Voters Look Toward Future With Trump Now Elected President
GOSHEN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- After such a hotly-contested presidential campaign, the aftermath was somewhat subdued Wednesday.
As waitress Ashley Benedict went table to table inside a Staten Island Diner, there was an exhausted relief in the restaurant, CBS2's Jessica Layton reported Wednesday night.
"I think we've all been angry so long, that a state of depression has set in," Benedict said.
That coming from a borough that, along with Suffolk County and parts of New Jersey, overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump.
"People need to stop the divisiveness," PJ Pirozzolo, of Staten Island, said.
Emotions ran high on an Upper West Side street corner from those who never thought the businessman would be elected.
"There was a Muslim lady crying in my bodega today -- crying because she's afraid she's going to get deported," Keith Garsee, of Harlem, said.
"I'll give him the benefit of many, many doubts," Joe Urbinato, of the Upper West Side, said.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported earlier in the day, voters seem to be looking for common ground.
"It's going to be a very interesting four years," said Daryl Moody of White Plains.
There was a consensus among voters who talked with CBS2 the day after that a Trump presidency is really something to think about, and that the tough work is still ahead.
"We're going to get united together and we're going to move this country in a good direction," said Wayne Maloney of White Plains.
Those who spoke to CBS2 seemed to be taking cues from their candidates.
President-elect Donald Trump reached out to those who did not support him in his victory speech early Wednesday morning.
"For those who have chosen not to support me in the past – of which there were a few people – I'm
reaching out to you for your guidance and your help," Trump said.
WEB EXTRA: Watch President-Elect Trump's Complete Victory Speech
Meanwhile in her concession speech, Hillary Clinton told her followers that Trump deserves a chance to lead, but they should not surrender their dreams.
"And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams," Clinton said.
COMPLETE CAMPAIGN 2016 COVERAGE
Of Clinton's remarks, Clarinda Doherty of Goshen said: "I wouldn't expect less from her; She's a trooper and she's polite. I'm not so sure what he would've said, but that does make me feel a little better."
Trump's bombast-free victory speech gave many a hope for more civility from this point forward.
"I think the people have spoken; I think votes are counted, and Trump is our president, and we need to respect that," said Casey Carlson of Port Jervis.
"There's checks and balances, so hopefully that holds everything together," said James Dillon of Goshen.
"He's not going to build a wall. He's not. He can't. Nobody's going to allow him to do that," said Judy Dardarian of Goshen.
"I think things could smooth right over," said Gwen Rosenthal of Middletown. "It's just a while for people to, you know, take it all in. It's just somebody different."
And more than a few, perhaps delighted that Clinton lost, were wondering how Trump will govern when real power has real consequences.
"I'm worried about it," said Seven Vanuti of Elmsford. "Even though I wasn't for it, you have, I think, 20 million people on Obamacare -- What's going to happen to them?
The country will have to examine all the questions together, at least until we do it all again in four years.
