HECTOR “MACHO” CAMACHO, 58, BROWNSVILLE

Despite Sarah Palin’s recent reneging on the Alaskan governorship, Hector Camacho–who doesn’t mind sharing his name with the famous boxer—still thinks the ex-governor should be told she’s a smart, nice-looking woman. And while the former gang-member didn’t vote for her last year, he did speculate that Palin would nonetheless garner respect and courtesy from Williamsburg street-gangs–should she ever decide to visit.

Is Sarah Palin a “fighter” or a “quitter”?

I think she’s a fighter, a very good fighter.

But you didn’t vote for her.

No, I didn’t, but I think she’s a very good person. Very smart.

You’re the only Obama-voter who says she’s smart.

She is very educated.

What did you think when she said Africa was a country?

It is.

Africa is a country?

Africa is a country.

Uh, OK. Do you think of Sarah Palin as a rags-to-riches story, not unlike that of the RZA, the GZA, and Mike Tyson–all of whom are native Brownsville residents?

Yes, I do. As a matter of fact I think that’s a very good way to look at it. There’s a sparkle about her.

Did you think it was appropriate how everybody was talking about how hot she is?

Sure. Why can’t you tell a pretty, nice-looking woman that?

Like many Alaskans, the “First Dude” Todd Palin once had ties to the Alaska Independence Party. New York City has had similar separatist movements.

I’ve heard about that. To be honest with you, I love that. I think it’s great.

Would you want New York City to be its own state? How about making Long Island its own country?

I would leave them as they are.

So you’d keep upstate New York? Because that’s how it is now.

I think it’s great the way it is.

I thought you said the NYC separatist movement was a good idea.

OK, in certain aspects, separating would be good for the city. State taxes, reforms, hospitalization—stuff like that. Welfare–anything to help the people. I think if the state is not willing to help the people, it is not a great state. New York City shouldn’t be its own country. It should stay the way it is. I grew up in Williamsburg. It’s different now. When I was a kid, it was great. I remember the kids used to play stickball in the street. We used to go swimming. What you got now is a lot of street gangs in Williamsburg.

Yeah?

Yeah, and a lot of violence.

People say that about Brownsville.

Over here, too, but not as much as Williamsburg—there it’s worse. I grew up there. I know how it is. I still go in and out—I still have family out there who own houses and property. But I moved out. I wanted to change, I wanted a different environment. The city is great. I love it. There are so many people here from different cultures, different languages.

Do you think Sarah Palin would feel safe walking around Brownville and Williamsburg?

I think so.

Even with the street gangs?

Yeah, the street gangs. Why not? They respect people.

Right. Sometimes they get violent, though.

Yeah, but they’re violent against each other. Why? I have no idea. I used to be in a street gang myself. We were called the Unknown Bikers. We were adolescents on bicycles. Now that I’m older, I think about it. The only reason I joined was because we need to belong to something, because if not, you’re in trouble. OK, there was a lot of muggings back then. They would point you out and say, “Let’s take this guy—he doesn’t have anybody to back him up.” When I was growing up in a street gang, I respected everybody, and I did not steal anything from anybody. I would take what was mine. If it was not mine I would not touch it.

That seems like a pretty boring street gang.

Well, we’d fight against each other, Puerto Ricans against Puerto Ricans. I didn’t think about it at the time, but now it doesn’t make any sense.

Would it have made more sense if the Puerto Ricans fought black people?

No, not even then. Why would people be fighting? There are still street gangs, but now they’re more violent. Street gangs were a little friendlier before. I knew all of them—everybody who was involved. You’ve got good persons, and you’ve got bad persons who’ve got influence over other people and mix up their minds.

What’s the worst thing you’ve seen somebody do to another person?

OK. I seen a guy walking on the street with his girlfriend when he got held by three or four guys and they started pushing his girlfriend around. Me and a friend came around the corner. Even though we didn’t know the guy, we helped the couple out and chased the guys off.

Did you guys use weapons?

Yes. Guns, knives.

Have you ever shot somebody?

Well, I’ve been shot at—thank God I was never hit. I’ve shot at other people, and thank God I was a bad shot. I’m glad I didn’t hit anybody because then I probably wouldn’t be here.

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