LIRR
I don’t remember Jamaica being ‘slummy’ during the years The Donald would have been growing up there. Don’t think of Jamaica Estates as particularly wealthy vs. say, Lake Success.
One girl in my dorm had a ‘code’ when she wanted her mother to pick her up when she was going home for the weekend. She’d make a collect call (remember those?) for “May Jamaica” which meant her mom was to pick her up at May’s in Jamaica.
(Change at Jamaica) LIRR
Right you are.
When one rides the Long Island Railroad into Manhattan from Long Island, one has to change trains at Jamaica to proceed into Penn Station.
And then in reverse.
First, back in the day, it was the steam engines, but not into Penn Station!
Then came the diesel engines, but there was still the change at Jamaica.
Because the trains were/are electric going into Penn from Jamaica, yes?
And eventually you’re underground.
You know all this, but thought I’d explain for others.
Sad, but on 9-11, commuters could see the WTC buildings every now and again for just a bit from the train before they got to Jamaica.
BTW - The LIRR is a terrific way to get around. Trains run all the time.
Long Island Memories - - - My favorite place to swim is the Long Island Sound. Have never found another place I like as much. Forget the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Give me just about any North Shore Beach.
When I’m back on L.I. (and I never pronounced it ‘Lawn Guyland’!) in the summer, I try to get to the Sound.
Since I was young living on Long Island (I moved after 20 years there), any town 8 miles away was basically a million miles away! So I didn’t really know what was going on, except if I heard my parents talking.
And Jamaica did not have a good reputation in the 50’s.
We went there maybe every 2 years to do some clothes shopping, before Hicksville had a small mall.
Sure I remember collect calls! Had a few occasions to use ‘code talk!’ Funny “May Jamaica.”
So Jamaica gets bragging rights on D. Trump.
The Trump thing is getting interesting. Loving how he is talking tough. It’s partially the Noo Yawk ‘brusqueness’ - and getting the job done.
Can only imagine 1600 PA Ave. right now!