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Oh, a lot of families were Muslims. A lot of families were participating in everything. Yeah, they were taking advantage of the resources, like the Muslims have a lot of social services connected with their program, you know, and they used to give away things. They don't do it so much any more, but they were very generous at times, and they used to give out clothing and food, and everybody went up to 116th St. It was not an unusual thing to do.

You have mentioned getting some of the government money, of course, but has Northside had any liaisons with political figures, other than those that might have been in the funding agencies?

Not really. No. Not in Northside as such, I would say. Political figures have been very important to us, to our development. Very important.

Which ones would you say were the key ones?

I think the governor's office has been key. The governor's office has been key because we've been trying to do some things, like get this plaza up here, from the time of Wagner's administration, and we never got to first base with Wagner. We never got to first base with Lindsay. But Governor Rockefeller's office has been very favorable to what we've been trying to do. I can't say the same thing about Carey, but I can't say he's been negative.

Have you ever had any personal meetings, face to face meetings, wigh Governor Rockefeller?