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?"

Alternative content

2008 Election Snapshots

Stephen Marshall

Age: 49
Neighborhood: East Harlem
Occupation: Leave of Absence
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“We are spending too much money on the war.”

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/stephen-marshall.mp3]

Oliver Brennan

Age: 48
Neighborhood: Belmont
Occupation: professor
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I would like to see the United States take a more leading role in the caring for the Earth.”

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/oliver_mp3.mp3]

Elizabeth Davis

Age: 21
Neighborhood: Belmont
Occupation: student
First Time Voter: yes
Political Affiliation: none

“If we don’t fix education, then there’s not going to be anyone to even fix the country anymore.”

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/elizabeth_mp3.mp3]

Irene Izaguirre-Lopez

Age: 18
Neighborhood: Morningside Heights
Occupation: Undergraduate Biology Major, Columbia University
1st Time Voter: Yes
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I want better immigration reform, better health care, and economic stability because there’s some hard times right now.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/inez_1-21.mp3]

Burnett Austin

Age: 65
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Rare African-American Books Collector
1st Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I think we are really looking America in the face, and just see if they are ready to elect an African-American.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/burnett_1-21.mp3]

Helen Broady

Age: 55
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Librarian, New York Public Library
1st Time Voter? No

Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I’d like to see more local control, more community control, decisions made in the neighborhoods.”

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/broady_int_1-21.mp3]

Erin Danly

Age: 29
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Occupation: Lab Manager, Psychology Department, Columbia University
1st Time Voter? No
Political Affiliation: Independent

“I really don’t believe in politicians…If you get to that level, they’re not on the up and up.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/erin_interview2.mp3]

Coogan Brennan

Age: 22
Neighborhood: Morningside Heights
Occupation: Undergraduate Music Major, Columbia University & Music Composer
1st Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Independent

“Obama gets elected and meets with the heads of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and gets them to write off all the student loans.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/coogan-interview_mp34.mp3]

×Close