BY SHIKIRI HIGHTOWER AND ALBA MORA // LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., a local company known for their technology-based toys, has fallen victim to a harsh economy like many other businesses.

On Friday, the Emeryville based manufacturer, announced it was slashing 10 percent of their global workforce.

“We had to reduce operating expenses” said Mischa Dunton, the LeapFrog spokesperson. “We are proud of LeapFrog’s people and so this action is one we would prefer not to have undertaken.”

In total the company plans to lay off 70 people, including several members of senior management. According to a press release concerning the lay offs, the company expects the cuts to be complete by the beginning of 2009. The reductions are not expected to impact the 2008 holiday operations.

Most of the employees contacted at headquarters Monday, declined to talk on record. However, one person did give us this comment.

“All departments have been affected.” When asked about the mood in the office he said “it’s fine” because “the lay offs have not been immediate.”

InEmeryville will be taking a closer look on how the downturn in the economy is affecting other business.

If you want to make a comment or have been affected, please make it here.

Changing Landscapes is a slideshow documenting what’s been called Emeryville’s rebirth.

“I came down here to check it out. I grew up in Berkeley and this is like a community spot. Local food, local people… ” said Emeryville resident Yes Duffy. “It’s a funky weird community spot.”

The first nationally televised debate between the two presidential contenders was a popular event in Emeryville and spectators at the food market said they were glad it wasn’t cancelled. “On one hand it was true that there was some pretty relevant issues going on that maybe could cause someone to consider suspending the debate,” said Emeryville resident Nicki Bush. “But I like Obama’s response to that in his press conference that the president of the United States is gonna need to be able to juggle a lot of things at once.”

The debate, which was supposed to focus on foreign policy, dedicated more than 30 minutes to the economy. Moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS opened the debate with the most pressing question: Where does each candidate stand on the proposed $700 million bailout for Wall Street? Obama and McCain both said that action needs to be taken by Congress, but neither specified how.

Sitting in a spacious hall surrounded by food stands selling noodle soup, kebabs and burgers, people listened distractedly to the candidates while eating. The crowd strongly favored the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama. Though Ken Guerrero, 16, isn’t old enough to vote in the upcoming election, he said he supports Obama. “It is not because of his ethnicity,” he said. “I think he is very admirable in the way he presents himself.”

The debate did not appear to change anyone’s position, but it did make some unexpected impressions. “I was surprised,” said Bush. “I thought McCain did a little better job than I had expected. I thought that he would fall on his face.”

The next presidential debates will be Oct. 7 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., and Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Both candidates will have the opportunity to discuss other national issues; it remains to be seen if they can change more positions.