Moot or mute ‘ghost town’ empire strikes back
A writing is seen on the pavement as people line up to vote
at an early site at Madison Square Gardens in the Manhattan
borough of New York City, New York, U.S., Oct. 26, 2020.
REUTERS / Carlo Allegri
Caribbean Life, Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2020 11
Call them ghostbusters if
you will but despite the president
of the United States referencing
their hometown as a
“ghost town” more than 94,000
registered voters turned out to
the polls on the first day of
early voting in New York City.
Hardly appearing ghostly
or ghost-like, their images
through any lens contradict
the comment President Donald
Trump made during a final
debate recently saying quarantine
and a lockdown now
makes NYC a “ghost town.”
Socially distanced and
masked to stunt the spread of
COVID-19, early bird voters in
every borough overwhelmed all
88 polling sites throughout the
city from the dawn of Oct. 24.
The one-day figure adds to
the 56 million Americans who
reportedly have already decided
their choice for the next leader
of the country.
Exactly one week before
Halloween, Empire State voters
slammed a response to the
nationally, broadcasted presidential
diss.
Fashion forward voters
showed out – a woman was
spotted wearing what looked
to be a knock-off from a jacket
previously sported by first-lady
Melania which said “I don’t
care – Do you?”
In true New York style, hers
stated “Ruth sent Me!” an obvious
reference to Brooklyn’s
iconic Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
who recently died.
Subtler apolitical comments
also decorated masks, caps and
other gear worn by expressive
New Yorkers.
Vying for prevalence were
“Black Lives Matter” “NY
Tough” “NYC Vote 2020” “Yes
We Can” “Si se Puede” (throwback
slogans from the 2008
Democratic campaign) and
face coverings bearing the
likenesses of former president
Barack Obama and former first
lady Michelle, Dr. Anthony
Fauci and “The Empire Strikes
Back.”
Replicas of flags from many
migrant nations also found
prevalence.
Election districts reported
constantly swelling, sociallydistanced
individuals forming
queues from early in the
day with voters willing to wait
unending hours to cast early
votes for the first time in a
presidential election.
Native born and naturalized
citizens arrived up to three
hours ahead of the poll opening
schedule in order to get
ahead of the nine-day advance
opportunity to exercise their
political might. Eager millennials,
senior citizens, and first
time voters filed into Madison
Square Garden, the Brooklyn
Museum, Barclay Center and
Kings Theater, community
centers and local early voting
locations on the first official
day of voting in New York.
Some dropped off affidavits,
some brought folding
chairs, food, coffee, water,
books, games, music and other
accoutrements to help pass the
time.
Parents were accompanied
by small children they chaperoned
to share the unprecedented
experience of history
in the making.
In the 12th CD, a sidewalk
comedian told jokes.
An artist painted scenes.
And cellphone photographers
captured images some
said would be posted on social
media.
There too in Williamsburg
at 9 am a 102-year-old, Puerto
Rican senior walked with
assistance from her daughter
and a metal walker.
Her 90-year-old neighbor
rolled up afterwards on a
motorized vehicle.
And a blind man showed up
early with his seeing eye dog.
At 10 am a poll worker
walked the line to steer seniors
for priority voting.
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