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EmailPresident Obama whisked through Seattle Tuesday to meet with business owners and political donors. At the Grand Central building, where I happen to have my law offices, the president spoke about tough economic times for small businesses.
Grand Central Bakery was closed to the public this morning and during the president’s visit. Retail stores could not open until 1 pm. Office workers could not enter until 10:30 am, though it took until at least 11 to clear security. At my small law firm, we each lost four hours of billable time. (We’re not complaining, but we will have to work later as needed to make it back.)
A therapist friend had to cancel four client appointments. Countless other small businesses lost time. We first received notice of this disruption yesterday afternoon, making it almost impossible to make alternate plans. To be fair, the president’s security staff was courteous and efficient. Still, there was a certain irony: While Obama stood in the Grand Central Arcade and discussed the woes of small business owners in this challenging economic climate, small businesses in the building were forced to lose working time.
And, as all of those attending the $10,000 per person fundraiser at Rob Glaser’s home know, time is money — a scarce resource in tough economic times.
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Comments:
Posted Tue, Aug 17, 6:48 p.m. Inappropriate
Sorry to hear that therapists and lawyers in the Grand Central Building lost billable hours so that Obama could listen to people affected by the financial crisis. Like Joe Fugere, who, despite being denied a bank loan, expanded from one store and five employees to four stores and a payroll of 180 in six years. There's more to the economy, and to life, than billable hours
Posted Tue, Aug 17, 7:43 p.m. Inappropriate
It isn't even cleat that they lost billable hours. It appears they were slightly inconvenienced by a visit from the President of the United States to their building and Michael wants us all to hear the whine.
Posted Wed, Aug 18, 8:12 a.m. Inappropriate
Don't know the author, but he is right. No reason more advance notice could have been given to the business owners. A little inconvenience for the Prez is ok, but it was a photo-op for him, and a way to avoid charging "tennis shoes" for the whole trip.
No pronouncements at this event, no solutions, heard from a hand-selected simpatico crowd. Heck, I bet the lawyer and psychotherapist didn't even get invited to the schmooze.
the Geezer
Posted Wed, Aug 18, 9:20 a.m. Inappropriate
The Secret Service should be able to take all reasonable precautions to protect the president. However, the operative word is reasonable. To have federal officials swoop into town and bully around people who just want to get their work done crosses the line into unreasonable territory. This is different than temporarily closing a street for a motorcade, or inspecting the packages of people passing near the president. This is depriving people of the use of their property all for a "security theater" performance that does very little to actually improve the safety of the man it's pretending to protect while performing his "meet the people" theater performance. If a business owner wants to voluntarily close his or her business to host the president, that's that person's decision. But that person's decision should not have the power to negatively impact the surrounding community to such an extent. The president, any president, isn't that important.
Posted Wed, Aug 18, 9:44 a.m. Inappropriate
Dang. You'd think that obama would do his thing somewhere nothing ever happens, like KeyArena
Posted Wed, Aug 18, 9:46 a.m. Inappropriate
Thank goodness Crosscut provided Mr Graham has a place to vent his spleen about the inconvenience of having the President of the United States visit his city and office building.
As a principal of a Pioneer Square-based business, I was pleased that the President opted to use our neighborhood as a backdrop as he tied to draw attention to his efforts to help me and my fellow small business owners.
Mr Graham, Seattle has a reputation for being populated by the most annoying variety of whiners. For those that doubt if our fair city as earned this reputation, they need look no further than your post.
Mr Graham, you are a true Seattleite
Posted Wed, Aug 18, 9:59 a.m. Inappropriate
So, now that Mr. Obama has spoken his piece to "draw attention to his efforts" let me ask the merchants of Pioneer Square: "How's that workin' out for ya?" Is your life different today now that the TV cameras, Teleprompters and press corps are gone? Let's get real. His reason for being here was the democratic fundraiser and nothing more.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's what politicians do. But, please, let's not have this discussion wander off into some fantasy "tingling up my leg" diatribe.
Posted Wed, Aug 18, 10:08 a.m. Inappropriate
There is a President in my bakery? Well where else would expect a cream puff to go?
Posted Thu, Aug 19, 1:31 a.m. Inappropriate
I think some of you are missing the point. There is an intense irony in the fact that businesses were closed down so that President Obama could discuss the problems of small business owners with just 3 of the businesses that were affected.
In my mind, and the minds of several others that I know, this is a HUGE political faux pas.
Posted Sat, Aug 21, 5:23 p.m. Inappropriate
Come on people, lighten up! I took this piece for exactly what it was, a light-hearted public interest piece. I've never been personally affected by a Presidential visit, so for me it was an interesting behind the scenes look.
And so what, lawyers are uptight and focused on billable hours. What else is new? :-)