Yangfend (Joey) Zhang

Gracia: This is an interview with Joey on 18th February 2023 at Voces Ciudadanas.
Firstly, where were you born, and where is your family from? [in Mandarin]

Joey: In English?

Gracia: Whichever is your preference [in Mandarin].

Joey: I was born in China and in 2004 I moved to the United States. I live in —most of the time— I spent....I came to the United States around 19 years ago, and I always lived in Brooklyn.

Gracia: And your family?

Joey: China. I’m Fujianese. So from China, Fu Jian.

Gracia: What language do you speak at home?

Joey: Oh, I’m Fujianese. So Fu Jian has many, many dialects. So Fu Jianese, Mandarin.

Gracia: Tell me about your childhood?

Joey: Sorry, I didn’t catch that.

Gracia: Could you tell me about your childhood?

Joey: My childhood, [was] very happy because I was living in small town, small village. So a lot of times, my parents don’t have time to take care of my brother and I. A lot of times, I go with the town kids, go out to play, whatever you like. When I was little, we don’t have so many toys. We make the toys. We do a lot of creation to the toys.

I don’t know English how to say – tī jiànzi? [using the  feathered tail of the rooster to make a shuttlecock that children kick to keep in the air]. So many things we create and we go climb up on the trees to get eggs down, go to the pond. So my childhood is very happy. A lot of things. But right now, a lot of change. No more those kind of nice memories because all [is] built into buildings.

Gracia: When did you arrive in Sunset Park?

Joey: More than 15 years....yeah..when I immigrated here. I was living in Brooklyn for a long time.

Just two years in a different state. The rest of the time, I spent living here.

Gracia: Where did you live before?

Joey: I lived in North Carolina.

Gracia: What made you decide to move here?

Joey: I like to communicate with people. I'm an outgoing person. I don't like [to] stay [at] home. So New York is kind of so some surprise, nice way to whatever you like. Very easy to commute city, subway, bus. Even you go to the Ferry, it's very easy to go other place if you want. Go to Manhattan, quite close, 30 minutes.

Gracia: Was there anything else that attracted you here?

Joey: Of course, convenience. First of all the commute. And then second of all, is the people – here can say the same language. When you go out shopping at Eight Avenue, you can shop something, my hometown stuff. It can comfort me, like a bit of homesickness. Like: “Oh! this is [something I got] when I was little, my mom…”  like those kinds of things. You know, it kind of brings back a lot of memories. Just kind of a lot of things, same type, same people. You don't worry about, “Ah, if I want to buy this one thing, I don't know how to talk because I'm an immigrant.” Of course, language is a big barrier for me. If you know you can saying common thing,

you are comfortable to want to go out.

Gracia: Can you describe what the neighborhood was like when you first arrived?

Joey: When I just came to Brooklyn, I didn't know English, I didn't know how to take a subway. Scared, of course. Because new environment makes people scared and they have some, a lot of times, people have rumors – like Brooklyn is not good, so many robberies, blah, blah, blah. Not very good image in my head. Every single time – especially when I take Subway – many, many times I get passed. You know, wrong direction.

I'm so scared whenever. Because when you go the wrong direction, you're so confused. So I’m just waiting until to last time, wrong place to go, end up at Coney Island. And I remember one time I walking in the Manhattan, oh wow. You know, when I was working for a restaurant, I had to come back. Almost midnight. And then I get around  – go to Manhattan – no, go to Coney Island. I'm so scared. Because have some homeless person yelling. That kind of thing is. Some people sometimes make me scared. But before 10 or 15 years, here is more clean. Not the crowd. So many things is like a public facility. Not that crowded. Not many people.

And I remember because I'm from China

and when I came to here is I go to Sunset Park in the summertime. They [people] all always out [in the] summertime, the [park] has [a] summer program. They give out the food to my people [people in need]. I was very shocked because, because I say: “Why these people gives out food for free?” I think should be something wrong in the food  and used my steroetype. I don’t know that is fee luch program in the park. Especially when I see a man carry some food and said: “‘Free foods, free foods.” I didn't know that then. And then I see, oh, wow. I thought he's trying to do something bad. After one day, I bring my  to the pool park. The park staff told me and I realized:

“Oh, this is summer program, all of it. They just make sure nobody get hungry.”

Yeah. Nobody gets hungry so they give out the food for free as well. And then I learned something from the schools too. They want to have a, like a school lunch or breakfast. And they try to make everybody like equal. They do not say like, “not because you’re hungry.” Make everybody have the same way. Okay. Not because you [are] poor or something, or school is kind to protect every child. This is a very good system. For one part, for immigrants. But also, for some people – like I know some people, living in a shelter. Something happened in the family and then kids do not have a place to get food.

Gracia: I think you mentioned it already, but since there are a lot of immigrants,

a lot of working-class people that depend a lot on the different communities and organizations for help. So, which was the first group you got connected to?

Joey: Well, the first time I joined different kind of organization, I think it's here with Voces Ciudadanas. Before, I was usually – you know, just a normal housewife taking care of the kids. I didn't go out to join some community activities. Because in China, most of the time, our culture kind of always listen, listen to educate people. The government always educate people. You need listen to government, whatever the government saying, they also, why you, you can't do something like that. Like for example, you see something wrong.

In here, we can stop, we can petition, we can, you know, we can go to the street and go to gather, (laughs), like “we want this, you wrong, like that kind of thing.” No, no, no. You get in big trouble.

And then in 2015, in the Sunset Park, at that time I have two kids. I remember that time Sunset Park’s immigrants get more and more people move into our neighborhood. So crowded. You know, PS169 in Sunset Park. The other one, PS94, they build the building, you can do like a under 1000 or 800 something. Not like more than 1000 students.

But PS169 back in the time is 1,500 something. So my son's school - same! Then Voces Ciudadanas ask for petition and start letting people know, we need more schools.

So that time, they [Voces Ciudadanas] go to Sunset Park, they have some meeting in a park. We discuss, with all the community members. I curious. I just go, “What do you do?” At that time, I know some, simple English. So I understand – oh, for the schools. Because when my son was like four years old – oh my God – do not have the pre-K spot. Even though in the 8th Avenue, Brooklyn Chinese Association, they do have some Pre-K, but not many. Do you know how crazy is it?

Before the day they open to, before the day, 10 o'clock – like today, before the day, maybe yesterday – and the people already in line to line up to get one spot. And meanwhile, not guarantee you get a spot, maybe because your document. So I do less kind of job. So back at that time “Oh, sorry. Right now I give you a position, but which you stop on this one, stop on that one.”

So frustrated! So I think this is - wow. And they [Voces Ciudadanas] have do very good, nice thing. So I join, go to parade, go to DOE. Go to sign a petition. We need more schools. We need more schools. We need more schools. Yes. Voces Ciudadanas is first community activity, organization I joined in this part. And later on I met different kind of organizations.

Like you know, Laura [Espinoza]? She fight for special education, you know, special education kids group. Sometimes she needs something, help. And I do have a joint PCR parent child relationship. That is one that is from Asian, mostly Chinese family to join. I do that, organize a different event.

Gracia: How did you get connected with Laura?

Joey: What's that?

Gracia: How did you get connected with Laura?

Joey: How do I know Laura? Uh, let me see. [inaudible] I think [at] different event. Because I wanna learn something for kids. I wanna learn. What is the parenting right? Like what are parents’ rights.

So I think Laura’s [hhad] five kids at the education workshop. Maybe there? Oh! I know Laura because I joined the PB – participatory budgeting from City Council office. Because my school, you know, old school here, mostly more than hundred years school, the school have a lot of things [that] need to fix.

The AC [Air Conditioning] project. Yes. I met her in Councilman's office at that time. We both fight for school, for students, for kids in the school. No AC. Because our school back in the time, 2013. By half, minimum half building of kids, no AC.

So they get a bigger fan. It's so hot! And they have big  voice. How does one teacher have 33 students in a class [big fan]? So the kids listen to fan or listen to the teacher? That is totally wrong. So I start the petition, I go to ask them [the school] how that work. Maybe you could ask for [concil man office]. So the school give the: “Oh, sorry. Mrs, I’m not sure, because the school building is too old.” “So what should I do?” “Oh, you maybe you can go to council office, because maybe…” So I go, asking around: “Can you help our school?” So they said, maybe we can use the budget. A budget... Can I say PB? Because it's too easy word for me. Participatory budgeting. It is complicated word for me. Because every year, the council office…they have some funding for that.

So maybe can use that channel to

help your school. I say, “Okay, what should I do?” So, [the councilman office said] when they come in, you can advocate for something, you know, advocate for your school project. Go to the street, go to the Eight Avenue, go to the subway station, go to the park to let the people to vote for your project. I say, “Okay, done deal.” So I went to the park and get [won] the money for the school kids.

Gracia: How about the, the parent teacher group?

Joey: What? The parent teacher group? PTA! Oh, because of that project, and then I think, because I, I have two kids who are in the PS 94. Because I see some school, really – You know, my school is more than, I think 60 something percentage is Asian, the rest is a Spanish, Latino families.

And [a] few black and white, but you know, immigrant people…Because our neighborhood is immigrant, everything, every single time, people only know how to complain. They always “Uh, my kids blah, blah, blah. This isn’t good, that’s no good.” Oh, okay, I know. I see it, okay. And this is no good. I know. I complain to you. But meanwhile, I willing to help you. I want to know how can I improve them also?

Look. So why I joined the PTA. Because I see some people, every single time they have an issue, they have a concern and they don't speak up. Because, of course, they are: “My English, because my language barrier.” But when I go to the school, when I tell, oh, I need a translator, they offer a translator. But sometimes, back in time, they don't.

Because PS 94, right now, [there] is a new principal. But back in the time, not all the schools, but some, some administrators or staff didn't respect [parents].

At some point, they didn't respect. So I think, maybe I can join [the] PTA and do something, and change the image. We complain. But meanwhile, we can help too. It doesn't matter, you can speak English or not. You always can help because the DOE offers the interpreter. If I cannot understand, they can always offer you  to translate. Because you [school] work with immigrants here, you work [with] those kind of kids and those kinds of families [Eglish learners]. You should, schools should, offer translation for the parents.

So that's why I joined. I organize people. I want people to change their image. People. That's it. And let them see some people [from school] saying: “Oh, Joey, you don't understand. This is, uh, too much.” You know, some, some people do the bureaucracy stuff, some: “Um, I cannot change because, the labor union, blah, blah, blah.” Okay, tell me, what should I do as a parent? Then, people know, I stand up. When you have an issue, when you have a concern, you always can speak up. Never, never, never stop.

Because you cannot excuse, use the language barrier to, to say: “No, no, you don't understand. No, I'm afraid of I say something wrong.” Because [of a] culture thing.

I'm so afraid that when I start those kinds of things,  like if I say something wrong, I'll get in trouble. I will have to lose some kind of thing. If I complain to teachers, my kids get in trouble. When my first time, doing something, speaking up, I also have those kinds of concerns. But day after day, I learned something because I joined the CEC [Community Education Council] too. I learned so many things here. I mean, when I first time joined in, my kids, in the PS 94, I get in a lot of trouble. With the principal, they don't want…They don't like me because I ask them too much questions. They do not see parents like me. So that's why, every single time [I] go to the school I get a lot of attention. I get a lot of eyes on me. I don't like that feeling too. I just want, as a normal parent, to work in the school.

I want every single family, parents go to the school and they feel welcomed. This is your kids, this is your school too.Because I asked those kinds of questions, they told me they don't want me. Even though – I told you, I help the school get a budget for the school. But the school administrator don't want a budget to use the money in the particular project. This is so wrong. I ask, go ask the principal. I know the money, it’s already under the school. They [say] don't know.

That particular principal don't want the money spent in the school A/C project. I said, that is not your money. That's our parents, volunteers, seven days on the street. Our own time. And then when we won the project money, so she don't want [to] spend the money on that. And then I go ask.

And then I get what? You know what? She stopped me. I asked them, and I get banned. They don't want me to go to school.

Yes, [laughs]. She said, I'm dangerous person. She said, I'm fighting for someone. But no reason, I ask her, can you give me the [complaining] letters? Who complains about me? Who I fight for somebody? Who? I try to get an answer from her and never get responded. And then, during that time, the concilman office and superintendent [Anita] helped me to arrange a meeting. And then the principal gets well….and I get into the school.

Gracia: When was this?

Joey: 2017 or 18? I forget the time. I forget.

But now, principal retired already. See, I do so many things. That's why people don't like me.

Gracia: In the process, have you been a leader?

Joey: No! I joined the CEC [Community Education Council] kind of…..to me, it is kind of [a] district PTA. When DOE have like a new policy, coming out from the  CEC meeting —whole city, I think, have 36 or 32 different kind of districts—I just want to learn something. Because in here, when I go to CEC

look like a new person, no nothing. I just know, a little bit in here [that] nobody catch up. So many, many things, are are misunderstood. But sometimes, [when] DOE [is] trying to push something, they're coming out with new policy [to a CEC meeting]. I can't say all is DOE’s fault, like they didn’t [have] transparency, or didn't push to do some communication with the community, [with] families.

But from my perspective, I think people say: “Oh, you could, you know, just you go to learn and then come back.” I don’t mind that you want to know something. You want to learn something, you want [to] change something. You must go to learn, to use your own, you know– [unclear] to learn something you must go to meetings, different kind of meetings. Even though you didn't see or understand totally, but just feel something.

Wow. It opened my mind, it opened your vision to see something kind of different perspectives and ways. If I always stay here and didn't go to like different events to sit, to learn, to know, to hear. I didn't know I have some…wow. Like everything, I like to be with the different people. I don't like all people [be from the] same race, no [just] Asian, because we saying, we have the same concept. You don’t get some different opinions, something. But if you see different people, you will receive something different; perspectives, ways. Because of culture. For example, for police, for real life matters. You know, we all always same thing.

People always B-S. But if you know why – because based on culture – why they have those kinds of concepts, those kinds of thinking, you will learn.

Oh, it's not. So, I'm very happy. I'm not smart person, but I’m open. I am a very open person to listen sometimes. Yeah.

Gracia: You mentioned the schools. Were there any other issues that you are fighting for?

Joey: In schools? My own school?

Gracia: Or others?

Joey: I'm mostly, doing like the, mostly it's education. Mm-hmm. Mostly in parenting rights? Parents rights’ that kind of thin.

Gracia: Can you elaborate on some of the challenges you have faced?

Joey: Sunset Park, most challenging thing is like what I mentioned, people know they need a lot change. They do know: “Oh, we need change those kind of thing. We need to do something.” But I don't want to put effort. Only want to: “Oh, you go.” For instance, when I try to —every single time in the PTA meeting— the people don’t  show up. Do not show up.

Because the PTA meeting is kind of, not only for the kids, it's somewhere that you can learn something, meet different people. Because you can meet the school ministry, you can talk to the school, what kind of issue you have.

Not just talk to me.

I’m nobody. I'm just a parent. So they say: “Please, you, you PTA parents, you can talk to the principal, about blah, blah, blah, blah, school, blah, blah, blah.” I said, “But it is you, not me.” Even if you know, confidentially, you can't just say: “Oh, Joey, this is your issue or other people.” But why I cannot see parents? How about you complain one day! I only saw you. So then people don't want to do the, the difficulty here, some immigrant, I think it doesn't matter, the the Asian or non [Asian]. We [are] just afraid to speak up, to stand out. Very difficulty to do something. Like you see some issue, but you: “Oh, I don't, I don't have the time I need to work.” Everybody work, we need to survive. We live in New York City, we know! Everything is expensive, right?

But for the long term – like school things.

For the long term, back then, when my kids were five years old, I know then, I see how difficult [is for] people to apply for Pre-K kids to Pre-K, that kind of thing. I saw those kind of issues. So I joined, but my kids are already five years old, they [were] already in the public school. It's done. You know, my kids are finished. But for the whole, as a group, for the future, we should fight.

We should stand up for, for our neighborhood. We need those kind of schools. Yeah. For difficulty, here, I think is people just complain. They afraid to speak up, to stand out to fight for their rights. It's very difficult to organize people to go. But time…now people change. I am in the school, almost 10 years [as] volunteer.

I organize people every single time. Our school have even more than 10 volunteers, or more than 10.  All of them kind of like: “Joey, do you need help? Joey, when the school this, when we can do those kind of things?” So all of us can call our people to stand up.

Gracia: So you say people have changed over time?

Joey: Yeah, because they see you. When they see you, you do something for the school. They are like…they see you. You organize and do something for the AC, your kids need it. For all, not just for my kids’ room. Not only for my kids’ room, but for all. “Oh, we need signs. We need this one thing.” So when, when you go the school, even they see you in the near. Not only, “You call me to volunteer, you go meeting.” When they see you do something, they really can feel it. “Oh, this is a good thing. Oh, they organize people.”

They do that. They see some change in the school. The change in something. You see that it can really do something for them. They will come out. They will support you —but need time. You cannot just expect people, oh, just say one thing and then change the next day. No, really. I, in my kids’ school, 10 years, a lot of change. In a good way. It's good way. You can see, they not only complain now, but they need to do something.

In education, if you think something, you should go to school. It doesn't matter. Never afraid that your kids get in trouble. Yeah. It's a good way.

Gracia: Then what is most memorable to you? Or what has been the most memorable event or campaign?

Joey: So many things. So many things.

The first thing for, you mean for community level or my school? It doesn’t matter? Yeah. Okay. For my school part thing, a little good thing is that, for example, the latest one, we do some celebration for Lunar New Year, like Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year, we do, in the past, because of the pandemic for three years. So when was over, the school want to do something for Chinese culture. The PTA wants to do something for Lunar New Year? We say yes! Why don’t we do some fashion show for Lunar New Year.

“Do you mind to get someone to do some kind of activity? You want to join the celebration?” The PTA call some parents to do something. For two weeks, we do planning for the event, for the fashion show to do. When you see the kids [with] happy face, excited, when you see the family, we hold one week for the students, whole school, take a chance. So first week we do those kind of shows for the kids. We do the whole week show for the families. Just see, wow, kids got so many talents. And I told the volunteers, you see your kids, your family—to show that mommy can do something. Mommy.

That's to show a different way. This is the latest one. But so many things.

I mean it, like the AC [wiring]? When I win the budget kind of thing, you know, it costed like 400K or 450k, I didn't know. We just call out people to sign up to make support. You know, we coordinate with a PCR, parent-child relationship, with Laura. We all [got] together. So we go to park, different people go [to] different locations. When we won the budget, that moment. Wow. Never think that you cannot do anything. We can do something when we all together now. Then in that moment, let me, wow. That feeling is kind of,

it feels like when you can say, oh, this is too far away— 400K it’s kind of woo! For us it's kind of normal. For one time it's, like: “Wow, really we can do that? Then just go do it!” 14 days. Wow.

Very surprising that moment. You know, everybody chill out. We get our money, yay! We can do it! It's kind of like a stereotype. Maybe this is just a sign and then get money. We kind of doubt when we started. But when you organize, you get those kinds of, you get…you feel your effort and you get those kindas of effects. That is the thing.

More important is for me, is I think this is a stereotype, maybe.

This will not work. But I just come out —the outcome is kind of good. Make you so proud of yourself. So, so proud of your community. Sometimes it's very, very good and made me feeling like it doesn't matter. Sometimes it's a lot of things. Make you stop thinking negatively. But when you try to do something, try do your best and all kinds, doesn't matter. Sometimes it makes you think not all kinds are not good. But in that moment, it's everything. When you see some faces, make me very happier and is worth it. We try to do best.

Gracia: What impact did that campaign have?

Joey: What did you say?

Gracia: What impact did the campaign about ACs have? Such as on the students?

Joey: What impact? Of course, there was a big impact. Mostly in March, that time the weather [was] really too hot. All the school, students, families. Yeah. And I think that is my first time organizing the parents to work together, to fight for our kids, to fight for our school.

I think, it affect people to trust you, too build my…I need to, to say something.

Even this school, it doesn't matter the school or council office, it's like how I learn for leadership for different kinds of meetings to push. I am a person and I'm a person [that] if some people lead for me, I follow. I, I'm [a] very good follower. I don't want [to] be a leader. But when, when I see people don't want to talk and speak, I have my own concept. Oh, I should step up. So that's why [I] make things, is like push me, pushing, pushing to. I think it affects me to learn how to build a leadership and to be next school to funding, uh, family together. To be all together. It doesn't matter your culture, your race, you’re Spanish,

you’re Chinese. We bonding all together. We fight for all. Not pretty good. Not myself.

Gracia: I’ll be asking more questions relating to Voces Ciudadanas. How did you establish your relationship to Voces Ciudadanas?

Joey: In 2015, I think it's summer. I asked them to bring my kids in a weekend. I bring my kids, go to the school. Go to the Sunset Park. I saw and have a event in the park. So I just asking Victoria, the other founder. “What, what you guys doing?” So if she's explain to me,

they try to have a community concern. Why they start fight for more school. They kind of, they need a more school for Sunset Park. It's kind of thing. So I think first we fight for more school. We have some relationship. I know now.

Gracia: How did you get involved with the other activities?

Joey: After that I think we, we have relationship. “Would you mind if we have future with the other event? Do you want like to join, to come? Can I call you or can I email you?” I said: “Of course, definitely.” And then, then we do have a parade, from Fifth Avenue or from Sunset Park, go through some different locations for them to have an empty space.

We start, we go to….to invite the people to join. And then after that, we have a different kind of event together to invite people to join or like more schools for Sunset or even go to DOE, all of the education kind of thing. But need to do the budgeting. We go out with them. They talk in, the budget stuff.

We keep, we holding just five, or no, six of people. How many people are parents? And I forget how many people [are] in there. That is my first time going. Wow. And asking something with that. Yeah. First relationship with Voces [Ciudadanas] was advocating parents to fight for more schools in Sunset Park. And then they do some, lot of training, about how to become a leader,

how to do a PTA. Because a lot of time, the parents don't want be a PTA members. They're saying they don't know how to do it. Never, so many things. What they do is educate, parenting rights? [That] kind of thing.

Gracia: From your perspective, what was important in allowing Voces Ciudadanas to reach their goals? For example, what values or principles did they have that allowed them to succeed in the advocacy of schools?

Joey: Oh, the project about, um, fight for more schools… and few years later …we really, we get more—five or six— schools in our neighborhood build up, going to build up. Meanwhile, we want some new schools, not just old, like my school...

We want association, or DOE give a transparency to people, to this community.

Have a time, have a the moment, have a time to join the discussion. How [would] this school  [be] built? We want schools [to] have technology or dancing rooms, that kind of thing. Or other, different kind, not just old one, you know. Just a classroom. The gym, even though the gym, do not have a hood, [that]  kind of thing, we want to participate. We wanna have communication with the [parent-teacher] association. The transparency, how my school be built up.

And then, we coming out another one project with a different part. Kind of with discussion. With discussion and new school. What kind of program can be? We have some survey, that they [Voces Ciudadanas] do with community members’ concerns and opinions… to present to the them [DOE] and [let them] know we want a new school.

Gracia: Why do you think they're successful? Like, why do you think Voces…?

Joey: I think we thought this was to organize the community to go to [a] parade [with] petition. I don't believe in [the possibility]  they can come out with that many schools. For example, if  I [refering to DOE] same time, I am sitting here do nothing, I can get the same pay. Why I need to do more? Because the people push me! Because I may get pressured and then they can do something. It's kind of common sense, huh?

Because, because we organize people go to [parade], to see, to present them.

This is parents' voice. This is the sign, this is what we've done before. They [DOE] cannot denied them. We have data, we presented to them. We have something to show to them. We are a population of how many kids? How many, how many students, how many kids without, you know [space]… because of no spot. We need to bus them to others [schools]. This is a data they can see.

They cannot deny it. We need those kinds of thoughts, the school, or other thing to let them see. Not just: “Oh okay. They always saying.” I remember, Eight Avenue got us so many be robbed. But because of our culture, people don't call police. There's no favor because of our immigrant status. The police will catch, so I don't, I'm so afraid that they hurt again. We never call police.

And then people fight for cameras, the budget for cameras coming out and they come coming out to 72% and they are saying: “Eighth Avenue is very safe.”

They put a camera in other [street], in Fifth Avenue or something. But not Eighth Avenue, because of the data showing Eight Avenue very safety. But when we’re living there, we know how rough is it. I have a friend, like around 1 o'clock in the morning time. Morning. Or even at night, 6:00, 6:30 or …I forget. She got robbed. This is insane. It just evening time. How? Because of course data. They do not have the data to support this kind of…. So why is it? We collect the people, we have data,

we have these signatures, we have the people to stand up, community members to stand up for our project and they cannot deny it.

Gracia: Yeah. I'll ask about, I think you mentioned it a bit, but...

Joey: Public facilities

Gracia: Yes. How do you view the use of public infrastructure such as public land or facilities? For example, the interim library will soon be empty. What are your opinions on the use of such space?

Joey: 15 years ago. Not expanding those kinds of areas.

Many populations, many immigrants, hard to support. When they build public facility —back in old day— to build all the schools, to build a park, right. To build the library kind of thing. But I know, man, because this is so frustrating sometimes. Because when these people make the 10 years census. Oh my God, my husband is so afraid to put the name in the census. I do, I do. I put my name there and he say, no, no, no, don't put my name. You know, people so afraid that immigration, ICE, to check because they [are] afraid of the government to share the information to get you. No. Grabbing your kids or grabbing you to jail. So people do not, that's a big issue. I think that's big issue. People do not meet you for census.

So the school get crowded, library, park, even though the senior housing, you know, affordable housing, every single thing get, you know, too small. Because population. Because we immigrant come. Sunset is very commute. Right? Really easy to commute. And then the price back in time, the prices are better than inflation. Compared to Manhattan, cost more lower. But right now, I doubt it, right now, every single day is going up. Gentrification here, in this city… yeah…very …kind of every single thing [is] going up.

Gracia: So you can feel the impact of gentrification?

Joey: Yeah, of course. You can feel not? You can see that the Citibike? Oh my gosh!

Citibike, taking a lot of space for, for parking, on every single day when I try parking. I try to just throw away my car. So gentrification, very stark. I see different kind of faces come in. Yes. No doubt it. When I see the ferry started, you can see....

In the library space, you know, I remember when the project in the library, usually the temporary library, at Fourth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets. And the first time when I go to community meeting with Fifth Avenue [Committee] —they [libary] don't have any kind of money to build on it.

But the Fifth Avenue Committee, they come in to this school,

they try to build the building to become new building and to get affordable housing or something like that. We work together. This is after I was at Voces [Ciudadanas], the first time I go to those kinds of hearings, public hearing, in CB7, Community Board 7. We need more space, because gentrification, people immigrating to here. Before they [had] just one floor. So only try to build more, right? But we need like a basement, first floor, second floor. We try to as much as many floor as we can. But Fifth Committee, they want more space also! We fight [laughs].

So we go here, why we need more? Because more people. Every single day year we need more space. Even though that kind of library space can open to the community with people with different events,

because we go to the library to pursue that kind thing. So I think that space is very important. As parents, we want kids. It's a spot for waiting, read a book, something, you know? I think we get basement, first floor, second floor, that kind of thing. Space for the new building. And ultimately we send to Mayor in the summer? But the police department, NYPD tried to close down the space [interim library]. But why? We already know this neighborhood got more and more people.

Why we cannot just open [the space], and open [it] to the public to serve the people?

It doesn't matter for the library or it doesn't matter for the community. A different non-profit organization they can have offer some different kind of event for this neighborhood. Why not? Even though this is a another one— library [space]— it's still worth it. They can relieve the people from there [new library] to come to here [interim library]. We can try to do a different thing, maybe a museum. If they coordinate with other associations.

You open. It's better just to shut down. Right? Then people have a space. Like I'm very glad in the summertime they have Zumba class? Different kind of events in there. It's very good though. Every, every weekend, every weekend they, they have those kinds of adult classes.

English class too. Art class they offered a while, then they close it. Even though you close it, you still need to maintain that building. Why don't open it to, to open [to] the public? Then another [space in] our neighborhood, people can enjoy at this moment in there. In that spot.

Gracia: In terms of like, there's a sports field, sports field nearby, things like that, do you feel that there's enough public space for sports and recreational activities?

Joey: I am very like outdoor activities person. When I have the weekend, I have time and good weather, I go by there. I always go to the park. You ask my opinion, its not enough.

In the 40 or 43rd Street on First Avenue, we have the other park but mostly is for soccer —soccer field. Bush terminal. Bush Terminal in First Avenue between 42nd or 43rd, I forget exactly the address. And they have a park. Mostly it's soccer field. But I mean, kids, you cannot just, [built] you know, apartments, very small. I always told my son: “Please!”— my son’s in high school, he really likes to play the ball—“Please don't jump, don't play because down stairs will complain. Come on. Don't do that. Very small space in here.”

So where do the kids go? Even if they stay home, they going to go crazy.

The park, you can go right now,  it's so packed. The park is packed. The tennis court is packed. Soccer ball? We don't have the time, because we can get different kind organization to apply. If you come early, you get time. If you don't, you don't have space in the park. That kind of place. Yeah. You ask me as a parent? As family, we want more. Of course.

Gracia: Okay. Thank you so much for talking with us.