Hi, my name's [?] Boni, I'm a Ugandan, I moved to the United States about five years ago and so that means I'm five years nine in the United States, which means, me, I'm a citizen right now. Um, yeah, I think I live in quite a very quiet neighborhood, which is good.

You've been living in this City Heights neighborhood since when you came to the United States?

Yeah. Right now I'm on 54th street, before I was on 51st street. Just a couple of blocks down the road, pretty much around City Heights.

What was your first impression when you came to City Heights?

I think something that was really very surprising to me was multi-culture community around City Heights. Meeting people from Africa, meeting people from Asia, meeting people from Mexico, I think it kind of showed me how diverse City Heights is, having people from different part of the world, different part of the continent, so I think that kind of gave me an impression that this a place that welcomes people from all parts of the world.

And have you ever tried to move out of this community?

Um, [?] few friends around within City Heights, some I do work with them in the same work location. Considering moving out of San Diego, it hasn't been in my thoughts, I don't know when that will come across my mind, for now, yeah, I'm in San Diego, and still within City Heights.

Why would not you move out of City Heights?

I think the diversity of you know, various cultures, they give you a sense of a diverse community, a diverse culture. That way, you feel that you are not alone in a community like this. There are people from different culture, different ethnic group, different languages and dialects who live around a community like this, City Heights.

What about the community getting involved in like, politics and voting and stuff? How do you feel about it?

I believe it is the right of every citizen to take part in political forums and let their voice be heard through casting their votes. It's something that, you know, it's a role that every citizen should play. I'm not, pretty much, been involved in political rallies, campaigns, things like that, but I was happy to cast my first vote during the primary election.

What do you think about the community public service that we get over here? Do you think the City is slow to work around the City Heights neighborhood, like constructing roads, and public park, and stuff like that?

I think, for the first two years that I was here, I witnessed like, slow road maintenance, 'til the current mayor, Faulconer, took over the office, and I think he's doing a very good job. We are seeing construction every now and then. Every road is at least trying to get things patched up, and if you look at El Cajon Boulevard street, right now it is under repair, some part is done. It is something that I see in a very positive way, that the City is paying attention to this neighborhood, City Heights. So, you know, I would like to extend my gratitude to the city mayor for his work, the work he is doing, I believe he is listening to people who voted for him. He is doing the right thing I believe. I did, I voted for him. Hopefully, this new term, he is continuing with the office is going to do more work.

Talking about the diversity, about here, what are the cultural restaurants you have been to, and ate their food?

I love Asian food. I think….I like pho, which is a Vietnamese food, it's called pho. I mean, among the others, there are very many delicious foods. YOU have the Flavor of East Africa, down on El Cajon Boulevard, I think after Texas Street, on El Cajon Boulevard, then you have Ethiopian restaurants, then you have you know, the Mexican restaurants. City Heights is actually, it's a community that has comprised with so, so many small businesses, you know, every ethnicity has its own business. People have you know, come up with various forms of self-employment through businesses like restaurants, taco shops, things like that. I enjoy food around, I do try various food, and it's very good.

Talking about the food, and self-employment thing, do you find like they provide healthy food and healthy vegetables in the grocery stores?

I believe the citizens of San Diego, city, county, I believe they have a very strong policy on public safety, and not only on road traffic but on food and beverages that's sold out to the public. And I think those regulations and policies have kind of enforced the standards, the standards and the qualities of the food that's being sold in the market, or in the restaurant. I believe every restaurant must have score a straight A for them to meet the standard of the city, to be open, otherwise, everything below A, they will close down the business. Pretty much, it's safe restaurants, very safe food. Anything out of code, it will be taken down. That's what I've seen so far, and I think it's something that.

And do you feel safe around the environment, around the community, walking by yourself?

Um, I haven't really had any problem for the last couple of years. I have, what is unfolding recently, it is really heartbreaking, also violence, police violence, police brutality towards you know, minority groups of people. I think if you check on, sometimes you will see on the news, you know, the percentage of African-American being stopped by police on the street, all the Latino percentage being stopped by police on the street, versus, the you know, the white community, it's kind of, brings a lot of unanswered questions into your mind, and you know, things that personally, I don't have control over it, you know? But it's sad to see that part. What's it called, racial profiling. Personally I don't know how to talk about it, but it's something that you see on the news, and it brings sadness in you, something that you shouldn't expect in a diverse community like this, you know. So I think that's all I can say about that.

And then, in the past few years and now, what are the changes that you see in this City Heights community?

Well, I did mention about road constructions, which is something which is really good, for a city to operate efficiently, there must be a good transport network, and I think that is really good, I have seen the MTS buses and trolleys, of course, we don't see the trolleys around here, but we do see the buses, which run I think every fifteen minutes? Something like that. That's something really good for a city, and what else? And you know, before my coming here, I've learned that in the past it used to be quite a bad neighborhood, where people could not really walk at night, and things like that, but right now, people walk freely. You can walk midnight, you can walk anytime. I believe those are positive sights that we do see.

And how about the living cost and living standard? Is it like, affordable, how do you feel about it?

Well, generally, I think it's expensive, not only City Heights but California itself. The cost of living is a little bit high compared to different states, so that brings us down to City Heights. I think the cost of living is a little bit high compared to some other cities outside, you know, so you know, if someone is to have a meal outside, a restaurant or things like that, it could cost you like, probably, maybe, ten to fifteen dollars, even twenty for a meal that could be, that is more than, an hour someone has been working for, it's a lot more than that. But people do get along with it and I believe, that's how the set-up is like. I don't have an opinion to put on that. But the cost of living is a little high, yeah.

And how would you describe City Heights community to someone who has never been here before?

City Heights community, it's a very diverse community. You meet people from different race, from different ethnicity. And so, it's a good, in a good way not a bad way, that people from different corners of the world are living within one city or one community. That kind of tells you about a lot, that people are putting up with each other in a good way. So I'm pretty happy with that, I'd recommend it to people. About safety, it is not like in the past, I haven't witnessed anything wrong, so maybe some of the people have had anything but you know, it has been so far safe, and is something I would recommend. It's a beautiful city.

Thank you.