Puerto Ricans live in what would historically be called the East Village. However, the Puerto Ricans did not call refer to it as the East Village, but rather as the “Loisaida”. Over the past few years, the Lower East Side has been undergoing the process a gentrification, something to which the Puerto Rican community has been voiced their adamant opposition. The gentrification has caused an increase in housing prices, forcing thousands of Puerto Ricans to leave their homes in search of more affordable options [1].
Housing was a major issue of contention for the Puerto Ricans. In the 1950s, new housing blocs were created in the Lower East Side. However, the Puerto Ricans were barred from these blocs, were only permitted to live there after demonstrations and protests from Puerto Rican politicians. The situation did not improve, but rather continues to deteriorate throughout the 1960s and1970s. The Puerto Ricans were still facing discriminatory housing laws. Middle income housing co-ops in the southern end of the neighborhood would choose against renting to Puerto Rican buyers. Additionally, when new housing was created in the area below the Williamsburg Bridge, the Puerto Ricans had to fight for affordable housing to be created, and unfortunately they were not entirely successful. These discriminatory acts kept the Puerto Ricans community confined to the low quality tenement housing that was characteristic of the Lower East Side[1].
[1] Miranda J. Martinez, Power at the Roots: Gentrification, Community Gardens, and the Puerto Ricans of the Lower East Side (Pennsylvania: Lexington Books, 2010) 9
[1] Miranda J. Martinez, Power at the Roots: Gentrification, Community Gardens, and the Puerto Ricans of the Lower East Side (Pennsylvania: Lexington Books, 2010) 10
