Remembering the summer of 1977

Even before the lights went out, it was a steamy dark summer in New York back in 1977. Crime was at its highest level in years, the streets were filthy, a serial killer named Son of Sam was terrifying neighborhoods, and to boot, the city was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Rain clouds hovered over the city and bolts of lightning signaled some imminent relief to the  sweltering temperatures. But four powerful bolts proved too much for the power lines that fed Con Edison's massive power grid.  Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on that 13th day of July, the lights began to flicker and within an hour, the great metropolis was plunged into total darkness.

I worked the streets of Manhattan that night with the only illumination coming from vehicles and the portable light on our camera.  I remember standing on the walkway of the Manhattan Bridge.  It was surreal looking out on lower Manhattan and seeing the frames of the World Trade Center and other skyscrapers silhouetted against a darkened sky.

Most New Yorkers responded to the crisis with resilience. It brought out the best. With traffic lights out, many volunteers directed traffic.  People helped people.  It was extraordinary.

That night also brought out the worst.  Neighborhoods exploded in violence. More than 1,600 stores were ransacked, looted and destroyed.

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