ASTORIA, N.Y. – All across the United States Greek-Americans are feeling the effects of the ongoing financial crisis in Greece. Greek Chicagoans, a community of more than 300,000, are trying to adapt to the ensuing crisis.

Locals are worrying about their families and properties in Greece. Victoria Sdoukos and her mother have actually cancelled renovations on their family home in Greece because of the crisis.

Sdoukos says, “You don’t know if the work is going to get done people are suffering right now and it may very well be the case they’ll take the money and you won’t hear from them.”

In Astoria, the Greek epicenter, many are torn between the decision to say yes or no to the Referendum. Maria Kyprianides, a 29-year-old Greek resident who has family in Greece says, “People can’t go on like this anymore, it’s like having a knife to your throat.”

Neoklys Melis, 40, is now working at Cafe Bolis in Queens. Just weeks ago he decided to close his mechanics shop in Greece and move his family to New York.

Melis says, “You know, you just work to break even. You need to do something in your life, and I have a family, so I came here.” Konstantisnos Platis, the owner of Tastee Corner, seems to be just as stuck as every other Greek-American. Platis says, “I don’t know who to believe, which side to believe now. The people are optimistic, but the people are pessimistic too.”