James Horan, Gary Sega, Dave Sherome, Christopher Piedmont, Derwin Williams (Leigh Isaacson)
“It’d be nice to see a time when people are not taxed unduly and we’re reaching a point where the average individual is paying more than 50 percent of their income in taxes. At this point, we are no longer working for ourselves, we’re working to fund the government that is ‘taking care of us’ or in some way thinks they can use our money better to take care of us than we can for ourselves.”
(James Horan, describes himself as in his 40’s, of Syracuse University area, clothing store owner, no political party affiliation)
“Get these people off welfare. Let’s reduce these costs and spend the money where it should be spent: in education, on police enforcement. Instead of cutting, cutting, cutting, on things that are necessary—get these kids working, get them some kind of involvement get them off the streets. It’s a crime.”
(Gary Sega, 58, of Syracuse, parking lot nighttime attendant, conservative Republican)
“The budget, they should be doing something with trying to make it a more business-friendly state so we can have more people staying in Syracuse —young people staying in state instead of coming for school and going elsewhere for opportunities.”
(Dave Sherome, 60-plus, of Syracuse, retired Syracuse police officer, Republican)
“The government could put more money into a lower-class financing and helping the general public in the United States of America with more donations for poverty.”
(Christopher Piedmont, 38, homeless and unemployed, previously registered Republican)
“They’re closing schools and I don’t think that’s a good idea. To make the communities better and safer, education is key.”
(Derwin Williams, 45, of Syracuse, Empire Brewery manager, Democrat)
(Leigh Isaacson is a senior in broadcast journalism.)
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