{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/wd3pv6cz7w/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Edgar Alfonseca Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClip 1\u003c/strong\u003e: Edgar Alfonseca reflects on the state of socialist political views in the United States. He touches on the election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the United States House of Representatives in 2018, the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic on private sector employment, and his decision to volunteer on the campaign of New York State Assembly candidate Zohran Mamdani.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEdgar Alfonseca is a 32-year-old Astoria resident who volunteered on the political campaign of Zohran Mamdani, who in 2020 was elected to the New York State Assembly representing the 36th District (Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights). Alfonseca reflects on his support for socialist political views, the significance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victorious campaign for election to the United States House of Representatives in 2018, his subsequent decision to volunteer on Mamdani's campaign, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked greater openness to socialist views. Alfonseca discusses how volunteering on Mamdani's campaign has allowed him to connect with members of the Astoria community who share similar values as he does.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, Alfonseca reflects on his experience living in Astoria for most of his life (except during college and graduate school), the inequalities (e.g. education and housing) he has witnessed in Astoria and New York City since the late 1980s, and the effects (both postive and negative) of the COVID-19 pandemic on his professional life and personal life.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/search/browse/42447"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2020-07-15"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Audio"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Edgar Alfonseca (Interviewee)","Kae Bara Kratcha (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview conducted as part of the Queens Memory COVID-19 Project."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["Late 1980s-2020 (temporal)","Astoria, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClip 1\u003c/strong\u003e: Edgar Alfonseca reflects on the state of socialist political views in the United States. He touches on the election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the United States House of Representatives in 2018, the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic on private sector employment, and his decision to volunteer on the campaign of New York State Assembly candidate Zohran Mamdani.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEdgar Alfonseca is a 32-year-old Astoria resident who volunteered on the political campaign of Zohran Mamdani, who in 2020 was elected to the New York State Assembly representing the 36th District (Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights). Alfonseca reflects on his support for socialist political views, the significance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victorious campaign for election to the United States House of Representatives in 2018, his subsequent decision to volunteer on Mamdani's campaign, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked greater openness to socialist views. Alfonseca discusses how volunteering on Mamdani's campaign has allowed him to connect with members of the Astoria community who share similar values as he does.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, Alfonseca reflects on his experience living in Astoria for most of his life (except during college and graduate school), the inequalities (e.g. education and housing) he has witnessed in Astoria and New York City since the late 1980s, and the effects (both postive and negative) of the COVID-19 pandemic on his professional life and personal life.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/public/images/audio-default.png","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221962","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 2 - Alfonseca-Edgar-07152020-clip1.mp3"]},"duration":273.8966,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/public/images/audio-default.png","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221962/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221962/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/221/962/original/Alfonseca-Edgar-07152020-clip1.mp3?1703691214","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mpeg","duration":273.8966,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221962","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[]},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 2 of 2 - EA_oral_history_interview.mp3"]},"duration":3828.19271,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/public/images/audio-default.png","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/content/2/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/221/961/original/EA_oral_history_interview.mp3?1703690079","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mpeg","duration":3828.19271,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: So, this is Kae Bara Kratcha here with Edgar. We're recording on July 15th, 2020 for the Queens Memory COVID-19 project. So before we get into things, can you just confirm that you agreed to the terms and conditions outlined in the consent form that I sent you by email.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3.0,27.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yes. I agreed to the terms and conditions of the consent form you emailed to me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=27.0,33.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Awesome. Okay. So could you also say your full name or your name as you want it to be recorded? And also spell it?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=33.0,44.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yes. My full name is Edgar Alfonseca, and it is spelled, my first name is spelled E, D as in dog, G as in Gary, A as in alpha and R as in Roberts. And my last name is spelled A as in alpha, L as in lollipop, F as in Frank, O as in octopus, N as in Nancy, S as in snake, E as in electric and C as in cat and A as in alpha.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=44.0,87.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Thank you. Awesome. That's just so that, if anybody transcribes this, they spell your name right. And then, how old are you if you don't mind telling me? And where in Queens do you live?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=87.0,103.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I am 32 years of age, and I live in Astoria, Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=103.0,109.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Awesome. Oh, and what are your pronouns?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=109.0,115.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I think I'm good with him and he.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=115.0,127.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Great. So I was hoping to start out, you said you live in Astoria, and that is, I think, where you're recording from today. Yeah. That's where I'm at. Yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=127.0,138.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yes. That's where I'm recording from.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=138.0,142.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: So I wanted to start out with the story of how you came to live in Astoria.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=142.0,151.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah. So I was born here in Queens. I was born in, actually where this pandemic was at its peak here in Queens in Elmhurst Hospital. And, I briefly lived in Corona for a few—I'd like to say up until kindergarten. And then, when I was kindergarten age, I moved over here to Astoria. And I've been here, with the exception of two years where I went to Florida for graduate school, I've been living here my whole life.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=151.0,192.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Wow. How did your family end up living in Queens?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=192.0,201.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So my mother immigrated from the Dominican Republic. And my mom immigrated to Queens because her other family members were already immigrated here as well. So she got the heads up that it's okay to come over here. And so that's, that's how her story started.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=201.0,226.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: And do you have family in Queens?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=226.0,231.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yes. My mother still lives here in Astoria and I have my immediate family living in, some parts in Whitestone, and then I have other parts, living in Manhattan in Inwood.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=231.0,247.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Okay. That's cool. So you've lived here a really long time. So I guess my question is how do you feel about the neighborhood and maybe six months ago what was your kind of impression and feeling about the neighborhood of Astoria?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=247.0,272.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah I think pretty consistently, even six months until today, and even before that, I've really loved living in Astoria. I had only started living with my now wife—I think it's been three years. I only lived in this particular area of Astoria near the Steinway area and Broadway area for three years. And it's very, I think given my age bracket, I think it's been very fun for me and it's been great. There's definitely a high density of businesses and restaurants. So yeah, six months ago, even until today, I've really enjoyed living in this area.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=272.0,323.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Where did you—what part of Astoria did you used to live in?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=323.0,327.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So I think the easiest way to describe it is, I used to live in the area basically by Welling Court, the Welling Court Bureaus. And so that's where the Astoria ferry is now. And so I can't really describe what the neighborhood is, to be honest with you. Like, I don't think it has a name, but it's basically down that area. That's where I used to live.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=327.0,360.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: And you said you lived there until like three years ago?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=360.0,364.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah. Yeah. I lived there with my mother up until I moved in with my now wife.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=364.0,371.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: I can't picture that area very well. Is it very different from—'cause I, for the recording, I also live on the Broadway half of Astoria. Is that different or was your experience of that very different?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=371.0,392.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Oh yeah, definitely. So there's definitely—there isn't such a high density of small businesses over there. With the exception of one supermarket, I would say it's arguably a food desert. And there's definitely a lot of public housing works there. Like there are definitely housing projects. I was living at the time with my mom in a Mitchell-Lama housing unit, which are incredibly rare to find. To my knowledge, they haven't built Mitchell-Lama developments in more than a few decades. It isn't the type of place where people go to do things on the weekends. It's very residential, slash, there is a food desert and also just not accessible by subway. You have to take one of four bus lines to be able to go there. And the demographics are definitely very different from where I live now. In that area it's definitely a much higher significant percentage of Black Latino, whereas in the area I live now, I feel like it's a lot more diverse. Like there's definitely a higher percentage of people that I think would identify as white in the area that I live.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=392.0,489.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: How has that change been? Like the change in living in two different demographics?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=489.0,498.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I think the change, I mean, it's been drastic. For sure, before the pandemic, I was commuting to work in Brooklyn. At the time when I was commuting to work in Brooklyn, or actually just commuting at all to the city, I had to take a bus to a train and that just really increases your commute significantly. And I think it just adds a little more daily stress to your life, to have to have so many connections for your commute. Living now by the R train on Steinway street, it's reduced that stress, you know, of having to commute. So there's that, that's definitely a huge, significant change in my life. I think positive. Also I just really enjoy having a lot more things at a walk's length, whereas before I would have to rely heavily on the bus to get me around, to go places. So I guess commuting-wise that's been the biggest change for me. But also because, coincidentally, when I left I moved in with my now wife, I think it really added some good additional value to my living experience because I really enjoy living with my wife. So, it's been different in that way as well.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=498.0,603.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: So I guess we can move into talking a little bit about the campaign. So we know each other through the Zohran Mamdani campaign for State Assembly. How did you get involved with volunteering on that campaign in Astoria?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=603.0,624.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah, that was really interesting how I got involved. So, I think the first thing is before even talking about Zohran is like, my mentality. And maybe you're going to ask me this question. Actually, let me answer your question directly first. So I went with my wife to an independent film festival in Chelsea to see a film on the political campaign of Father K in Brooklyn, who was—at the time—would have been the first Muslim-American to be voted into City Council if he had successfully won his bid for the City Council seat. And it was a great film, I really enjoyed it. And so they—after the film ended, I think we had the opportunity to speak to some of the people involved in the film.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=624.0,690.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: And I just happened to notice, there's this young gentleman who's also sitting down the aisle from us. And,I don't know how, I can't tell you how, we started a conversation, but we did. And then he ended up saying, \"Oh, I live in Astoria too.\" And then he took out his, I think it was a petitioner sheet or a volunteer sheet and he asked if I would be interested in being a volunteer for his campaign. And I was really excited about it and my wife was as well, so we both put down our information on the sheet and we didn't think too much of it. I mean, I didn't know at the time, like, I didn't ask him what the expectations were. I just, I was just very clear about what kind of commitment I could do. Like probably just some data entry to help.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=690.0,745.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: And then fast forward, I think, a few months later I get an email and it's from the campaign and they're asking for people that expressed interest in data entry to get together. And it was at—I think it was an Action Network email or something. But I expressed my interest and then somehow Hannah got my information and then Hannah—who's also on the campaign, and we kind of hosted the first gathering of people that were interested in data entry—she hosted it at her apartment and that's where I met you and everyone else. And that's where it all started. That's how I got involved in the campaign.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=745.0,790.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: You were going to say something about your mentality?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=790.0,794.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah. So before that, even up until that point, I was still registered Independent. And the reason for that—actually let me backtrack here. I don't think I was. Let me retract that statement. So, leading up to going to that independent film festival for that Father K event, I think the AOC phenomenon had already happened. And so, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And that really energized me in terms of my belief that there's more of an appetite now in New York City for Socialist political views and Socialist ideas. And so, I was really—after speaking to Zohran and hearing about the values he has—and I think at the time he was already sponsored by the Queens DSA, or maybe he was talking about getting their endorsement. I was just really energized to be part of it. They're like the next AOC event. You know, because she was running to represent the district in Astoria that I used to live in with my mom. And I remember how incredible that feeling was to feel like I was part of some, like, what could be the beginning of a new movement in the United States for the idea and the word of socialism to be more politically accepted. So I really was energized when Zohran was talking about getting a campaign started here in Astoria to basically try to get someone in Albany that has socialist values. So I was really excited about that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=794.0,923.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Have you been a socialist for a long time or thought of yourself as a socialist?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=923.0,931.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I think—not to diminish the value of the concept, but I think for a while, on paper, I was not a socialist because there is no socialist party. But I have identified myself as a socialist since at least college. So for at least a decade, I've identified as one and up until AOC I just never found satisfaction in voting for the democratic party because it just felt like socialism was such a fringe idea, but my academic background is in political science. I just never quite understood why that word is so taboo. When you look at the data, you just see that we outspend many other countries that are socialists in terms of our healthcare and other expenses, our welfare expenses. Yet, you know, but anyway—so yes, to answer your question, I've been a socialist for nearly a decade, and I haven't felt very open about disclosing that as much. I've felt more open about disclosing that now, after AOC, than ever before, because I feel like a lot more people feel comfortable disclosing that they're socialists, or I feel like I can be more welcome or feel more included now when I'm talking about politics. I won't be seen as like a radical ideal. So, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=931.0,1045.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Was it important for you to see a socialist come into office in Queens specifically?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1045.0,1058.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah. Yeah, because, I really believe in—I live in Queens, I grew up here, but I think because of the color of my skin I've had a lot of moments where I don't feel included, because I identify as Latino, Hispanic-Latino, and I have grown up with this awareness of racial discrimination in the United States. Even the most diverse county in the United States here in Queens, we do have racial discrimination in my opinion, and from my personal experience. So for me, seeing a socialist being voted into office, I think that was a strong signal to me, of like, I live amongst a lot of people that share my values, that are against racism, are for providing equitable public goods for everyone. So it really made me feel more at home, even though I grew up here to know that there is an appetite for people that I may not talk to every day, that maybe I have made assumptions about, for socialism, for these values of socialism.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1058.0,1149.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Were you surprised when AOC won?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1149.0,1154.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah, I was very shocked. I was incredibly shocked because I think I was pretty jaded at the time that she started running, the first time she ran. I think given how—for example, I remember, I think this person was up for office or election this year. I think she's a House of Representative, Carolyn Maloney. I think she also represented the part of Astoria I was living in with my mother for quite a long time. And I lived there my whole life and I've never seen her once stop by our neighborhood or even legislate anything remotely close to what the needs are of where I live.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1154.0,1207.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: And I know that her congressional district is very weird because they carve out that part of Astoria and then also the Upper East Side. And there is a misalignment in terms of, I think, the needs of the neighborhoods. But I was incredibly shocked because for the longest time I just felt like most people I socialize with didn't ever, like—I felt like a lot of people never took my perspectives on socialism seriously. It never felt like it was something that the average person I socialized with would understand or accept or align with. So yeah, I was really just shocked. I was really happy and shocked.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1207.0,1272.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: So I think I'm hearing you say that after AOC was elected things kind of felt different. I guess we can kind of get into the pandemic, maybe. Does the pandemic in your neighborhood, in Queens, with the people you know, does this feel like another turning point for people to agree with how you think about socialism and government?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1272.0,1312.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: There's a part of me that says yes. I mean the idea that—it's one of those things where I think unfortunately, either because of what I believe is because there are a lot of—okay, I'm trying to bring myself back here, center myself. I believe that, yes, there is a greater appreciation or more openness towards the idea of Socialist policies because of the pandemic.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1312.0,1362.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: And the reason I say that is because right now the pandemic caused the private sector to basically shut down or come near to shutting down in a lot of respects. A lot of people lost employment and I think people were—I hope that people see this as evidence of the limits of the private sector. No matter how much you think you can rely on just employment to get you by, if employment is gone, you're going to need a safety net to be able to sustain yourself in the event of a catastrophe or a global event of this scale. And people, millions of Americans got stimulus checks, millions of Americans. Millions of companies were bailed out by the government.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1362.0,1432.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So I hope people understand that this idea of, you know, these like tropes of the welfare queen and stereotypes of, \"Oh, people on welfare are just lazy.\" I mean, I hope this experience generates more empathy to the idea that socialism isn't just about, you know, helping people that are lazy or helping people that don't want to work. It's just about helping people that need a helping hand in times of need. And this is exactly what just happened. This was—a humongous need emerged because the government, the economy just shut down. And I don't suspect a lot of people will say, \"Oh, they're just being...\" They literally couldn't work and they needed a bailout and there's nothing dissimilar under normal circumstances. If someone loses their job or they fall ill or they're just going through hard times, they also just need a bailout to get by until they're able to pick themselves up again.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1432.0,1510.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So I hope this is a moment of reflection and it creates more empathy towards this idea that Socialist policies that help people out, that provide a safety net in case of emergency as well, are reasonable things to do.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1510.0,1536.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: How has the pandemic affected you personally?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1536.0,1546.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: On an individual level it's had a lot of different—it's impacted me in a lot of different ways, in terms of my career. So I work in, I work for the city, and city government is notorious for being really behind the latest practices of employment or how to manage your workforce. And so, to give you an example, before the pandemic the idea that you could work remotely was basically non-existent. You had to report to your building, the majority of the workforce still has to punch in and punch out, like we're in a factory. And you have to be literally observed in real time by your supervisor to see that you're working. The pandemic happened and something that hasn't happened for decades, even though it could have been done at least for years, a few years, all of a sudden happened in two weeks. Less than two weeks. The entire workforce was told to work remotely.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1546.0,1637.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: And so that was a huge change for me because I never thought I'd had the opportunity to work remotely. And as part of my career. So that was a huge personal change for me. And it's had, I think, a mostly positive impact because I don't like commuting. I don't like the MTA experience. It's been beneficial to me in that sense. I've also been very fortunate that because I work for the city, I think, I wasn't just laid off. I've maintained employment throughout the pandemic. So in that sense, I think it's been positive for me, to be honest with you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1637.0,1690.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Now, where things have not been positive, where I think they've really caused me distress is just, you know, it's A) the lack of ability to physically see my family, even though they all live here in New York City. I think because they're all in New York City and at one point in time we were the locality with the highest number of cases in the United States, it was and it arguably still is not safe to see loved ones who are in at-risk ages or who are at risk in terms of their health profile. So that's been a huge negative change for me, like basically a restriction from being able to see my family in person. I have stayed in touch with them by phone, but it's still been very hard to do. Actually, I just haven't seen them in person since the pandemic started which hasn't been easy for me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1690.0,1779.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So yeah, those are just the two big things I can think of. I mean, there have also been a lot of other little impacts, like not having a place to go to work on my physical wellbeing. I love to go to the gym and I haven't been able to do that. So having to kind of solution around that has been hard because I—now that you work and you sleep and you eat all in one place, it makes it very challenging to think of things in terms of boundaries or compartmentalizing. I think there is something to that, being able to physically leave the space to go do something else. I think it does help your well being to be able to do that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1779.0,1829.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Mentally, it's been challenging. I'm in a leadership role at work. So, besides managing my own personal wellbeing with trying to navigate, not just the emotional drain of not seeing loved ones and being worried about your neighbors and how things are going, also helping, like also helping to manage employees who are also under duress during this time. That's been pretty draining for me as well, or challenging. So, yeah, I think that's the best way I can summarize it without making this a therapy session.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1829.0,1882.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Thank you. Before the pandemic, did you see your family often?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1882.0,1888.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I would say I did. I would say I would see them at least for special events, and I would occasionally take a trip up to, using MTA transportation, up to Inwood to see my grandmother. So I would say I would see them pretty regularly.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1888.0,1911.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: You said you're keeping in touch with them by phone. Do you mean, like, phone phone? Or are you video chatting? Like what's the tech?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1911.0,1922.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So my family doesn't have a lot of aptitude for video chat, so they just prefer voice. So it's just been mostly voice. It's not—actually, all of it has been voice.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1922.0,1946.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: How have you felt being at home all the time? Have you felt like your relationship to your neighborhood has changed?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1946.0,1957.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah, definitely. I think it's strengthened the bonds that I had here before. So, for example, for sure being involved in the campaign, under the circumstances, really helped me to meet a lot of people that live in Astoria that I normally wouldn't have. So I thought that was great. Also, there were some friends that I used to just see occasionally because we played video games together. Now we saw our number of interactions drastically increase after the pandemic because we couldn't leave the borough, we couldn't leave the neighborhood, so we had to rely on each other for company. So I think it's really strengthened my bonds to people in the neighborhood. For sure.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=1957.0,2022.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Before the pandemic, did you have—were your friends mostly in the neighborhood or were they other places?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2022.0,2034.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I would say mostly other places. I would—I think I'd spend a lot of my time outside of the neighborhood going to visit other friends. But this has totally shifted my social habits towards people that are in very close proximity to me, instead of a subway ride away. I used to think of that as close, as just like, you know, they're a few stops away. But now I think of a few blocks away as close. Whereas I think of a few stops on the subway as very far away.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2034.0,2079.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: I am surprised to hear that you didn't have so many friends in the neighborhood that you saw regularly, considering that you grew up there.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2079.0,2094.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah. I think, for probably a lot of different reasons. Maybe it's because I spent—so after middle school, I didn't go to school in Astoria anymore. I attended high school in Brooklyn and then I went to college in Binghamton, upstate. And then I went to graduate school in Florida. So that took me away from my neighborhood when I started to kind of blossom into like independently developing my own friendships, friendships that may have had a better chance of lasting till my current age. So, I think for different reasons, actually for educational reasons, I didn't spend a lot of time in Astoria after middle school and the people that I used to know in middle school, just, we just drifted apart after I spent all that time away. And, I don't know, maybe 'cause I relied heavily on relationships I made in those different settings, I didn't really invest too much time into cultivating the friendships or the relationships that I had made in Astoria. So I think that's probably something that contributed to my state before the pandemic, of not really spending a lot of time with people in Astoria.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2094.0,2205.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: I'm trying to think how to phrase this. [pause] Does having these renewed relationships in the neighborhood make you think differently about your education and the possibilities that you have for education geographically?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2205.0,2235.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah, so I work in education and there's definitely a lot of segregation and inequity in terms of the distribution of schools that are available for—that are affordable and high quality for students who grew up in New York City. So I think, probably for those reasons, I think those are big factors in why I made the decisions I made to basically pack my bags and geographically leave the city. And then at one point even leave the state. I went to where the opportunities were, and so I didn't feel that the opportunities I wanted or needed were available to me in the city. Educationally, at least.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2235.0,2302.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Do you wish that they had that?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2302.0,2303.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I mean, I think it would have been—I don't know. I think those experiences of leaving New York City gave me more of a commitment to want to stay once I've established my roots and now I have my career. I think it really helped me develop a greater appreciation for what we have here in New York City and what we're losing, which is diversity in terms of not only race, but also diversity of incomes. It just seems like there's a huge income disparity and it's just growing wider every year. Diversity of perspectives.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2303.0,2356.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I'm trying to be part of the—I'm trying to help to keep some of the many things that make living here beautiful. You know, I don't think people would enjoy living here if everything looked like, let's say, Bowling Green or Wall Street, Hudson Yards. I feel like that's where things are trending. So I feel very committed to staying here and to helping maintain a lot of what I consider to be the beauty of being in New York City. Your original question was whether I wish the situation was different and I had more educational opportunities here? I don't think so, because I know myself and I think, for me, I have to lose something to really then appreciate it. And I think that's what happened. Like, not living in New York City, at least from college until through Grad school, made me really appreciate, like, wow, we are really an outlier compared to the rest of the country in terms of the diversity and so many dimensions and opportunities.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2356.0,2464.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: It stuck out to me that you said that the thing that you want to protect or preserve about New York City—and I wonder if that's also about, like, Astoria where you live specifically—was the beauty of it. What are those things? What is that?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2464.0,2496.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I think of the ethnic diversity, the fact that you can walk down one block and then you could go from cuisines all the way from Asia all the way to South America. I think that's incredible. And you could see that the people working there, it's not corporate. It's small business people, where some of these businesses have been handed down from family to family. It's family oriented. It's not corporate. I think that's really beautiful, seeing that. I think there's also this really kind of beautiful, chill vibe living in Queens. No matter where I've been in Queens, except for a few places, you don't feel like you're out of place 'cause you could really fit into anywhere. 'Cause there's so much diversity in every neighborhood. So I think that non-corporate, family, diverse, chill vibe. It's very abstract, but those are the kinds of things I like to keep around.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2496.0,2590.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: But there are also things I'd love to change. The neighborhood where I spent most of my time living here in Astoria, there hasn't been, in my opinion, a lot of investment in the living standards of people that live in housing projects. There hasn't been a lot of investment in terms of trying to create business opportunities down there or provide economic opportunities for people that live there. I'm rarely open to change that benefits people that, you know, have invested a lot of their time living here and feel like they haven't gotten a return on that or feel neglected. At the same time, I'm very open to welcoming diverse perspectives, diverse personalities, that want to contribute to those values that I mentioned before of family oriented, chill, non-corporate, diverse.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2590.0,2664.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: We have about 13 minutes. So I'm going to look at my notes and see if I have covered all the topics. That I wanted to cover.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2664.0,2683.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Sounds great. I'll drink some water.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2683.0,2692.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: I guess I didn't really get into how volunteering with the campaign affected your relationship with the neighborhood?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2692.0,2717.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: It made my relationship better. It was a really big unknown to me whether or not in this part of Astoria there would be an appetite for socialism, because this part of Astoria is rather affluent, relatively speaking. And it was really hard for me to think that someone like Zohran could get enough votes to be competitive in this part of Astoria. But, I was very, very happy with the energy I saw, how many volunteers the campaign was able to get, the diversity of people and ideas. It really made me feel great about living here, because it made me feel like there are just so many—you know, because of different circumstances, because we're slaves to our work and we never get time to socialize with people in the neighborhood, there really aren't a lot of things that allow you to meet strangers in the neighborhood. I was really happy and grateful for the fact that these people that are in this movement share a lot of values I have and they live here. It's just great to get that feeling of, I know more people that live here now. I feel less alone in terms of a lot of these ideas I have. I don't feel alone when certain policies are passed that don't seem to be to the common person. It just made me feel more at home, volunteering in the campaign. 'Cause it was nice to just see and interact with a lot of people that live in Astoria that share my values.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2717.0,2867.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: When did you really start to feel that?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2867.0,2869.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/74","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I think probably when we started having our Data Taskforce meetings and then we'd just be socializing and talking about things. And I'd be like, oh, they were thinking of this stuff, too. It wasn't just me, you know? And, I think also when we migrated into—well, also, whenever I would propose ideas or thoughts, I never felt that they weren't taken seriously or that they weren't validated. So it was nice whenever we would have our meetings and I'd throw out some ideas, it was very nice to feel seen and heard. And I think interacting online, like through Signal and through Slack reinforced that feeling of being included and being seen and being heard. I think our Data Taskforce weekly check-ins—that's when I started to feel like this is real. They're talking about the same things that I talk about with my wife at home. So I think that's when it started.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2869.0,2983.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/75","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: At one point the pandemic kind of got a bit overwhelming for you and you stopped coming to volunteers regularly. And I'm wondering, did that feeling of connection continue after you weren't seeing people over Zoom as regularly?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=2983.0,3025.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/76","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I've never worked on a campaign before. When I left, I think an assumption I made in my head is that, given what I was leaving and what I saw the transition was for what the priorities are for the campaign, I just had a sense of, A) It's still kind of not safe to socialize, but B) Given how demanding it seems the campaign is as a result of the need, it feels unlikely I'll be able to connect with them as much as I used to. So, I extracted myself from volunteering under that assumption. And so I tried to make an effort of trying to stay connected to people in that campaign and trying to kind of provide some positive energy. Because I was always worried about people either burning themselves out. Just 'cause I know people were juggling not only their personal issues, but also their employment issues if they were employed. And then also just what is this huge, evolving thing of a campaign.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3025.0,3127.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/77","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So, yeah, I did leave it knowing there would be a disconnection and I did try to make an effort to let people know I was thinking about them. I didn't leave thinking that—I was pretty open minded, I guess, about what would happen after the campaign was really over, and all the votes are tallied up and the absentee ballots are all tallied up. This is a very unique point in time and depending on how things go, if things start to reopen and people start to get rehired for work and they decide they're never gonna live in New York City again, I just don't know what it looks like for me to stay connected to the people I've met here. So, I was pretty open about what that could look like after the campaign's done. 'Cause I really enjoyed the time, but I also have to honor the fact that things change, and also people's priorities change. I never thought—yeah, so I left it open minded, but at the same time I left with like, while the campaign is happening, I don't expect to be connected by design because I left. And also, because I think people are going to be extraordinarily busy.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3127.0,3229.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/78","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: When you started volunteering was it kind of with the goal of making friends and [unclear]?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3229.0,3237.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/79","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: That was part of it, for sure. I mean, I think I was just excited to see, am I going to have socialists buddies now? Like, this is going to be great. So yeah, there was definitely part of that that motivated me to want to volunteer. Yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3237.0,3265.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/80","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Is there anything that I should have asked you that I didn't ask you?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3265.0,3281.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/81","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I don't know. I guess maybe whether or not I thought it was worth it to volunteer. And then maybe what was I hoping to—I think you, you did kind of ask me that question just now, if I wanted to build friendships out of this experience. But I certainly think that it was worth it. I really enjoyed a lot of parts of it. Just for really personal reasons, I just didn't have the wherewithal to continue, but it was a really wonderful thing that I'll always brag about that I was part of some political campaign. You know, it'll be on my resume.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3281.0,3360.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/82","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: And what aside from socialist buddies were you hoping to get?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3360.0,3369.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/83","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: I guess a sense of belonging. I think that's important for anyone who wants to be part of something. I think it's a very normal feeling to have, of wanting to get a sense of belonging to something. I think for a lot of different reasons, even though you live in a highly dense neighborhood, in the absence of an experience like this, you could just feel sometimes like you're always walking amongst strangers and you don't really fit in. Or you feel like, I don't know, am I the only one who's like a socialist here? You never know, there's no one who wears a badge that says \"I'm a socialist.\" So, it was nice to, given my political ideas, to get that sense of belonging in that dimension of my life.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3369.0,3447.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/84","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Unfortunately because of how algorithms work in social media, it's hard to build that sense online. It actually helps you feel more excluded because people really don't connect in an authentic way too much online anymore, or that often. At least in my experience it doesn't feel like that. And, yeah, it just feels like talking about politics with people feels so hard nowadays. And my idea, like, socialism is still not a very popular idea. I mean, even though Bernie [Sanders] made a ton of progress in terms of his presidential democratic primary effort, I still think there's still a ways to go to get more people to at least not hate socialism. I'm not even asking them to like it, but just don't hate it. I feel like, in our country there's a sincere hate for a lot of things and socialism is in that bucket of things that people really actually hate, and don't want to understand it, or comprehend. So yeah, so I think there was that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3447.0,3549.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/85","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: I know we're a little past eight, but if you have time, would you mind telling me what in concrete terms does socialism in Astoria mean to you?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3549.0,3562.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/86","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: For me, in concrete terms, socialism in Astoria means a halt on housing developments that are for rent. It means, instead, government investments in housing development that provides either incredibly low cost or even free housing for either very low income New Yorkers or New Yorkers who just need the—like Astorians who need the help. So there's more of that. There's also more of a—free access to health services or healthcare services. Like the City MDs of the world, Urgent Care. Maybe the urgent cares have a sliding scale. So you maybe pay for your coverage if you have a job and you're able to pay for it, but then you don't if you don't have a job or you're unemployed or you're homeless. So more of that, more consideration for people's means when charging them for some type of health care service.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3562.0,3671.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/87","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: It would also look like addressing the homelessness issue here in Astoria. I feel like it's growing, the number of homeless people that are now on our streets. What does it look like to help them get off the streets or transition from living in the streets to a home? Can we provide homes for them so that they're not living on the streets? Or some type of intervention that they're willing to accept?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3671.0,3706.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/88","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: So those are a few things I think I have in mind with socialism in Astoria. It could look like we do everything we do now, but we have a sliding scale for things especially for healthcare services. And then it's addressing housing, which is a huge problem here. I think the rents are astronomical and very unaffordable. And they don't allow young people, young working people, to build equity, which is what you need to make it here in the United States. And then there's the homelessness issue. There's a growing population of homeless people in Astoria and it's just been neglected. It's just, there's just no solutioning for that right now.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3706.0,3762.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/89","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: Is there anything else you want to tell me?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3762.0,3764.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/90","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: No, I think this was a great experience and I'd like to hear more of these stories. I'd like to hear what others have to say that are interviewed. I would love to be part of that. I'm just very happy I was able to participate in this. This is under CUNY [City University of New York], right? This project?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3764.0,3794.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/91","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: CUNY and Queens Public Library.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3794.0,3801.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/92","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Yeah. So, I love the CUNY system. I love the library system, so I'm very happy to be part of something that I think could add a lot of value to understanding our society a hundred years from now.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3801.0,3823.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/93","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Kae Bara Kratcha: I'm going to stop recording.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3823.0,3826.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961/transcript/62729/annotation/94","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Edgar Alfonseca: Great.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/943/collection_resources/117243/file/221961#t=3826.0,3828.19271"}]}]}]}