TWO

East New York is a small neighborhood near the lower east side of Brooklyn. Today some consider it coupled with the Cypress Hills area but it was town all of its own. Growth began in 1835 and was seen as a dream to be the best. In time immigration of nearby neighbor hoods elevated its percentage of minorities and presently it is demographically a Hispanic town. Whites populate at a distant third while African Americans come close but overall it is Hispanic driven. So far it looks like a report on demographics but this leads me to my main point, business. How does race evaluate how a community thrives? Does it at all?
For the most part of my blogs I have been trying to capture the balance or lack balance in commercially owned stores and small business. Throughout the neighborhood most if not all are “mom and pop” owned ninety-nine cent stores, corner groceries, food markets and clothing stores. For as long as I lived these shops have provided support for the idea that a small community can drive in consumers with few big chains. Recently it comes to thought, have we reached the tipping point? When does attention that money is being made here become too much? Opportunity for more wealth in a minority populated town spikes! More and more stores are being closed down and replaced by fast food but at a slow pace.