Live blog: President Obama's visit
Hello, and welcome to our live blog of President Obama's visit to Buffalo. We had reporters, photographers and videographers spread throughout the area today to give the latest updates from Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Industrial Support on Depot Street and points in between.
6:15 p.m.: The News' Denise Jewell Gee was staked out all day near Industrial Support, where Obama spoke. She caught up with some people who were inside to hear the speech firsthand, the company's neighbors and some of the people who waited to see the president.
6:06 p.m.: The News' Lauren Mariacher files this video report on the scene outside the airport, where spectators gathered to try to get a glimpse of the president. If you're interested in a look at Air Force One landing, you'll find it about one minute in.
5:58 p.m.: The News' Brian Meyer caught up with the folks at Duff's and talked with them about their presidential customer.
5:51 p.m.: Listen to the news conference with families of Flight 3407 following the president's visit:
5:21 p.m.: Adam Shevins of Buffalo was in Duff's when President Obama stopped in for a surprise visit. He shared this video with us:
5:12 p.m.: Images are still rolling in from The News' photo staff. We'll keep adding new photos throughout the night, but for now be sure to check out these galleries:
- --Bystanders awaiting the motorcade
- --Obama at Industrial Support
- --Obama eats at Duff's
- --Obama's arrival at Buffalo Niagara International Airport
4:40 p.m.: To give you an idea of how thorough security was around Buffalo Niagara International Airport, here's a clip of a check being done in a parking lot near the airport before Obama arrived.
4:20 p.m.: In case you missed Obama's arrival, The News' Joe Popiolkowski was there and filed this video.
4 p.m.: Air Force One took off shortly before 4 p.m., en route to New York City.
3:48 p.m.: President Obama has boarded Air Force One for his flight to New York, where he will attend a Democratic fundraiser.
--JZ
3:46 p.m.: On Buffalo police transmissions, it was estimated that at the height, 400 bystanders were on William Street, but by 2:20 p.m., the numbers had dropped to 300.
--Lou Michel
3:42 p.m.: The motorcade has arrived at the airport.
--JP
3:34 p.m.: A huge groan just ripped though the crowd at New Babcock and Williams streets as people who had waited outside for hours realized the motorcade had turned the other way. Dozens of spectators who were left are now packing up and leaving.
--DJG
3:29 p.m.: The News' Lauren Nicole Mariacher was at Duff's on Dick Road and caught up with the waitress who served Obama.
3:24 p.m.: President Obama offered a vigorous defense of his economic policies, telling a crowd at Industrial Support that the recent spurt in job growth resulted from administration actions.
Without last year's economic stimulus efforts, "millions of more Americans would have lost their jobs," he said.
But now, employment has grown for four straight months and will continue to grow at an increasing rate, he predicted.
"We can now say without a shadow of a doubt: We are headed in the right direction," he said.
--JZ
3:13 p.m.: President Obama just finished his meeting with workers at Industrial Support Inc., where he offered a vigorous defense of his economic policies, saying they are creating jobs to boost the economy.
--JZ
2:57 p.m.: The crowd at William and New Babcock streets is chanting "yes we can" as an announcer shouts out issues from immigration to education.
The number of people has thinned out, but more than 200 remain waiting with the hope that the motorcade will pass by. Music and signs have added to what one spectator called a "jovial" atmosphere.
"This is history in the making," said Channell Garrett-Davis, a Sweet Street resident. "I'm grateful to be a part of it."
--DJG
2:45 p.m.: More of Derek Gee's photos from Obama's lunch at Duff's are here.
2:38 p.m.: About 10 from the Families of Flight 3407 group met with President Obama in the fire station of Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
The president met with each family member individually and listened to stories about the loved ones that died during the flight. The president pledged his support and offered to do whatever he could to help get the FAA reauthorization bill passed in Congress.
As Obama went around to each family member and heard their stories, it appeared to dawn on him what a loss it was for families, noting that he has a wife and children, too, pondering the impact a loss would have.
The families said the meeting was more than they hoped for. They had just expected a meeting on the tarmac, and the 10 minutes he provided was more than they hoped for.
Here's a photo of Obama meeting with Robin Tolsma.
--JP
2:34 p.m.: The News' Lauren Nicole Mariacher files this video of the presidential motorcade leaving the airport.
2:30 p.m.: Meet Barack Obama, food critic.
"I can vouch for Duff's crispy medium," he said as he began his meeting with Industrial Support Inc. employees. "Outstanding. Very nice."
Watch his speech here live.
2:19 p.m.: Denise Jewell Gee files this video report on people rallying at the corner of New Babcock and William streets with the hope that the presidential motorcade will drive by.
2:13 p.m.: President Obama is having his share of fun at Industrial Support Inc. -- some of it at the expense of Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times.
Obama ordered the reporter to board a mysterious circular hovercraft that the company makes for some mysterious purpose.
And he seemed to greatly enjoy it as Stolberg slid across the factory floor.
"It's a levitator. It's a hovercraft. It's for fun!" Obama said.
Stolberg didn't seem to enjoy her moment in the spotlight, but Obama consoled her by saying that her kids would enjoy seeing what happened to her.
"It's better than covering the Supreme Court," he said.
2:02 p.m.: President Obama today thanked the families of Flight 3407 for their efforts to boost aviation safety in wake of the plane crash that claimed their loved ones.
"The president thanked them for everything they have done to move these safety standards forward," said White House spokesman Bill Burton. "Because of their efforts, a lot of progress has been made."
Burton said the meeting with 10 family members lasted about 10 minutes.
"It was a somber meeting," he said. "There were some tears."
1:55 p.m.: The News' Denise Jewell Gee files this video from outside Industrial Support, where people cheered a plane believed to be Air Force One as it passed overhead.
1:52 p.m.: The presidential motorcade went down the Kensington and into city, including a swing past St. John Baptist Church on Goodell, where members of the faith based initiatives cheered as he drove by. He did not stop.
--Robert Kirkham
1:45 p.m.: Obama, in shirtsleeves, is now touring the Industrial Support Inc. facility, talking to small groups of workers along the way.
--JZ
1:39 p.m.: Obama motorcade has arrived at Industial Support Inc. After speeding down city streets and the Kensington Expressway. Hundreds of people lined the streets along the way to cheer the president's motorcade.
--JZ
1:35 p.m.: The News' Derek Gee got this image of Obama inside Duff's. Go here for images of Obama arriving at the airport.
1:27 p.m.: Mary Digiacomo took the president's order: 10 wings medium, 5 regular/5 extra crispy, french fries and onion rings.
--JZ
1:23 p.m.: Louann Haley, of Chaffee, greeted the president with the words: "You're a hottie with a smokin' little body."
Obama's response: He hugged her.
--JZ
1:20 p.m.: Obama stopped at the Duff's location on Dick Road in Depew -- not the original location in Amherst.
1:09 p.m.: A crowd of spectators has pressed past a police line into William Street near New Babcock Street and police have stopped asking them to move back. Hundreds of people are now standing in the street, giving the impression the motorcade will not enter this way.
--DJG
1:08 p.m.: While waitimg for his wings, Obama, in shirtsleeves, chatted with the surprised patrons at Duff's.
--JZ
1:04 p.m.: Obama's order: "I'll have five regular and five extra" - that is, extra hot wings.
--JZ
1:01 p.m.: Asked what he would order, Obama said: "Wings - it's the wings capital," as he entered Duff's.
--JZ
12:58 p.m.: Obama is headed to Duff's. Hundreds of people, some waving American flags, stood along Dick Road to greet the president.
--JZ
12:57 p.m.: The motorcade drove down Cayuga to Dick Road.
--LNM
12:55 p.m.: The president's motorcade is now moving again.
--JZ
12:52 p.m.: The president's motorcade stopped while still on the airport grounds. A White House spokesperson said Obama had entered his meeting with several representatives of the Families of Flight 3407.
The meeting was taking place in what appeared to be an airport firehouse.
--JZ
12:50 p.m.: Buffalo Police just moved back a crowd of about 30 people gathered at the intersection of William and Oak. Police moved the group about 75 feet back.
--BM
12:45 p.m.: Mayor Byron W. Brown and Reps. Brian Higgins and Louise Slaughter greeted a smiling Obama after he jogged down the steps of Air Force One.
Obama then waved at the small crowd that had gathered to see the arrival.
12:42 p.m.: As Air Force One flew overhead on its approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, there were cheers from people gathered in the plaza at William and New Babcock streets.
--Bill Wippert
12:41 p.m.: The crowd on Cayuga Road dispersed after Air Force One flew overhead, but stragglers hoping to catch a glimpse of the motorcade still wait in the rain.
--LNM
12:39 p.m.: Most intersections of Oak Street from near the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to William Street have some sort of law-enforcement vehicle with flashing lights. There are also "do not park" signs posted along Oak.
--Brian Meyer
12:37 p.m.: Watch a live stream of Obama's arrival here.
12:34 p.m.: Air Force One pulled up to the tarmac that services FedEx, about 400 yards from main terminal toward Cayuga Road.
--Matt Spina
12:31 p.m.: A large jet that many supporters gathered on William Street thought was Air Force One just flew overhead, prompting cheers and shouts of "Obama, Obama."
--DJG
12:30 p.m.: A light rain began falling at Buffalo Niagara International Airport shortly before the president's arrival, prompting photographers to take refuge under the riser from which they'll see Air Force One land.
And that prompted somone in the crowd to shout out: "Take a picture of the alpha males under the riser."
--JZ
12:15 p.m.: The media has been brought back to the platform behind the U.S. Post Office where the president will exit his plane. There's a large group of what appears to be invited public to our right. Security is tight here at this site, as you might expect. Uniformed police on rooftops.
NFTA cars making slow rounds on the perimeter. Cloudy skies now and colder.
--JP
12:13 p.m.: A crowd has gathered in the Make-a-Wish parking lot on Cayuga Road across from the airport.
--LNM
12:11 p.m.: Several hundred people have gathered at the corner of New Babcock and William streets, where loud music is pumping from under a tent. Many of the people here appear to be Obama supporters with signs, hats and flags.
Jodi Mutka, a post office clerk, came with her niece, Alexis, for a "once-in-a-lifetime chance" to get a glimpse of the president. She said she has also seen presidents Carter and Clinton.
--DJG
12:10 p.m.: Here's the official White House news release on today's Buffalo visit.
12:08 p.m.: An Erie County Sheriff Office vehicle and Chevy Suburban with U.S. Government license plates are parked on a median in the middle of Cayuga Road.
--LNM
12:03 p.m.: The News' Phil Fairbanks is pulling together everything that's happening with this story, which he'll be updating throughout the day.
11:54 a.m.: Gov. David E. Paterson won't be at today's event with President Obama -- but he was invited. Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton said this morning that Paterson was invited but opted to stay in Albany to tend to state business.
--JZ
11:53 a.m.: A vehicle with U.S. government license plates was checking out the cars in the parking lot of the Make-a-Wish Foundation at 3901 Genesee St., near the airport.
--LNM
11:47 a.m.: President Obama isn't here yet at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport -- but his motorcade is. A fleet of black limousines, cars and SUVs -- the limos adorned with small Anerican flags -- were crowded into a hangar this morning, awaiting the president's arrival.
--Jerry Zremski
11:44 a.m.: Among the notable guests who have entered Industrial Support have been state Sens. William T. Stachowski and Antoine M. Thompson, Erie County Executive Chris Collins, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster, Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard Lenihan and the Rev. Darius Pridgen.
--DJG
11:38 a.m.: When Obama begins speaking at Industrial Support, we'll have live video streaming here.
11:32 a.m.: U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, who plans on greeting the president when he arrives, said today Obama's message to the nation through Buffalo will be that America can compete in a manufacturing economy.
The president will also emphasize that Buffalo is well-positioned to grow jobs that embrace innovation and talk about how Industrial Support Inc. is poised for important growth.
Higgins said he wrote to the president a few months ago, inviting him to Buffalo and has since provided logistics for the visit.
--JP
11:29 a.m.: Guests of Industrial Support and other spectators with tickets to the event have been let in slowly in small groups. Nearly everyone in line to get in is through the first checkpoint now.
11:25 a.m.: Genesee Street, Wehrle and Aero drives, and Cayuga Road remain open around the airport at this time.
--Lauren Nicole Mariacher
11:21 a.m.: News Political Reporter Robert J. McCarthy is at Industrial Support and just filed this video report:
11:17 a.m.: Vendors selling Obama gear are roaming the neighborhood. A man who did not want to be identified was selling these pins, which he said were homemade by a friend and selling for $1.
10:47 a.m.: News Washington Bureau Chief is awaiting Obama's arrival at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, and he just filed this audio report.
10:45 a.m.: Industrial Support guests and members of the press attending the event have now been called up to gate at Depot and William streets and are waiting to enter.
--DJG
10:27 a.m.: About 100 people -- a mix of members of the press and family members of Industrial Support -- have now gathered outside the checkpoint at the corner of Depot and William streets.
--DJG
10:21 a.m.: Several children are among the group of family members from Industrial Support who will be allowed into the event to hear Obama speak.
North Tonawanda third-grader Ericka Rathman, 9, said her class helped her come up with a question about the oil spill in case she gets called on to speak to the president.
The event, she said, is "awesome."
Asked if she's seen someone with a job as important as the president, Rathman said, "No, but I have seen some other celebrities."
Those other celebrities included Justin Bieber, and Kiss 98.5 personalities Janet Snyder and Nicholas Picholas.
Those personalities, she said, are "a little beneath" Obama on the importance level.
Christopher Martinez, 10, of Buffalo, said he's still thinking of a question for Obama.
Martinez, dressed in a white shirt with neatly combed hair, said his friends were jealous that he's getting to see the president.
The guests of Industrial Support workers have started to gather outside a gate at the corner of Depot and William street.
--DJG
10:05 a.m.: The scene outside Industrial Support this morning as police patroled a temporary entrance that has been set up:
9:47 a.m.: Police have now cleared most people off of Depot Street aside from workers from area businesses. A police dog could be seen searching the area a few minutes ago.
--DJG
9:29 a.m.: A local media horde of about 30 people has assembled on the western edge of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport awaiting President Obama's scheduled 12:25 p.m. arrival.
A large platform for cameras has been set up in an open space behind the U.S. Post Office on Cayuga Road near the FedEx building. We're about 150 yards from where the president's plane will taxi and stop and the staircase will be placed for him to exit. The weather right now is sunny with clear skies and a chilly wind, but rain and clouds are expected to roll in this afternoon. There's a large police presence -- especially NFTA officers, which control security for the airport.
--Joseph Popiolkowski
9:21 a.m.: Police and press still outnumber others on Depot Street, where nine news trucks from Buffalo and Rochester line one side of the street.
--DJG
9:20 a.m.: Among the other headlines involving Obama today:
- --Obama, Karzai note problems, stress cooperation
- --Former astronauts unhappy with Obama space plan
- --New Hawaii law shuns Obama birth document requests
- --9 indicted on charges of accessing Obama records
8:54 a.m.: Depot Street remains blocked off this morning except for limited traffic as police and Secret Service members roam the area.
Employees at nearby businesses on Depot Street are coming in and out to check out the scene.
"It's been like a three-ring circus here for the last couple of days," said Kelly Seiser, staff accountant for the Buffalo Postal Community Credit Union.
Seiser said the president's visit is the "most exciting thing" that has happened in the neighborhood since she started working here 10 years ago.
Depot Street, a typically quiet industrial area across from the William Street post office, usually sees little traffic. Last night, she said, drivers were pulling in just to see what was happening.
Bill Russell, chief executive of Heritage Contract Flooring on Depot Street, said wives and children of his 18 on-site employees plan to arrive this afternoon to get a glimpse of the action.
"We were very excited," Russell said. "It's quite an event."
He said Secret Service members have been very helpful in ensuring that he can continue to get trucks to his flooring business during most of the day. He said he will have to shut down for a few hours this afternoon.
He said he had a clear message for Obama: "Buffalo's in a very difficult economic situation that's been brought on by high taxes and government spending. Small business is where it's at, and we need tax relief and less government interference."
--Denise Jewell Gee
8:47 a.m.: There has been a lot of speculation that Obama will make an unscheduled stop at a local restaurant for a bite to eat. News Food Writer Andrew Z. Galarneau takes a light look at some of the names thrown around as potential dining destinations.
8:36 a.m.: The headline of the daily Playbook feature by Politico's Mike Allen leads with Obama's Buffalo stop. Allen quotes a White House official as saying Obama will make "an aggressive" case that Democrats' actions have helped the economy.
8:27 a.m.: A White House official tells News Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Zremski that Obama will tout his economic record — and challenge Republicans to stop blocking further measures aimed at growing jobs — during his appearance in Buffalo. Zremski writes:
Relying on last week's report that the economy gained 290,000 jobs in the latest monthly report — the most in four years — the president will make the case that steps Democrats have taken to boost the economy are working, the White House staffer said.
