By Gus Saltonstall
Election Day is once again upon us on the Upper West Side.
West Side Rag visited four polling sites on Tuesday morning throughout the neighborhood from West 106th to 76th streets.
The polling sites were relatively quiet, especially those farther uptown.
“So many people voted over the weekend,” Upper West Sider Lydia Buechler, who was handing out campaign literature outside of the voting site on Amsterdam Avenue, between West 103rd and 104th streets, told the Rag. “I wanted to support the Working Families Party. We wanted to come out and encourage people to vote on our ballot line. It also shows there is support for our positions, which maybe are a bit more progressive than some of Hochul’s positions.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul is running for re-election against Republican Bruce Blakeman. Other major statewide elections include Attorney General Letitia James’ race against Republican Saritha Komatireddy, and the New York Comptroller contest between incumbent Thomas DiNapoli and Republican Joseph Hernandez.
There was more action Tuesday morning outside of the polling site off the corner of West 84th Street and Columbus Avenue, including the mothers of two candidates running against each other for Congress in New York’s 12th District.
That included Caroyln Shinkle, who is the mother of Republican candidate Caroline Shinkle.
“I am so proud of Caroline. Caroline has been campaigning from morning until night, 12 hours a day at least, since February,” Shinkle told West Side Rag. “Caroline is for the people. All the people of NY-12. She understands the economy. Everything emanates from the economy, so people can live a better life and live their version of the American dream.”
“Has she always had a political nature?” West Side Rag asked.
“Since birth!” Shinkle responded.
Stephanie Lasher, Micah’s mother, was 20 feet away at the same polling site campaigning for her son as part of West Side Democrats.
“It’s exciting to see such a robust turnout, especially from younger people,” Lasher said.
At the same corner was Michael Zorek, who sells political buttons and magnets, a portion of which goes to voter turnout organizations.
“As it’s gotten closer to Election Day, I’ve seen people more and more involved, and more and more excited,” Zorek said. “People understand the importance of the midterm, and watching people get excited about getting out to vote makes me feel good about what I do.”
The Rag asked about his current most popular button.
“Is He Dead Yet?” was the response.
What the Candidates Had to Say
West Side Rag was able to interview Caroline Shinkle, Micah Lasher, Eli Northrup, and Erik Bottcher on Tuesday, all of whom are on the ballot.
We found Lasher at the corner of West 85th Street and Columbus Avenue. This WSR reporter has interviewed Lasher dozens of times over the past few years. I have never heard him get emotional. On Tuesday, the day when he is the heavy favorite to get elected to Congress to represent the Upper West Side, his voice wavered multiple times while answering the following question.
WSR: You are of the district. You are from the Upper West Side; you’ve worked on the Upper West Side, Jerry Nadler, your mother, the West Side Dems, Riverside Park, City Diner, all of these touchstones of who you are. What does it mean to be so close to representing the place you are from, while at the same time holding so much reverence for it?
Lasher: It’s remarkable. Yeah. You know, I got my mother involved in politics. People think she got me involved. I signed up for what was then the Community Free Democrats in front of the Barnes & Noble on West 82nd Street in 1996. Jerry, at the time, who was a relatively recently elected congressman, was already an icon in the neighborhood and became one nationally over time. I have been involved and have seen generations of elected leaders represent this neighborhood. The notion that, at the end of his extraordinary time in office, I’m now going to represent this most amazing community is overwhelming and a privilege of a lifetime. That is a phrase that gets thrown around in politics and is really apt in this circumstance for me. Yeah.
The Rag also spoke to Lasher’s opponent Shinkle over the phone.
“It’s been about 30 years since a Republican represented any part of the district. This is a massive political realignment,” Shinkle said, when asked about her experience as a Republican running in a district that generally elects Democratic officials. “Let’s remember, our district NY-12 did not vote for Zohran Mamdani last November; our district went for Andrew Cuomo. This is not a DSA district. This is not a socialist district. What it is is a common sense district. People here in NY-12 have been looking for a long time for a quality, reasonable, viable alternative to the failure we’ve been conditioned to accept. I represent that alternative. I think we’re going to get it done. We’ve built a massive cross-body coalition of support.”
“I hope all New Yorkers today will take a look at what I stand for, my record, my policy platform, and they’ll vote for me,” she added, when asked about her final message to voters. “I do truly believe I represent pro-New York City values, pro-USA values, and pro-Western civilization values. That’s what it’s all about it. This is not just a congressional campaign; it’s a fight to save our city and really save Western civilization.”
Northrup, who does not have an opponent in the general election for Assembly District 69, was at the West 85th Street and Columbus Avenue polling site as well.
“I was reflecting on it last night and this morning because you’re in this weird, liminal space when you don’t have an opponent in the general,” Northrup said when asked about how Tuesday’s vote was the completion of a years long journey to public office. “It takes so much work. It is very, very hard to bring yourself from a civilian to running for office. It’s a huge challenge. So many people go into it. People who believe in you and help you and volunteer. Your family. Your friends. People who make sacrifices. For me, it was running a losing race at first. I want to remind myself this is an enormous accomplishment and responsibility to represent this community. Maybe it will sink in tonight. But I do feel ready for it. I believe that I am.”
The Rag also got the chance to speak to State Senator Erik Bottcher, who has represented the Upper West Side since February, prior to representing the west side of Lower Manhattan in the City Council.
“For four years, I represented south of Columbus Circle, and I was a chief of staff to my predecessor for seven years,” Bottcher said. “South of Columbus Circle, you could blindfold me and put me on any block, and I could tell you what the issues are on the block, who the community leaders are, and what we’re working on. My goal now has been to achieve that north of Columbus Circle on the Upper West Side. As one of the new people in the neighborhood, I’ve been working extra hard to attend as many meetings as possible and be on the Upper West Side as much as possible.”
WSR will continue to update this story throughout the day.
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“Is He Dead Yet?”?!
Seriously? And you are preaching tolerance and acceptance?
This is a call for the opposition death!
Good to know where WSR stands re political violence
“SeRiOuSly and you are preaching ToLeRaNcE and aCcEpTanCe” is my favorite rightwing sentiment these days. El Oh El
It’s probably just me, but having candidates mothers shill for them is not a positive thing. I understand that they support them but perhaps a less visible role would make me take the candidates more seriously. Don’t misunderstand, I won’t vote against someone (or for them) because of their parents’ participation but I wish we’d see our elected officials presented as fully formed adults with their own opinions and accomplishments. We may be products of our upbringing but there are so many more relevant factors, in my opinion, that make a good candidate.
You may not want to buy a regular old button, but who could refuse a Button for Democracy!