Little Italy's Mexican Persuasion

This transition is a microcosm of the demographic shift throughout the rest of the U.S., according to this piece from The New York Times.

"As the ranks of Mexicans in New York have exploded in recent decades, their impact on neighborhoods where they have settled in the largest numbers has been well documented, like East Harlem, Mott Haven in the South Bronx, and Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

But Belmont offers a glimpse of how Mexicans are gaining a foothold in other parts of the city that are less clearly labeled and where their numbers are far smaller. Slowly and quietly, the neighborhood's Mexican population appears to have reached the cusp of a breakthrough, injecting new life into the area, placing demands on its services and challenging the old ways."