Today is the big day! If you’re reading this and haven’t hit the polls yet, get up and do so!

From PBS:

It’s a puzzle — voter registration in the United States is at an all-time high but voter participation is nearing an all-time low. In the 1964 presidential elections 69.3 percent of the voting age population cast a ballot. In 2002, that number was only 54.7 percent, up 0.3 percent from 1996. The numbers for midterm elections are worse. During the midterm election in 1998, only 36.4 percent of the voting age population made it to the polls.

I have to say that I understand why people sometime don’t make it to the polls. I spent a few hours last night reading through all the material the State of California provided to its citizens. Sadly, while it covered the many propositions that were up for vote, there was something lacking. Less then half of the candidates that were running for office had their positions or even a one sentence bio in the election materials provided.

After conferring with some friends and family, I felt better informed and finished making my choices. I had to take the time to do some research, but I realize that it is my duty to do so. There are two sites that I use to help educate me on the candidates and issues: vote411.org, and smartvoter.org. These are fantastic resources, and I recommend you go through them before hitting the polls.

I realize that all the choices may be confusing, and it takes a fair amount of time to go through all the materials and information you can dig up online, but it is important enough that we all do it.

Don’t just vote for anyone. Do your homework. Do some research. Be informed. The United States has been a model for democracy for decades, and we need to start learning what the rest of the world envy’s us for. Our voice matters. Every individual has the opportunity to make a difference.

I’m disappointed that so few Americans vote, but it is never too late. Lets prove to the world that we care about what’s going on here in the greatest country around. Lets prove to the rest of the world that we care what the United States does around the world. Lets stop complaining about why politicians stink. Lets stop talking about how our government doesn’t properly represent us. Lets prove to ourselves that we can do it. Lets get out and vote . . .

. . . and if you really care, why not start thinking about running for office yourself!

See you at the polls!

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Tags: congress, democrat, election, house, polls, republican, senate, states, united, vote

Location…Location…Location. The battle cry of real estate brokers. And, location is what a new “landmark” plan for middle-income housing in New York City has: Directly across the river from the United Nations in Queens…24 acres!

New York City Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement and, according to Jill Gardiner’s account in The New York Sun, the city is buying the land from the Port Authority for $146 million dollars.

The Mayor reportedly said of the deal that it is a “landmark moment in affordable housing.”

The last time the city undertook such a large project was back in 1974 with the development of Starrett City in Brooklyn.

Tags: bloomberg, city, housing, income, middle, nations, New, queens, united, York