Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where do people in your community gather or socialize?
  - How and where does your community access services (healthcare, transportation, educational services, etc.)?

Examples of activities and services: Shopping areas, schools and universities, libraries, parks, lakes, rivers, places of worship, healthcare services, public transport, local nonprofit organizations, etc.

Your response: I am not sure if LIC has the same deep-rooted sense of a neighborhood that areas like Astoria would have, where families have lived there for generations. I think major draws for LIC tend to be the waterfront by Vernon Boulevard, and the surrounding restaurants and breweries. There are abundant public transport options (and exceptional proximity to Midtown), so I think that this contributes to people leaving the area for socializing and accessing health and educational services.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What are the cultural bonds in your community?
  - If your community has a shared history, what is it?

Examples of cultural or historical interests: Religious groups, ethnic groups, languages, age groups, immigration status, historic or arts districts, etc.

Your response: I believe that my community is primarily composed of young professionals who moved to LIC in order to have a quick commute to Manhattan. At this point, it seems like many work from home at least part of the time, but the area continues to draw people for the expanding entertainment options within the neighborhood and easy access to transit. I know that many neighborhoods tend to have an underlying resentment of gentrification, but I think that as a formerly industrial area, LIC residents might not have the same history of displacement, and instead be more okay with new buildings (we're in an area that allows for new development), as increasing supply is one way to bring down rent prices.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - Where are residents employed?
  - If there are environmental concerns in your community, what are they?

Examples of economic or environmental interests: Tourism industry, agricultural workers, mining town, manufacturing center, polluted natural resource, unemployment problem, etc.

Your response: I think that many people commute into Manhattan or work from home (completely or on a hybrid schedule). Some people might also work in the arts, as some buildings were less expensive before the more recent price increases. For environmental interests, I personally was very excited when curbside composting came to Queens, but I am not quite sure if others share that interest.

Use these questions to think more about how you would describe your community...
  - What should politicians and/or map drawers know about your community?
  - What are the needs of your community?
  - Is there anything else you want to tell us about your community?

Examples of needs or concerns: Keep community in the same district or separate into multiple districts, shared policy concerns, need for a social service, relationship to other nearby communities, issues with current district lines

Your response: As an area of many young adults and couples with young children, future educational offerings are important. However, from talking to (an admittedly small set of) neighbors, it seems like many people would leave the neighborhood (or even NYC) if they wanted to start families. In considering one’s future in LIC, there are worries about the lack of well-performing schools, as well as the high price of real estate for those hoping to eventually purchase a condo/co-op (coupled with the lack of proximity to urban green space).