Film log #9

We start this log in Mamdani's New York City. I never found myself truly alone in the city. There were people wherever and whenever I walked. It's a stark difference from San Francisco, where streets and parks are often empty.

Even though the brick of the city surrounds you and the skyline is never far to be found, New York has a lot of lush green.

It's a picturesque city, easy to romanticize. But people keep on the move. Everyone seemed to have a place to be and a determination to get there. Once they got to their locations, it looked very easy to settle in and enjoy the summer air.

What people say is true, it's the city that never sleeps. People worked and stayed outside at all hours. For the brief time I was there, I got to be witness to incredible art. I got to see an artist that I'd been following online for a while, and it was so so good.

And lastly, I got to visit Jackson Heights in Queens, a neighborhood with rich culture and even richer food. I took the train there, and my friend showed me around and told me of the people and history of the community. Small gardens—full of food, made up people's front yards. I watched people go to and from church, laughing with their family along the way. Venezolanos dressed in their flag gathered to participate in something I couldn't quite make out, but kids ran around with soccer balls.

My friend and I walked around a plaza with many delicious smells and vivid colors. They had been spending a lot of time there and told me where I could find new jewelry, medicine for ailments, and scents to fall asleep to. I'm glad she can explore and give to the community while she continues her journey away from home.

So now we head back to sunny California, where summer is going strong. The City has its own history that I came back to with fresh eyes. One side of the City is very familiar to me— someone's tía chismeando and laughing, loud music, and some asada on the grill. Everyone gets fed. This side shares about the people that come in and out of their lives, the things they've seen on the street, and enjoys music together.

The other side I've been learning about for a long time, but seems to be interested in things that I find are difficult to understand. It's a topic for another time, but feels very unnatural to exist in sometimes.

Here's some more people enjoying the Californian summer. As the world feels like it's hurtling towards a cliff, taking a moment to appreciate the reality we get to experience is always a gift. Through all the pain caused by the world we live in and the people with power, people find ways to resist, survive and find joy. You wouldn't be able to tell the weight some of the people in these photos hold.

Recently, people got opportunities to showcase their cars and lowriders, and man was it fucking dope. Had me yearning.. People's car shook with their subs blasting something good, they hopped, and strolled through the crowds.

Not only are the cars aesthetically pleasing, but they hold powerful meaning. As the world continues to place value on the new and technologically "advanced", it means that much more to take care and maintain the old. We could be a society that never needs a new car. We could have pride in a culture of our own making and have it exist through the decades. When these cars were once criminalized, they're now a testament to the communities they come from.

Cya soon