This article was originally published on Thursday, November 11, 2016.
Carol Tannenhauser
WSR took to the streets on Thursday to ask a random sample of Upper West Siders, “How are you reacting, coping and feeling about the election results?” While the neighborhood overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton, there were some Trump supporters and others with ambivalent opinions about both candidates.
Elevator man who came to the United States from Cuba at the age of 17:
“I don’t like him, but people vote for him and America votes for him, so he’s president. It was a free election. It’s a beautiful, free election here. In my country, that I don’t see anything like it.”
An older woman enters the building:
“I’m not coping. I’m stunned.
A middle-aged woman riding a scooter to see a doctor because she broke her heel:
“I’m hanging by a thread. I feel betrayed. I’m terrified of what will happen to the Supreme Court with the complete loss of control of Congress. This is a disaster. When President Bush is re-elected There was a lot of anger, but this is different. It’s scary.”
A young man and an older woman interrupted the conversation to answer the following question:
Woman:
“You see? This country can take anyone and do anything. That’s all I have to say. We can and will endure it all. It’s a great day today.” We are strong and will change in four years. I’m fine.”
male:
“I am devastated by the loss. I raised money and campaigned for Hillary. But our republic will live. We are strong, determined people. We are this.” We have survived far worse than we did.”
Delivery person:
“Spanish, Mexican, Middle Eastern people are scary”
Construction workers:
“I feel bad for Trump.”
Three men standing in a doorway, a supermarket, a tenant, and a building manager. When the manager heard the question, he sneaked away:
Tenant laughs:
“He voted for Trump!”
Amazing:
“How can you choose a liar, a thief, a cheater, a philanthropist, an abuser? We live on the coast Midwest thinks he’s great Meantime my stocks are going up!It’s not going to affect me badly My social security is intact , when I die, I’ll probably pay less in property taxes.But that’s not why I live here.We need some kind of equalization.”
Tenant (again):
“Tell you the truth. I don’t like Trump. I don’t like Hillary.”
Newsstand man:
“I voted for her and she didn’t win. What should I do? I can’t do everything I want.”
Florist:
“Now we have no choice. Like it or not, that’s our president.”
Truck driver:
“I wanted Bernie to win. I don’t see the point in protesting and rioting, and I hope and believe President Trump will back out.”
Neighborhood drug store, customer, salesclerk, store owner, all men:
customer:
“I’m not happy, but people get what they deserve. I think this is what we deserve.”
Clerk:
“Honestly? I voted for Trump.I came to this country when I was 18 and people gave me a chance.I want to give Trump a chance.”
Owner:
“Excited! This is how I have decided. Forget all the rhetoric, forget fumbling. It is pointless when it comes to running a country. , Iran, Venezuela, Somalia, Syria.Who do you want next to me?I chose Trump, that’s the conclusion.Why?In those countries women are not respected at all so that’s the problem We are the leaders of the world, we must pay our respects, and by the way, what about the fact that Trump’s daughter is the first and closest Jew in the White House? He never let his daughter down.”
Psychotherapist, Female:
“I am dealing really badly. I am a psychotherapist. I have never seen anything like it, and helping others to cope is helpful for me because it gives me something to focus on other than my own feelings. We must keep our eyes wide open and not withdraw from the social arena or give up feelings of helplessness and despair. We have to stay there.”
doorman:
“The government will tame him. They will teach him the rules. The US government is bigger than Donald Trump and will keep him calm. bless him and wish him the best of luck.”
Man cleaning sidewalk:
“My only concern is that the entire government is Republican.”
An 11th grade girl eating a slice at a local pizzeria:
Girl #1:
“Oh God, never again! At school, that’s the only topic.”
Girl #2:
“It’s really disappointing and disappointing that someone with no political experience becomes president.”
Girl #3:
“Racist and ignorant and sexist and homophobic! He is against everything that makes our country and New York City so diverse. Technological. is no longer supported.”
A Grenada nanny pushing a toddler into a stroller:
“I am a little disappointed because I feel that Donald Trump is not the best person to run a country like the United States. The United States is an example to the world and he is sending the wrong message. He preaches hate and brings fear into people’s hearts He talks about deporting them and dismantling their families I’m an American citizen and I know people who are really scared. ”
Book Culture, located between 81st and 82nd Columbus Avenue. A young woman, a male store clerk, and a woman in her 40s browsing:
Female clerk:
“We have a writing desk and a list of local and national representatives. I think it’s good to make people feel like they can still say something after all this.”
Male clerk:
“I feel devastated. I am emotionally and mentally devastated. I am frightened.”
Female clerk:
“I think there’s something comforting about working here and being on the Upper West Side. The feeling that we’re all unhappy together.”
Women browsing:
“What am I doing to feel better? Eat comfort foods like porridge and chocolate. And my son and I watched a completely distracting movie last night. No news.” I want to keep the denials as long as I can, get in touch with a lot of my friends through emails and messages, and try to come up with some positive thoughts on what to do next, including working to turn Congress into a Democrat in the next two years. And I’m trying to create a smaller community because I feel alienated from the rest of the country. I don’t want to leave the Upper West Side.”
Finally, Starbucks:
A psychoanalyst in his 80s:
“I have to listen to everyone else I don’t deal with!”
laptop man:
“I think it’s really important not to tell people how you feel. My daughter is 15 and she went to school yesterday and all her friends were in tears. They have a female president. It’s normal to cry no matter how old you are I envy him winning he’s a nuisance It’s not that I’m a Democrat or I don’t like the Republican platform If the Republican is normal and conscientious, I can be with him, he’s a piece of shit, he’s an ass.
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