The federal government's empowerment zone program will provide $51 million over 10 years to areas in the South Bronx and upper Manhattan dominated by high unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and decayed housing. But reactions in the borough neighborhoods included in the plan -- Hunts Point, Longwood and Port Morris -- are mixed.
While some residents say they are hopeful, others say they doubt the money will ever arrive.
"The politicians talk about one thing and do another," said Willy Smith, 36, a Hunts Point resident. "They don't help us. Only about four or five people in my building have jobs. The rest sell drugs or send out their girlfriends as hookers."
The plan would provide money for job training, adult education, improved housing, family support services and grants to people who want to open small businesses, providing that they hire neighborhood residents.
"That's fine with me," said Felix Santiago, 19, a Hunts Point resident who is trying to open an electronics shop on Southern Boulevard with his brother-in-law.
"We went to the place near Yankee Stadium to apply for the program, and the EZ people said they'd give us whatever we need to start," he said. "I think it's good to help people who don't have their own money to open a place."
Samuel Cordon of Hunts Point said that he had not heard of the empowerment zone program, but that such a plan could help him and his family.
"I need more employment," he said. "I worked in a brass factory in New Jersey for 11 years, but it closed. I have no job now, and I don't know where to go."
Cordon, 50, said he came to the borough from Guatemala 25 years ago, looking for a better life. Although he's not happy at the moment, the plan gives him hope.
"The idea is magnificent, because it doesn't look good for this community," he said. Although the neighborhood has improved in the last 10 years, abandoned buildings, guns and drugs are still on the streets.
"I don't know," said Cordon. "It's very bad here. Maybe I'll move to Houston."
Edwin Olavarria, 44, a pastor at Mount Sinai Christian Church on Coster Street, said many of the 100 people in his congregation are unemployed, illiterate or work in jobs that require few skills.
"Both the old and the young can't read," he said. "When I look for work for the people in my church, I can't find it. The only jobs available around here are loading and unloading trucks at the Hunts Point Market."
Part of the money would go toward youth programs in job training, counseling and internships. Miguel Rivera, 15, a Hunts Point resident and student at Intermediate School 174 on White Plains Road, said he and his friends would appreciate that.
"It would be good to have more after-school and job training programs," he said. "Too many kids are out on the street."
Pauline Callistro, 36, a Longwood resident since childhood, said she is familiar with the empowerment zone program and is happy about it.
"If it's gonna help uplift the neighborhood then I'm with it," she said. "They did something like that two decades ago, came around and asked us if we'd like to preserve these buildings. Then later on these were the only ones standing," she added, referring to her building at 784 Fox Street and those adjoining it.
Callistro said she hopes to see long-closed buildings, like the abandoned synagogue on Fox Street, reopened for business.
"I'd like to see the area get rebuilt," she said. "It's gotten better but there's more to be done."