Voting for Community
Bay View Represents Opinions and Opportunities.
Bay View, Wisconsin - Elections statewide represent a variety of opinions and hopes. Wisconsin’s current landscape includes a gubernatorial recall, Republican primary and various local races. Much like the pendulum of control in national politics swaying from Republican to Democratic, local representation is split between the old and the new.
While most of the state and the city are focused on impacting the future of the GOP in the 2012 Presidential Election, the neighborhood at the south end of the Hoan Bridge seeks change. Alderman Tony Zielinski has represented the 14th District since 2004. In that time, chain stores and franchise restaurants have approached to enter the otherwise wholly locally owned business area. Lucrative to some and disappointing to others, the area has shifted from blue-collar tradition to an up-and-coming trendy zip code. Many look at Bay View as a place for “hipsters”, independent artists with business ambition and idealists. It’s true that the demographic is changing, but the community is the priority.
Milwaukee’s neighborhoods communicate by gathering. Small coffee shops, bars, restaurants and parks are the podium. The discussions in those places provides more information than a local reporter would generally have access to. Bay View is no different, unless you speak directly with the people that live there in a normal meeting place.
Cam Roberts is co-owner of Café LuLu in Bay View. In addition to her professional investment in the area, Roberts is also a long-time resident. When asked whether owning a business influenced the way she voted, she was quick to reject the idea: “I vote on issues that affect me as a woman. I don’t want any misguided politicians making decisions for women.” Roberts also said that the issues that matter to her tie her specifically to her party, and that influences her vote.
Tina Litkowski, waitress at the café, is also a flight attendant. For many years she voted early using the absentee ballot option. When asked why, she explained that" voting is a constitutional right that we should all exercise". Focused on issues as motivation, Litkowski notes, “each individual is unique, and a party can’t represent that”. She also expressed her hope that the Walker recall may be drawing more people to get to the polls, but would not disclose her political affiliation.
Another Bay View resident nicknamed “Buddha”, had strong opinions about the candidates and voting. Not wishing to be quoted directly, he felt that most people only voted after they were unhappy with their representatives. He didn’t relate to any worries about which candidate the Republicans would choose, he was more worried about getting rid of his current Alderman.
Voters at the South Shore Pavilion poll represent a different set of values from the Bay View Public Library and Burdick School. Even though they are all part of the same district and zip code, each area within Bay View reflects a different group. The “newer” members of the community are progressive and liberal, but a good number of people in the community are still older, conservative and unchanging - they keep the same representatives in office as long as possible.
Jan Pierce, candidate for Alderman in the 14th District, chose to talk with voters outside the poll at South Shore Park. Many people were happy to greet him and his enthusiasm was met with strong hopes for his election. Pierce was encouraged but showed the tension of someone weighted down with uncertainty.
Asked to answer some polling questions, Jan Pierce was unsure but open. When asked why he had used Facebook to communicate with his supporter, Pierce acknowledged that social media was important, “but it is an evolving area”. He said he focused on using everything within his means to encourage communicating his voice. That voice is the reason for his 30-hour a week door-to-door campaign rather than spending on color printing and mailings.
Pierce took a moment to reflect when asked why he votes. He said that it’s a simple but important question and replied, “Voting is the bare minimum required to be a citizen in a democracy.” As he followed that train of thought he continued to comment on the anxiety in the world regarding financial meltdown, polarization of people and a realization that by not paying attention voters have been shocked into attention. “People want to take back control by voting, especially because they feel they can make an impact in their local government.”
Awaiting the election results, parties on both sides will be held at area businesses. The atmosphere of dissatisfaction is overwhelming. Wisconsin has become a pivotal state for Republicans, and yet smaller communities are more motivated by local change that they feel will give them a sense of control.
While most of the state and the city are focused on impacting the future of the GOP in the 2012 Presidential Election, the neighborhood at the south end of the Hoan Bridge seeks change. Alderman Tony Zielinski has represented the 14th District since 2004. In that time, chain stores and franchise restaurants have approached to enter the otherwise wholly locally owned business area. Lucrative to some and disappointing to others, the area has shifted from blue-collar tradition to an up-and-coming trendy zip code. Many look at Bay View as a place for “hipsters”, independent artists with business ambition and idealists. It’s true that the demographic is changing, but the community is the priority.
Milwaukee’s neighborhoods communicate by gathering. Small coffee shops, bars, restaurants and parks are the podium. The discussions in those places provides more information than a local reporter would generally have access to. Bay View is no different, unless you speak directly with the people that live there in a normal meeting place.
Cam Roberts is co-owner of Café LuLu in Bay View. In addition to her professional investment in the area, Roberts is also a long-time resident. When asked whether owning a business influenced the way she voted, she was quick to reject the idea: “I vote on issues that affect me as a woman. I don’t want any misguided politicians making decisions for women.” Roberts also said that the issues that matter to her tie her specifically to her party, and that influences her vote.
Tina Litkowski, waitress at the café, is also a flight attendant. For many years she voted early using the absentee ballot option. When asked why, she explained that" voting is a constitutional right that we should all exercise". Focused on issues as motivation, Litkowski notes, “each individual is unique, and a party can’t represent that”. She also expressed her hope that the Walker recall may be drawing more people to get to the polls, but would not disclose her political affiliation.
Another Bay View resident nicknamed “Buddha”, had strong opinions about the candidates and voting. Not wishing to be quoted directly, he felt that most people only voted after they were unhappy with their representatives. He didn’t relate to any worries about which candidate the Republicans would choose, he was more worried about getting rid of his current Alderman.
Voters at the South Shore Pavilion poll represent a different set of values from the Bay View Public Library and Burdick School. Even though they are all part of the same district and zip code, each area within Bay View reflects a different group. The “newer” members of the community are progressive and liberal, but a good number of people in the community are still older, conservative and unchanging - they keep the same representatives in office as long as possible.
Jan Pierce, candidate for Alderman in the 14th District, chose to talk with voters outside the poll at South Shore Park. Many people were happy to greet him and his enthusiasm was met with strong hopes for his election. Pierce was encouraged but showed the tension of someone weighted down with uncertainty.
Asked to answer some polling questions, Jan Pierce was unsure but open. When asked why he had used Facebook to communicate with his supporter, Pierce acknowledged that social media was important, “but it is an evolving area”. He said he focused on using everything within his means to encourage communicating his voice. That voice is the reason for his 30-hour a week door-to-door campaign rather than spending on color printing and mailings.
Pierce took a moment to reflect when asked why he votes. He said that it’s a simple but important question and replied, “Voting is the bare minimum required to be a citizen in a democracy.” As he followed that train of thought he continued to comment on the anxiety in the world regarding financial meltdown, polarization of people and a realization that by not paying attention voters have been shocked into attention. “People want to take back control by voting, especially because they feel they can make an impact in their local government.”
Awaiting the election results, parties on both sides will be held at area businesses. The atmosphere of dissatisfaction is overwhelming. Wisconsin has become a pivotal state for Republicans, and yet smaller communities are more motivated by local change that they feel will give them a sense of control.