This Month, in closing out our Ten Years of Natural Selections celebration Natural Selections reprints an interview with Frank Schaefer, Assistant Director, Laboratory Safety and Environmental Health. Country of origin: USA. The original interview was published in the December 2004 issue.
How long have you been living in New York City?
35 years (all my life).
Where do you live?
Richmond Hill, Queens.
Which is your favorite neighborhood?
Bayside, Queens because of the quiet surroundings and its proximity to the Long Island Sound.
What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated?
The most overrated thing about the city is Times Square. It is just too crowded and if you ask me… A waste of electricity. The most underrated thing about NYC is its people. I think New Yorkers are very willing to help one another and don’t get enough credit for the good they do.
What do you miss most when you are out of town?
When I’m out of town, I generally miss running through the trails in Forest Park and a slice of pizza from Alfies.
If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be?
If I had the power to change anything, it would be eliminating trash from the streets by enforcing laws that prohibit littering. It’s irritating to see people throw trash from New York State of Mind their cars onto the street. It’s not only an aesthetic issue, but a problem for the city’s wastewater treatment plants as well.
Describe a perfect weekend in NYC.
Sunny in the upper 80’s. I’d start the day early with a long run and then spend the afternoon with my wife and children watching the horses run at Belmont Park, and win of course. In the evening we would barbeque in our backyard with family and friends.
What is the most memorable experience you have had in NYC?
Watching the Mets make it to the World Series in 2000 by beating the St Louis Cardinals at Shea.
If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
I would like to live in South Florida.
Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why?
Absolutely, I’ve lived and worked here all my life.