Politics & Government

Northeast Ohioans' Wish List for President Obama

People spoke about what they want to hear from President Barack Obama today when he speaks about the economy at Shaker Heights High School

Byran Marshall works from about 8 a.m. to midnight five days a week.

But he said it’s a choice, not a necessity.

“I don’t have any kids. I just like to work,” the 39-year-old Lakewood resident said. He got out a little early from  and met coworkers at a nearby bar in Shaker Square for a drink. “I like to go to my Browns’ games. I like to travel.”

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Many in Cleveland’s Shaker Square shared similar stories. Some work two jobs, some have moved back home. But things are good, they say. They still have a vast wish list for President Barack Obama, who is  at Shaker Heights High School. 

Marshall wants to hear about how Obama plans to keep art in schools.

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He works with kids in several Cleveland City Schools during the day at Dance Afrika Dance, an arts program through Art is Education.

“Do not drop the arts. I work with inner-city kids and my words for you right now is that they’re lost,” he said.

Clarke Buchanan, 28, of Cleveland, is a full-time store manager at Dewey's Coffee Cafe in Shaker Square. He's about to get married, and said his job at the coffee shop and work doing freelance graphic design "won't cut it."

But he said people can't rely on the president to solve their problems, and he loves his job.

"I think everybody who works here, even though we make less, love it because it's a great job to have," Buchanan said. 

Jessica Williams, 27, of Cleveland said she is lucky — she has a job that provides health insurance. But it’s basic and she pays for most of it. She prays she doesn’t get sick.

“I know people who went to college like I did, and they have mediocre jobs,” said Williams, who went to Case Western Reserve University. “Most of my paycheck goes to student loans.”

Hefty student loans is exactly what pushed Chelsea Smith, 28, of Ohio City, out of the Cleveland Institute of Art eight years ago. She ran out of money, she said, and tried cosmetology school. She worked as a beautician for three years. Now she’s back in school at Cleveland State University studying art history.

She wants to know what Obama will do for people struggling to pay off their student loans.

Michaela Kehoe, 24, of Cleveland Heights graduated in 2009 and majored in international relations and Spanish. She spent two years teaching English in Nicaragua. When she moved back to Cleveland, she had her own place, but has since moved back in with her dad to save the money she makes serving at  and Sarava to pay off student loans and to travel.

But she said living at home is not so bad.

“I like the flexible schedule. And it allows me to get the experience to travel,” she said.

And business is good at the restaurants — people are coming in and tipping well.

Suzanne DeGaetano, co-owner and manager of  in Cleveland Heights, said local book stores are doing better than in years past as well.

"We had a really good season at the bookstore, and I think a lot of of my colleagues, not only in the city but in the county would say that with the big stores gone, the smaller starts are starting to see business they haven't seen in years," she said.

She still gets several job applications a week, she said, indicating that others have not fared well in the economy. But a few years ago, the age and experience of applicants varied greatly. Now she sees mostly young people.

The unemployment rate in Cleveland in November 2010 was 11.1 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. A year later, it's 9.1 percent.

Dr. Cynthia Taylor, of Shaker Heights, said her son, who goes to Shaker Heights High, waited in line for tickets from the time school let out until about 6:30 p.m. She brought chairs and they ate pizza while waiting.

Taylor’s watched as the home prices in her neighborhood have dwindled. But she wants to hear about Obama’s efforts to save public education, which Taylor said is being threatened by charter schools.

“My concern is the state of our education system and trying to instill and excite young people about their future, and to have a positive view about their hopes and dreams.”

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the North Gymnasium of Shaker Heights High School, 15911 Aldersyde Drive, Shaker Heights.


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