Get a raw look at a bygone era with photographer Clayton Patterson, who documented the untamed streets of the Lower East Side before it was transformed by gentrification. In this candid reflection, Patterson discusses how crime and the mafia once inadvertently acted as a chaotic form of neighborhood protection, keeping outsiders at bay until the area was sanitized for real estate development. He argues that while leaders like Giuliani cleaned up the streets, they failed to address corruption at higher levels, merely shifting the drug trade rather than eliminating it. Additionally, Patterson touches on his attempts at American-made manufacturing and shares his perspective on the impact of the prison industrial complex on local communities.
Matt Coneybeare
Editor in Chief
Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.
Something wrong with this post? Let us know!
