By Scott Etkin
The Upper West Side is a far cry from the handful of “swing states” that are likely to decide this year’s presidential race. But with less than two weeks until Election Day, it’s common to see tables set up throughout the neighborhood selling Harris-Walz gear.
One of these booths is manned by Michael Zorek, an Upper West Sider of more than 30 years. Six days a week, Zorek sells buttons ($4) and magnets ($5) with political slogans that he either designs himself or finds online (he tries to pick images that are so ubiquitous he no longer considers them original artwork). The buttons have a wide range of slogans, everything from the straightforward “Harris for President” to the silly “Canines for Kamala” and “Big Dad Energy.”
“There’s something there for anybody and everybody,” he said on a call with the Rag.
Two months ago, Zorek took a leave of absence from his job at a bookstore downtown to sell buttons full time. His days are long: eight to twelve hours at the booth or prepping merchandise for the next day.
Being out in public for these long stretches means he’s constantly engaging with people.
“99.9% of the interactions are positive,” he said. Most involve a simple thumbs up or word of thanks. Others are more unexpected: one customer was on her way to a dinner hosted by Jill Biden at the White House. Some customers have given him small gifts, like cakes and a Beanie Baby owl. Some are tourists from Europe. One day, he spoke to a woman in distress and their lengthy conversation had nothing to do with politics. “Every day, something happens that’s an interesting story,” said Zorek. “I know how bartenders feel.”
Of course, there are some negative comments as well. This past Sunday, a woman walking by said that Harris will ruin the country, and kept walking. Only once has Zorek felt threatened, when a man confronted him while he had a table set up near a Trader Joe’s in the neighborhood. A stranger helped defuse the situation by putting her arm around Zorek, he said.
On a busy day, Zorek can sell upwards of 200 buttons and magnets. He donates 25% of proceeds to the Movement Voter Project, which supports “local grassroots groups turning out the hardest-to-reach voters,” according to the organization’s website. He pockets the rest, which some people disapprove of, but he justifies by saying he’s taking off time from work to do this, has to cover costs, and campaigns pay their staffers from money that’s donated.
Zorek didn’t start out selling political buttons. His daughter received a button maker as a gift a few years ago, and during the pandemic they made Broadway-themed buttons, donating the proceeds to out-of-work performers. During the 2020 election he sold Biden buttons. This election cycle he returned when Biden was still at the top of the ticket.
Before Biden dropped out of the race, he was selling more anti-Trump buttons. Once Harris took his place, the trend changed. “People wanted positive Harris buttons, and they didn’t want the word ‘Trump’ on their button,” he said.
Otherwise, he hasn’t seen any consistency in button popularity. “It literally changes every day, and for reasons I couldn’t even begin to tell you,” he said.
So, what’s the point of wearing a political button on the deep-blue Upper West Side?
Zorek compares it to wearing Mets or Yankees gear when they’re in the playoffs. “We’re in New York. Why do [fans] need to do that? They show support for their team. If you’re for Harris-Walz, you show support for your team,” he said. “You keep it in the public eye. It’s a matter of […] making people aware that they’re not the only ones who feel this way.”
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Good for him, I saw him selling these at the AMNH but didn’t realize he designs them himself!
Let’s go Harris!
Just curious. Is anyone out there selling Trump buttons?
The sold out Madison Square Garden rally this weekend will probably be a great source for that
If anyone happens to be in the vicinity then, a good sport could be made of counting swastikas, whether or not for sale along with the inevitable TRUMP buttons. (Sure, we could just wait for the mainstream media covering the event to do that for us, but you know how they can be when faced with “controversy”.)
You DO know he has Jewish grandchildren from his Jewish son-in-law and daughter that converted to Judaism right?
Thanks, but I think I have an appointment to have my nails pulled out at that time.
*snickers in appreciation for that one*
Yeah, along with bibles, sneakers, $100K watches, TrumpyFish, coins, NFTs, master marketer Trump sells them himself
Maybe on the Upper East Side?
lol 🙂
There is a great interview on The Motivation Show podcast with Jordan C. Wright who has the largest collection of political memorabilia in the world.,,,over 1.3 million items! Here is the YouTube link. https://youtube.com/@themotivationshowbyeli?si=wJd0WgQgN-5TsNw0
Um, deciding whether something original artwork or not is not up to the person who wants to utilize it. It’s up to copyright laws.
What a great human interest article. It’s always interesting for me to learn about locals doing something different. Keep ‘em coming!
My experience at the Harris/Walz hq sitting at the merch table (taking donations for pins, hats, t-shrts, window signs, etc..) has been quite different. MANY nasty trumpers passing by saying lewd, incredulous things about Harris. Very discouraging in NYC!!!
Perhaps you’re only hearing what you want to hear: https://www.city-journal.org/article/prophets-of-doom?utm_source=virtuous&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cjdaily
There are Trump supporters on the UWS, more than you think. Then again even people who are liberal on the UWS can be very exclusionary.
A few years ago there was a rumor going around about there being an actual Republican living on the Upper West Side but it turned out to be a hoax.
I wish he sold buttons for both candidates! There is more political diversity on the UWS than people would have you believe. Great business and I wish him continued success.
Right. Let’s check the voter rolls?
https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/9961-breaking-down-2020-vote-new-york-city-biden-trump
Biden won Manhattan in 2020 with EIGHTY FOUR PERCENT OF THE VOTE
Exactly… weird that the comments on the WSR skew way more conservative than the UWS voting record.
Four years of Biden-Harris and Adams probably made a lot of new ‘conservatives’—the comments here consistently convey anguish about crime and the quality of life now
Mike Zorek Is a super friendly, kind of guy, a big hello to everybody that passes him by and to the neighbors that know him so well.
When walking my dog, I always give him a big hello and watch his table for him while he runs across the street to use the bathroom at Pizza Uno on W. 81st St.
We need more people like him as we carry on in our journey.
“Indifference to Injustice is the Gate to Hell.”
Hey, that would even fit on a button.