Post-Election Feelings from the Residents of Cypress Hills

In the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump ran vigorous campaigns that captivated the nation’s attention. After Trump’s victory on November 5, residents of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, have sparked mixed emotions among residents, where immigration and the economy emerged as the most pressing concerns for voters. 

Donna Maynard, a 60-year-old longtime resident of Cypress Hills, voted for the Republican nominee and was ecstatic about his victory. “That’s who I wanted to win, and that’s who won,” Maynard said. “I think Trump was the best decision because he will put his foot down on the migrant issue, unlike Biden and Kamala. You have them coming into this country and taking advantage of what we have to offer. They get more help than me, who’s an American citizen!” Maynard echoed the sentiments of many who believe the Biden administration mishandled the migrant crisis. 

The Biden administration’s approach to immigration swayed many voters toward Trump. They feared Harris would continue Biden’s policies, which they deemed inadequate in addressing the issue. 

During Biden’s presidency, more than 1.7 million undocumented immigrants crossed the U.S. border, according to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). According to another report by the CBO, $16.2 billion in taxpayer dollars has been allocated to Medicaid spending on immigrants, sparking outrage among Americans who believe the government is overly generous to immigrants while neglecting citizens. 

“I had to go through so many processes and pay a whole bunch of fees to gain my citizenship when I came from Trinidad, and they get to come here for free and eat, drink, and live off the money I work so hard to earn for my kids,” said Roseanne Landry, a 38-year-old single mother of three who lives in the Cypress Hills Houses. “I applied for food stamps so many times and got denied because I was supposedly making too much, and they’re just given it.” 

While immigration was a pivotal issue, concerns about the economy also weighed heavily on voters. Raj Druhpal, a 24-year-old college student at Borough of Manhattan Community College and part-time cashier at Foot Locker, expressed his fears. “I’m scared that once Trump takes office, prices on everything will just go up—like clothing, food, toiletries,” he added, “It’s already hard enough helping my mom with the bills, and I don’t want to have to take extra shifts while juggling school.” 

Trump has stated that on his first day in office, he plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, the U.S.’s top trading partner. These measures are expected to raise costs for American businesses and consumers. 

Abesh Singh, who owns a local 99-cent store, shared his concerns. “I am definitely scared of the tariffs Trump plans to impose. We buy all our stuff from wholesale warehouses that import from places like India and China,” Singh said, “It’s going to be hard to get commodities when you can’t even make a profit with business as slow as it is.” 

Eighteen-year-old Destiny Johnson also expressed frustration. “Have you seen the prices for hair products? A small bottle of edge control used to be $2.00; now it’s almost $8,” she said, “Inflation is already high, and I hate to see what those prices will look like once Trump takes office.”

The range of reactions and concerns from the Cypress Hills community reflects the broader national mood. Immigration and the economy were decisive issues for many voters, and as the country looks ahead to January, Americans can only wait to see how the newly elected president will address these challenges.