On President Obama's New Jersey Menu: Jobs (PHOTOS)

(photos by Martin DiCaro)

Job creation through tax incentives for small businesses will be on the menu when President Barack Obama visits Edison this afternoon. Mr. Obama will stop in a popular sandwich place to meet four small business owners for a discussion about the economy. A year and a half into his presidency, Mr. Obama is increasingly shadowed by stubborn unemployment figures. New Jersey's jobless rate is 9.5 percent.

Customers at the Tastee Sub Shop on Plainfield Avenue on Tuesday said they were pleased the President would make a visit in Edison, even if they were not thrilled with his handling of the economy.

"I know he made a big effort about the health care and the stimulus. I think he should have puts job at the top of his list because we are really hurting in central Jersey," said Stephen Firgau, an architect, who said the housing slump has taken a huge bite out of his business. "No one is constructing much these days and banks aren't lending."

Most of the lunch hour customers said they approved of Mr. Obama's performance.

"I think he is trying real hard. He has a lot of opposition from the Republican Party. They seem to vote against him on everything. Now with the financial reform that went through and there is some job growth, I think within a couple years we will see marked improvements and we will see unemployment rates down significantly," said Otto Marcano, an attorney, who said he voted for Mr. Obama in the last presidential election.

Chris Schiraldi, a salesman, said the president is doing more harm to the economy than helping it.

"His stimulus package was a fraud just like his presidency is," said Schiraldi. "I've had to work twice as hard for equal pay. I see the tax cuts expiring as being another way of me work even harder for other people who don't do anything.

Mr. Obama is expected to arrive at Newark Liberty Airport before heading to Edison, then it is on to New York for a taping of the ABC show "The View."

E-Mail

A A A

Good Time Oldies

Dick Robinson's American Standards By The Sea