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Nearly 30 years ago, Ronald Reagan famously asked Americans, "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" More than 60 NYCity News Service reporters fanned out through the city in the days before the historic Nov. 4 election to ask New Yorkers:
"Where do you want this country to be four years from now?"

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Manhattan Voters

Robert Varin

Age: 80
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Retired
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I would like us to get out of this morass that we’re in right now.”

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Hyman Balis

Age: 25
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Volunteer
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“People will work, be able to make it. Things will turn around for the better.”

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Sarah Sisco

Age: 37
Neighborhood:  Upper West Side
Occupation:  Public Health Professional
First Time Voter:  No  
Political Affiliation:  Democrat

“The fact that older adults have to continue to work . . .”

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Tina Fantauzzi

Age: 63
Neighborhood: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Occupation: Retiree
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I’m praying to God that we are going back to the same way we use to be.”

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Nikki Leopold

Age: N\A
Neighborhood: Roosevelt Island
Occupation: Runs Island Kids
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Independent

“I think that the general feeling of the country is very negative.”

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Barbara Fuchs

Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Works in real estate and as substitute teacher
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I’d like to see stronger controls on lending.”

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Michael Jaye

Neighborhood: Kew Gardens
Occupation: Manager of jewelry store
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“We need to be a little isolationist for a while, until we get our own act together.”

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Martin Mensch

Age: 81
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Occupation: Retired
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Unknown

“Out of Iraq, out of Afganistan.”

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Alicia Rogers

Age: 24
Neighborhood: East Harlem
Occupation: Medical Biller
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

Rebecca Burtz

Age: 31
Neighborhood: East Harlem
Occupation: Administrative Coordinator

First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

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