1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: This is Latino USA, the radio journal of News and 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: Culture Latino USC Latin Latino USA. I'm Maria Inojosa. We 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: bring you stories that are underreported but that mattered. 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: To you, overlooked by the wrest of the media. 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 3: And while the country is struggling to deal with these, 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 3: we listen to the stories of Black and Latino Studio 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 3: United Latino Front, a cultural renaissance organizing at the forefront 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 3: of the movement. 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: I'm Maria ino Jossa nose Bayan. 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: It's May twenty twenty second and the world is raving 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: about the release of Bad Bunny's new album Eranosinthi. During 12 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: his promotion in New York City, the king of reggaeton 13 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 2: or pop music in general basically chose to celebrate the 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: lunch in a quite unexpected place. Is in this modest 15 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: Puerto Rican bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, decorated with led Christmas lights, 16 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 2: flowery tablecloths, and walls full of family photos, baseball posters, 17 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: and framed newspaper clips. It could be your grandma's living room. 18 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: But Bunny is next to this tiny old woman with 19 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: freezy white blonde hair who's always smiling. All of her 20 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 2: fingers are taken over by these giant, colorful rings. She 21 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 2: exposes them in front of her chest for the photos, 22 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: like a peacock opening its tail, and but Bunny imitates her. 23 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 2: People shout Larena the Queen, but Bunny describes her as 24 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: the real Flow. Her name is Marie Antonia Kai, but 25 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: everyone in New York City knows her as Tonita. She's 26 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 2: the owner of the Caribbean Social Club, a gathering for 27 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: Puerto Ricans and other Latino communities since the nineteen seventies, 28 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: and it's also the last Latino social club standing in Brooklyn. 29 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 2: Bad Bunny is behind the bar next to Tonita, drinking 30 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: Amdaia beer the Puerto Rican label, and serving cocktails in 31 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: plastic cups. Having a Puerto Rican star like Bad Bunny 32 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: spending the night at Tonita's was a big deal for 33 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: its por Equan owner and her community, and he's not 34 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: the only one. Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, or Maluma have shown 35 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: up at the club as well. But a year after 36 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: Bad Bunny's visit, Tonita herself was in court fighting to 37 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: keep running the club the way she's always done it. 38 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: From Fudro Media and PRX, It's Latino USA I'm Maria 39 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: in no Josa. Today Otra noce Atitas. How the last 40 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: or Rican social club in Brooklyn is fighting a rasure 41 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: and doing that with free food, free dance, and by 42 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: intentionally building community. The Brooklyn neighborhood known as Williamsburg has 43 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: long been known as a center for the Hasidic Jewish community. Recently, 44 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: it's all about young artists and creative professionals, mostly white 45 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: and upper class, who have taken over the neighborhood. For 46 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: many decades, though, the south side of Williamsburg was also 47 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: known as Los Sudis because the majority of its southern 48 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: streets from South First to South eleven were populated by 49 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: people from Puerto Rico and later from the Dominican Republic. 50 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: The remains of this vibrant Latino community are fading though. 51 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: In South Williamsburg. Over the last two decades, gentrification has 52 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 1: taken over the salsap block parties, the baseball games, and 53 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: the Domino competitions. But there's still one place on Grand 54 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: Street that is fighting to keep the legacy of Los 55 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: Sudis alive, the Caribbean Social Club, which is also known 56 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: as Donitas. Over the last two years, noise complaints and 57 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 1: inspections have been on the rise, challenging the future of 58 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: this Puerto Rican haven as the neighborhood keeps on changing 59 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: and becoming less and less affordable. The median sales price 60 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: of a home in Williamsburg is one point two million dollars, 61 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: and to rent a two bedroom apartment which sets you 62 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 1: back about six thousand dollars a month on average. Latino 63 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: USA senior producer Marta Martinez, who you heard from at 64 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: the top of the show, recently spent some time at 65 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: the Caribbean Social Club as its owner Donita went through 66 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: yet another round obstacles to keep running her club the 67 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: way she's done it for nearly fifty years. Here's Marda 68 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: with the story. 69 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: I am on Grand Street on my way to Tonita's 70 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: and the first thing I'm seeing is quite an upscale 71 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: hairdresser on the corner. It's a bright, chilly October afternoon 72 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: in Williamsburg, and a walk on one of its main 73 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: avenues is pretty telling about what kind of people live 74 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: in this Brooklyn neighborhood today. Next, there is immense suit store. 75 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 2: It's called the Black Tux and definitely looks quite expensive. 76 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 2: But I'm not here to get a fancy haircut or 77 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: buy an expensive suit. I can't even remember the last 78 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 2: time I wore any form of clothing. I'm here to 79 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 2: visit the last Puerto Ricans Social Clap, still standing in 80 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 2: the south side of Williamsburg. At the height of the 81 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 2: Social Claps era in the late nineteen eighties, there were 82 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 2: more than a thousand underground clubs in New York City. 83 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: And then right here, it's Tonita's. Doesn't say Tonita's outside 84 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 2: because it says Caribbean Sport, Bar and Grill, and you'd 85 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 2: probably not get in if you didn't know what it is. 86 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 2: It's a three story building with a dark brown facade, 87 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: and the bar's name is on these gold and black stickers, 88 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: the ones you can buy at the hardware store, with 89 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 2: the letters loosely aligned like crooked teeth. The window actually 90 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 2: looks closed, so it's kind of hard to see unless 91 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: you know why you're here. Inside is the Caribbean Social Clap. 92 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 2: When you enter, it feels familiar. There's hardly any empty 93 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 2: space on the walls, full of portraits of Tonita, awards, 94 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: family photo, baseball memorabilia, and of course Puerto Rican flags. 95 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: A worn down pool table dominates the center of the 96 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: space and in the back for people play dominoes on 97 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: a table especially designed for the game, with holes to 98 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 2: position your pieces so that the other players can't see them. 99 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 4: Yoaki yah doesn't, I think. In Looking ground three. 100 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: This is Marie Antonia Kai, better known as Tonita, the 101 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: club owner. She's sitting on a high stool near the entrance, 102 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,679 Speaker 2: wearing a turquoise blouse. She has a dusty bland mob 103 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: of curly hair carefully blown up. Next to her. There's 104 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: a giant Puerto Rican flag covering the shop window and 105 00:07:47,720 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: two big pots still warm. I told, oh, yes, this 106 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 2: is what Donita has been doing since the pandemic. She 107 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 2: cooks every day in her apartment upstairs where she lives, 108 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: and at three PM when she opens the club, she 109 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: brings the pots down and offers food to anyone who's hungry. 110 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 2: The menu today consists of chicken stew with white rice 111 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 2: and beans. 112 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 4: Yes, bongoejegagomi, not the exact lion as implements a. 113 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 2: Tonita says. Everyone is welcome to eat for free, and 114 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: they don't have to buy a drink if they don't 115 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: want to. 116 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 5: Well, because. 117 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 4: Inatao veino nero la cocino. 118 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: She's spending the same amount of money she used to 119 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: to order delivery, and now with those same twenty or 120 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 2: twenty five dollars. Everyone eats. On weekdays, she closes around 121 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 2: eleven p m. But the real fun happens on the weekends. 122 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: On Fridays and Saturdays. The night goes on for much longer, 123 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 2: until three am or even later. People drink, chat, dance, 124 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: playpool and dominoes. I asked Anita whether she gets tired 125 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: because Tnita is eighty four years old. 126 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 6: You know, and being condemned to the same thing. 127 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 5: It's reels. 128 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: She says she doesn't get tired during those late nights. 129 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 2: She just loves seeing so many young people gathering in 130 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: her club and being happy. That's when she dresses up 131 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: to conceal her age, Tunita says, impresse. 132 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 5: Vis. 133 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 2: She puts on her iconic rings, these shiny, fake gold 134 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: and crystal rings, many of them shaped like animals that 135 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 2: are often as big as Tonita's whole finger. One of 136 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 2: them is a black and gold tiger, another one is 137 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: a turtle with a pink and diamond shell. Her extravagant 138 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 2: looks may attract people's attention, but Tonita is actually quite private. 139 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: She doesn't speak much. She rarely shares anything about her 140 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,079 Speaker 2: personal life, and she only has nice things to say 141 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 2: about anyone and everyone, Like when I ask her about 142 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 2: the intriguing rings, what's behind themsios. 143 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 7: Only tormundola, and all she says is that she just 144 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 7: put them on one day, and because everyone liked them, 145 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 7: she kept wearing them. 146 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 2: It feels that whatever Tonita wants to say, she says 147 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: it through her club, through its walls, and the way 148 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 2: she's always there to serve her patrons. Tnita's sister is 149 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: sitting by the domino table and she doesn't want to 150 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 2: speak to me either. I'll tell you, but someone else does. 151 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 8: Camp You. 152 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 2: Kathaki Bugando Nomino, I mean Karadaky. Octavio is one of 153 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: Tnita's regular costomers. He's also from Puerto Rico and he's 154 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 2: seventy eight years old. Octavio says he comes every day 155 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,079 Speaker 2: as soon as Tnita opens and after eating, he plays 156 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 2: some rounds of dominoes with his friends. He's been around 157 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 2: since it opened in the nineteen seventies. Well Campbell Octavia 158 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: wears a T shirt that says Caribbean Social Sports. Besides 159 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 2: dancing words have always been vital to the club, especially 160 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: in those early years. Octavia says, they even want Domino 161 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 2: championships in the neighborhood. Yea one familiar familia at heart. 162 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: Octavia keeps coming to the club for the same reason. 163 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 2: So many Puerto Ricans keep coming because they feel their 164 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:24,239 Speaker 2: family here. And Tnita says, it's not only Bordiquas. Latinas 165 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: from all over the continent and the city come here and. 166 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 5: Domino Rambilla they come, the. 167 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 4: Movinento in the Italian Cideoka, the Criminandoa. 168 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 2: People come because they feel welcome, they feel happy here 169 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 2: and see from discrimination. 170 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 4: Yak In Brazils criminal and. 171 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: Tnita adds that it's always been like that at the 172 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: Caribbean Social Club. There's no discrimination. It wasn't so in 173 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 2: the neighborhood or New York City in general. 174 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 9: Really. 175 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 2: In the nineteen fifties after World War Two, when hundreds 176 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 2: of thousands of Puerto Ricans arrived in New York City 177 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: fleeing poverty, hunger, and lack of jobs on the island, it. 178 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 10: Was the first airborne mass migration in American history. A 179 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 10: dozen daily flights ferried Puerto Ricans from San Juan to 180 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 10: Idlewild and LaGuardia airports. 181 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: Nearly one million Puerto Ricans arrived in New York City 182 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: in those years. When they landed, Puerto Ricans faced discriminations 183 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: for their race, class, language, and lack of formal education. 184 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 2: Donita was only sixteen years old when she arrived in 185 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:46,319 Speaker 2: nineteen fifty six. 186 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 4: Yovina Sola Yovina with alniniuk Ammatrawaja, I know the against Jasu. 187 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 2: She came on her own to work as a babysitter 188 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 2: in the Bronx. Then in the nineteen sixties she moved 189 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 2: to the south side of Williams work Big industries like 190 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 2: the Navy Yards and the Domino Sugar Factory were hungry 191 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 2: for cheap labor, and Puerto Ricans became one of its 192 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: major work forces. Like many other Puerto Rican women at 193 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 2: the time, Tonita worked as a simstress at a skirt factory. 194 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 2: The area became known as Los Juris Spanish for the 195 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 2: southerns referring to the people coming from the south, but 196 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 2: also the stretch from South first to South eleventh Streets 197 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: in Williamsburg because the people living in these humble buildings 198 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 2: and unkept streets were mostly Puerto Ricans, similar to Al 199 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 2: Barrio in ist Harlem or the South Bronx. Losudas became 200 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: an enclave for poor Latino communities who were treated as 201 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 2: second class citizens and pushed away from other neighborhoods. Tonita 202 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: rented an apartment on Grand Street from a Jewish woman. 203 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 2: They became close, and Tonita cooked for her landlord's daughter. 204 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 2: When the owner grew older, in ninety ten, seventy four, 205 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 2: she sold the building to Tonita for five thousand dollars. 206 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: That would be more than thirty thousand dollars today. Tonita 207 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 2: loved the neighborhood and she had no plans to go 208 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 2: back to Puerto Rico, so she made the effort to 209 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 2: purchase a building. What she loved about the street was 210 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: that the children were always playing with. 211 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 5: Ballsy cohe and he and content to go. 212 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 2: She would throw them small balls out the window and 213 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 2: they would pick them up. Baseball is actually one of 214 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 2: Tonita's deepest passions. In Los Ures, there was a baseball team, 215 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: and she wanted to create a space where they could 216 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: hang out, similar to Puerto Rico's chincoros, or simple bars 217 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 2: where families and friends gathered to eat typical food, drink 218 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 2: and dance. That's when she decided to open the Caribbean 219 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 2: Social Club. 220 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 4: Sidio on the film in no Ea Boy Air Club. 221 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 2: Puerto Rican social clubs became more popular as more bodiquas 222 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 2: arrived in the city. They were mostly informal, sometimes even 223 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 2: held in someone's living room, and they often didn't have 224 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 2: licenses to sell alcohol or officially run as a bar. 225 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: Tanita was also one of the few women who owned 226 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 2: social clubs in the city. She says she's always been 227 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: the only one giving orders here, the simpl manager, the local. 228 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 2: As industrialization moved away from the cities in the nineteen eighties, 229 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 2: more Puerto Ricans lost their low paying jobs, and crime 230 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 2: rose with the lack of economic unity. By nineteen ninety, 231 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 2: nearly half of all Puerto Ricans in the US were 232 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 2: living in poverty. It's hard to find information about the 233 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 2: history of Losuitis, in particular about their achievements and their culture, 234 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 2: but also their struggles. There's probably more information hanging on 235 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 2: intimate places like Tonita's walls and the stories told by 236 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: their longtime clients than on the internet or in libraries. 237 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 8: Not the class camera, not te plast one ten you 238 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 8: can't go along. 239 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 2: The richest source I could find on what it was 240 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 2: like to live in South Williamsburg in the nineteen eighties 241 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 2: is a documentary called Losuitis, directed by Diego Cheverria, a 242 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 2: Chilean filmmaker who grew up in Puerto Rico. 243 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 8: As you noticed the neighborhood of struggle that we've been 244 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 8: struggling through. 245 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 9: Kids one struggle. 246 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 2: The film says that in the nineteen eighties there were 247 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: some twenty thousand Puerto Ricans living in Losudis. The film 248 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 2: paints a bittersweet picture of those times. There was gang 249 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 2: violence and joblessness. You can't trust nobody yet I always 250 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 2: look look the wag, how are you going to make 251 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 2: that money? You know, single mothers surviving on welfare or 252 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 2: trying to keep their children away from drugs. 253 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 11: Sometimes allow my light, my guests, my telephone, my rent 254 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,880 Speaker 11: so that I could have something to give to my kids. 255 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: It's not easy living on welfare. It's kind of humiliating. 256 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 2: But also block parties and break dance competitions for many 257 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 2: social clubs like Tonitas became a safe haven from the 258 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 2: increasingly violent streets and a city that kept pushing them down. 259 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 2: And into the poorest, most abandoned corners Tonitas. They could 260 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 2: celebrate their roots, their music, their language. They could just 261 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 2: be proud of themselves. And in many ways, it still 262 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: feels this way today. There's one thing Tunita misses from 263 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: those early days, though, the kids playing on Grand Street. 264 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 4: Amia familiar, Connino, very genuine. 265 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 2: Coming up on Latino USA. 266 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: After surviving the violence and economic depression of the nineteen eighties, 267 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: Tonitas now faces new challenges to keep its stores open, 268 00:19:37,680 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: gentrification and aging. Stay with us notes. 269 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 2: Hey, we're back. 270 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: Before the break, we learned about how Marie antooniac Guy 271 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: better known as Donita, opened the Caribbean Social Club in 272 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,479 Speaker 1: South Williamsburg and what it was like to be in 273 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,360 Speaker 1: this predominantly Puerto Rican community in the nineteen seventies and eighties. 274 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: Since then, the club faced many challenges, from the rise 275 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: of gang violence to economic uncertainty, with many Briquas wanting 276 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: to leave the area. As the two thousands approached, Tonita's 277 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: and Los Suits faced a different kind of challenge, how 278 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 1: to stay in a now highly desired neighborhood. Latino USA 279 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 1: Senior producer Marta Martinez takes the story from here, Yeah, Yeah, we're. 280 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 2: At the Caribbean Social Club and Tonita is supervising some 281 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 2: floral renovations in the back where the long bar is. 282 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 2: This is where she sits on the weekend nights, serving 283 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 2: beers and mixed drinks. He Tunita says, she just helps 284 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 2: like everyone else. Everyone helping at the club is doing 285 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 2: it voluntarily. She doesn't have anyone on staff. She just 286 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 2: keeps running things the way she used to when she 287 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 2: first opened, like a living room, welcoming anyone who wants 288 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 2: to come in. In the nineteen nineties and early two thousands, 289 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 2: young artists and musicians, mostly white and upper middle class, 290 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 2: started moving to South Williamsburg. The area was cheap and 291 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 2: close to Manhattan, so the challenges for Los SuDS completely 292 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 2: transformed with the change of the century, starting with the 293 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 2: erasure of its Spanish. 294 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:33,880 Speaker 4: Name the Rinaldosura Bognzilialeste, the cambier Bara Williams very Baradle 295 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 4: mahem Fassi Alcidio Innosi. 296 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:47,199 Speaker 2: Real estate agents started relabeling the area as Williamsburg, not 297 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 2: lous There's a way to make more. 298 00:22:49,359 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 4: Money bu mija cavandola il city Bonito. 299 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 2: Tonita says change has been mostly positive. A lot of 300 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 2: houses that were abandoned have been renovated, and the neighborhood 301 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 2: looks nicer now. Rents skyrocketed fast, turning Williamsburg into the 302 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 2: most gentrified area in New York City. The average rent 303 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 2: grew by almost eighty percent between nineteen ninety and twenty fourteen. 304 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 5: La Majoria, La Mimahine. 305 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:43,879 Speaker 4: And Los urri Ran Popolo cancambill at Ochilnoi and Majorias 306 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 4: in Monto. 307 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 2: Rican Tnita says the neighborhood has changed, but around South 308 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: eight and South ninth Streets, most of our neighbors are 309 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 2: still Puerto Rican. It's hard to really assess how much 310 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 2: gentrification has affected Puerto Rican's in losuitis to put that 311 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 2: displacement into figures. According to the latest census data, about 312 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 2: twenty five percent of the neighbors in Williamsburg identify as Hispanic. 313 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 2: That's over twenty three thousand people, and nearly half of 314 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 2: them were Puerto Ricans. The erasure is happening symbolically and physically. 315 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty three, neighbors of Losuds found that the 316 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 2: gram Avenue street signs had suddenly lost its other name, 317 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 2: Avenue of Puerto Rico. 318 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 12: On about a fifteen block stretch of Graham Avenue in 319 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 12: East Williamsburg. A sign was about the recognition of one's heritage, 320 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 12: one's roots. But about three months ago, the city began 321 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 12: removing the Avenue of Puerto Rico signs, sparking confusion and anger. 322 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 2: Real estate developers had been pushing for this erasure for 323 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 2: more than a decade in the up and coming neighborhood. 324 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 6: We're not going anywhere. What I promise my mom and 325 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 6: all the pioneers that over my dead body, will that 326 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:07,360 Speaker 6: sign be removed? 327 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: And as long as I live, I won't. The city 328 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 2: put the signs back the day after neighbors complained, saying 329 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: it had been a mistake. Donita says she's been offered 330 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 2: millions to sell her building on Grand Street. The building 331 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 2: next door has an estimated value of two point five 332 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 2: million dollars on so low. 333 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 5: You know when you know, yeah, drunky looking. 334 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 2: Tanita says she's not interested in selling. She doesn't need to. 335 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,719 Speaker 2: She makes enough from collecting rent from her tenants and 336 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 2: the earnings at the club. She just wants to keep 337 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 2: doing what makes her happy, being here at the club, 338 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 2: serving her community. Because it's not only about her. 339 00:25:54,200 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 4: To lif okay already five ben or been selling you 340 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 4: ton me. 341 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,360 Speaker 2: She worries about what would happen to her tenants, because 342 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 2: if she were to sell, they would turn down the 343 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 2: club and build a big condo apartment building, and it 344 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 2: wouldn't be her Puerto Rican tenants who would be able 345 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 2: to afford living in those new apartments. So she keeps 346 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 2: offering free food to anyone who comes in, and keeps 347 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,959 Speaker 2: selling beers at three dollars. That hasn't made her particularly 348 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 2: popular among the new bars that have opened more recently 349 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: on Grand Street, where a glass of wine can cost 350 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 2: seventeen dollars. Richer neighbors mean other types of challenges, more 351 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 2: noise complaints, more inspections, and sometimes those can get more serious. 352 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 2: On June first, twenty twenty three, Tonita is at the 353 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 2: New York Criminal Court summons in Lower Manhattan. She's facing 354 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 2: five minute demeanor charges after a seat inspector found that 355 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 2: the club had violated its alcohol license like allowing people 356 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 2: to leave the bar with alcoholic drinks, and that she 357 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 2: wasn't keeping any finance records. So there are not finds 358 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:21,479 Speaker 2: that would put Tonita's existence at risk. They would probably 359 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 2: amount to about five thousand dollars total, but Tunita's community 360 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 2: understood it as a threat, a symbolic attack on Tonita's 361 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 2: club and her desire to keep doing things the way 362 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 2: she always has, serving cheap beer, having dance parties, and yes, 363 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 2: being loud. Former Latino USA producer Patricia s Ubaran, who 364 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 2: started reporting this story before me, attended the hearing in June. 365 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 2: Tonita told her it was the first time she was 366 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 2: standing in front of a judge. 367 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 8: Wow. 368 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 2: Tonita is wearing a black blazer and a white shirt, 369 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 2: far from her usual bright collars. Her make is also discrete, 370 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 2: a green eye shadow and soft pink lipstick, and she's 371 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 2: not wearing any of her iconic rings. What's really interesting 372 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 2: is that there's quite a big group who came to 373 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 2: support her, about twenty people, and they're mostly young Latinos 374 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 2: and Latinas, like Jolly Brown's Apita. 375 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 10: I'm here because it's very important that we show up, 376 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 10: especially for our elders. 377 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 2: Jolly created an Instagram page Nova Yorkinos, where she documents 378 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 2: the stories of Latinos and Latinas in New York City. 379 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 10: We show up for the people who are the glue 380 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 10: of our community. Donita has been doing this since the eighties, 381 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 10: formally and formally since the seventies. It's a place where 382 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 10: we're allowed to come together, we're allowed to gather, we're 383 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 10: allowed to be and gentrification strips that away from us, 384 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 10: the ability to be. 385 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 2: For David Galatza, a labor organizer, it's not only the 386 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 2: club that they're trying to save by being in front 387 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 2: of the court today, it's something bigger. 388 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 13: Everybody perhaps has a story about somebody that has been displaced, 389 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 13: either from their home or their business, and that's exactly 390 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 13: the story that's happening from someone to lawsuitas and that's 391 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 13: kind of make that message very clear that we're being displaced, 392 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 13: we're under assault, the same way that Tonita's is under 393 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 13: a result, So that hit a nerve. 394 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 2: Garrila Canal is a Columbian American. She discovered the club 395 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:24,000 Speaker 2: seven years ago and she's been going ever since. 396 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 11: The group that I used to go out with all 397 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 11: the time, we were all Latinas, we'd always go dancing, 398 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 11: and we'd always end our nights or our weeks at Tonita's, 399 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 11: and one by one that group has kind of left. 400 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 11: I'm like one of the only ones left here in 401 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 11: New York. So one of them got deported back to Colombia, 402 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 11: one of them moved to Puerto Rico. 403 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 14: I don't know. 404 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 11: I think I owe it to that friend group as 405 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 11: well to show up for a place that meant so 406 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 11: much to us, so. 407 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 5: Seriously. 408 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 2: About two hours later, Tonita gets out of the court building. 409 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 2: Hearing lasted less than five minutes and the trial will 410 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 2: take place later in June. Her smile is even broader 411 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 2: than usual. She's beaming with all the support around her. 412 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 4: If I'd be a bit dog, Sara, wealthy, were wealthy? 413 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,719 Speaker 2: Donita thanks everyone for showing up at the court on 414 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 2: a weekday. She says they'll remain strong. People are cheering, 415 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 2: saying the club should be treated with respect. 416 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 8: Yeah. 417 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: Back at the Caribbean Social Club, next to the Dominant Stable, 418 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 2: where the veterans spend the afternoons, I meet Juan Diego'spina as, 419 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: a twenty seven year old Latino who recently started calling 420 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 2: the club home. Despite not being from Puerto Rico. He 421 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 2: was born in Colombia and has been living in New 422 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 2: York City for some eight years. Guandigo was having lunch 423 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 2: with a friend. He comes all the way from Queens 424 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 2: at least once a week to chat with Tonita. In 425 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen, a Columbian friend brought him here for the 426 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 2: first time. 427 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 15: So the first time I walked in here, it was 428 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 15: like a shock to me because I had been here 429 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 15: for like a year, like two years. Maybe it was 430 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 15: very different to walk in a place like this in 431 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 15: the middle of New York. You will never think that 432 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 15: place like this exists. 433 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 2: It was certainly a special place for Juan Diego. The 434 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 2: club became so central in his life in a way 435 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 2: he never expected. He met his girlfriend here five years ago. 436 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 2: He started collaborating with Tonita and organizing events at the club. 437 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 2: When he's here, he feels transported in time back to Colombia, 438 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 2: to what living in a Latin American country is like, 439 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 2: because here in New York, he feels that sometimes he 440 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 2: almost forgets about his Latin culture. Tunita's is becoming a 441 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 2: quote unquote cool place in a gentrifying neighborhood, and that 442 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 2: also means more young white people coming to Tonitas. It 443 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 2: is more noticeable on the weekend nights when the bar 444 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 2: gets crowded and more famous artists wanting to be seen, 445 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 2: like Madonna and the Colombian singer Maluma, who did a 446 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 2: photo shoot at the club for Rolling Stone magazine in 447 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 2: twenty twenty one. 448 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 13: For mop us This Baby, we came here to do business. 449 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 2: For young Latinis, Like Juan Diego, Tonita is a place 450 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 2: that feels like home and they want to protect it. 451 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 2: Do you feel like you're part of like a resistance 452 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 2: movement somehow? 453 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 15: Somehow? 454 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 9: It is? 455 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 15: Yeah, if you want to see it that way, it is. 456 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 15: But for most people it's just, you know, love. 457 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 2: It seems that over time, Tunita's opened its embrace from 458 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 2: welcoming Puerto Ricans and Dominicans to all the newly arrived 459 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 2: from Latin America at a time when their connection to 460 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 2: the roots is very different than it used to be. 461 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 15: I'm not Puerto Rican, but I feel Latino like everyone else. 462 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 15: So like, I feel like this place has taken on 463 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 15: all of the all of the different countries, and like 464 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 15: it's just like be together, have a drink with somebody else, 465 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 15: their mid their country, you know, their culture, and so yeah, 466 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 15: Latin like Latinidad something for sure. 467 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 2: The conversation with Juan Diego made me think about how 468 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 2: Tonitas hasn't lost its role as a safe haven for 469 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 2: latinas it has adapted to a new generation that is 470 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:56,959 Speaker 2: proud of its Latinidad in a more public way and 471 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 2: the values what came before them away in the back, Octavio, 472 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 2: the seventy eight year old man who comes every day, 473 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 2: is playing dominoes as usual. While we're chatting, he brings 474 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,359 Speaker 2: up something that worries him and. 475 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,280 Speaker 9: Man, okay you are you okay? 476 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 11: You? 477 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 5: Yeah? Yeah yeah. 478 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:36,720 Speaker 2: Donita is getting old. She's older than me, he says, 479 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:41,760 Speaker 2: and he wonders what's gonna happen with the club. Dounita 480 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 2: isn't married and she doesn't have any children. More than 481 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 2: the findes and the noise complaints, maybe the biggest existential 482 00:34:50,080 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 2: threat for the Caribbean Social Club isn't actually the new neighbors. 483 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 2: On June twenty second, three weeks after the first hearing, 484 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 2: this time in downtown Brooklyn, Tonita went back to the 485 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 2: court to face trial for the finds related to her 486 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 2: alcohol license violations. She wears a black blazer again, this 487 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:27,279 Speaker 2: time with a yellow shirt underneath. Her eye makeup is 488 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:33,360 Speaker 2: two coois and her lips magenta. This time, I'm surprised 489 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 2: that there are no crowds outside supporting Tonita. It's just 490 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 2: two of Tonita's friends, and then for media coverage there's Andresquerrero, 491 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 2: who's a columbun photographer, and myself. It takes hours for 492 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 2: Tonita to face the judge because her lawyer is late 493 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 2: past two pm. Tonita finally takes a stand. She's been 494 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 2: granted an adjoined and in contemplation of dismissal, which basically 495 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:05,720 Speaker 2: means that if for the next six months she receives 496 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 2: no complaints or fines, her case will be fully dismissed. 497 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:15,439 Speaker 5: Tinto con. 498 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 2: Tunita says she's proud of the resolution because it wasn't 499 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,279 Speaker 2: necessary to bother the social. 500 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:32,320 Speaker 6: Club the way they did in Los. 501 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:41,920 Speaker 16: And she adds that if it happens again in the future, 502 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:45,480 Speaker 16: which she hopes it won't, she continued to fight with 503 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:46,840 Speaker 16: the support of her community. 504 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,640 Speaker 2: Overall, Tunita says, it's been a good experience. 505 00:36:51,200 --> 00:37:01,880 Speaker 4: Yes, the law don't move on into Persia win. 506 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:05,680 Speaker 2: My colleague Andres also asks her about the future of 507 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:17,400 Speaker 2: the clubmos Clu as far as I'm alive, Tunita says, 508 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:27,080 Speaker 2: we will continue to be open. Last fall, a few 509 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:29,719 Speaker 2: months after the trial, I went to Tonita's on a 510 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:40,319 Speaker 2: Saturday night. The bar slash living room is packed, and 511 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:43,879 Speaker 2: even if it's cold outside here, it feels like we're 512 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:48,800 Speaker 2: in summary Puerto Rico. There are lots of young people, 513 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:54,440 Speaker 2: some couples the salsa reggaetona, lining up their favorite songs 514 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 2: in the jukebox. Most of them are Latinis, but as 515 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:01,400 Speaker 2: it gets later, more young white pa joined the dance floor, 516 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 2: trying to copy the experienced dancers. Others playpool in a 517 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 2: dangerous environment. Anyone could get hit by a stick at 518 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:13,520 Speaker 2: any time, but miraculously it doesn't happen or no one 519 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:17,840 Speaker 2: complains about it. Others play dominos, the never ending entertainment 520 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 2: at the club. There are also older people, like the 521 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:25,280 Speaker 2: man with yellow glasses everyone calls Elgato or the Cat. 522 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:37,320 Speaker 2: He says he's been coming to Tonitas for forty years. 523 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:43,359 Speaker 9: I love meet by. 524 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:51,240 Speaker 2: Elgato says his favorite thing about the club is the friendship. 525 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter where country you come from or your 526 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:58,360 Speaker 2: skin color. If you behave, he says, we will love you. 527 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:03,400 Speaker 2: Is in the very back, sitting on a stool behind 528 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:07,120 Speaker 2: the bar. As usual. This time, her fingers are covered 529 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,240 Speaker 2: in her animal rings, and yet she manages to open 530 00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 2: beer bottles and count dollar bills without any problem. She's 531 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 2: clearly in her element. Jesus, the night is going great. 532 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 2: Everyone is having fun and just filling at home. Fifty 533 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 2: years after she bought this building on Grand Street, Tonita 534 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:51,000 Speaker 2: is still opening its door every night. On my way 535 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 2: out of the club, trying to squeeze between the couples 536 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:57,400 Speaker 2: dancing salsa and the pool players and their sticks, someone 537 00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:00,239 Speaker 2: touches my shoulder. It's a friend I didn't ex back 538 00:40:00,280 --> 00:40:03,120 Speaker 2: to meet here. She convinces me to stay for a beer, 539 00:40:03,719 --> 00:40:06,840 Speaker 2: and the night just ends. Like all nights at Tonitas, 540 00:40:07,239 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 2: we drink, we dance, we sweat and have a lot 541 00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:18,959 Speaker 2: of fun. As Donald mar would sing in a song 542 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:23,360 Speaker 2: that will infallibly play every night at the club, Tonitas 543 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:34,800 Speaker 2: has survived yet another night. 544 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:49,200 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Marta Martinez, with additional reporting 545 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:53,239 Speaker 1: by Patricia Sulbran and ANDRESQ Guerrero. It was edited by 546 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:57,239 Speaker 1: Sarah White's Coded Check and mixed by Julia Caruso. In 547 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 1: fact checking for this episode by Roxanna Guire. The Latino 548 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:06,640 Speaker 1: USA team includes Victoria Strada, Rinaldo Leanoz Junior, Andrea Lopez Crusado, 549 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:10,560 Speaker 1: Dori mar Marquez, Mike Sargent, Nour Saudi and Nancy Trujillo. 550 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:14,520 Speaker 1: Benileei Ramirez is our co executive producer. Our director of 551 00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:18,520 Speaker 1: Engineering is Stephanie Lebau. Additional engineering support by Gabriel Lebiaz 552 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:23,000 Speaker 1: and JJ Carubin. Our marketing manager is Luis Luna. Our 553 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 1: theme music was composed by Sega Rubinos. I'm your host 554 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:29,160 Speaker 1: and executive producer Maria Jojosa. Join us again on our 555 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:32,200 Speaker 1: next episode. In the meantime, look for us on social media. 556 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:35,440 Speaker 1: I'll see you there. Como siempre not te lviidrez note 557 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:36,480 Speaker 1: ba yes baye. 558 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:45,319 Speaker 14: Latino USA is made possible in part by New York 559 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:50,040 Speaker 14: Women's Foundation. The New York Women's Foundation, funding women leaders 560 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:54,120 Speaker 14: that build solutions in their communities and celebrating thirty years 561 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:58,600 Speaker 14: of radical generosity, the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, 562 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:03,759 Speaker 14: and the Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on the front 563 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:09,600 Speaker 14: lines of social change worldwide.