They say hello back, but that's all. Everyone has more than one job, so people are in and out all the time. It's rare that everyone is there together, but there's always someone there. The apartment is probably temporary. The roommate who signed the lease decided that's too much, and he's looking for another apartment in Jamaica Plain, Chelsea or out in Waltham, where rents are lower and the buildings sounder.
Some people see problems in the new migration.
As their numbers grew, they started competing for housing with students, driving up rent. It welcomes new immigrants the same way it made room for the Irish, Italians and Puerto Ricans. The immigrants that come here from Latin America have a good work ethic. He's opposed to the idea of new immigrants, particularly illegal immigrants, on welfare. But he's equally opposed to exploitation, especially when it comes to pay.