VOA标准英语2013--Hollywood: State of the Union Expectations（在线收听）

Hollywood: State of the Union Expectations

Hollywood is known for its ties to the movie industry. So it draws tourists from all over the world. 

But on Hollywood's back streets, people live and work around sound stages and production studios. Some will be watching the president's State of the Union Address, including local resident Solomon Jefferson.

“What I want to hear is about him tackling the primary issue right now, is the economy,” he said.

He says lowering the unemployment rate, now at 7.9 percent, is a priority, but for that Republicans and Democrats will have to cooperate.

“To basically find a median, or some good amount of compromise, where they can meet somewhere in the middle, so that way these goals an get accomplished,” stated Jefferson.

The nation's poor are on the mind of John Pouliot, a film editor.

“And I'd like to see him double down on that and say, hey, we have the resources, we have to tax people in the right way. We have to actually collect the taxes, close all the loopholes," he added. "And the deficit is not as important right now as making sure everybody in this country can stand on their own two feet.”

They say it won't be easy, but people here are hoping for a happy Hollywood ending to the President's second term.