THE IRON TRIANGLE - EDIT VERSON v11 April 21, 2017 00:00:00 – Fade in. 00:00:03 – Broadcast Announcer: “Please remain standing for the National Anthem” 00:00:05 – Music Cue: National Anthem begins playing. 00:00:26 — Sam SamBucci V.O Something I enjoy, is during baseball season, a few hours before the game, we actually hear whomever is going to be singing the national anthem practicing. You hear the crowd cheering, kinda a little roar, then game time. 00:00:43 — You know, there is a beauty to the neighborhood. TITLE CARD: THE IRON TRIANGLE LOWER THIRD Sam SamBucci 3rd Generation Scarp Yard Owner 00:00:48 — Willet’s Point, or the Iron Triangle as its called, is an industrial neighborhood in northeast queens. We’re directly across the street from Citi Field. As most people know when they have come to a Mets game and they are hanging out upstairs having a hamburger and look outside, they see us, hello how are you. And, uh, this is where a lot of us make our living. All year, not just during baseball season. 00:01:12 — Here at wallets point, its primarily automotive related businesses. Body shops, salvage yards, mechanic shops. 00:01:20 — People come here to get a car fixed for a $100, that might cost $500 at the local dealer. It helps the people, people come here to save money. 00:01:30 — My Family was here before the original Shea stadium was built, I’ve grown up down here, I’ve learned how to drive on these roads, I’ve learned how to drive in the junk yard. You know, after school I would take the bus to Flushing and come play with the cars. You know, as a boy it was fantastic. 00:01:55 — Willets Point today is the most disgusting, run down, broken down neighborhood you’ll ever find 00:02:05 — Its a shame that we are all immediately judge by the way the streets look. But that was due to the neglect of NYC in their quest to hopefully one day take this neighborhood over and development it. TITLE CARD #1 In 2016, the city of New York initiated a plan to redevelop Willet’s Point. TITLE CARD #2 The plan was to purchase and demolish the automotive shops and replace them with modern stores and hotels. Demolition began in 2016. TITLE CARD #3 The city has not disclosed a timeline, so the remaining shop owners don’t know how long they can remain in the neighborhood. 00:02:43 — If the city were to come in and force us all out, there are many things that would be lost in the neighborhood. They are going to destroy an area that they should embrace. 00:02:55 — The diversity of Willet’s Point is incredible. You know, being born and bread in New York, I have always had other races, regions, people from other parts of the world. But here in Willet’s Point it’s really amazing. 00:3:11 — You can go up the block and there is an Israeli yard next store to an Afghan repair shop, and next door is a Dominica muffler shop. 00:03:19 — You know, White, Black, Chinese. Um, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, you know, its not a blank wall painted white, the neighborhood to me has flavor. 00:03:29 – Music plays from stereo. 00:03:34 — As a neighborhood its definitely a family. 00:03:38 - You know when I see a lot of the younger.., or the newer shop owners, or the newer mechanics, I kinda think about my great grandfather, how he had to come over and work so hard to build something, you know I hope they can build the same thing my family was able to build. 00:03:56 — You know, here is the next generation of Americans. 00:04:00 – Next door is Rodrigo, his son Logan is a year older then my son Sam. And you know, we’ve often talk about the future of the neighborhood. The problem is, how do I bring my son into a business that might not be here in 5 years. 00:04:15 — I’m sure everyone thinks about their children, you know, will they have the opportunity to come work side by side with us. Or to say take it, and make it better then we do. Montage of Workers & Customers 00:04:49 — Its a strange thing how everybody’s so different, but when you have a common idea or a common need, you group together, and you become one. 00:05:02 — Willet’s Point should be a model for the world. It’s not just a big pothole in the middle of Queens. We’re a hidden gem. TITLE CARD: THE IRON TRIANGLE Music Cue: National Anthem begins playing CREDITS: