Local reaction to plan to normalize US, Cuba relations

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It was a dramatic turning of the page Wednesday in relations between the United States and Cuba.

A prisoner swap between the two countries is signaling the plan to normalize relations for the first time since after the Cuban revolution in 1961.

A new policy would likely see the opening of embassies in each country and an easing of economic restrictions that the US has in place against Cuba.

An actual removal of the US economic embargo against Cuba would need congressional approval.

The trigger for this explosive news was the release of American Alan Gross who spent 5 years in a Cuban prison.

The US is returning three Cubans held prisoner here.

Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959, followed by the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 led to decades of antipathy and isolation.

President Obama says it's time to change.

For Philadelphia Managing Director Richard Negrin, this is very personal.

"We've been trying to starve Cuba into submission and the only people starving are the people, not the leaders. So the plan has not been working. What you see today is a step in the right direction," Negrin said.

After his parents fled to this country, his father fought for the freedom of Cuban political prisoners.

But he would see his own father murdered by Cuban extremists working for Fidel Castro right in front of him when he was only 13 years old.

"It's so important. It's work that my father believed in. Today, it's the release of political prisoners. Tomorrow, maybe it's an openness towards dissenting voices and openness towards free speech and free press. This is the beginning," Negrin said.

Then there is Cuban American George Fernandez whose family fled Cuba back in the 60's. Last year, he had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis to talk about normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

"We spoke about him going there and he wanted to go and he plans to go. He said Cuba should end the embargo," Fernandez said.

Action News also spoke with Guillermo Pernot.

An Argentinian by birth, he lived in Cuba for many years and married a Cuban before coming to America.

He is now chef at Cuba Libre here Old City.

"I don't know. It's so many emotions involved. I'm so happy for them. My life will not change. Their lives are changing. We are influencing millions of people. That's what is important," Pernot said.