When Did New York City Actually Become a Dumpster Fire? (Hint: It Involved Garbage)
Let’s talk trash, baby. Or rather, let’s talk about the time New York City turned into a literal dumpster fire. No, not that kind of dumpster fire where everything goes wrong (although, that does sound like New York sometimes). We’re talking about the actual dumpster fire, the one caused by a bunch of disgruntled sanitation workers.
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| When Was The Nyc Garbage Strike |
The Great Garbage Strike of '68
You know how they say New York City never sleeps? Well, in 1968, it definitely smelled like it was holding its breath. That’s when the city’s sanitation workers decided to down tools and, well, let’s just say, things got stinky. For nine whole days, the Big Apple was overrun by mountains of garbage. It was like a giant, smelly, open-air landfill party that nobody wanted to attend.
QuickTip: Reread for hidden meaning.
Can you imagine walking down the street and being greeted by the aroma of a thousand rotting fish? Or tripping over a discarded piano because it’s buried under a pile of garbage bags? It was a glamorous time.
Tip: Each paragraph has one main idea — find it.
Why Were They So Mad?
These sanitation workers weren’t just being lazy. They were fighting for better wages and benefits. And let’s be real, who can blame them? Dealing with other people’s trash is no walk in the park. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it.
QuickTip: Keep a notepad handy.
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The strike became a symbol of the city’s growing pains. It highlighted the gap between the haves and have-nots, and it forced people to confront the city’s dirty little secrets.
Tip: Reread slowly for better memory.
How Did It End?
Eventually, the state stepped in and brokered a deal. The workers got a raise, and the city got its garbage collected. It was a victory for both sides, although the city probably had to invest in a serious amount of air freshener afterwards.
So, the next time you’re complaining about your trash day being missed, spare a thought for the people of New York City in 1968. And remember, every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, the silver lining was that the city probably had a lot fewer rats after the strike.
How To...
- How to avoid being buried alive in garbage? Stay out of New York City during a sanitation strike.
- How to become a sanitation hero? Show up for work, even when it smells bad.
- How to appreciate your garbage collectors? Leave them a nice note or a small gift.
- How to handle a city-wide garbage crisis? Probably hire a lot of people with shovels.
- How to prevent future garbage strikes? Pay your sanitation workers a decent wage.
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