☞ INTRODUCING: Signs of Change in East Harlem

The many small shops in East Harlem's 116th Street corridor have been serving up Mexican fare as the demographics of the neighborhood shifts and many of the flags in the neighborhood have now reflected the new community that makes up the majority in El Barrio.  Green, red and white Mexican flags can now be seen on the 116th Street between Second and Third Avenue along with many storefronts that have awnings in the same color.  So what happened to the old El Barrio that has been associated with East Harlem for the latter half of the 20th century? Apparently much of the Puerto Rican population has followed the steps of the former majority Italians and moved to the suburbs in recent years: LINK.  This demographic shift has by far been the most dramatic in greater Harlem but probably has been the least covered.