Posted on 03/19/2009 9:23:13 AM PDT by Smogger
Pomona residents will roll out the red carpet Thursday as President Barack Obama stops by the Edison International Vehicle Electrics plant in the city.
Daniel Swift said he was delightfully surprised when he heard Obama was planning to visit his hometown of Pomona. The rehabilitation of downtown and efforts to bring in more small businesses reminded Swift of changes Obama is trying to introduce.
Obama will visit the plant at 265 N. East End Ave., in the morning. The visit may be tied to the advances that Edison has made with its electric vehicles.
The tour is scheduled for 10:30 but the event is not open to the public.
"Pomona is a poster child for what's going on in other parts of America," Swift said.
Students in Michael Steinman's Village Academy's Advanced Placement English class expect to meet Obama at the plant.
In his March 10 speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Obama discussed what he had learned through an eight-minute DVD created by the class. The students in the DVD shared the struggles they dealt with everyday while trying to get an education.
"By visiting facilities like Edison's, President Obama is clearly reaffirming his commitment to environmentally-sensitive technology," Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman said. "As shown by his recognition of the students from Village Academy, the president is listening to both needs and concerns of the nation's communities and businesses during these tough times."
Pomona resident Robert Nicolao said he was pleased to hear about Obama's visit to the city.
"He is not just focusing on Washington (D.C.) or big cities," Nicolao said.
"We are ready for change ... It can only get better. It can't get any worse, hopefully."
Marisa Soria said she hopes to catch a glimpse of Obama as he passes through Pomona.
Soria and her coworkers at the Public Defenders Office have decorated their cubicle walls with photos of Obama.
"Everyone is excited," she said. "We are all people of the color, and it feels good that our voice is represented."
But not everyone was pleased with Obama.
Megan Velazquez, a medical student at the Western University of Health Sciences, is worried about the president's universal health-care plan.
"I will be $300,000 in debt walking out of med school and getting paid $40,000 a year," Velazquez said. "I'd throw my shoe at him."
Air Force One touched down at 3:03 p.m. Wednesday in Long Beach. Obama took a few steps across the tarmac to a waiting Marine helicopter.
The helicopter left for Costa Mesa where he was greeted by chants of "Obama, Obama" from a mostly young, enthusiastic crowd of 1,000 people. Most of the spectators had spent Monday night waiting for tickets to the free Town Hall meeting at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
"I didn't run for president to pass things on to the next generation -- or the next president," Obama told the crowd.
He said that he was sent to Washington to make change.
monica.rodriguez@inlandnewspapers.com
Pomona is a poster child for a city that is run by far left commies which is why it's a third-world hellhole. Think of some crubling dangerous gang infested inner city run by Democrats like Detroit, or Philidelphia. That's Pomona just on a smaller scale.
When do they find time to do maintenance on AF none?
Does he ever park it long enough?
I am on the other coast. Would someone please, please wear a sign demanding that BO return his AIG and Fanny Mae campaign donations? And be sure to get in front of a TV camera or two while wearing it.
“It can’t get any worse”.....
In Pomona?.....yes it can!
Velazquez said. “I’d throw my shoe at him.”....
Please do!....I need the laugh!
“I didn’t run for president to pass things on to the next generation — or the next president,” Obama told the crowd.....
Just five generations of debt, Erkel!
Pomona is a real sh**hole of a city, rampant crime,gangs, It should be fenced off from society
I hear Awnuld is going to do some butt kissing with OBozo at some point also!
It’s gang territory and that’s it.....
I drove through there once by mistake at noon. I can guess what it’s like at midnight!
What advances? Have they made them so that they generate their own electricity? Installed a pop up windmill so it charges it's batteries when parked?
And speaking Of Obama and the amount of flying around on air force one he's doing, shouldn't he be taking a bus instead, and setting an example for others to reduce their carbon footprints?
It's not just air force one either, it's that entire fleet of secret service that has to follow him around everywhere he goes. he's more of a carbon pig than President Bush ever was.
Maybe he should buy a horse and buggy for the white house, and a fleet of horses for all the secret service as well. That would also create a job for a poop scooper to follow them around.
Can’t this mulatto anus find his gosh danged desk and do some fricking work for a goldern farking minute?
Anyone protesting?....
Not in Pomona....It’s a crap hole.
“the amount of flying around on air force one he’s doing,”....
This is all a farce to the limit!....This say one thing do another pile of crap is completely unbelievable in anything he says.....Can’t stand him!
This is a tour of the local utilities test center, not a manufacturing plant:
“Southern California Edison’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Technical Center – unique in the utility industry – provides a broad range of electric transportation services, focusing on solutions for automakers, battery manufacturers, government agencies, business and industrial fleet customers, residential customers and more.
With capabilities on par with those of national labs, the Pomona, Calif.-based Center is ISO 9001 Registered, and is one of only two U.S. Department of Energy test sites approved to evaluate electric vehicle baseline performance, vehicle and fleet operation.
Established in 1993, the Center conducts work that serves several purposes:
To understand and help minimize potential impacts of increasing quantities of transportation connecting to the grid.
To evaluate various electric-drive technologies for use in SCE’s own fleet applications to meet federal and state regulations.
To assist SCE’s Transportation Services Department in overseeing and maintaining the nation’s largest and most successful fleet of pure battery-electric vehicles. Since inception, our EV fleet has logged more than 17 million tailpipe-emission-free miles.
To provide education and outreach to our customers on the safe, reliable and energy-efficient use of electric-drive technologies, and to help customers shift charging to off-peak (low-energy-use) periods.
The Center:
Tests battery-electric, hybrid-electric, plug-in hybrid, plug-in hybrid fuel cell and fuel cell propulsion systems for on- and non-road applications.
Evaluates and tests advanced battery modules, battery packs, battery management systems and various types of chargers.
Supports the development of more energy-efficient battery charging systems.
Evaluates advanced batteries and other energy storage technologies for stationary applications, such as home energy storage, telecommunications and emergency backup power.
Partners with government and industry to demonstrate hydrogen and fuel cells and understand the safety and electrical system impacts of hydrogen generation, compression, storage and delivery.
Provides consulting services for industry.”
So in other words, it’s a government (taxpayer) funded center foe enviro-geeks to hang out and do nothing all day except make biased reports, and receive large paychecks.
There is a link on MSNNC’s homepage with live video.
Megan Velazquez, a medical student at the Western University of Health Sciences, is worried about the president's universal health-care plan.
“I will be $300,000 in debt walking out of med school and getting paid $40,000 a year,” Velazquez said. “I'd throw my shoe at him.”
Interestingly, I’m going to pomona on Saturday. Too bad Big O won’t get the chance to see me.
Fox just reported that Obama did not receive one question, regarding AIG or the bailout, at his recent town hall meeting. I think the audience was more interested in when they were going to get their check along with the big screen tv.
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