President Obama returns to Columbus today. WOSU's Sam Hendren reports that some residents are enthused - and some are not.
President Obama will preside over the groundbreaking of a renovation of Livingston and Parsons Avenues in the neighborhood of Nationwide Children's Hospital. According to the White House, the trip by Mister Obama marks the first of many significant Recovery Act milestones this summer. The multi-million-dollar price tag is being paid for from the $787 billion dollar economic stimulus package. Carmen Stuart who lives in the neighborhood is excited about the improvements and especially about the president's visit.
"I am excited about it because he is the president and Children's Hospital and I think that he's doing a good thing by, you know, trying to get the money for the expansion or whatever, I think it's grand and I will be done there to see him. And to see what's going on."
But area business owner Chuck McElroy wonders why a street widening project merits the president's attention
"With all the economic hard times in this country, the war, the oil spill down in the Gulf, this can't be in the top 1,000 things of importance in this country for the president to be wasting his time down here."
The president is expected to give a short address just after noon. Sam Hendren, WOSU News