Welcome to the Jackson Heights neighborhood, which for residents like Roberto Ramírez who has lived here for eleven years, there are many reasons that make it unique.
“All the stores are within reach, the trains, the buses are close, there is more movement in commerce, the gastronomy more than anything there is from different countries,” said Ramírez.
And it is that there are hundreds of restaurants and street vendors that offer food from different parts of the world.
Luisa, who did not want to give her last name, has been selling tacos on Roosevelt Avenue for almost two years.
“They come here from wherever they want to try the tacos, those who didn’t eat tacos now already like tacos,” said the vendor.
The Jackson Heights neighborhood is home to approximately 175,275 people, 65 percent Latino, 19 percent Asian, 4 percent black, and 10.7 percent white.
It is known for having the largest population of LGBTQ communities in New York City and they annually celebrate the pride festival of this community.
More than 160 languages are spoken here.
It is the home of little Colombia, little India and other communities that have come from all over the world to start a new life in this place, making it one of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City.
For Dayana Cardona, who works in a Colombian restaurant, the most important thing is being close to her compatriots.
“Having contact with people from your own land and listening to so many anecdotes that there are and being able to offer them a product like it is, for example, sometimes people say, ‘I haven’t eaten a fritter in a long time’, ‘I haven’t eaten a fritter in a long time. a bonus bread’, so it’s delicious because you can offer him that,” Cardona said.
However, the community says that there are things to improve in the neighborhood.
“I think we can improve the police service, not because the area is bad but because there are many people with mental problems,” Cardona added.
“One has to be safe, more security for one to see,” said Luisa, the vendor.
