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Local Historian Who Experienced the 1977 Blackout and Fire Explains How it Changed Bushwick Forever

John Dereszewski, former Bushwick Community Board director, shares his thoughts on the 40th anniversary of the Bushwick Blackout and devastating fire.

Local Historian Who Experienced the 1977 Blackout and Fire Explains How it Changed Bushwick Forever
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For those who only vaguely remember—as well as for those who were not even born at that time—1977 served as the culmination of one of New York City’s most critical periods.

It was a time during which the city nearly went bankrupt and the end of the crisis was nowhere in sight. It was also a time when, according to semi-official city policy, many of its most at-risk neighborhoods were considered basically beyond hope. Given the lack of funds to revive these neighborhoods, they were left to decline—and practically die—until new communities would ultimately revive them sometime in the very distant future. Bushwick was clearly one of these neighborhoods.

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