Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation What is Liberty City? Do not post anything other than questions regarding the lore. Do not answer questions unless you are part of the AT, ET, or FST. Treat all information as in-character unless specified otherwise. 1. Current Affairs Contains everything you need to know about the launch of the server, including how the election will shape its future. 2. Beachgate Conspiracy and Police Corruption A recent conspiracy paints a dark picture of Liberty City. But is it true? 3. The Power Dynamics in Liberty City Can't play the game without knowing the rules. Dare and see what happens. 4. The Five Boroughs Learn more about the boroughs and their vibe. Pick the one that best suits your business/faction. 5. At A Glance Additional information about the city. 6. A People's History Looking to know more about the ethnic and religious diversity? The topic will walk you through all the details. 7. An Economic Powerhouse What makes Liberty City so unique? 8. Administration and Social Conditions Learn how history has shaped what Liberty City is today. 9. Commonly Asked Questions What are some of the most asked questions about the LCRP lore? SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Current Affairs By Anton Price, Historian A Special Election?! When Mayor Lockhart won the Mayoral election in 2020, he promised to "swiftly eradicate corruption". Nearly 3 years later, Lockhart surprisingly announced a special election. Whilst many supporters of the Mayor applaud his commitment to democracy, critics believe Lockhart's narcissistic personality blindsided him. On the rise is former Chief of Department Brian Turner. A new face in the political arena. Turner promises to deliver change, but will his mysterious history allow him to achieve that goal? What's at stake? The 2023 Mayoral Special Election will certainly decide the future government policies on corruption and its influence over the institutions. Will corruption be tolerated or eradicated? A possible re-election of Lockhart would likely yield flexibility, analysts claim, whilst others warn that Turner's allegations of abuse of power during his law enforcement career, would lead to serious widespread corruption. The outcome of the election will open or close the door for opportunities for various organized crime organisations. Investigative journalists say the election will certainly influence the power dynamics of the Port. A notorious hub known as a drug and weapon trafficking center. Whilst it is speculated that 2 major players are dominating the ports, it is not clear if the Gambino nor Lucchese families will be able to maintain their grip. Citizens worry about their budgets. In a city with growing poverty rates, the new Mayor of Liberty City will have to make tough decisions. Economists say taxation should be easier on businesses, but many left-wing groups have started making the opposite demands. But who will the candidates hear? What are you ready to sacrifice? This would be another great opportunity for unions. Related articles 2 Prominent Republican Officials Found Dead "Beachgate" is a crazy debunked conspiracy theory made up by far right supporters Why is "Beachgate" relevant? Violence, Police and Conspiracy Knight Watch Exclusive #914 (with Chief Brian Turner) Presented by the Liberty Tree The Liberty Hypocrisy Chief of Department Brian Turner resigns Mayor Lockhart addresses rising Republican star Brian Turner BREAKING NEWS: Suspect in the Murders of 2 Republicans Commits Suicide in Police Custody (( The Candidates )) Mayor Charles Lockhart (D) Mayor Lockhart, the incumbent Mayor of Liberty City, presents himself as the savior of the once chaotic metropolis. However, his methods are shrouded in darkness and moral ambiguity. He is a man who isn't afraid to take extreme measures and make sacrifices, both his own and others', to achieve his goals. Brian Turner (R) Brian Turner, the former LCPD Chief of Department, presents himself as the last beacon of hope for the city of Liberty. Many, however, doubt Turner’s true intentions due to his controversial past, with allegations of corruption, unethical leadership and abuse of power tarnishing his reputation. (( Other Information )) 1. The election will not be scripted. Whilst the 2 candidates are played by members of Management, we want you to shape the story. With the election on the rise, many business owners, criminals, special interests, unions, etc., have the opportunity to push their own agendas or... improve Liberty City. As the IC information states above, the election will shape the direction of the server. 2. In order to remain within the realm of the realism, we are roleplaying that Mayor Lockhart has requested a special election in 2023, months before the scheduled Mayoral election in 2024. We do this with consideration to the lore of NYC and with respect to its latest election in 2021. 3. This is a one of a kind roleplay experience and we encourage all community members to participate. The goal of this server is to portray a realistic American environment, as opposed to focusing on replicating real life departments without emphasis on the bigger picture. We promote the philosophy of roleplaying a character, not a faction. 4. Remember, real life lore applies up until the year 2020. So, if you ever feel confused about our lore, remember the servers shapes its own path from the year 2020 and any real-life event. COVID-19 has taken place but is not to be RPed as active IG. Follow the "Environment Consistency Policy" for more OOC information. 5. The listed trailers are OOC. They should not be referenced as official manifestos of the candidates and are merely an introduction. All events seen in the trailer are part of the lore, however. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Beachgate Consipracy and Police Corruption By Samuel Spencer, Philanthropist In 2023, official reports of a new conspiracy called "beachgate" hit mainstream media, alleging that Mayor Lockhart has personally orchestrated the murder of 2 prominent Republican officials. Supporters of the conspiracy say corruption is wide-spread and has plagued all institutions. Others claim this is disinformation with aim of destabilizing the city government. Many contribute the conspiracy theory to Former Chief of Department Brian Turner who alleges he was a victim of constant pressure by Mayor Lockhart and Commissioner Timothy Wright. The Mayor, however, completely denies the allegations and accuses Turner of misuse of power for political gain. Liberty City has had a long history of corruption within its city government, including City Hall. There have been numerous scandals over the years involving elected officials and city employees, with some cases resulting in criminal charges and convictions. One notable example of corruption in City Hall was the scandal involving former Mayor Bill de Blasio. In 2016, federal prosecutors launched an investigation into whether de Blasio and his aides traded political favors for donations to his campaign and a non-profit organization he created. The investigation also looked into allegations that de Blasio and his team intervened in a city land deal to benefit a major campaign donor. While the Mayor dodged criminal charges, it was quite clear his office was corrupt. Another example is the corruption scandal that led to the resignation of former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's chief of staff, who was accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks in exchange for political favors. Although these remain to have been proven in the court of law it was quite clear that they were corrupt. Other instances of corruption in City Hall have involved bribery, embezzlement, and misuse of city funds. The city has taken steps to address these issues, including the establishment of an independent ethics board and increased transparency and oversight of city finances. However, corruption remains a persistent problem in Liberty City's government, and ongoing efforts are necessary to ensure accountability and prevent future abuses of power. The Real Estate Market and The Mob The Liberty City real estate market and construction industry have a long history of corruption, dating back to the early 20th century. The industry has been plagued by various forms of corruption, including bribery, kickbacks, bid-rigging, and organized crime. One of the most infamous examples of corruption in the Liberty City real estate market was the Tammany Hall political machine, which controlled the city's politics from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. Tammany Hall was notorious for its links to organized crime and its practice of exchanging political favors for financial gain. The machine was heavily involved in the city's real estate market, and its influence allowed unscrupulous developers to skirt building codes and regulations. Another factor contributing to corruption in the Liberty City real estate market is the city's complex zoning laws and regulations. The rules are often difficult to navigate, and developers may resort to bribery or other illicit means to get their projects approved. In recent decades, corruption in the Liberty City real estate market has taken on new forms, such as money laundering and fraudulent real estate transactions. The industry has been linked to a number of high-profile scandals, including the conviction of prominent real estate developer Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen for campaign finance violations and tax fraud. Despite efforts to root out corruption, it remains a persistent problem in the Liberty City real estate market and construction industry. The city's real estate market is still one of the most expensive in the world, and the demand for new construction continues to attract unscrupulous developers and investors looking to profit at any cost. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation The Power Dynamics in Liberty City By Samuel Spencer, Philanthropist National Security Expert Richard Broxton comments: 1. Liberty City has an issue with bureaucrats. 2. We have ordinary politicians but most of them are actors, not policy-makers, middlemen between the special interests and the rest of us. 3. Corruption relies on connections with organized crime, who they appoint as "guards". They protect distribution centers such as the port, and dictate who gets what. 4. Then you have the low-level gangs who are consumers and providers of the illegal goods. 5. The low-level corrupt officials are nothing but pawns. Former LCPD Lieutenant Thomas Black comments: 1. Whoever gets the Mayor privilege runs the ports through intermediaries. Their partners are selected based on the financial contributions they make or through other means. 2. Don't underestimate the organized crime syndicates. They have connections everywhere. 3. If you want a piece of the cake, you have to play by the rules. 4. If you want get business done, you speak directly to the big guys with big smiles. But the big smiles are often misleading. 5. It's 2023 and war is bad for business. If you go shooting left and right, you won't be good for business. 6. The port is essentially the powerhouse behind the grey economy. Most of the goods that come in do so through the ports. The port authority is basically the middleman between OCGs and corrupt officials. 7. There are other means to get illegal drugs and weapons in the city, but if you're major player, all of your dealings go through that port. Whether you like it or not. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Liberty City: The Five Boroughs By Samuel Spencer, Philanthropist The Cities within a City The administrative structure of Liberty City was shaped by the consolidation of the greater city in January 1898, Following the 19th-century pattern of urban imperialism, and in large part spurred by the challenge that Chicago posed to its primacy, modern Liberty City was formed when the independent city of Broker, Bohan, Alderney, and Dukes was added to Algonquin following a referendum. Although the population of the city expanded from about 2 million to 3.4 million, much of the new territory was still rural, and only two-fifths of all roads in the expanded city were paved. The five boroughs, which were all soon designated counties of Liberty State, became the basic municipal administrative units. The office of the borough president was created to preserve "local pride and affection" and its duties from 1901 to 1990 included service on the Board of Estimate, a central financial agency. Borough presidents now also serve as conduits of neighborhood concern to the Mayor, the city's chief administrator, and are responsible for appointing members of community boards. These officials carry much of the burden in the continuous battle between strong mayors seeking central authority and local leaders aspiring to independent action. In the early 20th century, when the population more than doubled, a major concern of city administrators was interlacing communication and transportation systems to create coherence within the metropolitan area. The first segment of the subway system opened in 1904, and soon all the boroughs were linked except Alderney. In the 1930s and 40s, the system often handled more than two billion passengers per year; the world's most extensive subway system soon became the best way to move about the metropolis. An ever-growing number of bridges, tunnels, and high-ways, designed to facilitate commerce, now take along with the subway, hordes of commuters into Algonquin in the morning and return them home at night, Borough legislators constantly complain that their concerns are ignored, and many believe that local interests are usually sacrificed for the welfare of Liberty County (Algonquin). This perception led Alderney to contemplate seceding from Liberty City and becoming an independent city in the 1990s, although ultimately nothing came out of the movement. Algonquin: Calling All Fortune Seekers More than 30 million tourists visit Liberty City annually. Divided by north-south avenues and crossed by east-west streets, Algonquin is easily understood and infinitely alluring. The city boasts the world's largest collection of skyscrapers and is overloaded with cultural institutions and places of enduring interest. Even to residents of other boroughs, Algonquin is "the city", the administrative, business, and financial center of the metropolis and the basis of its renown. In no other parts of Liberty City are there such start contrasts between rich and poor. The high-rise elegance of Bismarck Avenue and Middle Park East rapidly gives way to the teeming streets of North Holland to the north and to the crowded bohemian existence of Lower Eason and Westminister to the South. This cruel modern dichotomy echoes the 19th-century city, where industrial millionaires lived in luxury in Columbus Avenue mansions (now converted into cultural centers) far from the immigrant masses on Lower Easton. Within this formidable historical imbalance, Algonquin is really composed of neighborhoods that offer peaceful havens to contented residents. Many areas of the island are world-renowned, among them such ethnic enclaves as Chinatown, Little Italy, Spanish, and Black Holland (East and North). In the streets snaking north from the ancient Dutch Battery, twisting lanes remind walkers that Algonquin was a trade center long before Boston, Philadelphia, or Williamsburg existed. The Exchange, the financial center of the glove, was originally a Dutch fortification against feared British or Native American attacks that never came. The jumble of pre-Revolutionary streets continues up to Garnet Street. Westminister and Middle Park offer diverse attractions before on reach Star Junction, the "Crossroads of the World", recently transformed from a sleazy strip to a center of tourism. Middle Park West is filled with brownstone blocks and high-rise apartments and is home ground to the liberal, Democratic Party politics identified with the modern city. At the far north of the island -- where Algonquin actually spills into Bohan -- Irish influence predominates. No area of Liberty City demonstrates change and dynamism as fully as Algonquin. Millions enter it daily to seek their fortunes, and additional millions come to marvel at their efforts. It is supremely cosmopolitan, boasting the world's best restaurants and a myriad of cultural institutions, yet folksy enough to have block parties. Algonquin's variety and pace make Liberty City the number on tourist city in America. Broker, Modern Suburbia Broker is the most populous borough of Liberty City. Sections of the area were first settled by the Dutch in the 1630s, and six largely agricultural soon thrived. Consolidated as Kings County in 1693, the region grew modestly as an appendage of Algonquin. During the American Revolution, Broker was the scene of the Battle of Broker (August 27, 1776). Early in the 19th century, Broker became the world's first modern commuter suburb and was transformed into a proper residential community. Contemporary Broker retains much of the independent character it displayed as an industrial city. Additional access to Algonquin came with the construction of the Broker Bridge in 1959. In the 1920s, full subway service was extended as far as Firefly Island. Broker remains famous for its multiplicity of houses of worship serving neighborhoods as varied as Hove Beach. Although the borough has many private homes, the majority of its people live in apartments, housing projects, or upgraded row housing. Tensions between African-American and Hasidic Jews in the biracial area of South Slopes led to a prolonged conflict in the 1990s, and their relationship has remained strained. On the other hand, careful use of landmark protection legislation has enabled several historic neighborhoods to restore viability. The originality of their borough is visible in the creation of new areas such as BOABO (Beneath the Off-ramp of the Algonquin Bridge Overpass) and the revitalization of underused piers for shipping. Dukes, Middle Class Living Dukes would constitute a major American city were it not a part of Liberty City. More than one-third of the city features a primarily middle-class population owning private homes. The income of Dukes itself is middle class and it is considered to be the most suburban out of all boroughs as it has the greenest space. During colonial times a significant battle for religious freedom, the Cerveza Remonstrance (1657), was fought in Dukes; it was the first victory for the tolerance necessary in an urban center. In 1894, the communities of Dukes endorsed the creation of Greater Liberty City. The borough grew rapidly and subway service was established soon thereafter. A pleasing mix of the urban and rural, Dukes was the center of the silent film industry until displaced by Hollywood in the late 1920s. Dukes became an international arrival center when Francis International Airport opened in 1939. Access to transportation and a lower-density population made Meadows Park in Dukes a natural site for the two world fairs held in Liberty City in 1939-40 and 1964-65. In a diverse and cosmopolitan city. Dukes ranks as the most ethnically varied of all boroughs. Vast numbers of Chinese, Koreans, and East Indians have transformed Cerveza Heights into the largest of Liberty City's three Asian centers and revived a once-anemic local economy in the bargain. More than half of the city's Latin Americans, from more than a dozen nations, live in Dukes, and their restaurants and travel agencies dominate entire neighborhoods. Latin Americans are more fully integrated into Dukes than elsewhere in the metropolis, residing primarily in areas such as Cerveza Heights. The borough has no visible slum area, and its residents are united in rejecting low-income housing and high-rise apartments. Bohan, The Road to Recovery Bohan is the northernmost borough and the only part of Liberty City on the mainland. It was first settled by farmers and for centuries remained rural. Originally tied to Algonquin only by Northwood Heights Bridge, it was the scene of many conflicts during the American Revolution. When Bohan was added to Liberty City in the consolidation of 1898, the modern borough was created. Prior to 1910 subway lines snaked their way north to facilitate population growth. By the time Bohan was established properly in 1914, it had large groups of Italians, Jews, Irish, and Armenians. For a decade after the mid-1960s, Bohan became the scene of classic urban decay caused by crime, drug dealers, renegade landlords, and the strain of accepting wave after wave of immigrants. The reputation of the borough came not from enlightened ethnic advances but from the fires that consumed its buildings and the drug and gang wars that destroyed its young people. Although fully linked to the metropolis by railroads and bridges, Bohan became a place to leave as quickly as possible. The spread of slum conditions threatened to turn the entire borough into a blighted area. During the last quarter of the 20th century, much has changed. Laws that limited insurance pay-outs slowly reduced acts of landlord arson, and vacant lands were filled with single-family and row housing. Thousands of apartments were rehabilitated or restored with city funds, and hundreds more were saved by individuals who refused to give in to lawlessness. Tensions between competing populations -- the borough is on-third African-American, one-third Hispanic, and one-third Asian and white -- have slowly eased. Alderney, Liberty's Dumping Grounds Geographically isolated to the left of and removed from Algonquin, Alderney is considered the least densely populated, industrial, and urban part of the city. When the English conquered Liberty City in 1664, they decided that Alderney would remain part of that province despite its proximity to Algonquin. A century later, in 1776, British troops launched their conquest of the city from the island. After independence, Richmond Country(later Alrderney) held forts to protect access to Liberty City quarantine stations for sick immigrants, homes for aged seamen and orphans, and railroad terminals for Algonquin's freight. When its voters chose to become part of the greater city, its population was slightly more than 65.000. From 1901 until the 1930s the borough experienced slow industrial and population growth, and only after the Hickey Bridge was built in 1952 did stagnation cease, construction of the Hickey Bridge and the Broker Bridge finally opened the borough to rapid development and made it a functional part of city life. Alderney is the most homogenous borough in Liberty City; it has the lower proportion of ethnic minorities and is the youngest and most politically conservative. Its politicians call the borough underserviced, its residents feel under attack by environmental pollutants, and everyone resents being home to LIberty City's largest garbage disposal site -- the borough has been referred to as the city's dumping area since 1948. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Liberty City: At A Glance By Anton Price, Historian The American Melting Pot Liberty City, officially the City of Liberty, is the largest and most influential American metropolis. Liberty City is in reality a collection of many neighborhoods scattered among the city's five boroughs -- Algonquin, Broker, Bohan, Dukes, and Alderney -- each exhibiting its own lifestyle. Generally, Liberty City is the most populous and the most international city in the country, it is both the gateway to the North American continent and its preferred exit to the ocean of the globe. Liberty City is ethnically diverse, religiously varied, commercially driven, famously congested, and in the eyes of many, the most attractive urban center in the country. No other city has contributed more images to the collective consciousness of Americans: The Exchange means finance, Star Junction is synonymous with theatre, Columbus Avenue is automatically paired with shopping, Nickel Street with the advertising industry, Westminister connotes the bohemian lifestyles, Civic Citadel defines machine politics, and North Holland evokes images of the Jazz Age, African American aspirations and slums. Liberty City has more Jews than Tel Aviv, more Irish than Dublin, More Italians than Naples, and more Puerto Ricans than San Juan. Its symbol is the Statue of Liberty, but the metropolis is itself an icon, the arena in which people of every nation are transformed into Americans. For the past two centuries, Liberty City has been the largest and wealthiest American city. More than half the people and goods that ever entered the United States came through its port, and that stream of commerce has made change a constant presence in city life. Liberty City always meant possibility, for it was an urban center on its way to something better, a metropolis too busy to be solicitous of those who stood in the way of progress, Liberty City -- while the most American of all country's cities -- thus also achieved a reputation as both foreign and fearsome, a place where turmoil, arrogance, incivility, and cruelty tested the stamina of everyone who entered it. The city surpassed such status to become a world city in both commerce and outlook, with the most famous skyline on earth. It also became a target for international terrorism -- most notably the destruction in 2001 of the World Trade Center, which for three decades had been the most prominent symbol of the city's global prowess. After which, the Federal Building in However, Liberty City remains for its residents a conglomeration of local neighborhoods that provide them with familiar cuisines, languages, and experiences. A city of stark contrasts and deep contradictions, Liberty City is perhaps the most fitting representative of a diverse and powerful city. Painting the Landscape Only the second largest American city at the time of the American Revolution, by 1970 Liberty City had already grown to be fourteen percent more populous than Philadelphia thus becoming the largest and most populous city in America. Liberty City gradually achieved trade domination and by the mid-1800s handled more than half of the country's oceangoing travelers and commercial trade. After 1900, Liberty City was the world's business port, a distinction it held until the 1950s. The city's ancient bedrock provides the immovable foundation for hundreds of modern skyscrapers. Liberty City has more of these awesome structures than any other world city. Architects may argue about the origin of the modern skyscraper, but most agree that Algonquin was where structures with steel skeletons were combined with the elevator to create a genre of buildings where great height could be reached practicably: the very word was coined in the 1880s to describe this Liberty City phenomenon. The earliest pathways for moving around Algonquin followed animal and Native American trails across difficult terrain. City planning was foreign to burghers in the 17th century, and roads were haphazardly authorized; only a few important ones to outlying agricultural communities were maintained, and it was not until 1798 that the city appointed a commissioner of streets. The colonial atmosphere and undertones are still visible in the meandering streets of lower Algonquin which can be seen in its Architecture and organization. The optimistic spirit of the town is apparent in the street plan adopted in 1811, the grid of blocks, avenues, streets, and lots extending to the northern reaches of the island. City Hall, located now as then in Algonquin, was at the time so far removed from the center of activity that its northern facade was left unfinished since few could imagine it would ever be seen. Although often modified in specific cases, the rectilinear patterns imposed upon Algonquin in its infancy have determined its development patterns, and other boroughs adopted the system after the creation of Greater Liberty City in 1898. The building of Middle Park interrupted the grid, and road construction there pioneered concepts of limited-access and transverse-running roadways. In the 20th century, parkways were incorporated into the traffic patterns of all boroughs. Regardless of all its efforts, the modern city is infamous for the volume of traffic that clogs its well-laid-out street system. 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Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Liberty City: A People's History By Anton Price, Historian Ethnic and Religious Diversity In a city that embraces change as its primary tradition, the shifting population base of Liberty City remains its most dramatic story. At the end of the 20th century, representatives of some national groups were counted among its people. While people of European ancestry still make up one-third of the population, Hispanics account for nearly one-third, and African-Americans about one-fourth. The fastest-growing component of the population is Asian, soaring from a tiny proportion in 1970 to more than one-tenth in the late 1990s. Dominicans were the most numerous immigrants during the last decade of the 20th century, but they were closely followed by Russians and Chinese, people yearning to "make it". The Statue of Liberty, more than a century after its dedication in the harbor (1886), continues to be the most powerful symbol of Liberty City, as it welcomes newcomers into the city's "golden door." People from each ethnic group have climbed the ladder of acculturation, achieved their goals to a greater or lesser extent, and then, in turn, found fault with the masses that followed them to the promised city. As early as 1643, Saint Isaac Jogues cataloged 18 languages that were being used on the streets of New Rotterdam, and that cosmopolitan atmosphere was retained when Dutch control ended and Britain assumed power. Jews, Roman Catholics, and numerous ethnic groups lived in Algonquin before the end of the 17th century, but political control remained in the hands of the established merchant elite. When the American Revolution began, more prominent Dutch families == the Van Cortlandts, De Peysters, and Schuylers -- supported the cause than did their British counterparts. One unanticipated result of the fighting was that many slaves, perhaps one-fifth of the city population in 1776, won freedom. One of the first "history" books of Liberty City was a satiric look at the merchant elite and the city's Dutch past written in 1809. Spoken Dutch was heard on the city streets until the late 19th century when such families as the Roosevelts and the Vanderbilts were important members of Algonquin's elite. By 1844, it was clear even before the Great Famine immigration of 1845-49 that Liberty City was becoming predominantly Irish. More than a few thousand of Germans also lived in Algonquin, their population vastly increased following the failed revolutions of the 1840s. Germans, who were largely Protestant or Jewish, were more middle-class and perhaps had a slightly easier acclimation. By the time of the American Civil War, Irish, German, and sever other ethnic groups made the city's population more than half foreign-born. The arrival of "new" immigrants from eastern and southern Europe after 1880 again changed Algonquin. Jews and Germans, who by then held a vast proportion of political and economic power, deeply resented Italians, Irish, Greeks, Russians, Hungarians, and Poles crowding into their city. The austere Liberty Tree wrote that "cleanliness is an unknown quality to these people. They cannot be lifted to a higher plane because they do not want to be." Tuberculosis became the "Jewish" disease, and Liberty City's police commissioner played the demagogue in 1909 when he asserted half of all city crime was committed by Russian Jews. Nevertheless, Jews were to transform labor and education in the city, while Italians would become the largest ethnic group. Yet so varied was the city that every large group remained only a minority, and toleration of "the other" became a Liberty City virtue. After 1900, the largest group of internal refugees were African-Americans fleeing the restrictions of life in the rural South. Liberty City was one of their preferred destinations, and the growth of North Holland as the "black metropolis" was the unintended result. In the first decade of the 20th century, the Afro-American Realty Company began to rent homes to African-Americans in what was then a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, and the churches they attended downtown soon relocated to the north. Growing ethnic and economic hostility led to a white exodus, although East Holland did remain largely Italian and Hispanic. Their artistic talents led to the Holland Renaissance, and their musicians were leaders of the Jazz Age, but the reality remained that the Holland they dominated was becoming the largest slum in the city. The Great Depression destroyed economic opportunity; high rents forced the subdivision of apartments, and the well-known pathologies of tenement life devastated a poor community. Holland, both North, and East endured a long decline from which it did not emerge until the 1990s. White ethnics found no difficulty in deciding that African-Americans were ignorant, lazy, and prone to engage in criminal activities. As the first large group entitled to the social reforms of the New Deal era, African-Americans were accused of being parasitic users of the welfare system. Similar accusations were later directed at Puerto Ricans, long a presence in the city but whose numbers soared after World War II. However, within a generation, the influx of Dominicans, Cubans, Colombians, and most recently Mexicans altered the fabric of Liberty City in an unexpected manner. In the 1990s, the Hispanic population of the city grew massively and bilingualism became a reality. Citizens of Hispanic origin now constitute the largest single group in the city, and it is estimated that one-fifth of the city speaks only Spanish at home. Relations between African-Americans and Hispanics have deteriorated, as one wave of early immigrants tends to disdain those who come later. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Liberty City: An Economic Powerhouse By Anton Price, Historian Early Industries The seal of the City of Liberty, adopted in 1686 includes the beaver and the flour barrel, images that document the first major phase of Algonquin's economic history. New Rotterdam was important to the Dutch because it offered access to the immensely valuable fur trade of a continent. One of the richest men in 19th-century Liberty City was John Jacob Astor, whose fortune was based on fur before he became a real estate speculator. After the British conquest in 1664, the city won a monopoly to grind and pack grain and sent it's flour to all world markets. Merchant incomes soared as commerce both legitimate and via smuggling, became the lifeblood of Liberty City. Any threat to city prosperity was harshly dealt with. Banking and Finances Commercial banking began in Algonquin in 1784 when the Bank of Liberty opened for business. The origins of Liberty City National Exchange (LCNE) can be traced back to the Buttonwood Agreement of 1792, although the Exchange Board itself was not organized until 1817. Several financial waves of panic in the 19th century could not prevent the city from dominating the national money markets. Investors and banks from the metropolis provided much of the capital that financed the industrialization of the United States. So great was the influence of Liberty City that the country's largest firms found it expedient to locate their headquarters there. Growth of Industry and Trade Shipping and finance secured Liberty City's international standing, but manufacturing provided jobs for its teeming population. A multitude of small businesses was centered in Algonquin by the 1850s and clothing, furniture, cigars, and dozens of other products they created boosted city exports. By the mid-century, Liberty City was the printing center of the United States with hundreds of establishments. The influx of skilled Jewish immigrants transformed an already dominant clothing industry into a gargantuan one, employing nearly half of all city workers by 1910. Thus, the interaction of capital, cheap labor, access to raw materials, entrepreneurial initiative, and transportation facilities made Liberty City the ideal place for business. It quickly developed advertising, insurance, and legal services to deal with the needs of its burgeoning manufacturing sector. The Center of Commerce By the beginning of the 20th century, Liberty City was the headquarters for more than two-thirds of the top 100 American corporations, and factories manufactured several hundred different industrial products. It led the nation in total factory workers, number of factories, capital valuation, and product value. Liberty City held its leadership position for another three generations and provided one million industrial jobs into the 1950s. In 1960-75 the city lost more than 600,000 of these jobs, as its old economy collapsed and an information age took shape. Banking and financial services became the new engine of development -- abetted by the traditional print and advertising sectors of the economy -- while white-collar workers with computer skills replaced most of the blue-collar laborers of the past. Liberty City remains the leading industry, and sweatshop conditions reminiscent of the early 1900s still exist in small factories in Bohan and Alderney. Despite all of these changes, the metropolitan area is home to more than one-fifth of the Fortune 500 companies. The 1970s represented a low point for Liberty City; its national reputation collapsed as the government experienced virtual bankruptcy. High rents, congestion, arson, and crime led to an exodus by businesses and the middle class even after the city began the rebuilding process. Industrial parks where businesses were given cheaper rents, better utilities, and safety, were authorized in response to the crisis, and major tax incentives were granted to those corporations that remained in the city. The LCNE even threatened to leave, but in the late 1990s, it agreed to remain in Algonquin and construct a new facility. By constantly enhancing its key economic advantages, Liberty City has remained prosperous even as it underwent a change, its strength lying in its diversity. A major portion of the country's software and computer-related industry has located in Liberty City. The city's continuing financial supremacy was apparent in the 1990s, a decade in which the profits for the members of the LCNE soared. Liberty City marketed its monetary expertise to the glove; its banks dealt with the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s as well as the Asian financial meltdown of the late 1990s, and in the process, the city became the "economic capital of the world." The vast numbers of bars, restaurants, hotels, health clubs, and theatres across Liberty City are necessary to care for and feed the millions of visitors who come to the city annually. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Liberty City: Administration and Social Conditions By Anton Price, Historian Government, A Storied Past Liberty City is administered by a Mayor who chooses department heads and prepares the city's budget. Mayors hold considerable power but are constantly involved in legislative battles with members of the City Council. In general, beginning with Fiorello La Guardia in the 1930s, the Mayors usually led their own parties and have been stronger than other party leaders. Two themes are constant in the administrative history of Liberty City: the tension between the city leadership and the authority of the state in the struggle for home rule, and the municipality's desire to contain the decentralizing tendencies caused by its component elements. In the Dutch colonial period, the Director General of New Netherlands was a city resident who ruled both the province and burgh, but after 1664 England's provincial governor named a Mayor. In the 1680s, Governor Thomas Dongan granted Liberty City its first municipal charter and permitted the election of aldermen, but he retained the right to appoint the Mayor, Recorder Clerk, and Sheriff. Effective control remained in the hands of Governors until it was wrested away by the city aristocracy after 1740. Despite divided authority, the city grew rapidly. During the time of the American Revolution, Liberty City suffered from a long British occupation and two fires that destroyed one-third of its buildings, Federalist Mayor James Duane, whose own home had been burned to the ground, supervised rebuilding efforts in the 1780s, and his successor Richard Varick completed the reconstruction of city and government. Their efforts, abetted by those of DeWitt Clinton after 1803, established the foundations for Liberty City's national dominance. After 1800, Liberty City was the nation's largest city, a commercial dynamo that worked efficiently even as the city became a great melting pot of different people. Yet Libertonians still lacked the right to elect their own Mayor; only in 1834 did Jacksonian Cornelius Lawrence initiate democratic control, which subsequently has been characteristic of the metropolis. Algonquin's desire for home rule was often at odds with the plans of state legislators. Not until 1870 -- after the massive bribery of "Boss" William Magear Tweed -- was local police power restored. Tweed's charter increased the authority of the Office of Mayor in governance matters, after the "Tweed ring" was overthrown in 1871, a reform charter added power to the Office of Comptroller. Liberty City in the 19th century, while primarily under the control of the Tammany Hall political machine, constructed Algonquin's basic water, sewer, fire, police, transportation, and park facilities. There was, naturally, some corruption and a great deal of what insiders called "honest graft", but the experience gained in building Algonquin permitted the greater city to construct an infrastructure capable of serving a far denser population. The wealth generated by economic success in Liberty City was never really totally subservient to the demands of the affluent. Compassion is hardly part of the city's cold image, but caring for its less fortunate citizens has been a major theme of its modern history. In this most capitalist of all American cities, a strong element of socialist ideology fostered the creation of the largest municipal hospital and university system, vast areas of public housing, and generous welfare benefits for the poor. Social initiatives first attempted in Liberty City became precursors of New Deal programs in the 1930s, while the city's American Labor and Liberal parties constantly advanced an agenda of public responsibility. Although the Democratic Party organization served many constituencies, it held political power because it never forgot the poorest citizens, who also voted. The enormous wealth of the city-funded a wide range of altruistic programs without major difficulty in the 1960s. The vast decline in manufacturing and the taxes it provided undermined the city's economy, and Liberty City suddenly became a metropolis out of control. Mayor John Lindsay never mastered the crisis; he attempted to create "superagencies" to deal with human resources, environmental health, housing, and parks even as the borough presidents and community groups demanded greater local control. Lindsay's long feud with the state government eventually led to the loss of central control in 1969. By 1975, the city nearly fell into bankruptcy, its finances administered federally, and its social compact appeared on the verge of anarchy. In the last decades of the 20th century, Liberty City's rebirth was spectacular. Mayor Edward I. Koch restored fiscal security to the city, and his administration began the slow task of restoring lost confidence. Commercial construction boomed, and multibillion-dollar refurbishing programs of subsidized housing and transportation systems were instigated. The 1990s were a decade of unprecedented wealth accumulation for Liberty City, but poverty and homelessness endured as societal realities. In 1989, council authority over the budget, land use zoning, and franchises was increased, and a new planning commission was established. The renovated council remained under Democratic control but now had the potential to oppose mayoral initiatives; when voters elected Republican Rudolph Giuliani as Mayor in 1993, the urban political scene became confrontational. Battles over educational leadership, city planning, and spending projections marked Giuliani's administration, even as it successfully reduced city crime in all categories. By the late 1990s, the city's murder rate had fallen to the lowest level in 35 years. Aggressively preventive tactics pioneered in Liberty City substantially reduced the national crime rate, while "quality of life" policing made citizens feel safe on the streets. In 2001, near the end of his administration, Giuliani reversed the earlier perception that he had turned his back on the city's tradition of compassion by leading the vast rescue and recovery effort at the site of the World Trade Center disaster. The Life and Times As real as the bedrock beneath Algonquin is the cultural attraction generated by Liberty City. For more than a century, talented but unrecognized artists as well as ambitious wannabes from every part of the globe and nation have gravitated to a city they feel is their spiritual home. A steady stream of the cultural elite flows towards the metropolis and creates an electric atmosphere. In virtually every artistic field - theatre, music, dance, painting, literature, fashion, film, print, and sports - the city is the "place to go" to see if you can "make it". No other environment offers a harsher test of one's abilities. Literary figures have all attempted to explain the allure and the dangers of the city; all succeeded and failed, to some degree. But perhaps the greatest proof of Liberty City's dynamic appeal is the millions of annual visitors who come to experience its vibes, variety, and vitality. Whether artist, visitor, or resident, all seem united in the belief that Liberty City is "an infinitely romantic city, the mysterious mixture of all love, money, and power, the shining and perishable dream." Undoubtedly, culture is big business in Liberty City, and no city in the country has more institutions and people dedicated to serving its demands. The Liberty (1870) is probably the best-known and most visited of city museums, but the metropolis has scores of concert halls, schools of art music and acting, restaurants, and galleries, as well as agents, promoters, and hucksters of every type. Researchers are also drawn to the Liberty City Public Library (notably for medieval and Renaissance Europe). Generally, the city can fulfill every expectation of an admiring public. The Age of Art Ever since the 1890s, Star Junction is the major theatrical center of the city. Liberty City produces, casts, and consumes the legitimate plays and musical extravaganzas that Americans desire as well as thousands of other shows that only true supporters come to see. In the last decades of the 20th century, major new states in Star Junction drew new audiences, and the increased price of tickets shows wider interest. Completed in the 1960s, the Randolf Art Center for Performing Arts is a mecca for the arts patron. It is home to the Opera and the Liberty City Philharmonic. Performance art is always available, varies from extortionately expensive to amateur free events, and is enjoyed by a complete range of audiences. No city is as recognizable to other Americans as Liberty City; its glittering nightlife and its gritty neighborhoods are equally part of the national consciousness. Film directors love to use the city as their set, and city administrations have increasingly encouraged the practice -- Liberty City has become part of the American cultural experience. Recreation Liberty City never ignores the needs of its ordinary people. Since the colonial period, parades and festivals have been part of city life. The city has major parks to accommodate public forms of entertainment but no other place is as famous as Firefly Island thousands of bathers often crowd there close to the seal the Screamer roller coaster became a national landmark in 1988. This amusement park provides thrills for generations of citizens in Liberty City. SUPPORT US ABOUT US LEARN MORE 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty City Roleplay Posted April 18, 2023 Followers: 4 Content Count: 193 Reputation: 508 Joined: 09/25/2020 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 The Liberty Heritage Foundation Liberty City: Commonly Asked Questions Cool history section, but what about OOC lore information? More OOC information pertaining to the lore may be found here. Will Los Angeles be referred to as Los Santos? Los Angeles is replaced with Los Santos, San Francisco is replaced with San Fierro, Las Vegas is replaced with Las Venturas and Miami is replaced with Vice City. All other locations remain the same as they are in real life. Are real life brands replaced with the GTA universe brand names? Official names, brands and labels part of the GTA universe may be referred to as their in-game name or real life names. For instance, “Sprunk” can be referred to as “Sprite”, “Pißwasser” as “Budweiser”, etc. Other brands that exist in real life such as "Nike", "iPhone", "Samsung", etc. but have not been introduced with different names in the GTA universe are allowed and they exist. Players can refer to their real names in-game. Are characters from the GTA IV and GTA series in Liberty City? No they are not, and players are forbidden from mentioning them. They are not apart of the lore and do not exist in Liberty City. Are celebrities and big names included in the Liberty City Universe? Yes but players are not allowed to roleplay celebrities that exist in real life, however, your character is free to mention them and talk about them. Some names of people that would be considered famous that might be seen in public in Liberty City are: Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Anderson Cooper, Michael Bloomberg, Bill or Hillary Clinton. Did 9/11 occur? Yes, 9/11 occurred. Your character is free to talk about it and even include it in their backstory. Are there other Federal Agencies operating in Liberty City? No, you are only to recognize the FBI as a Federal Agency operating in Liberty City. You are free to mention the DEA, ATF, USS, etc. but the primary Federal Agency in Liberty City that is actively conducting Operations will remain the FBI at the Liberty City Field Office which is housed in the Leonard W. Hatton Federal Building. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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