Queens, NY —

News that Cuban leader Fidel Castro has temporarily relinquished power following intestinal surgery has some New York Cubans hoping he will never return to power. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports:

At a Cuban restaurant in Queens, there was no sympathy for Castro. A man who would only give his name as Mr. Macelli expressed the sentiments of several staff and patrons born in Cuba.

MACELLI: My wish is that he finish with his life and leave the people alone and letting people live like a human being.

REPORTER: Next door at a Cuban Bakery, Julio Garcia, a soft-spoken man in his sixties said he was imprisoned by Castro and the news has made him emotional:

GARCIA: I even get sad sometimes thinking about it. It give me the memories of all the years we suffered through him, give me memories of when I have to leave Cuba because of him.

REPORTER: Fidel Castro has been in power since 1959. His 75 year old brother will take over while he recovers. For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez