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Want to know what’s on voters’ minds? Spend months at the laundromat.
By
George Bodarky
and
Jodi Malarbe
Published Nov 3, 2024
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George Bodarky/Gothamist
By
George Bodarky
and
Jodi Malarbe
Published Nov 3, 2024
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Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, Burt Nance, 52, of Paterson, New Jersey is holding out hope for the future.
“I pray that we can be unified, and I pray that it doesn't take a catastrophe to happen for us to become unified,” Nance said at Bubbles aRe US laundromat in Paterson as early voting got underway on Saturday, Oct. 26. “I'm praying that some way, somehow, things will be able to turn around where we can be on one accord and where we can find common ground.”
Nance is one of dozens of people who have shared their perspectives as part of WNYC’s “Suds and Civics" initiative. Since February, reporters have visited the same eight laundromats in New York and New Jersey each month to engage with voters on key issues ahead of the election.
Map by Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
At Madison Ave Laundry in East Harlem, Donna Johnson, 67, said she never misses an opportunity to vote.
“Because for so long, women couldn't vote, you know, Black [people] couldn't vote,” Johnson said. “I feel the only way my voice can be heard is to cast a vote because I can't complain if I don't vote.”
A wide range of issues is driving voters to the polls, but three have stood out during our laundromat visits: the economy, public safety and the importance of making your voice heard at the polls. Here’s a snapshot of what people had to say on these topics.
Some quotes are edited for length and clarity.
The Economy
Mary Beth Romeo (right) with her wife and son
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“We have pretty good jobs. I'm a personal chef. She's a chiropractor. And we can't afford a house … I think my dad bought a house on disability, and my mom bought a house, as a bartender … It makes me feel like it's harder to get by in this generation, as a mom, as a person in the working world.” – Mary Beth Romeo (right) with her wife and son at Fountain Square Laundry in Beacon, New York
Deprecia Hall
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“It's so hard to maintain everything. Freaking insurance, car insurance, all of that, you know, it's so expensive. Even rent is so expensive. Food is expensive. And then the prices just keep going up and up and up. So that can drive people to go crazy.” – Deprecia Hall at Bubbles aRe US in Paterson, New Jersey
Alphonso Williamson
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“It's the cost of things, you know, prices went up … I mean you go shopping with $100 and you come out with like three or four items. It wasn't never like that before –$100 used to come out with like 50 items. I'm struggling now. The rent, of course, everything went up. Hopefully we get a good president … let’s see what happens, you know?” – Alphonso Williamson at Star Laundromat on Staten Island
April Gholston with her 11-year-old son
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“I spend at least like $300 on food every two weeks. And I have to be sometimes late on my rent. You know, it's a lot. So I don't know what to do and what can be done, but I think that they need to do something and it would be very beneficial if they do.” – April Gholston at Bubbles aRe Us in Paterson, New Jersey
Public Safety
Ahmed Mahmoud
Mariado Martinez
“I would say the most important thing in my community is safety … because I'm at the age when I'm thinking about starting a family, so I think that's one of the things that I always keep in mind, when [I’m] commuting, and my wife does as well. So her safety and, you know, the safety of future family and kids is also very important.” – Ahmed Mahmoud at 14th Laundry in Astoria
Dane Gentles
Jodi Malarbe/Gothamist
“People want to feel safe where they live. They don't want to walk out into the street or walk out into the community and feel like they have to strap up or feel like they have to protect themselves from something that could be coming from any direction, any type of danger.” – Dane Gentles at Stuy Wash N Dry in East Harlem
Kizzy Dawson with her 9-year-old and 7-year-old sons
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“I'm getting emotional, but crime [is a big issue]. Hearing Black men getting killed often. Because I have sons. So, that's a very high issue for me.” – Kizzy Dawson with her 9-year-old and 7-year-old sons at Bubbles aRe Us in Paterson, New Jersey
Vicky Segal
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“Gun control is one thing. I think, you know, safety on campuses, obviously, there's definitely a hot issue right now … I think general safety … Safety in this country is really a huge issue … If you suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, it's not going to get better with what's going on.” – Vicky Segal at Jason’s Laundromat in Huntington Station on Long Island
Carlos Sosa
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“All this money being spent on things, but nothing directly here for like kids that you see, or for the youth, because obviously there's so much crime, and it's a lot of kids, but there's nothing for them to do.” – Carlos Sosa at Bubbles aRe US in Paterson, New Jersey
Why Voting Matters
Joe Shope
Mariado Martinez
"It's a right that a lot of people fought for us to have. And even being in, you know, a blue state, a blue city, especially for the local elections, a few votes can make a difference. So that's why I vote.” – Joe Shope at Madison Ave Laundry in East Harlem
Jeremy Cobo
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“I never actually voted before … I just turned 25, so just now I'm looking into voting … The more older you get, the more mature you get, the more taxes you pay, the more you start realizing that your voice matters and you need to actually go ahead and make some use of it.” – Jeremy Cobo at Bubbles aRe US in Paterson, New Jersey
Russell Haughwout
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“Voting is important because you wanna see better, you know what I mean? You don't wanna see worse. You wanna see a better president, you wanna see better things going on, you know what I mean?” – Russell Haughwout at Star Laundromat on Staten Island
Delon Alexander
Jodi Malarbe/Gothamist
**“**Some people believe in not voting. But you have to vote for things to get done in your community… like, you know, helping poor people.” – Delon Alexander at Stuy Wash N Dry in East New York
Adam Vazquez
George Bodarky/Gothamist
“I've never voted and I'm a little embarrassed to say it, but I'll admit it. And coming around to this election, I would like to register and vote … You kind of realize that obviously nothing gets done if you ignore issues.” – Adam Vazquez at Fountain Square Laundry in Beacon, New York
This story has been updated to correct a typo in Vicky Segal’s name, which was previously written as Vegal
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new york city
new jersey
Politics
new york state
George Bodarky
George is the community partnerships and training editor. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-647-3726.
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Jodi Malarbe
Jodi is an assistant producer and fellow with WNYC’s Community Partnerships Desk. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College who previously interned with New York Public Radio's Race and Justice Unit, and was a production assistant for WNYC's Radio Rookies program.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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