This month, Natural Selections features Linden Clement Baynes, Security Guard at The Rockefeller University
Country of Origin: Guyana

1. How long have you been living in New York?

23 years.

2. Where do you live?

I live in Brooklyn—in a very diverse neighborhood.

3. What is your favorite neighborhood?

My favorite neighborhood is in Bedford Stuyvesant, specifically around Fulton and Hull Streets where there are new housing developments.

4. What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated?

Underrated: I think that many people from out of state think that New Yorkers are rude and stuck up. When the opportunity arises, they will see that New Yorkers come together and try to help and improve the situation (for example, the events of 9/11). New Yorkers are actually very helpful and very nice.

Overrated: I think the pizza in New York is overrated, because I have had pizza outside of New York and it is just as good and sometimes better.

5. What do you miss most when you are out of town?

What I miss most is that outside of New York City transportation is much more difficult—especially at night. In NYC, transportation is very efficient. In many places outside of NYC you need a car to go anywhere, but in NYC you don’t really need a car.

6. If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be?

If I could change something I would lower the rents and taxes in NYC.

7. Describe a perfect weekend in NYC.

Taking friends and family to Coney Island in the summer. Coney Island has the water, the rides, Nathan’s, the Aquarium…..There is just so much to do there, and there is not enough time to do everything in Coney Island.

8. What is the most memorable experience you have had in NYC?

The most memorable experience that I have had in NYC were the events of 9/11.

9. If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

If I could live anywhere it would be in Pennsylvania, because it is quieter, it’s in close proximity to NYC, the homes are more spacious, and the change of seasons in Pennsylvania is especially breathtaking.

10. Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why?

Yes, I would consider myself to be a New Yorker because I’ve been living here for so long.