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CNN’s John King: Bethlehem is blue collar. Full of people living paycheck to paycheck. Full of people who come to Jenique Jones for help.
Lehigh Valley small business owner: My business assists people in repairing their credit, managing their finances, and basically being financially organized.
CNN’s John King: So if you’re busy, times are tough?
Lehigh Valley small business owner: Absolutely, completely.
CNN’s John King: And you’re busy right now?
Lehigh Valley small business owner: Super busy.
CNN’s John King: What kind of stories are you hearing?
Lehigh Valley small business owner: My husband lost all of his overtime. My kid’s daycare went up. Can’t afford the cost of food. Using credit cards for everyday expenses. No money left after their bills are paid. Pretty much just a whole bunch of financial mess.
CNN’s John King: We changed presidents at the beginning of the year, and the guy who moved into the White House said that he was going to fix it. Several times he said it would be easy. Has he fixed it?
Lehigh Valley small business owner: Absolutely not. I’m definitely waiting for him to fix it.
CNN’s John King: Jones is a three time Trump voter, but she says he has simply failed to keep his promise to lower the cost of living.
Lehigh Valley small business owner: I’m very let down by that. Very, very let down. Because I feel like it’s only gotten worse.
CNN’s John King: This is Gentleman’s barber shop. Customers gripe a lot about rising costs. Ashley Ruiz tries to help.
Lehigh Valley barber: I’ll tell the client, hey, if you get it cut a little shorter, the haircut will have a longer lifeline, because I want them to feel like they’re getting a service that will last longer, so their money goes further.
CNN’s John King: She gets it because she does the tough math at home: rent, food, child care — all up.
Lehigh Valley barber: They are a lot higher. So I try to make wiser decisions and hope that things will get better.
CNN’s John King: Owner Ronald Corales is another three-time Trump voter. When clients or co workers grumble about costs, Corales urges patience.
Lehigh Valley barbershop owner: Well, hopefully soon, you know.
CNN’s John King: But it hasn’t happened yet?
Lehigh Valley barbershop owner: Not really. We don’t really see it at the moment. Like I said, I think we have to give him some time.
CNN’s John King: You hear there, give him some more time. From a three-time Trump voter. We met many Trump voters who say, let’s try to be patient. But they all also say, costs have not gone down as the President promised. And Jake, you know this area well, a freshman Republican won that district, as Trump carried Pennsylvania last time, carried Northampton County, where Bethlehem is, he pulled along the new freshman Republican. Democrats think the same reason that happened, affordability, will be their calling card next year when they try to take that seat back.
CNN’s Jake Tapper: And he barely won, like 4,000 votes or something like that. John King, thanks so much. |
