Recently I made a trip to New York to check out the Kings Park Psychiatric Center(originally called Kings County Asylum). Located on Long Island about 45 minutes from Manhattan the place stands heavily guarded by state patrol, city police and park rangers. I spent most the day exploring the many buildings and steam tunnels on the property.
As need for mentally ill facilities grew the “Lunatic Farm” (as it was called) became overcrowded, and New York State took control of the establishment in 1895 where it became Kings Park State Hospital. The entire hospital became a self-sufficient community, the patients and staff performed a wide variety of tasks including farming, construction, clothes-making, and food preparation. KPSH expanded to over 150 buildings, which included a power plant and a railroad spur to transport passengers, coal, and construction materials from the Long Island Rail Road. The campus included an area for TB patients, as well as a large section devoted to caring for war veterans. At the turn of the century, the hospital had grown to 2,697 patients and 454 staff workers - making it larger than the nearby town of Smithtown. The hospital reached it’s peak population at over 9,000 patients in 1954, and became quite overcrowded like so many other state run mental hospitals at the time.
The cost to run such an enormous machine became too large of a burden for the state, and with the overall de-institutionalization policy being instated on the East Coast, the hospital began closing buildings in a slow but steady process in 1970. In 1975, the institution became known as the more familiar Kings Park Psychiatric Center, or “KPPC”. Many patients were transferred to nearby Pilgrim State Hospital, nursing homes, or were released. Finally, the entire facility closed in 1996 save for two buildings which still house patients to this day.
The big question has always been what to do with the land… hundreds of acres of property were up for grabs, but at a very expensive cleanup cost. In the year 2000, the grounds of the war veterans treatment area became parkland. But to develop the rest of the land for sale, many buildings would have to be demolished or renovated, and the miles of asbestos piping would need to be carefully removed. The estimated cleanup costs are as high as $80 million, and the land value has been assessed as worth $55 million. The only feasible way of making money from the cleanup would be to build a dense residential or commercial community, which has been a highly objectionable debate for many years.
Kings Park Psychiatric Center was one of four enormous mental health systems located in central Long Island; the others being Central Islip Psychiatric Center, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, and Mason General / Edgewood State Hospital.
On September 4th, 2008 I covered the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN. I blogged in real time via Twitter, shot video and took thousands of photographs. Below find my real-time twitter entries along with photos. On day 4, the largest mass arrest took place with police arresting 300 marchers, shoppers and journalists. This brought the total arrests up to almost 900 of the estimated 15,000-20,000 protesters all week combined. In comparison, 1,800 of over 500,000 were arrested in New York in 2004.
Video: University Ave concussion grenades and tear gas (Short version)
Video: The march and the clash on University Ave (Long version)
The 2008 Republican National Convention - This is what I saw.
All photos copyright Chad Davis
04:11 Overheard at Super America..two cops getting gas talking to another pumper “one day to go..we will see what happens tonight..”
04:57 Got totally screwed by traffic. Walking over 35E now and up to capitol. Cameras in hand..
05:03 Bridge over 35E behind United Hospital is blocked off.
05:30 No one allowed to cross on John Ireland and Kellogg. About 50 riot cops in army suits with body shields waiting on Kellogg and Mulberry.
05:34 10 riot cops literally walking with me up to John Ireland Blvd over I-94..
05:36 Just got up to the bridge by walking around the museum..I’m behind the horses and I don’t know how many riot police..this does not look good.
05:40 Thinking to myself…there is no way they will gas the entire bridge..
05:53 Video rolling from roadway overlooking I-94 and John Ireland Blvd.
05:54 I can confirm plows are coming down John Ireland Blvd.
06:03 Marchers are moving off the bridge!
06:12 I see two being carried away in plastic cuffs walking toward plows into unmarked van.
06:12 They have allowed more access to bridge as police move to middle of bridge. Now standing behind them on bridge.
06:20 Cops in khakis and walkies with metal cuffs pushing us off the bridge back towards Kellogg on John Ireland..bridge being cleared.
06:22 Just spoke to officer who said we have to either be behind the wall by museum or by fence on other side on John Ireland.
06:23 I’m watching a man get into a bomb suit on John Ireland in front of museum.
06:30 Bomb squad is approaching a bag on the bridge.
06:30 We are now being pushed all the way back to the True Blue Minnesota sign on Kellogg and John Ireland.
06:38 Metro bus rolled up..says POLICE BUS. Parked at John Ireland and Kellogg
06:46 Ambulances pulling up on Kellogg and John Ireland.
06:47 Riot cops have now formed a line across the Kellogg side of the bridge.
06:49 Plows are back! Driving onto bridge.
06:52 Plows and Ambulance with flashing lights at Kellogg and John Ireland…plows blocking access to bridge.
07:00 Reinforcements arrived at Kellogg out of about 5 minivans. Full riot gear..looks to be ready to march.bridge completely blocked by plows.
07:00 Bag still in middle of bridge…
07:02 The reinforcements have now formed a line right on Kellogg. There is now a line on both sides of bride and in between the bag and first line.
07:05 Bomb squad guy in rubber suit went to put robot back on sidewalk..why have a robot?
07:24 Seems to be ppl moving around on other side of bridge.
07:32 There are two robots..they have bag now.
07:37 Things calm for now on Kellogg side of bridge.
07:40 Walking down kellogg to get to other side of bridge by capitol.
07:42 Secret service driving down Kellogg towards bridge in golf cart.
07:46 Was able to walk down Kellogg to Marion St….nevermind..new thought..just hear loud bang.
07:47 Was able to walk down Kellogg to Marion to St. Anthony..now on other side of John Ireland bridge..crowd is marching strong!
07:49 “this is what democracy looks like” marching down St. Anthony to Marion to get over bridge.
07:51 All the way up to in front of Sears..still peaceful. Police are creating the tension.
07:52 Our street they chant as cops on bikes fly by blowing whistles…barricades on Marion and St. Anthony now.
07:53 “if you do not leave to north other measures will be used” protesters marching down away from I-94 on Marion.
07:56 “This is what democracy looks like” “Who’s streets? Our streets!’
07:57 March is now up to Aurora and Marion..
07:58 Up to Marion and University..traffic stopped…
08:02 Tear gas smoke bombs cucussion bombs.
08:06 Major clash on University..attacks on media as well. Smoke bomb thrown right at protesters.
08:08 More concussions…”where do we go” ppl scream.
08:09 Plows clearing Marion.
08:10 Chants are back..”who’s streets..our streets!”
08:15 People are told to go on bridge..everyone is afraid if they do they will be arrested.
08:16 Everyone on bridge..trapped. They continue to throw gas and smoke.
08:18 Everyone on bridge sitting down..hands on head.
Although most people know I am not too thrilled with the elephants, I did cover the RNC. Check out the widely circulated photos I took as well as the video.
