Julio and Benjamin

This is Julio Rodriguez and Benjamin Franklin Jr., two young men looking for work.

Walking along 9th Avenue I noticed a lot of people, mostly young, waiting in line. This line continued to wind around the block on 36th Street to 8th Avenue, along 8th Avenue and over to 37th Sreet, back to 9th Avenue, in all four blocks. It looked like hundreds of young people. It was in fact over 5,000. There was a police presence, vans, cars, paddy wagons and police on horses. I asked Julio and Benjamin what was going on because they were on the opposite side of the street from the lines. They were pushed out of the line, waiting for an application from M&M (the candy company) for a job.

Julio said it was total chaos, there were fights and people were pushed around, some had been there as early as 5 and 6 a.m. hoping for a chance for one of only about 100 jobs (clerical, mail room, etc.) and half of those were part time. All I want Julio said is an application, but none have been offered. We just keep waiting and waiting.

Benjamin on the other hand said it was all very positive. People are struggling for work, Benjamin said, this is the community looking for work, wanting work, not wanting to be on the street and that is a good thing. He said we need work and M&M are offering a chance for some people. It's a lot of madness he said, but that's because people are struggling. They want to work. The jobs were paying, according to the posted ad in the newspaper, $10.75/hour.