By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN — Street closures, barricades and dozens of uniformed officers greeted Midtown office workers and tourists Wednesday as the city prepared for another visit from President Barack Obama.
Obama addressed Rev. Al Sharpton's annual National Action Network's Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala at the Sheraton New York Hotel on Seventh Avenue between West 52nd and West 53rd streets just after 6 p.m.
In what sounded a lot like a stump speech days after kicking off his re-election bid, Obama focused on the importance of education, describing it as the "single most important factor" in determining whether children and the country succeed.
"The American dream is within reach of everybody, that's what we've been fighting to build over the past two years and what the National Action Network has been building over the past two decades," he told the crowd, which included many of the city's most prominent black leaders including former Gov. David Paterson, musician Stevie Wonder, Rep. Charles Rangel and Spike Lee.
But while many were thrilled by the chance to catch a glimpse of the president, some local business owners said they expected the visit to take a serious chunk out of their bottom lines.
"It's going to hurt us," said Mario Urgiles, 37, a manager at Midtown's Maison restaurant, across from the hotel, who estimated the lost business from street closures and congestion would likely cost the eatery $1,500 to $2,000 in lost sales.
While he said he was frustrated that the restaurant received no advanced notice, he said the commotion's nothing new.
"We're used to this. For so many years, so many people come to that hotel," he said. "If it's not him, it's somebody else."
Abel Pineda, the manager of Lindy's, said that the restaurant was effectively barricaded around 4:30 p.m. As Obama spoke next door, the restaurant was nearly empty, with just two tables filled.
"It's frustrating," said Pineda, 42, who estimated that he'd lost between $3,000 and $4,000 in sales. "The economy's not doing that well and we're trying to make up some ground...I agree it comes with the territory, but it's not fair.
Moustafa Abdalhami, one of the "Halal Guys" who operates a food cart at the corner of West 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue, said he was informed by police at around 2:00 p.m. that he would be forced to vacate in an hour — costing his business between $400 to $500, he said.
"This happens often," Abdalhami, 54, said grimly, as he watched police walking up and down the street. Still, he said, "We always co-operate with the police whenever anything is happening, especially when the president is here."
Hot dog vendor Eid Wassf, 42, was also angry after he got a ticket for parking too close to the crosswalk as police tried to boot him from his regular spot.
"They tell me, 'You have to move now.' What can I do?" asked Wassf, who said that having to close would likely cost him $100 to $150 in sales.
Others who work in the neighborhood were also frustrated by the hassle.
"We hate it. It's very inconvenient," said Taylor Wood, who works as a media buyer in the building next door to the hotel.
Wood, 29, said this is at least the third time that barricades and police trucks have blocked the street because of visiting dignitaries at the hotel. And despite others excitement, he expressed concern.
"If nothing else, I'm nervous," he said. "There's a reason they're setting up all of this security and we're right in the middle of it."
But others were taking the visit in stride.
At the Stage Deli, secret service agents ate alongside tourists eager to learn what the commotion was all about, said Steve Auerbach, 51, who has owned the restaurant for the past 20 years.
"The tourists get a kick out of it," said Auerbach, who noted the restaurant has hosted many famous people, including President Bill Clinton, whose picture now hangs on the wall.
"When a president's involved, there's something that's special," said Auerbach, who was still holding out hope that Obama just might come in for a piece of cheese cake after he finished his speech.
Fans of the president also gathered on the street hoping to get a glimpse of the man despite the rain.
Brooklyn's Annette Duncan, 67, had been waiting off and on since 9 a.m. in front of the hotel along with a small group of supporters.
"I'm an Obama fan!" she said.
Mary Haddow, 40, visiting with her family from England, was thrilled to have unexpectedly stumbled upon the barricades.
"It's really exciting! It's like having front-row tickets to a show. It's pretty amazing," she said.
But others who waited for hours were disappointed after the president arrived via a side entrance that was obstructed by a white tent and large sanitation trucks.
"Is that it?" complained Michigan's Hope Huston, 18, who was in the city on her senior class trip, after the long wait.
But for others, like Gary Hill, who works nearby, just being close to Obama made it worthwhile.
"Just to be somewhere where he's actually at is exciting...It's a good feeling," said Hill, who described himself as a big fan.
And for those staying at the hotel, the excitement was also palpable.
"It's the great thing about New York," she Rhode Island's Susan Dupre, smiling, as she walked out to the commotion on the street.
"I love it!" she said.
With reporting by Heather Grossmann
