Acknowledgements

In 2015 when I was teaching at John Jay College a student asked me what car I was driving and I responded, “a Lexus.” He smiled and nodded his approval and a classmate said, “so you’ve made it Professor.” I laughed and said, “well, it’s a good car. But you know when you google me, you’ll see what I’ve accomplished, but you won’t see what I wanted to do but didn’t. My dream has always been to publish a book.” They were stunned to learn that I had an unfulfilled dream and asked the logical follow up question: why? That was the jump start I needed. I wanted to do this for them, so that they could have stories to read about us, them, their families, and our ancestors.

I want to thank my sister/friend Sandra Guzman for always being there to read every version and ask tough questions. Evelyn Hernandez for helping me organize the files and stories 20 years ago! Thank you to Esmeralda Santiago, who is the madrina of this book in every sense. To take time out of her amazing life to read my words and give me her feedback over and over is truly special.

Friends who agreed to read the earliest and longest version of Bronx Attitude were Simone Bikel Allmond, Laraine Batis Gelpi, Eunice Levis, Peggy Robles-Alvarado and Vasthi Reyes Acosta. I am grateful for your time and your support and all your check-ins. Cynthia Lopez for your encouragement.

Thank you to my sister, Laly, and cousin Eliana for helping me remember the stories. And to Ralph Saltares for family photos of Wheeler Avenue and for taking care of Titi Delia. Special shout out to my prima/hermana Lizzie for her pure love and for being 30 days older than me, thereby always cushioning the fall.

Shout out to my cousins on the Rosado side – Pucho aka Andres Rosado, Daisy Tosado, and Lissy & Heidie my beautiful primas in Puerto Rico whose support means everything to me. To all my family in Caguas, Puerto Rico and to my padrino, Tio Andrés, my favorite uncle and literary fan. And to Titi Toya, por creer en mi.

Thank you to my El Diario dream team Jorge Ayala, Ingrid Jimenez, Drago Kostich, Maggie Castro, Erica Gonzalez, Nelson Rodriguez, Denny Peña, Marshal Genger and so many others. Also, Pamela Stone Balfour, Gerson Borrero and Ruth Noemi Colon.

Thank you to my amazing team & colleagues in public service: Joe, Annette, Dean, Adam, Larry, Dana, & Amy. You truly are the wind beneath my wings.

I wrote this book for my family, so that they would know the stories of our people. To my cousins who grew up with me on Wheeler Avenue. To my nibblings – Ejay, Mark, Gabriel, Christian, Aaron, Daniel, Louis and Ash and my brothers Ricardo and Ricky. And to my bonus daughter Rachel and grandkids Chloe & Julian. I am grateful to my parents, Luz & Enrique for giving us unconditional love and stability. For believing in family and being amazing grandparents to the next gen.

Gracias to my nucleus – Jaime, Jay, Ariana. Amanda & Andy. I love you dearly.

To the book team: everyone at Halo Publishing, Lisa Umina, Fernanda Ramirez, Camila Del Aguila and Elisa Ayala. You have made this process a dream. And Jorge Ayala for connecting me with them.

Thank you to Jorge Cano-Moreno for coming back into my life when you knew I needed you and pulling together my book promo team.

And to Ariluz and Larry Davis.

Ariluz – you have been with me every step of the way and I am eternally grateful for having a daughter who is also a bff. Te adoro.

Finally, to all the elders who lifted me up and pushed me to make my mark in the world. And to Journalism and New York City’s journalists and working press for over 30 years of pure joy in covering this town, my hometown. To The Bronx – 4 evah!