Peggy Benitez Interview 08/09/2025
Photo by Randi Rosenblum
Peggy Benitez Interview Transcript:
NATASHA: Hello, I am Natasha Fearon and I'm here with Peggy Benitez at the Park Slope Old Timers Reunion at 4th Street and 6th Avenue on Saturday, August 9th, 2025. Can you please spell your name for me, please?
PEGGY: Sure, it's P-E-G-G-Y B-E-N-I-T-E-Z.
NATASHA: What is your relationship to Park Slope or to Brooklyn?
PEGGY: I was born and raised in Park Slope. I am still living in Park Slope, and I love Park Slope. I'm not going anywhere.
NATASHA: Do you have a particularly powerful or important memory of Park Slope or Brooklyn you'd like to share?
PEGGY: Well, the beautiful thing growing up in Brooklyn is there was no color. And it was so many. There was Black. There was white. There was Hispanic. There was Chinese. It's just, everybody got along. And it was just so beautiful. And everybody was like family, you know. I mean, of course, you had your people that had their little bickering and stuff. But it was just such a nice place growing up. And we would have so much fun. We had so much fun. We would play outside. You know, I remember everybody had a beer when the lights went on and just playing Scullies (Skellys?) and playing all kind of different things, double dutch, and it was just so nice. It was really nice. And everyone loved and respected each other, which makes such a difference now.
NATASHA: Why did you decide to come to Park Slope Old Timers Reunion today?
PEGGY: To see my beautiful people. See my beautiful people, I miss them. You know, everybody is like, you know, moved and stuff. And it's just nice to come and see everybody and spend some time and enjoy each other's company.
NATASHA: What are some things you think more people should know about Park Slope or Brooklyn based on your own experience?
PEGGY: I mean it has changed a lot over the years but it's still a beautiful place to live. You know it's very peaceful. You know it's still, it's not as diversified as it was years ago but it's just a nice area. You know everyone gets along and like I said, a lot of people left, but it's still a beautiful place to live. The schools are great. You know, everything is like– the hospital. Everything is like in the area. Everything's very convenient. The subway, the buses.
NATASHA: What are your hopes for the future of the neighborhood and Brooklyn? What are your hopes for the future of the neighborhood and Brooklyn?
PEGGY: Well I just hope that in the future it continues being as nice as it is, and um you know, I mean the prices out here is just a little crazy but that maybe somehow it'd be more affordable for people to come and move back. Because I know a lot of people that left, they would really love to come back here. You know, so, that’s really it.
NATASHA: Thank you.
PEGGY: You're welcome.