Bay Area locals react to Castro's death

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Following the death of Fidel Catro, many in the Bay Area are thinking about what's next for Cuba.

KTVU'S Rob Maclom spent time with some locals who have ties to the country.

Yusef Spears is a co-owner of Cana restuarant in Oakland. In response to Catros's death, he says, "I was personally shocked. I mean, the guy has nine lives, that kind of thing, you know? It's hard to believe but obviously it is what it is now."

After years of false rumors about his death, Castro, the former leader of Cuba, died at the age of 90. But Spears is not celebrating.

"We're not going to have a changed government there. Castro may be dead, but that doesn't mean it's democracy again. You still have all the players that reported to Castro still in place".

His good friend, local artist Andreas B, left Cuba 13 years ago and holds duel U.S.-Cuban citizenship. His art now hangs on the wall of the local restaurant, a dream that could not be realized in Cuba.

Andreas B says, "Too many restrictions, you know, we said we had to find a different way. We try to travel with cultural exchange, it wasn't possible at that time. And I said it's time to move on to a different way and that's when I got an option to move to the United States."

Castro's system of one-man and one-party rule kept him in power for 49 years, the longest of any head of government in the world. For most of that time, he was a thorn in the side of the U.S. 

While there was celebration and sorrow today, many remembered a shelter country.