The Streets Where We Live

Bill is still trying.

In the lobby in my building.

The Great Manhattan Divide: How did race & income come into play on mayor's race?

Maps from Mediaite.com

Election results for the mayor's race proved two things:

1. Your vote really does count. If more voters turned out who would be preparing to be New York City's mayor today? The statistics do not necessarily point to Bloomberg.  

2. How did geography, race and income impact the mayor's race in Manhattan? Take a look at the New York Times interactive graphic detailing how districts voted. You'll see a very real dividing line splitting the island near the tip of Central Park North moving east to west. North of the park the majority of voters cast a vote for Thompson, to the south, a majority vote went to Bloomberg. 

This line is particularly peculiar and can't be summed up by race alone as blogger Phillip Bump posits or the AP concludes when they write, "Thompson ran up huge margins in black and Hispanic neighborhoods, winning by a 3-to-1 margin in some districts." One voter interviewed on the local news even recently said he did not even know Bill Thompson is African-American. And, back to the map, the majority of voters in Chinatown and the Lower East Side voted for Bloomberg and their areas boast large numbers of ethnic minorities. So what was it?

Income played a large role in this election and perhaps the sense that Michael Bloomberg is not a candidate that represents the needs of low- and middle-income people. All over Twitter, people I followwho live in Northern Manhattan posted rants about Bloomberg not being the best mayor to bring security to people who don't have fat bank accounts. These Tweeple, ostensibly voters, come from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds. Although I can't make a scientific assessment based on that selection of people, race does not seem to be at play here. 

What do you think? Did race play a role in this election?  

Did you vote? What do you think of today's results? 

 

Out with the old and in with the new?

Officially three days after Halloween: Found on the curb outside Grandpa's Pizza in Inwood on the corner of West 211th Street and Broadway. 

Random, yet cute, graffiti in Inwood.

Mailbox on West 215th Street, between Park Terrace East and West

Vote!

Perhaps this election season isn't as exciting as last year's, but it's still important. If you have yet to make a decision on who to vote for and are looking for some last minute pointers, Gotham Gazette can't be beat.

Check them out for in-depth information on the issues in the mayoral race or for more information on the following candidates running tomorrow:

Mayor:

Michael Bloomberg (I), Bill Thompson (D), Stephen A. Christopher (Conservative), (Rev.) Billy Talen (Green), Joseph L. Dobrian (Libertarian), Jimmy McMillan (Rent is Too Damn High, changed by Board of Election to Rent is Too High), Daniel Fein (Socialist Worker), Francisca Villar (Party for Socialism and Liberation)

Public Advocate:

Bill DeBlasio (D), Alex Zablocki (R), William J Lee (C), Maura Deluca (SW) and Jim Lesczynski (Libertarian)

Comptroller:

John Liu (D), Joseph Mendola (R), Salim Ejaz, (RTH)

Manhattan Borough President:

Scott Stringer (D), David Casavis (R)

City Council District 7:

Robert Jackson (D), Julius Tajiddin (Free, Just, and Equal Party), and Firma Shlimel (Libertarians)

STATE BALLOT PROPOSAL INFORMATION

(Also read The New York Times for more information on this subject):

BALLOT PROPOSAL 1 OFFICIAL ABSTRACT

The purpose of this amendment is to allow the construction of a 46 kV power line on forest preserve lands along State Route 56 in St. Lawrence County.

BALLOT PROPOSAL 2 OFFICIAL ABSTRACT

The purpose of this amendment is to authorize the Legislature to allow inmates in state and local correctional facilities to voluntarily perform work for nonprofit organizations.

What To Do This Week & This Weekend - Northern Manhattan Parks

show details 4:12 PM (1 minute ago)

Visit us at www.nyc.gov/parks  for the latest in Parks news and information. Northern Manhattan Parks Programs & Events FREE programs for Tuesday, November 3 through Tuesday, November 10, 2009 For complete information, click on the program title. Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Fitness Walking Programs in Fort Tryon Park 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Location: Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan Category: Athletic Events Cost: Free Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Inwood Astronomy Programs 8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Location: Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan Category: Education, Kids, Nature Cost: Free      Thursday, November 5, 2009 Fitness Walking Programs in Fort Tryon Park 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Location: Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan Category: Athletic Events Cost: Free Saturday, November 7, 2009 Mike Feller's Inwood Hill Park Nature Walks 8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Location: Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan Category: Nature, Tours Cost: Free   Fitness Walking Programs in Fort Tryon Park 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Location: Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan Category: Athletic Events Cost: Free Inwood Astronomy Programs 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Location: Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan Category: Education, Kids, Nature Cost: Free Sunday, November 8, 2009 Dyckman Valley Exploration with Sidney Horenstein 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Location: Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan Category: Nature, Tours Cost: Free     Autumn Tai Chi 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Location: Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan Category: Athletic Events Cost: Free Garden Walking Tours in Fort Tryon Park 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Location: Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan Category: Nature, Tours Cost: Free Guided Tour of Dyckman Farmhouse  3:45 p.m. Location: Dyckman House, Manhattan Category: Cultural, Education, Tours Cost: Free      Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Fitness Walking Programs in Fort Tryon Park 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Location: Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan Category: Athletic Events Cost: Free

A Train Air Freshener

I spy a yellow pine tree shaped car air freshener on the A train. 

Feeling too small to take on such a large job... 

It calls out to the yellow of her skirt, his boots and the subway track for reinforcement. 

Walking Tour: Autumn in Inwood

Entering Isham Park on Broadway.

Walking along.

 

Afternoon blunt. His head was enveloped in a cloud of smoke.

Soon it will be dark.

 

A woman named Maria tends to that garden by planting unrooted and discarded plants and clippings in the ground, nurturing them until they sprout in the spring.

Winding its way to the light.

   

Ledge along east side of park.

 

Broadway peeking through.

Love this pop of green.

So shiny.

 

I always think of the snow covering this birdhouse in Bruce's Garden.

 

Wet.

 

Red.

Light.

Rose.

 

Sky.

Dark.

What I'm Looking At -- More or Less Related to our Hoods, or not.

Inwood Sneakers

Hispanic voters are being told by the The Coalition to Save Hispanic Small Businesses, to vote against Thompson or Mike Bloomberg in next week's election, because the group argues neither candidate has the needs of Hispanic small business owners in mind.

Robert Jackson stumps for votes in last days of his mainly uncontested candidacy for a third term. (Columbia Spectator)

Eggings on Halloween in New York City, specifically in the Community Board 12 vicinity, have become so bad that patrols are up tonight to keep attacks in check. Eggings may be bad here, but it's definitely not a New York, Washington Heights or Inwood thing. It was rampant in the suburbs where I grew up as well. Have you had run ins with eggs here. (AM New York)

The Harlem Restaurant Owners Association wants uptown diners to mangia at their eateries. If you live in Washington Heights or Inwood, along with other uptown locations, you will receive a free ride to the restaurant and home if you spend $40 each on dinner. (NBC New York)

Costumes for sale on Broadway in the low 170s