An unexpected visit to Castle Hill yesterday afternoon prompted swirls of conversation in a neighborhood that rarely sees high profile visitors.
When presidential Republican candidate Donald Trump stopped at the Knockout Barbershop on Castle Hill Avenue for a haircut before attending a charity dinner, opinions were as mixed locally as they are nationally. His visit was a surprise to many, who wondered why local streets were being blocked off. Once they realized what was happening, many came out to support the native New Yorker. Others were not so happy with the visit.
Chants of “We want Trump!!” and “USA!” echoed from the crowd.
“I don’t really know who I’m voting for, but if I’m [voting for] Trump, it’s ’cause he’s trying to bring the ‘hood back,” said Castle Hill resident Darrly Wheatie. Wheatie appreciated that Trump used his power to help get rappers, such as Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, pardoned from their legal battles.
One Trump supporter in the crowd shouted words of encouragement, and aired his political views for all to hear.
“Show your love and support for a real president. Kamala Harris said she’s going to make a change, but she’s been vice president. What change has she done?”
But many in the crowd were not as enamored with their famous visitor.
“I feel he came to the Bronx for votes only, he didn’t come to the Bronx for the people,” said Manny Garcia. “Donald Trump is looking out for his billionaire friends. America needs to be united and strong the way it was before. Everyone should be able to afford the American dream, not just the rich. Once Donald Trump gets that into his head that’s when he should run for president.”
One longtime Bronx resident, Willie Colon, argued with Trump supporters. He shouted “This is the boogie down!” while forming an X with his arms, a sign many in the community use to indicated solidarity with the borough.
“That’s my biggest upset,” said Colon, pointing to sanitation trucks and NYPD squad cars. “Look at all that tax revenue that’s here to provide security for a man that doesn’t pay taxes. It’s disturbing.”
Sanitation trucks were parked on either side of the Castle Hill Avenue strip to block drivers from entering. Many area residents were stopped from getting where they needed to go during the shutdown of that key artery.
Parents complained that the detours imposed on them made them late for picking up their kids from school or getting to the 6 train. Public transportation was limited and or rerouted.
“Hello, people gotta get to work,” said Zulfadli Vigo. “People have kids they have to take to school. Like, I was half an hour late with my granddaughter this morning.”
Authorities forced some businesses to shut down for the day.
After his haircut, and Trump had left the neighborhood, there were mixed opinions about the visitor. Salah Almontaser the owner of Saba Quality Plus Deli, located next to Knockout barbershop, felt the heightened security measures were overkill.
“He closed my business since almost six in the morning and I didn’t mind it if he said hi, but now I’m really kind of pissed off,” said Almontaser, who said he lost a day’s worth of revenue. “I asked them if someone was going to pay me and they said no. I have three workers in there who I’m not going to be able to pay now. All this so he could get his haircut.”
“You completely disrupted our daily life just to come get a haircut in the community. The most you could’ve done was give a wave and go on about your day,” said resident William Bell.
“At least a wave out the window would have sufficed,” said Vigo, nodding in agreement. “Acknowledge us, we’re not peons.”
“He wants his Latino votes but he hasn’t eaten rice and beans with sofrito,” she added in Spanish. “He needs some sazon in his life, maybe then he’ll get his Latino votes.”
Javiel Rodriguez Jr., the owner of Knockout Barbershop was excited about Trump’s visit to his shop.
“It isn’t everyday that you get a former president to come to your establishment,” said Rodriguez, who added that he used the visit as an opportunity to inform the Republican presidential candidate about needs felt in the community, such as investment in education and youth.
“I’m proud of being a Puerto Rican out here in the Bronx in Castle Hill and being chosen out of the many barbershops and other establishments that could have been,” said Rodriguez.
Editor’s note: Readers have pointed out on our Instagram account that Castle Hill is not typically referred to as part of the South Bronx. As a result, we changed the headline. Also, the name of the barbershop owner has been corrected.
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