A restaurant owner in Syracuse, New York, faced significant business disruptions due to President Joe Biden’s recent visit to the area. Dr. Fahed Saada, owner of Pita Dream, reported that the security measures required for the President’s visit led to the closure of streets around his business during peak hours. This closure affected his restaurant’s ability to operate normally, particularly impacting delivery services which are a major component of his revenue.
Dr. Saada explained that he was informed at the last minute about the street closures, which lasted for 12 hours, forcing him to cancel services from third-party delivery companies. This unexpected interruption came at a time when local high school students, who were on spring break and employed part-time at his restaurant, were ready to work and earn extra money. Saada advised some of his staff to stand by, which added to the operational challenges.
President Biden was in Syracuse to announce a preliminary agreement to provide up to $6.14 billion in direct funding to the semiconductor manufacturing company Micron under the CHIPS and Science Act. During his visit, Biden celebrated the planned construction of a new Micron Technology campus, which is part of a broader government initiative to boost domestic manufacturing of computer chips.
While the President highlighted the long-term economic benefits of such investments, Dr. Saada expressed concerns over immediate local issues, emphasizing that the President’s policies should prioritize domestic challenges such as homelessness, public safety, and healthcare. He noted the national sentiment reflected in recent polls showing that more than half of the voters feel worse off than they did four years ago.
Saada, a Palestinian-American, also voiced his disappointment over the allocation of large sums of U.S. tax dollars to foreign aid, suggesting that these funds could be better spent addressing critical issues at home.
This incident underscores the often-overlooked impact of political and presidential events on small businesses and highlights the broader economic and policy debates that affect local communities directly.