Small business owner Michael Hooks works in the kitchen of his catering business in Erie, Pa. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Small business owner Michael Hooks stands in the kitchen of his catering business in Erie, Pa. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Small business owner Michael Hooks stands outside his building that houses his catering business in Erie, Pa. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Small business owner Michael Hooks sits in the office of his catering business in Erie, Pa. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Hooks, 58, is a member of a coveted demographic in this year’s election — a Black man and a business owner in a swing state. Both presidential campaigns have targeted Black entrepreneurs with their messaging, offering a range of economic policies and legislation that each side says will boost the careers and lives of African Americans.How Erie business owners and voters such as Hooks view each candidate’s economic vision could determine control of the White House.
But Whiting added that “broad brush” policies such as Trump’s proposed 20% tariffs on all foreign goods threatened to be “an inflation bomb that would crush small businesses” like those he works with. Whiting viewed Harris’ proposed investments for small businesses to be a potential boon. A no tax on tips policy, which both Harris and Trump favor, would be a welcome innovation for workers, he said.
“I try to keep it like Geneva in here,” he said, referring to the city in famously neutral Switzerland. “In this town, we could have Trump, Kamala and Kennedy supporters sitting right next to each other at the bar.” Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was in the race until August, when he suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.Born and raised in Erie, Hooks grew up in poverty and with few options, support or direction for his life. At 23, he was sentenced to 30 years for dealing marijuana.
“It’s because we have people in this country that want to be better than someone else,” he said in a recent interview. “You drive a Toyota Camry, I drive the Lexus. It’s the same ... car. It’s just a different name, but it’s a higher status.”