A mid-day visit to Pilsen

I spent a few hours walking around, driving around, and hanging around in Pilsen earlier today, in search of the changing demographic that some have reported there.

I saw little visible evidence of change in any part of Pilsen, although one gentleman attributed that to the newcomers staying inside until two, about the time I left Pilsen.

I chatted briefly with a number of people, and at some length with Pilsen native Robert Martinez, who reports that the changes in Pilsen are real and significant, and that the eastern part of Pilsen is seeing an influx of younger non-Mexicans. The community is equally divided, said Martinez, on the issue of gentrification. His view is that Pilsen “belongs to everyone.” Martinez recently ran a relatively close (41-33 by his report) race against Danny Solis for 25th Ward Democratic Committeeman.

I’ll post more video from Pilsen, later.

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