New York is the largest city in the United States with a population of more than 8 million people (NYC Planning, 2017). The city has been facing serious challenges since 2001 especially with the recession in 2008. Tough problems ranging from poverty increased immigration, high crime, increase drug activities, air and water pollution, and high population density, among many others. These problems have threatened the quality of life of New Yorkers. Therefore, this paper seeks to examine three tough challenges that have faced the city of New York as well as pointing out solutions to these problems.
Three New York problems
Poverty
One of the toughest problems facing New York is poverty. Sources have revealed that more than 45% percent of the population living in this city is struggling to make ends meet (Durkin, 2017). This problem has plunged the city into a quagmire as the nation strives to wipe out poverty. Since the recession in 2008, most of the adults in New York are working on a full-time basis to meet basic needs. The city has been marred with increasing rents, high standards of living, and low wages, among many others. Although employment has been noted to rise, the numbers of individuals living in poverty are startling. Income inequality has contributed to the poverty situation in New York. The Asian community has been named as the poorest ethnical group in New York surpassing the Hispanics and the Blacks. Poverty has transformed many neighbourhoods into crime and drug dens. This problem has become an uphill task to solve even though more than $4 billion is budgeted for the city to deal with welfare programs (Durkin, 2017). It has been attributed to the influx of unskillful immigrants when there is very low demand for unskilled labour.
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Air and water pollution
Air pollution has been another serious problem threatening the quality of air in this city. Studies have revealed that residents of Manhattan face the third highest risk of getting cancer from airborne chemicals (Milman, 2016). This has been a critical threat as other diseases such as asthma can also be attributed to airborne chemicals. The typical sources of air pollution in New York come from industries and vehicles. This has been the largest environmental threat to New York. It has resulted to increased respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Apart from air pollution, water pollution is another significant threat to the lives of New Yorkers. Untreated sewage has been noted to flow directly into New York water bodies that provide fresh and clean water to the residents of the city. Heavy rains are also a probable cause for draining human waste from sewer plants as well as stormwater into big rivers such as Niagara, Mohawk and Hudson (Associated Press, 2013). These threats from both poor quality air and water stand a greater chance to risk the millions of lives in New York City.
Population density
The population density in New York has been growing ever since 2001. Facts show that New York is the most populous city in North America twice the population of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States (NYC Planning, 2017). This is a very tough problem as poverty continues to strike more than half the population of this city. It has increased the crime rate in New York as well as making the city one of the largest areas of the world where drugs are highly used. This has increased other social problems in the city. Apart from social issues, the city’s budget will soar to create more housing units for the increasing population. Exhaustion of resources such as healthcare, water consumption, bus and rail stations among other public services will limit the quality of service as well as increase infrastructural projects. Therefore, population density has become a mother of many other problems including economic and social issues.
Solutions to New York problems
The only way solutions exist is to work out existing problems. New York has been facing serious problems that have threatened the quality of life for her residents. From Environmental problems such as water and air pollution, New York has also been facing serious social issues including increasing poverty, population density problems, increased crime, increased drug use and related activities. Poverty can be reduced significantly if the right strategies, measures and solutions are applied effectively by the authorities (Durkin, 2017). To start with, the root problem of poverty in New York is contributed by the increased population of unskillful immigrants. Hence, being able to incorporate and implement tight immigrant laws will be crucial in regulating the influx on unskilled individuals. This will ensure that the immigrants coming to the city are skilled enough to contribute to the growth of the city as well as reduce poverty. Secondly, the administration of the city should also come up with opportunities that require less skill to accommodate the high number of such individuals. These might include online opportunities, sports and talent hubs, increase technical jobs, among many others.
Air pollution is a very critical environmental problem that requires long lasting and effective solutions to improve the quality of air in the city. The city should advocate for increased hybrid cars within the city to reduce the increasing carbon emission by fuel powered cars (Milman, 2016). Therefore, electric and hybrid cars will make a monumental impact towards solving the pressing issue of air pollution. Using alternative sources of energy sources such as wind, solar and nuclear are important in curbing the airborne chemicals released by factories and industrial and fossil fuel-based plants. As far as water pollution is concerned, the role of New York’s administration is very crucial. They should be responsible for enhancing the treatment of sewage plants as well as protect them not to be drained into freshwater bodies. Also, developing alternative drainage systems for municipal sewage plants will play a huge role in solving this increasing problem (Associated Press, 2013). The city’s administration should also provide public education on sanitation, using water effectively, treatment of rain water, among many others.
The increasing population density in New York City has created many more economic and social problems. Hence, the state government should start by providing adequate jobs to reduce the increasing migration to the city. The scarcity of opportunities and resources has become the major source of migration to cities. Secondly, New York city should monitor and regulate immigration to the city to keep the city in a state of balance. This will open up more resources and opportunities to the residents. Furthermore, enhancing hygiene will go a long way to improve the lives of residents within the city.
Conclusion
Summing up, the city of New York has been grappling with serious challenges affecting the social and economic lives of people. Abject poverty has been noted in more than half the population of New York City. This has led to increased crime and drug-related activities which threatened the safety as well the health status of the city. Creation of adequate jobs is vital in reducing poverty in the city. Air and water pollution have been increasing within New York threatening its residents to asthma, cancer, among other serious illnesses. The use of hybrid, electric and alternative sources of energy will play an important role in reducing air pollution. Treatment of sewage plants will play an important role in reducing water pollution in New York. Population density has also emerged to make New York the most populous city in the US. This has strained a lot of resources and job opportunities in the city. Creating tight immigration laws as well as creating more jobs in the states will reduce the migration of people into cities.
References
Associated Press. (2013). NY waterways polluted by billions of gallons of raw sewage each year . Retrieved Online, October 24, 2017, www.dailyfreeman.com/article/DF20130728/NEWS/307289962
Durkin, E. (2017). More poor people living in high poverty neighborhoods in NYC . Retrieved Online, October 24, 2017, www.nydailynews.com/new-york/poor-people-living-high-poverty-neighborhoods-nyc-article-1.3227239
Milman, O. (2016). Air pollution threat hidden as research ‘presumes people are at home’: study . Retrieved Online, October 24, 2017, www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/air-pollution-dangers-flawed-research-new-york-study
NYC Planning. (2017). New York City Population . Retrieved Online, October 24, 2017, www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/data-maps/nyc-population/population-facts.page
