The New Yorker, June 30, 1975 P. 94
U.S. JOURNAL: UNION CITY, N.J., about immigration, specifically the Cubans in Union City, one of half a dozen cities in Hudson Co., one mass of blue-collar sprawl across the Hudson from midtown Manhattan. Union City has, by percentage, more Cubans than any other city in America- about 65% with West New York, a contiguous city. When they first came, in the early 60s, Union City had been losing population for years, & they were welcomed. At that time it was mainly Italian, but even the Italians were leaving. Cubans are spoken of as having "saved" the city from death. Bergenline Ave., the main street, has been revitalized, though one of the complaints of the non-Cuban minority is the predominance of the Spanish language, in streets, stores, schools. Many feel that the process of Americanization cannot and should not be short-cut by such things as bilingualism in schools & newspapers-unheard-of in the days of earlier immigrants- Jews, Irish, Armenians, Italians. But in fact the Cubans are more often compared to the Puerto Ricans of Hoboken & the blacks of Jersey City; writer says perhaps they are seen as having saved the city not from death but from Puerto Ricans. Mayor Bill Musto, in the tradition of Democratic-machine politicians, welcomes immigrants, calling them all Americans. He has several Cuban assistants on his staff & in other city jobs.
