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People of Lincoln Heights: Leobardo Villa

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Mi nombre es Leobardo Villa. Yo vine aquí antes de que compraran esta casa. La dueña es mi hija. Antes como en todas partes habían pandillas, habían robos así. Ya tiene como más de ocho años que se vive tranquilo, aquí como hay puras fabricas.

Esta zona quizás por lo que ha sido industrial no hay tanto vandalismo. Aqui tenemos la de segunda San Vicente y al otro lado está la otra segunda. Siempre pasa mucha gente a comprar ropa, a comprar muebles, pues cosas que necesitan, televisiones, cosas eléctricas, y fíjese que durante los años que yo he estado aquí no se ha registrado ningún accidente, que haiga habido gente agresiva, que ofende a los demás, aquí todos los vecinos nos vemos como una familia, todos vivimos bien.Y si toman aqui, pues siempre nosotros aquí cuando hay una fiestecilla, unos cumpleaños, se hace una pequeña fiesta, y se emborrachan, pero hasta ahí, nada mas. No hay gritos que se ofendan uno con otro ni los vecinos.

No es por afamar la colonia o la calle pero siempre hemos vivido tranquilos. A veces hasta dejamos los carros abiertos y no pasa nada. Vienen familias de los vecinos, hacen sus fiestas, hacen carne asada, ponen música, se ponen a bailar.

Translation:

Mi name is Leobardo Villa. I've been here since before they bought this house. My daughter owns it now. In the past, like in all places, there were gangs, robberies. But it's been more than eight years now that we've been living peacefully, you know since there's a lot of industry around here.

Maybe because it's so industrial around here there hasn't been much vandalism. We have Saint Vincent De Paul and on the other side there's that other thrift store. A lot of people pass through here to buy clothes, furniture, stuff they need, televisions, electronics, and during that time I've never seen accident around here, sure there are some aggressive people, who offend others, but all of us neighbors are like family. And if we have a little drink, you know, when there's a little party, a birthday, someone will throw a party, and people will get drunk, but that's it. There's no screaming or neighbors getting offended with one another.

I'm not trying to toot our own horn but we've always lived peacefully here. Sometimes we've even left our cars unlocked and nothing's happened. People's relatives come by, they'll have a party, make some "carne asada," play some music, and start dancing.  

The above interview is transcribed and edited from the following interview:

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