Just like in any anthology, which includes some and leaves others out, night life in Yonkers does not attract many Latinos; they are seen only by daylight. The reason: fear of being attacked.
Monday, State Senator Nick Spano and Mayor Phil Amicone announced a plan to patrol 16 public housing projects. However, several Latinos contend that you don’t have to live in a project to realize the police don’t control the city streets.
Francisco Melendez, a Salvadoran who has lived in Yonkers for 13 years, takes it calmly. “They’ve tried to mug me, but they couldn’t. My wife on the other hand, they held a knife to her stomach and took her purse.”
According to the Salvadoran national, Latin Americans are seen as easy prey because “they think we’re undocumented fools.”
In February this year, area newspapers reported several assaults on members of the Latino community. That month the body of Ignacio Meneses, a Mexican worker, was found thrown into some shrubbery.
Fabián Cruz, a Mexican day laborer, said that “everywhere in Yonkers is dangerous. The aggressors are young boys.”
According to the same sources, Latino gangs are popping up to counter the assaults.
The victims also criticize the attitude of the police, “who patrol where there’s no danger, confiscate weapons from people who want to defend themselves, and pay no attention to our complaints,” according to Bernabé López, another day laborer.
Yet another worker, Ramiro Leal, emphasized, “Better not to go out after eight, because they’re waiting for us.”
But the authorities have a different perception. Salvatore DiMaggio, a lieutenant on the Yonkers police force, said that “with the plan to patrol the housing projects, we’re giving additional support to the whole city.” The officer added that Yonkers is among the safest cities in the country and rules out the existence of any particular group to be pursued.
According to FBI statistics for the year 2002, overall crime in Yonkers showed improvement over previous years, but murders and robberies increased.
Lorraine López of the Mayor’s office claimed that “we are doing an excellent job. Of course there are bad places, but we’re working with the community centers to improve the quality of life of these neighborhoods.”
Marina Ayala, of the Yonkers Alliance for Latino and Immigrant Services, Inc. and the Mayor’s Committee on Hispanic Affairs, maintained that both the present administration and the police have done a great deal for the city and the day laborers. “There are some violent incidents, but not often, and there are other abuses, such as those committed against Hispanics by lawyers and notaries.”
Nevertheless, the refrain from community members continue: assault, robbery, and drug dealing.
YONKERS BY THE NUMBERS
Total population: 196,086
Hispanics: 50,852
Mexicans: 7,294
Puerto Ricans: 18,097
Whites: 118,007
African Americans: 32,575
Source: Census 2000
