- Title: Florida businesses share mixed reactions during Trump, Xi visit
- Date: 7th April 2017
- Summary: PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC INFORMATION SIGN TRAFFIC INFORMATION SIGN AND TRAFFIC BINGHAM ISLAND, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) SECURITY PROTECTING MOTORCADE THAT IS PASSING BY DEMONSTRATORS PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAISIE, PALM BEACH RESIDENT, SAYING: "I know a lot of people who go out of town for the weekend, on purpose. People try to go out of town if they know that Trump is going to be in town because they really come here for a nice, quiet way of life and not to get all the publicity that the president brings into town." MAISIE AND HER DOG CYCLING AWAY PEOPLE WALKING ON WORTH AVENUE IN PALM BEACH VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF TIFFANY AND CO. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHERYL KALOKERINOS, FLORIDA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I don't see the big problem. But I'm not affected by it, like some people are. They were complaining about the airport when he comes in. I really don't see the problem. I don't see any problems." EXTERIOR OF ISLAND COMPANY STORE SPENCER ANTLE, ISLAND COMPANY OWNER, TALKING TO STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPENCER ANTLE, ISLAND COMPANY OWNER, SAYING: "Business has been sporadic. But on the days he's here, the weekends he's been here, which is pretty much all of them, it's gone up. I think people get trapped here, which is good. More traffic is always positive." CAR TRAVELING DOWN WORTH AVENUE COUPLE WALKING BY LARGE HOUSE AND MAN MOWING LAWN WORKER TRIMMING HEDGES WORKER MOWING LAWN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTT LEWIS, OWNER OF SCOTT LEWIS GARDENING AND TRIMMING, SAYING: "I want us to be treated like Washington, D.C. functions. And that's the part that's missing. Because I've been in Washington more than 50 times in my career and things work around the White House and here they stop. And that I don't like and I don't appreciate. And I think there is a middle ground and I don't think they've found it yet." PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) WORKER GARDENING YACHTS BRIDGE UP FOR BOATS TO PASS MORE YACHTS ARMED U.S. COAST GUARD ON PATROL
- Embargoed: 21st April 2017 23:39
- Keywords: U.S. President Donald Trump Chinese President Xi Jinping traffic tourists locals residents reaction congestion motorcade security Mar-a-Lago
- Location: PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES; BINGHAM ISLAND, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES; WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- City: PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES; BINGHAM ISLAND, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES; WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BEKOQV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In the upscale and usually quiet town of Palm Beach, many residents and workers in the area are learning to manage life with President Donald Trump.
Since his inauguration in January, Trump has visited his Mar-a-Lago estate six times and refers to his mansion as the "Winter White House." On Thursday (April 6) and Friday (April 7), the town braced for two presidents, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the two met for meetings at Mar-a-Lago.
Motorcades, street closures, detours and traffic are becoming the norm.
Along posh Worth Avenue, which is home to luxury shops such as Tiffany and Co., Chanel, Cartier and others, it was business as usual. Residents and tourists strolled along the palm tree lined streets.
"I know a lot of people who go out of town for the weekend, on purpose. People try to go out of town if they know that Trump is going to be in town because they really come here for a nice, quiet way of life and not to get all the publicity that the president brings into town," said Maisie, a Palm Beach resident.
But Cheryl Kalokerinos, who lives near Palm Beach, said, "I don't see the big problem. But I'm not affected by it, like some people are. They were complaining about the airport when he comes in. I really don't see the problem. I don't see any problems."
Spencer Antle, the owner of Island Company, a resort and lifestyle retail brand on Palm Beach's Worth Avenue, said sales are good when Trump is in town.
"In the days he's here, the weekends he's been here, which is pretty much all of them, it's gone up. I think people get trapped here, which is good. More traffic is always positive."
However, people who provide services to the homes of Trump's super rich neighbors, tell a different story.
Scott Lewis, owner of Scott Lewis Gardening and Trimming, said he loses money every time Trump comes to town because his workers cannot reach his clients homes, either because of heavy traffic or closed roads.
"I want us to be treated like Washington, D.C. functions. And that's the part that's missing. Because I've been in Washington more than 50 times in my career and things work around the White House and here they stop. And that I don't like and I don't appreciate."
Town officials and law enforcement in Palm Beach are working with the public on new ways to manage the flow of traffic while keeping the U.S. President and the public safe.
"I think there is a middle ground and I don't think they've found it yet," added Lewis. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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