You might say coffee runs through Carlos Santiago-Cano’s veins.
“I’ve always had like an idea that it would be so nice to have our family’s coffee in New York,” Santiago-Cano said.
Santiago was born in Columbia but grew up in Queens.
He developed his coffee business in 2015, selling at farmers’ markets before opening a storefront last year.
“We were able to go to school here, go to college, start a business, you know, living the American Dream,” he said.
But, inflation has driven the cost of that dream to new heights.
“I’ve had to cut down on the amount of baristas I’ve got here,” he said.
It’s why Donald Trump has his vote this year.
“During President Trump’s administration, there was a lot of statistics for all minorities, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, where their income was going up,” Santiago-Cano said.
“It’s a loss for women’s rights,” said Kaliris Salas Ramirez, a Harris supporter.
Salas Ramirez says a vote for Trump puts a lot at stake.
“It’s really important as somebody that at one point did have to terminate a pregnancy, I need somebody in office that will allow for women to have that choice,” she said. “The other thing for me as a single mom who rents is conversations about homeownership are important.”