Nilda Tirado, Full Interview

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Collection: Queens Memory Project Collection at Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives: Nilda Tirado

Date: Time Period: 1950 - 2010; 2010-06-23; Interview recorded: June 23 2010 Material: Digital audio recording made using TASCAM DR-07 digital recorder and Hindenburg. Dimension: Total running time: 1:30:33

Creator: Nilda Tirado interviewed by Natalie Milbrodt Identifier: aql:20467 tirado_nilda_full

Description: Nilda Tirado has lived with her mother and sister in the Waldheim neighborhood in Flushing since 1972 when she and her sister Rosa Tirado bought their house. This was due in part to an anti-discrimination law that had just passed, allowing women to get mortgages. They were the first Puerto Rican family in the neighborhood at a time when Ms. Tirado believes Puerto Ricans had a bad reputation in New York City. After a cautious beginning, their neighbors soon accepted the Tirados as part of the community. There are major conflicts around the increase in development in the area, the razing of houses, building of condos, and subway cuts. Ms. Tirado has experienced aggressive real estate developers who try to buy her house and encroach upon her property. Other changes occurring in the area include heavier traffic congestion on Main Street. Ms. Tirado participates in her local community board to address these issues and advocate for improvements that will serve the people, not the developers. Other changes are due to waves of immigration in the area. Currently there are many Asian immigrants who own local businesses. Ms. Tirado says residents are frustrated when shopping at these stores because the signs are not in English and they are told varying prices of goods. However, she says that diversity is good for the area and is one of the aspects of Flushing that she likes. Although Ms. Tirado is not in favor of many of the changes happening in Flushing, she has not considered moving because she owns her house, likes the hospitals, and takes her aunt to church nearby. She voices concerns about the future and worries that there is a lack of infrastructure and planning to support the increasing population. This interview with Nilda Tirado was recorded in the family’s kitchen with Rosa Tirado and their mother, Carmen Miranda sitting at the table, listening. They are sometimes audible in the recording.

Title : Nilda Tirado, Full Interview

Collection : aql:20455; aql:20683

Creator : Nilda Tirado interviewed by Natalie Milbrodt

Date : Time Period: 1950 - 2010; 2010-06-23; Interview recorded: June 23 2010

Summary/Description : Nilda Tirado has lived with her mother and sister in the Waldheim neighborhood in Flushing since 1972 when she and her sister Rosa Tirado bought their house. This was due in part to an anti-discrimination law that had just passed, allowing women to get mortgages. They were the first Puerto Rican family in the neighborhood at a time when Ms. Tirado believes Puerto Ricans had a bad reputation in New York City. After a cautious beginning, their neighbors soon accepted the Tirados as part of the community. There are major conflicts around the increase in development in the area, the razing of houses, building of condos, and subway cuts. Ms. Tirado has experienced aggressive real estate developers who try to buy her house and encroach upon her property. Other changes occurring in the area include heavier traffic congestion on Main Street. Ms. Tirado participates in her local community board to address these issues and advocate for improvements that will serve the people, not the developers. Other changes are due to waves of immigration in the area. Currently there are many Asian immigrants who own local businesses. Ms. Tirado says residents are frustrated when shopping at these stores because the signs are not in English and they are told varying prices of goods. However, she says that diversity is good for the area and is one of the aspects of Flushing that she likes. Although Ms. Tirado is not in favor of many of the changes happening in Flushing, she has not considered moving because she owns her house, likes the hospitals, and takes her aunt to church nearby. She voices concerns about the future and worries that there is a lack of infrastructure and planning to support the increasing population. This interview with Nilda Tirado was recorded in the family’s kitchen with Rosa Tirado and their mother, Carmen Miranda sitting at the table, listening. They are sometimes audible in the recording.

Subject : Real estate development; Immigrants; Puerto Rican women; Community activists; City council members; Motion picture theaters; Asian Americans; Hispanic Americans; Minority students; Moving, Household; Rent subsidies; St. Michael's Church (Flushing, New York, N.Y.); Waldheim Neighborhood Association; Prospect Theatre

Relation : Queens Memory Project Collection at Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives: Nilda Tirado

Rights : This recording is the property of Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives. Please contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.

Coverage : Locations discussed: Waldheim, Flushing, Queens, NY Flushing (New York, N.Y.) Queens (New York, N.Y.)

Type : Oral history

Format : Digital audio recording made using TASCAM DR-07 digital recorder and Hindenburg.; Total running time: 1:30:33

Identifier : aql:20467 tirado_nilda_full

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Subject:
Real estate development; Immigrants; Puerto Rican women; Community activists; City council members; Motion picture theaters; Asian Americans; Hispanic Americans; Minority students; Moving, Household; Rent subsidies; St. Michael's Church (Flushing, New York, N.Y.); Waldheim Neighborhood Association; Prospect Theatre