BJCC job fair attendees go home frustrated

What can create lines that wrap around the BJCC? An opportunity to get a steady paycheck.

Connie Franklin was just one of thousands of job seekers waiting in line. She spen three hours waiting.

"We had to stand out here in the lines a little bit too long and the weather's just a little bit too hot for everybody," she said.

Franklin is unemployed at the moment. She says she's been to job fairs before, but not the one like Wednesday's.


"I think the organization for the people coming in should have been more organized for the people to come in and maybe had a place to sit," she said.

Another frustration is the lack of on-site hiring. Franklin said that she had a chance to speak with 10 out of the 100 employers present today, and only two gave her an application to fill out. Most of them directed her to their websites to apply.

Wycthia McKenzie feels the organizer, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, gave people false hope.

"It was so advertised and everybody was so hoping that this would be the day that we get a better opportunity for jobs so that our children's lives can be better," McKenzie said.

She's not the only one who feels that way.

"I think this was more of a political thing because I have never seen this like this. I haven't signed up for one job in there...One!" a woman named Monica said.

As frustrations rose along with the heat, folks like Monica say they'll never do this again. Other had a message for city leaders.

"Mayor, if you're hearing this you know people are out here hurting and they're out here in this heat looking for opportunities that's not here," McKenzie.

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