Youth reporter Sylvester Foley speaks to Mayor Eric Garcetti about his plans beyond the campaign.
Boyle Heights Beat: How does your identity provide you with a more insightful perspective of Boyle Heights’ unique culture?
Garcetti: I wouldn’t be possible without Boyle Heights. My family came here first. This was the gateway community that my family lived in. Actually, this last year using ancestry.com and Google maps, we were able to go through all the homes that they lived in here in Boyle Heights. Both my Mexican and Jewish ancestors settled here, and I’m very proud of that.
I’ve always loved Boyle Heights, even as a little kid. When people asked me where I’m from,–I never grew up in Boyle Heights myself””but I’d always say I was from Boyle Heights because I had that pride about this place. To me, it’s kind of like the seed that was planted for the flower that blossomed that is my family history.
