Raised in New York, perhaps the most intense and diverse urban setting in the world; involved in many areas of city life and its institutions. A brief period in a rural environment and travel nationally and abroad has provided a broader awareness and additional perspectives.

The greatest part of the city is its people. The cultural and socio-economic diversity defines the New York on which I’ve thrived, more specifically, the Borough of Brooklyn where I reside.

Writing

Always preferring being actively involved to writing about it, in the ‘90’s, after getting an electric typewriter for business and learning how to do more than just peck at a key at a time, I wrote a few articles that found their way into a local paper.

From 2007 to 2010, involved with the local community during the rezoning and proposed gentrification of Coney Island, I wrote a regular column under the name I. Frieden for Bay Currents, a small newspaper in southern Brooklyn. Several pieces are still applicable today and appear with ensuing updates.

Much of the work in Bay Currents concerned still ongoing issues that may be sensitive and conflict with current activities.

Current activities

As Executive Director of the non-profit Brooklyn Streetcar Artists’ Group (BSAG), I am involved with art, music and community projects. Among them is our TOGETHER program, which is projected to bring diverse peoples together to respect, understand and bond. Well received overall, it has faced many roadblocks in the years since originally proposed; some purposefully placed.

Now, with a raging pandemic and all but our online presence consisting of public gatherings, we are hoping that BSAG survives to continue our efforts.

Always interested in the world around me and blunt in expressing myself, I now have the opportunity to present to you some of my thoughts.

What you’ll find here

This blog currently consists of four categories

• Perspectives deals with the world we face, from personal to global. Many of the basic concepts and themes of what you’ll find throughout can be found on this page.
• Misc. Articles covers a wide variety of subjects, Including personal experiences and whatever else strikes me at the moment.
• Poems is simple poetry on many of the same topics and a bit of satire.
• Local Interest is primarily about things where I tend to be closest to the action and sometimes part of it. From the southern section of Brooklyn, spreading throughout the borough and the rest of New York, it includes some of the good, the bad and the ugly in the area.

Photos are mostly for adornment.

To the Point is intended as a personal perception aimed at provoking thought and conversation. The concepts presented are far from new, but echoes of those passed down through the ages; much of it understatement; placed in a perspective focusing primarily on the human element rather than on a specific discipline.

The point here is that I have something to say. If you agree with it, or if it simply encourages you to think, tell others to come on over and take a look.

You are very welcome to express your own views.

Arthur Melnick

Disclaimer:

All content and views expressed on these pages are mine alone and do not reflect those of Brooklyn Streetcar Artists’ Group (BSAG), its members, directors, affiliations or any other person or organization.