Phillip Retuta's Blog

The Life and Times of a Filipino-American

By

The Eighth Avenue Aches: WTF MTA?

Since January, I’ve collected data on my commute from my apartment in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn to my work in Columbus Circle, Manhattan: I log the time I leave my home, and I log the time when I enter the door to my office.

When I first moved to my new place in August 2017, I was amazed that it took 30 to 35 minutes to get to work; back at my old apartment in Crown Heights, it took almost an hour to get to Columbus Circle via the 2/3 express trains and transferring to the 1. Riding the A or C train from Bed-Stuy without transferring (and with the subway stations less than a 5-minute walk away), I was finally happy to see that my commute would now be much simpler.

Sometime during the winter, though, I noticed a combination of delayed arrivals and packed trains. If the A train arrived on time, all the subway cars would be so packed, passengers would have to wait for the next train (and in frequent cases, the train after that or even a fourth train). The C train — which runs locally — has a bad habit of arriving 10 minutes apart even during the morning rush hour (I find it acceptable to wait a maximum of 6 minutes for a train on a weekday morning, during the peak hours of 7:30 to 9:30).


It was during one January morning that it took me 2 hours (and transferring between 4 trains) to get to work that I decided to start documenting my commute times. As of writing this post, the express A train (in conjunction with delayed times and packed trains) has been running every 14 minutes during rush hour every morning. If I’m lucky to catch an arriving train, it still takes me almost an hour to get to work as opposed to 35 minutes. On the other hand, if I miss a train, I’m now waiting anywhere from 6 minutes to even 17 minutes for the next train to arrive. Just imagine that, as people who miss a train or simply can’t fit into a subway car, will have to wait for the next train for a long-ass time — only to have more people enter the station and clog up the waiting areas. The congestion that builds up in each of the stations has been unforgivable, and I can tell that my fellow passengers in Brooklyn are getting testy.

Here’s the data I’ve collected so far, bolded times were the typical commute for me back in the summer of 2017:

2018.01.10: 1 Hour, 53 Minutes — A to C to 2 to 1
2018.01.11: 55 Minutes — A
2018.01.12: 35 Minutes — A
2018.01.16: 55 Minutes — C
2018.01.17: 55 Minutes — A
2018.01.18: 53 Minutes — C to A
2018.01.22: 52 Minutes — A to F to B
2018.01.23: 1 Hour, 17 Minutes — A
2018.01.24: 34 Minutes — A
2018.01.25: 54 Minutes —  C
2018.01.26: 51 Minutes — C to A
2018.01.29: 55 Minutes — C
2018.01.31: 52 Minutes — A
2018.02.01: 56 Minutes — A
2018.02.02: 50 Minutes — C
2018.02.05: 51 Minutes — A
2018.02.06: 46 Minutes — A
2018.02.07: 58 Minutes — A
2018.02.08: 55 Minutes — C to A
2018.02.12: 56 Minutes — A
2018.02.13: 43 Minutes — A
2018.02.14: 44 Minutes — C
2018.02.15: 50 Minutes — A
2018.02.16: 44 Minutes — A
2018.02.20: 47 Minutes — A
2018.02.21: 43 Minutes — A
2018.02.22: 50 Minutes — A
2018.02.23: 55 Minutes — C
2018.02.26: 1 Hour, 2 Minutes — A
2018.02.27: 46 Minutes — A
2018.02.28: 52 Minutes — A
2018.03.01: 38 Minutes — A
2018.03.02: 50 Minutes — A
2018.03.05: 1 Hour — A
2018.03.06: 42 Minutes — A
2018.03.08: 47 Minutes — A
2018.03.09: 47 Minutes — C
2018.03.12: 50 Minutes — A
2018.03.13: 51 Minutes — A
2018.04.17: 59 Minutes — A
2018.04.18: 1 Hour, 20 Minutes — A
2018.04.19: 52 Minutes — C
2018.04.20: 39 Minutes — A
2018.04.23: 1 Hour, 2 Minutes — A
2018.04.24: 59 Minutes — A
2018.04.25: 54 Minutes — C
2018.04.26: 55 Minutes — A to C
2018.04.27: 32 Minutes — C
2018.04.30: 49 Minutes — A
2018.05.01: 59 Minutes — A
2018.05.02: 27 Minutes — C
2018.05.03: 40 Minutes — A
2018.05.04: 30 Minutes — A
2018.05.07: 53 Minutes — A
2018.05.08: 47 Minutes — A
2018.05.09: 45 Minutes — A
2018.05.10: 50 Minutes — A
2018.05.14: 50 Minutes — A
2018.05.15: 52 Minutes — A
2018.05.16: 50 Minutes — A
2018.05.18: 50 Minutes — A

I find that these delayed times and packed trains are a combination of a lot of things. First of all, the MTA (and the New York Governor who controls MTA funding) has reduced the number of trains. Top that with the increased number of people moving to the outer boroughs (I’ll save the rant of new high rises, urban displacement, and gentrification for later), there are simply not enough trains and money to accommodate suitable transportation in Brooklyn. God knows I don’t enjoy the yearly subway fare hikes, but that money seems misused if they decide to reduce the number of trains running throughout New York.

I’ve also noticed that the MTA relies on a century-old transit system. The express A train merges with the local C train after three stations and continues to be on one track for about 40% of my commute (I don’t get how the A train from Nostrand Avenue to 59th Street-Columbus Circle is “express” if it’s only 5 less stops than the C train). Once I get past 42 Street in Manhattan, the A then merges with the same track as the D train. Usually, I’ve noticed, it takes me 15 minutes to get from 42nd Street to Columbus Circle; the A train just stops between the 17 blocks between 42nd and 59th, and I see two to three local trains whiz by on the adjacent track. The way I see it: the A train shares the same track as the C train (and the C train later shares the same track as the E train and B train). The D train shares the same set of tracks as the F, B, and M trains. If there’s one problem (say a signal malfunction, stalled train, or sick passenger) on any of these trains, my commute is affected. It’s train traffic at its worst.

Lastly, and I think this is the bane of every New Yorker’s existence: signal problems. All of the MTA’s train traffic runs on a signal system implemented in the 90’s, as a result of this train crash. Although it’s meant to protect the safety of commuters, the signal system has been plagued with numerous problems lately. It’s a system almost 3o years old now, and if there’s a minor problem with a signal (which nowadays is prone to malfunctions), then all train traffic along the affected line stands to a halt.

I’m not too certain if there’s an immediate solution to these problems, but if the New York State is going to annually increase my subway fare and extend my commute to double its time, I’d like the MTA to be less vague about subway delays and more transparent with what they’re doing with our money. Otherwise, I’ll just be continue to be habitually stressed out and rant about it.

By

Work Field Trip at the American Museum of Natural History.

My senior creative director, Angela, invited the design and web team to join her at the American Museum of Natural History. She split us into two teams, and we were each tasked to go on a scavenger hunt around the museum: using our mobile phones, we had to take photos, shoot videos, and answer questions in the guise of team building exercises.

Our team, nicknamed “Thunder,” completed over 80% of the tasks, and it was great connecting with all my co-workers — especially the other designers who are based on our Old Westbury campus many miles away. The scavenger hunt was a lot of fun, and I was able to see the funny, jovial side of my office mates: posing with gift shop plush toys and large-scale exhibitions, planking on the floor, parkouring on the benches, and annoying the hell out of the museum workers. In the end, Thunder beat out the other team, and we were were awarded with adult coloring books (perfect for us designers).

After the work field trip, we collectively had lunch at UNO’s Pizzeria a block away (don’t get me started on the “Chicagoan Authenticity” of their food, but to me pizza is pizza). A few of us had cocktails, and my office mate Joe had an audaciously pink drink which looked like a kid dipped a magenta Crayola marker in some vodka. We were all supposed to be dismissed earlier than usual, but in lieu of my Iceland flight a few hours later, I excused myself sooner.

Here are some photos. We’re wacky AF:

By

Three Three B-Day.

2016-04-25-18.57.16We celebrated my 33rd birthday in Prospect Park over the weekend. I think it was originally planned as a surprise, however in the morning, after returning from walking Nico I caught my roommates leaving the apartment with a picnic blanket and a bag of charcoal. On top of that, my friend Gino was supposed to take me out for brunch at noon, but he ended up being two-and-a-half hours late and ultimately directed me to meet him at the top of the park. A surprise party or not, I greatly appreciated the thought of my dearest friends coming all together and organizing something just for me — personally, it’s weird and wholly unnecessary, and the sheer sentiment and idea makes me feel special.

It was a perfect day to celebrate my birthday in the park: it was a little drizzly that morning, but the skies had cleared by noon, and it was so pleasantly warm that the grass had dried. My roommates, Morgan and Brian, picked a perfect spot by the Picnic House with an open grill and a few tables. Gino, Morgan, and Brian manned the barbecue as my friends Amanda and Rustine set up bocce ball. Gino’s girlfriend, Monica, just smoked cigarettes. On top of the barbecue, games, and eventual ice cream cake, Gino and Monica managed to ask their friend Shahrouz to bring Bullet, their dog they gave to Shahrouz after they moved into a no-pet condo. Needless to say, both my dog Nico and Bullet remembered each other and played in the grass just like old times.

IMG_1788

Alex and Michael stopped by with traditional Filipino pork skewers (really, just meat marinated in soy sauce and Sprite), and they also gave me a birthday card and a giant lollipop — which is a change, considering Alex has always given me shitty, candy-flavored vodka on subsequent birthdays. Even George and Diana (who I haven’t seen since Christmas) managed to come with their 7-month-old baby, Ruby Estelle. By the way, Ruby was so fascinated by Nico, she laughed every time my dog did something, like laugh or breathe.

As nightfall approached we all went back to our respective ways home. My roommates and I rested for an hour or so and then headed out to Covenhoven, a bar a few blocks from our apartment. We met up with Kris (who also had come to the park), his girlfriend Ally, Mark, Patrick, and his lady friend. We each drank a few beers till close, and headed home.

Back in my apartment, my roommates and I watched Beyonce’s “Lemonade” (holy fuck, Bey, you okay?) until I passed out on the couch with a full whiskey in my hand.

The next day I woke up bright and early, and I took Nico to the dog groomer. It took about an hour or so to have her nails done like a middle-aged woman and a bath she desperately needed. I preoccupied myself by sitting at the plaza of the Brooklyn Museum, sipping coffee and watching inattentive parents let their toddlers run in the fountain and accost passerby. After my dog was done with the groomers, I noticed she was fluffier from the blowout they gave her. Sure, the groomers at Pooch Purrfect brushed at least 10 pounds of winter fur from her, but Nico looked like she gained 15 from sheer blown-dry volume. I totally recommend them.

After retrieving my puffball of a mutt, I met up with Morgan and went to Electric Anvil Tattoo for a consultation. It’s been a habit that every birthday I get a new tattoo, and Electric Anvil comes highly recommended by Patrick, a tattoo connoisseur who said the store was founded by former artists from the acclaimed Three Kings tattoo shop. I scheduled something for next week: a fox — my spirit animal — running with a dagger in its mouth.

IMG_1819Later that night was the Game of Thrones premiere, and my friends Bridget and Diana came over. I ordered pizza, and we watched Jon Snow not get resurrected and Melisandre’s gratuitous nude shots transform from a non-plot point to a significant one.

On Monday, my actual birthday, my co-workers took me to Rosa Mexicano, a Mexican restaurant located near my office in Columbus Circle. The moderately high prices coupled with the fact that our server fucked up a few orders made me feel guilty that my office mates would spend any amount on my birthday, but they deflected any payment from me. I think I owe each of them diamond rings when their birthdays come.

After work, I met up with Gino and Monica at King Tai, a nice cocktail bar near my apartment in Crown Heights that looked like Miami exploded in it. We had a few martinis, I was given a few mylar balloons that I’ll end up using in a Nico Video, and we headed off to Cent’Anni for a wonderful pasta dinner. Of course, as with lunch earlier, my friends paid for the meal and refused to take any money from me. I think I’ll slip a 20 dollar bill into Gino’s couch cushions next time I’m over at their place.

2016-04-25-21.18.57All in all, I had a great 33rd Birthday. I was expecting to be dead by this age or at least ravaged by disease, but my friends and family (and dog) made me feel more special and appreciated than I ever imagined. I’m grateful to have such good people (and canines) in my life, and I want them to all know that I’d never take for granted the relationship I have with them. Cheers!

By

Relaunching of NYIT.edu.

siteRelaunch_Email_blogToday we launched the new NYIT.edu site. After nearly two years of work — beginning when I was pretty much hired — it’s finally done. From the hiring process of a design firm, to the countless meetings discussing design and functionality, to the editorial staff combing through the thousands of existing pages and cutting the fat, to our writers creating new copy, to our freelancers producing new videos and photography, to the coding by our IT department, and to the implementation of all the new stuff and the subsequent beta testing by my web team and me, I’m very proud of our new product. Moreover, I’m very thankful to our team who collaborated together and created such a fine, brand new site worthy of awards (hell, I want to finally win a legitimate award for design).

I’m so happy that the hard work that my team and I put into the site — sacrificing our vacation days, weekends, and working extra hours — finally paid off. As for me, personally, I’m happy that the art direction — from beginning to the very end — and the image creation I’ve contributed has received positive feedback and is well-appreciated from both my co-workers and university colleagues. Throughout this entire process, I felt like a boss. Like I was important. Like my voice was heard and respected. I’m sure there are haters out there who will nitpick the site or even friends who’ll try to undermine this accomplishment, but I feel invincible for all the work I’ve done. I’m overcome by this alarming pride that something I put my heart into transformed from a mere concept to actual reality. It feels good. Watching and helping the new site evolve is a lot like watching your kid go off to college: the time and effort you put forward into something that started so small has matured into something greater.