Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The entrance to the 134 freeway off Central Avenue in Glendale was blocked off for a period due to President Obama's visit, Friday, October, 22, 2010
More than 37, 000 gathered in a park at USC to see and hear President Barack Obama’s rousing get out the vote for the mid-term election speech yesterday. Later in the afternoon, much smaller crowds clustered in Glendale on street corners, in restaurant doorways, wherever they thought they might catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade. Yet, from what I observed, the Glendale crowds were just as thrilled to see the president come to town as the throngs at USC.
In an attempt to avoid the traffic snarls and complaints of the past, President Obama helicoptered to Bob Hope Airport on board Marine One. Then the president rode in a motorcade to Univision Radio in the 600 block of North Central Avenue, for an interview with Radio Host, Eddie Piolin. The Spanish-language “Piolin Show” is one of the top rated radio programs in the country.
I missed the president’s arrival, but thought I could get a departure shot. However, by the time I found a parking spot on a side street and walked over to the blocked off 134 entrance on North Central Avenue, the presidential limo had made a quick getaway.
When I asked a group, including a man carrying a small child, how was it — I got big smiles and exclamations like, “Great!” That reaction was echoed by Legal Secretary, Maria Castillo, who told me the crowd went wild when the motorcade approached at 4:03 p.m. : “People immediately started screaming & clapping. Everyone was very excited. Especially when he waved at the crowd.”
Castillo caught the action in two photos on her cell phone.
Photo: Maria Castillo/Cell Phone Camera -- President Obama's motorcade rolled down North Central Avenue in Glendale and then onto the 134 freeway ramp, Friday, October 22, 2010
Photo: Maria Castillo/ Cell Phone Camera -- President Obama's limo makes a left turn onto the 134 freeway ramp from North Central Avenue in Glendale, Friday, October 22, 2010
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