Although we still consider Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a Polish neighborhood, there are fewer Poles living there now. We are struck by the changes that the neighborhood is undergoing, but we are not the driving force behind them.

We don't know everything about Greenpoint; we are not even sure how many Polish people live there. While Polish institutions have not collected solid data, U.S. statistics indicate that five years ago there were 17,000 Poles in Greenpoint, including those members of the community born in the United States. That's fewer people than we may have thought, but still a sizeable group, especially since they constitute over 43 percent of the population in the neighborhood. [pic]

The Polish community in Greenpoint has shrunk in the past five years. Economic problems, the rising prices for real estate and an exodus back to Poland and Europe of those who had no legal status here contributed to the decline in numbers. Businesses and store owners, as well as the churches, suffer the consequences. The situation would be even more painful if those Poles who left Manhattan Ave. and Nassau Ave. [the commercial hub of the Polish community] for other boroughs have forgotten about Greenpoint. Luckily out of sentiment and habit, they do come back to pay a visit from time to time.

Still, Greenpoint is not just a symbol for the Poles. The neighborhood still houses the biggest community institutions, including the Polish-Slavic Center and Polish-Slavic Credit Union. There are Polish butchers, grocery stores and restaurants there. Because many of the businesses can no longer rely solely on the Polish clientele, the quality of the service is bound to go up at the cost of higher prices. For Poles in the neighborhood, it won't seem like in Poland anymore; they will have to Americanize.

There is no doubt that the times are changing. In order to survive, a lot of stores, services and Polish institutions will be ultimately sentenced to turn to the American client. The Polish National Home has been catering to the newcomers for a while now.

Although changing, Greenpoint is still attracting residents not so much because of its architecture, abundance of greenery, efficient communication, or great recreation or cultural centers, but because of its very convenient location. Our readers still complain about the stench coming from the sewage treatment plant, which, although modernized and appealing to the eye with its illuminated containers, hasn't ceased to be a nuisance. Some are bothered by the dirty streets and others by the traffic and the noise.

For many in Greenpoint, especially the newcomers, living so close to Manhattan makes up for a lot of inconvenience. The new residents, who are well educated and influential individuals, can take advantage of the U.S. system and have a shot at building a stronger political power that can influence the authorities. Greenpoint stands only to gain.

Now, it is up to us: Do we only want to watch as the neighborhood changes, or do we mobilize and participate in for our own and the common good?