I went out yesterday evening to meet Ficali McPipe for a quick cup of coffee before she dashed off to pick up her parents from the airport.
While I was waiting for her at the 14th Street station (yes, believe it or not, I was actually early for once!), I saw Gifford Miller, current speaker of the NY City Council, and one of the candidates for mayor of NYC, standing by one of the station entrances with his campaign staff holding up "Vote for Gifford Miller" signs. Maybe because I read the papers obsessively, Miller is something of a celebrity to me, as he (along with all the other candidates) figures in them every day.
But as I stood watching him hold out his hand to everyone who walked by, the majority walked right past him, with no idea who he was, not even bothering to glance at him, let alone shake his hand. Out of about 40 to 50 people he approached, about seven or eight people actually stopped, and with big grins and looks of delight on their faces as they recognised him, chatted with him, and wished him success. That's a shameful 15% per cent of New Yorkers who recognised their potential next mayor!
Now, the mayor of New York City is no small position. Former mayors from Ed Koch to David Dinkins to Rudy Giuliani to the incumbent Michael Bloomberg have all been somewhat larger than life figures, not just to New Yorkers, but nationwide, and even worldwide. And while realistically, Miller will probably lose the election, he is still in the running to be the next mayor of the city. And yet, people walk right past him!
And they complain that the media doesn't provide them with enough information about the candidates. With the Democratic primary coming up less than five days away, the majority of NYC voters don't even seem to recognise the candidates, let alone know their issues. And yet, the newspapers have been filled with stories about them everyday, with the New York Times doing regular stories on various issues, including education and housing, and the candidates' stands on them, and covering their debates in great detail.
So, wwhere does the problem lie? The media or the attitude of the people? The latter, I say!
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2 comments:
But YOU spoke to him! Yay. I'm sure that made him feel better. It might just be your claim to fame. Or, in fact, in a few years, HIS claim to fame ;)
I actually DIDN'T speak to him. I know! SHAME ON ME! But I came out of a different entrance, and crossed the road, and he was greeting people coming out of that entrance! :-( So I didn't want to barge in on him and stick out my hand!
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