“People are having a hard time finding jobs. I know students that have graduated and can’t find jobs in the field they were hoping to go into. I know several student teachers they go on for their master’s cause they can’t find a job and they end up with their masters and they still can’t find a job.”
(Bob Farenberg, 54, of Chittenango, barber, Republican)
“The graduation rate here is really low. The kids are just not doing and they’re not interested in school anymore. They get interested in school after they drop out of school, when they realize there is not a whole lot out there.”
(Rita Boatwright, 45,of Syracuse, Jet Cleaners cashier, Democrat)
“Focusing on the lower class, the bottom is where you always need to start to build the top. Because the top is doing fine, everyone on the top is doing fine. But once you fix the people on the bottom and make sure everything is good with them, then you can work up. But of course government doest work that well, and everyone is favored on the top and not the bottom. And hopefully they take it to action soon.”
(Samantha Saunion, 20, Syracuse University communication and rhetorical studies major, Democrat)
“A community is only as good as the people that are in it. And it’s our job to make it better for one another. And I just like to be a part of not just a place that I lay my head, but a place where I am contributing to making it better for myself and for everyone else.”
(Donna Rohde, 68, Westcott East Neighborhood Association volunteer, Democrat)
“We look for people who are supportive of the neighborhood people, who listen to what the neighbors are asking for as issues, and come to our neighborhood meeting and support us rather than being presented with a solution that they have figured out behind closed doors that they want us to support.”
(Stark Donnally, 65, treasurer of Westcott East Neighborhood Association, registered Democrat but describes self as independent)
(Stephanie Narvaez is a senior with dual majors in broadcast and digital journalism and international relations.)
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