedownbecauseofwhoitwas,it
happenedtoanybodyelse,asummonsgetsissued,andthatstheendofit.OnNovember12,1990,inits
pageoneanalysisofthecitystroubles,TheNewYorkTimeswentsofarastolocate,inpublicspending,
notthedrainonthecitysvitalityandresourcesithadhistoricallybeenbutanimportantpositivefactor:
Notindecadeshassomuchmoneygoneforpublicworksintheareaairports,highways,bridges,sewers,
subwaysandotherprojects.Roughly$12billionwillbespentinthemetropolitanregioninthecurrent
fiscalyear.Suchgovernmentoutlaysareahealthycounterforcetoa43percentdeclinesince1987inthe
valueofnewprivateconstruction,adeclinerelatedtothesharpdropinrealestateprices.Whilenearly
everyindustryintheprivatesectorhasbeenreducingpayrollssincespring,governmenthiringhasrisen,
maintaininganannualgrowthrateof20,000peoplesince1987.
Thattheremightwellbe,inacityinwhichtheproliferationofandincreaseintaxeswerealready
drivingprivatesectorpayrollsoutoftown,hardlyanyonelefttotaxforsuchpublicworksandpublic
sectorjobswasapointnottoomanypeoplewishedseriouslytoaddress:amongthecitizensofaNewYork
cometogriefonthesentimentalstoriestoldindefenseofitsownlazycriminality,thecitysinevitability
remainedthegiven,theheart,thefirstandlastwordonwhichallthestoriesrested.WeloveNewYork,the
narrativepromises,becauseitmatchesourenergylevel.
Letters
'SentimentalJourneys'March7,1991

1. *

WilliamR.Taylor,"TheLaunchingofaCommercialCulture:NewYorkCity,18601930,"in
JohnHullMollenkopf'sPower,Culture,andPlace:EssaysonNewYorkCity(RussellSage
Foundation,1988),pp.107133.