Editor’s Note: This story looks at the concerns of South Side residents going into the November election.
“The main focus for me is job security and creating more jobs here. My whole outlook for the future is the kids and what they’re going to be coming up against, and some of the things they’re going to have to face. ”
(Jennifer Grant, 39, of South Side, formerly employed as a benefits representative at New Process Gear, Democrat)
“He’s really talking about lowering the rates, so Obama is my guy. Hopefully, if elected, then us students can feel a little comfortable about going through school without being in debt when we leave school and graduate.”
(Sharkea Long, 21, of South Side, student at Onondaga Community College, Democrat)
“For years, lots of people never had insurance. They either went broke or had to sell their homes to pay their medical bills. I think insurance companies are taking us for a ride, but at least they can’t refuse to take care of us.”
(Charles G. Jones, 87, of South Side, former refrigerator salesman, Republican but plans to vote for Obama)
“The foremost thing on my mind is them doing something about the violence here in the streets. Every given night, we can be sitting and we can hear gunshots. I don’t want to be, every time I hear something go ‘pow pow pow,’ hit the floor. Come on.”
(Torchera Judge, 50, of South Side, founder and CEO of Faith to Fi
ght Kidney Foundation, Democrat)
“I have two children that are school-age. America with an uneducated next generation is a country that’s going to fail. Education is now becoming a luxury item instead of a must-have.”
(Garfield Hector, 46, of South Side, food service worker, football coach for Syracuse City School District, unaffiliated with a political party)
(Durrie Lawrence is a senior with dual majors in broadcast journalism and international relations.)
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