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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2008 Election Snapshots

John R Crosby Jr.

Age: 53
Neighborhood: West Harlem
Occupation: Disabled Veteran
First time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I would like to see them organize this fishing pier.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/11/1009-11.mp3]

David Flowers

Age: 40
Occupation: Verizon field technician
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I’m striving to be the middle class”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/david-flowers.mp3]

Bonnie Mauss

Age: 66
Neighborhood: Belmont
Occupation: teacher
First Time Voter: no
Political Affiliation: none

“I’d like to see a better education for all the students, not only in New York City, but the whole country.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/bonnie_mp3.mp3]

Beth Gray

Age: 65
Neighborhood: Belmont
Occupation: teacher
First Time Voter: no
Political Affiliation: none

“I would like to see this country…on a more certain footing when it comes to the financial problems we are facing now.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/beth_mp31.mp3]

Lorenzo Davis

Age: 24
Neighborhood: Brownsville
First Time Voter: Yes
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“He was getting food stamps and all that.  And I felt that namean.  So, that’s why I’m voting.”

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/11/lorenzo_1-2.mp3]

Leonardo Vazquez

Age: 41
Neighborhood: Bay Ridge
Occupation: Food Service
First Time Voter: Will be eligible next election
Political Affiliation: Supports Democrats

“We come here for one reason: to give the best for our family.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/leonardo-vazquez_1-2.mp3]

Ron Schumn

Age: 27
Neighborhood: Bay Ridge
Occupation: Student
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Green Party

“We need positive energy and not negative energy.”
[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/10/ron-schumn_1-2.mp3]

Corrinda Boyce

Age: 29
Neighborhood: Bedford-Stuyvesant
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“Hopefully in a better place then it is now.”

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/9/files/2008/11/corrinda_1-2.mp3]
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