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New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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In the late 1970s, New York City was experiencing severe economic and political difficulties, unlike anything it had ever experienced before. During the recession, New York City city workers were laid off, and municipal services like sanitation and after-school programs were cut due to economic stagnation, industrial decline, and the threat of bankruptcy. Over 820,000 middle-class families fled to the suburbs in a movement known as white flight as unemployment in the city continued to rise. Feeling neglected by their government and angry at the cuts in social services, other citizens turned to violence; drug use, vandalism, and theft rapidly increased. During the power outage of July 13th, 1977, the darkness and confusion caused even more aggression, such as looting in the city.

Below are some stunning photos of New York City in 1978 and 1979 captured by Frank Florianz.

#1 Times Square area, around Christmas, 1978

Times Square area, around Christmas, 1978

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#2 City perspective

City perspective

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#3 Looking north on Park Avenue towards the Pan Am building

Looking north on Park Avenue towards the Pan Am building

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#4 Pretzel vendor

Pretzel vendor

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#5 Herald Square, Avenue of the Americas, around Christmas, 1978

Herald Square, Avenue of the Americas, around Christmas, 1978

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#6 88th Road, Woodhaven, New York (Queens) – July, 1979

88th Road, Woodhaven, New York (Queens) - July, 1979

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#7 Yard sale nearby

Yard sale nearby

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#8 Candid views along Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, NY – July, 1979

Candid views along Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, NY - July, 1979

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#9

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#10

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#11

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#12

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#13 Neighbor on 88th Road, Woodhaven, cooking up a meal, Summer 1979

Neighbor on 88th Road, Woodhaven, cooking up a meal, Summer 1979

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#14 On a street in midtown Manhattan – all the remaining photos on this page are from the summer of 1979

On a street in midtown Manhattan - all the remaining photos on this page are from the summer of 1979

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#15 Public Library, Manhattan – 5th Avenue at East 41st Street

Public Library, Manhattan - 5th Avenue at East 41st Street

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#16 Performance in front of Lincoln Statue, Union Square

Performance in front of Lincoln Statue, Union Square

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#17 Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

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#18 Exchange Place, Financial District

Exchange Place, Financial District

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#19 John Street

John Street

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#20 Newstand at dusk

Newstand at dusk

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#21 Three views from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, including the bandshell

Three views from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, including the bandshell

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#22

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#23

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#24 Out and about in the Brighton Beach and Coney Island areas

Out and about in the Brighton Beach and Coney Island areas

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#25

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#26

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#27

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#28

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#29 Surf Avenue, Coney Island (Summer, 1979)

Surf Avenue, Coney Island (Summer, 1979)

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#30

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#31

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#32 Produce tailgate in Brooklyn, near the LIRR – Summer of 1979

Produce tailgate in Brooklyn, near the LIRR - Summer of 1979

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#33 Albany Avenue and Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn

Albany Avenue and Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn

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#34 View of Manhattan and the Twin Towers, from Brooklyn

View of Manhattan and the Twin Towers, from Brooklyn

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#35 American Museum of Natural History (Manhattan) and a few exhibits

American Museum of Natural History (Manhattan) and a few exhibits

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#36

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#37

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#38

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#39

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#40 Delacorte Theatre in Central Park (west side off 80th Street) on a rainy day – Summer of 1979

Delacorte Theatre in Central Park (west side off 80th Street) on a rainy day - Summer of 1979

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#41 Outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Ave & E 81st St) in the rain at dusk

Outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Ave & E 81st St) in the rain at dusk

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#42 Queens, New York – Fall of 1979

Queens, New York - Fall of 1979

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#43

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#44 Queens Boulevard at 40th Street, #7 subway viaduct at the left, Empire State Building in the distance

Queens Boulevard at 40th Street, #7 subway viaduct at the left, Empire State Building in the distance

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#45 East 61st Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan, Fall 1979

East 61st Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan, Fall 1979

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#46 Carriages along Central Park, near Central Park South and 5th Avenue

Carriages along Central Park, near Central Park South and 5th Avenue

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#47 General Sherman Statue at Grand Army Plaza, Central Park

General Sherman Statue at Grand Army Plaza, Central Park

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#48 Upper West Side, Manhattan, Fall 1979

Upper West Side, Manhattan, Fall 1979

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#49

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#50 Greeley Square at West 33rd Street, December, 1979

Greeley Square at West 33rd Street, December, 1979

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#51 Nearby at West 32nd Street, December, 1979

Nearby at West 32nd Street, December, 1979

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#52 Avenue of the Americas at West 35th Street

Avenue of the Americas at West 35th Street

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#53 Avenue of the Americas at West 34th Street

Avenue of the Americas at West 34th Street

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#54 Spring, 1980: Sutton Theater at 205 East 57th Street – it was demolished in January, 2005

Spring, 1980: Sutton Theater at 205 East 57th Street - it was demolished in January, 2005

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#55 9th Avenue and West 55th Street, looking south

9th Avenue and West 55th Street, looking south

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#56 9th Avenue and West 40th Street, looking south

9th Avenue and West 40th Street, looking south

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#57 Entering the Lincoln Tunnel, Spring, 1980

Entering the Lincoln Tunnel, Spring, 1980

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#58

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#59

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#60

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#61 View of the George Washington Bridge from the Upper West Side, Spring 1980

View of the George Washington Bridge from the Upper West Side, Spring 1980

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#62 Junk shops on Canal Street at Cortlandt Alley

Junk shops on Canal Street at Cortlandt Alley

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#63 Broadway at West 81st Street, looking south, Spring 1980

Broadway at West 81st Street, looking south, Spring 1980

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#64 More junk shops, Church and Canal Streets near the Post Office

More junk shops, Church and Canal Streets near the Post Office

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#65

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

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#66 Looking south along Church Street near Leonard Street, a view of the Twin Towers, Spring 1980

Looking south along Church Street near Leonard Street, a view of the Twin Towers, Spring 1980

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#67 Church Street at White Street, looking east

Church Street at White Street, looking east

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#68 West Broadway and Franklin Street, Spring 1980

West Broadway and Franklin Street, Spring 1980

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#69 Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

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#70 Job Lot Trading Company, 140 Church Street

Job Lot Trading Company, 140 Church Street

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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