AFTERMATH: Hurricane Sandy Or Not, The Jersey Shore Still Voted
The storm of the century ruined their homes and forced many to vote elsewhere, and even out of town. But it didn't keep too many people away from the polls
Voting Lines- Saturday, November 3, 2012 at about 2:45 PM, Monmouth County Board of Elections, 300 Halls Mills Rd., Freehold, NJ
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At the Jersey Shore, the Election Day routines were always simple; perhaps just a little bit hectic: Mothers and fathers dropped the kids off at school, went to work and, somehow, tried to fit voting in between.
For years, and well into the 1990s, they went to their schools and recreation centers in Point Boro, Long Branch, Brick and elsewhere to pick candidates, using the old-fashioned machines with the tiny pull-down levers. The lever they usually pulled, just about two-thirds of the time, was for Republicans, right on down the line.
The whole thing felt so hectic then, trying to squeeze in a short visit to the rec center and not be late for work. But it all seems so easy now, because there was nothing routine about this past week, a week when a storm packing 89-mph winds changed everybody's routines for a while, maybe forever.
After Hurricane Sandy damaged so much, voting became not only a right; it was a downright challenge. It became something that, a few admitted, was easy for them to forget to do, because it didn't have the same priority it usually has.
So many were bogged down by the not-so-routine task of tearing up carpets from their water-logged houses, or fishing their cars out of newly formed lakes that formed on their streets. Even though they were picking a president, voting didn't have the same urgency, because these likely voters were too busy calling FEMA to get a damage assessment on a house that was supposed to never see the likes of this.
Yet, somehow, in between the horror and the crying, in between the painstaking task of trying to find a place to live that had heat, and trying to find a place that sold non-perishable food that could fill up their shelves, they did it, anyway.
Many of them had to go out of town to do so, because they couldn't even get home. Hurricane Sandy had sealed off some of the barrier island communities, with police standing at the points of entry, preventing them from getting even within a sniff of their homes, even if they had a boat.
Still, they did it. More than 200,000 of Ocean County's residents, 62 percent of registered voters, voted on Tuesday. The figure was 10 percent lower than it was in 2008, though nearly 20 percent higher than 2010.
Still most did, maybe more than expected. And, yes, in Ocean County, they stuck to one old routine: They largely voted Republican.
In Ocean County, they did put a little drama into it, making a sheriff's race more competitive than it had been in years, and putting Democrats in charge of Barnegat for the first time in a while.
Around noon on Election Day, voters at Barnegat High School reported little to no lines for voting. Later in the day, however, one township official reported "all of the polling places are busy," even as the lines were moving quickly. "We're having a busy but quiet election," the person said.
Brian Amento, a Long Beach Township resident, voted in Ship Bottom and went through two checkpoints to get there. He filled out provisional ballots.
"I ran into a friend at a polling place and he gave me an electric heater," Amento said.
Up and down the Jersey Shore, Hurricane Sandy tore apart boardwalks, houses and businesses, and threw them out to sea. Water pushed through doors, windows and walls, soaking up homes that were never designed to handle this kind of thing, displacing tens of thousands of people.
From Sandy Hook to Ocean City and Cape May, homes and streets went dark, and many are still in the black, more than a week later. Lines at gas stations have stretched for hours. People raced to firehouses that set up emergency generators so they could charge their computers and phones, and quickly grab some MREs to eat.
For many, more than a week later, life is finally returning to normal, even as another big storm hit the area on Monday. For many others, however, it hasn't.
Still, at firehouses in Bay Head and other Jersey Shore sites, surrounded by homes broken apart, people were walking into buildings they've never been in before, moved from their typical but flood-damaged polling places in Seaside Heights and elsewhere, exercising their constitutional rights.
On Tuesday, Monmouth County libraries were packed with voters. In Howell, 12 voting districts were packed into one location. Traffic was backed up and people were parking in the nearby Walmart to walk to the old Southard School.
Bay Head residents originally were supposed to vote in Point Boro Town Hall. But that was a routine they wouldn't change; they insisted on having voting in their own firehouse.
In Silverton, the firehouse, long a bastion of community spirit, could not serve as the usual voting place for the neighborhood. Instead, more districts were moved to Silver Bay Elementary and Hooper Avenue Elementary. By all accounts, the lines were just as long - or longer - than they've ever been.
At places where emergency personnel have been spending days on end, sleeping in chairs while they dealt around-the-clock with fallen wires, gas fires in Mantoloking and search-and-rescues in Seaside Heights, people were filling out paper ballots, taking as much time as they needed to take.
In some cases, the process was as arduous as it is when they go to the MVC to get a driver's license. But they did it, even though many of them still don't have a roof over the head, and maybe didn't even have a place to go after they were done. And maybe they won't have one for a while.
Amento treated voting as though it was some sort of oasis. His house is OK, but he had two feet of water.
"When I got there, they gave me a case of water and some apples," he said. "It was very cool and very well organized."
McBeth607
6:09 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Ocean County may have voted Republican but STILL sadly NJ was a 'blue' state. Probably because of Newark & other slum areas & their love of entitlements.
gjc
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Absolutely nothing sad about Jerseyites voting for Democrats. I don't live in a poor neighborhood nor am I poor. I voted for the Democrats because they are the only party who cares about the average person. And here is a BIG secret: I don't collect a penny in "entitlements" as you put it but I have absolutely no problem with anyone in need collecting legally enacted entitlements. Frankly, you sound jealous and filled with sour grapes that your party didn't win.
sara_lee
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
^^^ dying breed
rosa
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
McBeth607..............After all New Jersey has gone through the last few weeks how could you be so rude. Slum areas???? I live in Monmouth County ( and no not in a slum area) and Yes I voted blue. People like you are just so bitter because you were so convinced our President was going to be a one term president and boy were you wrong.
Beach_N8iv
6:30 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
McBeth607, the next time you have one of your racist thoughts (Newark & other slum areas) why not just come right out and name the people you hate? You're not fooling anyone.
Kate Bigam
1:53 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Not a penny in "entitlements" here, either, but I would feel no shame if I were receiving them. When I was a kid, Social Security got my mom through single motherhood after my father died when she went back for her masters; that opportunity allowed her to get a good job that ultimately paid for much of my college tuition & helped me get where I am today. Absolutely no shame in that. People like me are NOT a dying breed, as the votes showed. It's NOT just poor people who believe in President Obama & the Democratic Party.
I just moved to New Jersey in June from new Hampshire by way of D.C. & Ohio - & I was thrilled to see all four of my homes go blue!
knarfie
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
And the sheep voted Polhemus in again, no matter how unqualified he is.
Ryan Meyers
6:30 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
this is Ocean County, remember
Cheryl
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Excellent Article!
suz
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I voted for Mitt because another four years of Obama will cripple this country. Not because Obama is black. However, I wish I could say the same for the cities and the reason you mentioned....free stuff. Wrong reason to keep him in office.
Ryan Meyers
6:30 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
The country changed directions tuesday. I only hope those that caused it, are around to witiness the mess their children & grandchildren will be in.
Jean
9:48 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Power was out until last night. Other the the first notification from the Police Chiel, no other information was forth coming. A call to the Police non emergency number left us with a bad taste after speaking to a rude dispatcher. Finally at 9:30 PM sunday night a call from from our MAYOR getting info, here we are in the dark and he is giving phone numbers and web site. DAH, no electricity or a pencil with flashlight to be able to write down numbers. Where was he for 6 days.
Christina Weaver
7:02 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
I know a woman who doesn't live in a "slum", has the same fair complexion as I, &gets $40 in food stamps. She's 89, 2nd generation European, widowed in the '80's. She gets her late husband's social security&his small pension. Her son-in-law and only child bought her VERY modest paid-for house from her so she has money to augment that. She's on Medicaid.Will the money run out before she dies? My friend doesn't know. Read "Nickeled&Dimed in the USA" for the experiences of a journalist who, as an experiment, tried to support herself on various minimum wage jobs. She couldn't.These are complex, intertwined issues.My power is still out. I am a lucky one: less than a week after registering w/ FEMA, emergency funds were deposited in my account. I am grateful for that "entitlement". I just gave $40 to a young woman w/ $30 in her wallet&2 PT jobs who won't get a paycheck next week because Sandy closed both workplaces. I told her I'd "forgotten" her June birthday, not wanting to offend her struggle to be self-sufficient. Don't think for a minute that I - now on SSI, whose illness became permanent 19 years ago, ripping away my professional career- ENJOY having to rely on this "entitlement": social security. I got 19 yrs education to enter my profession.I've reached the "donut hole" in my Medicare Rx drug plan. Both grandfathers were Republican. One was the last Republican US. Sen. from NJ & wrote a provision of the federal civil rights law.giving women&blacks access to rights denied.
Lj
6:30 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
So many forget we are a country born on freedom. Come to America to work hard and you can reach your success. It meant learn our language believe in what we stand for and you are on your way to the American dream. That is how it use to be. Isn't that why people leave their countries they like who we are? Unfortunately now people come here and expect us to give them everything many don't even try to learn English. They want rights, go to the store everything is now English and Mulitiple languages. Does anyone one believe if we went to another country we would see English on there packaging ..I may be 63 but I feel like the outsider in my own country i am sure i am not alone. Paid my bills and taxes worked and still am to be able to have a small home and pay my bills. They are taking away all that make America was our holidays, GOD really people doesn't anyone else see this. Help those who help themselves I agree with that, HELP THEMSELVES. Another thing how many babies do most Americans have yes some have more than others, however for the most we have only have what we know we can afford not how much each baby will get for me in financial aid. This president has really put us in a hole in many aspects. He is not a leader, we are laughed at over seas, he has his own agenda and it is not for the people of the United sates. just worried about this country for my grandson. The people who built this country are the minority...GOD BLESS us....and our children.
Sam Lavner
6:30 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
McBeth - You got that right..O won only because of the parasites who voted for him like my white mom who sponges off us for social security and medicare (wasn't enough that she worked full time for 40 years raising four children and reaped all the benefits of that - she can't get enough benefits), and my greedy blood sucking octogenarian white uncles who collect disability as wounded WWII vets ON TOP OF SSI, medicare, you name it. And I gotta confess that I've done my share of suckling off the pubic teet like when I got federal grants and loans to earn 3 degrees from those liberal indoctrination mills the 47%ers call colleges. And I wasted that money by earning six figures and voting democratic. Typical!!!
Parker Miller
6:29 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Why do you kool-aid drinkers always bring up those who are entitled to benefits like vets and people who earned their social security. The complaint is with those who are able to work but prefer to sit at home on their rears earning over $35K per year while the rest of us are ot working. And the majority of them are in the larger cities like Newark. Why is any negative opinion of the president racial? Obama got 94% to 96% of the black vote despite the fact that his policies were ineffective, his administration corrupt, and he is incompetent. Now that's racial.
Heather Garson
6:30 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Slums and cities ruled the day. I moved out of one to live in this beautiful Red area and now it follows. Horrible and those of you who voted blue really have no clue what you're doing.
Susie DiGironimo
10:25 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Unfortunately, America has a new outlook! They do not watch the news to see the world threats against us; the small businesses have been abandoned, causing layoffs & downsizing; the higher cost of living continuing for the middle class; the younger generation who voted for the president because he hangs with musicians; and the uneducated, unmotivated americans who need to protect their free ride; and voting because you are a democrat instead of what is best for the country. These are the reasons Obama was elected again.
Final thought, Last time I checked, I live in America, One nation Under God. The new America has no values and no morals. This country was based on immigrants coming to this country, working hard and becoming successful. Today, if you are successful and Wealthy, Obama wants to punish, and penalize you!! Again, this is the new America. Stay on this track, eventually the wealthy and successful will not be able to continue to support the free riders. So the next time you hear of a business closing because " the Successful" cannot hold on, I hope Obama has a plan. His wealthy is someone who is successful, has a business and is MIDDLE CLASS. Again, unfortunately, the new America does not have a clue. God Bless America and help us succeed the next four years.
Christina Weaver
4:19 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Among the earliest European settlers in this country were those who came for religious freedom: that's the "free exercise" clause of the US Constitution.Others were sent here as prisoners, as a way to banish them. Still others came here as indentured servants, having to serve 7 years before they were free.You know about the boatloads of slaves.President Obama was elected because he had more than the required 270 electoral votes (the Electoral College).He won 332- that's more than any Republican candidate in 24yrs.(Romney got 206).Obama says any new tax reform bill must ensure that those making more than $250,000, like him, bear their fair share.Saying Pres.Obama won "because he hangs with musicians" is like saying Republican Gov.Chris Christie won because he likes Springsteen music.Worse than that, it's insulting to young people's intelligence and education.By the way, did you know that the original pledge of allegiance said "One Nation Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All'? The "under God" was inserted during the reign of McCarthyism, when the lives of many citizens were ruined by Rep.Sen.Joseph McCarthy's tactics.He conducted a witchhunt& accused scores of citizens of being Communists. In '53,he attacked my Grandfather Case,a Republican,running for US Senate by claiming his sister,Adelaide was a member of a "communist study group."It was a different Adelaide Case,but he never bothered to check.My aunt died young from that trauma.My grandfather won&again in 59,65&71
Timmy O
10:31 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Thomas Jefferson: "History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose." - to Baron von Humboldt, 1813
. Can a free government possibly exist with the Roman Catholic religion?
-- John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson, May 19, 1821
Gary
5:25 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Why are people so threatened by the poor? Did the poor cause the financial meltdown with the mortgage industry? NO the rich did that because they had no qualms about getting richer by writing bad mortgages even though they knew it would all crash in - but not on them. They made huge money. The poor have NO power - yet some of the Republicans are so resentful of them. Would you Republicans rather have disabled people begging in the streets like in 3rd world counties or would you rather they were helped by government? Do you want single mothers NOT to be able to get help from Planned Parenthood? I am tired of the selfish and foolish Republicans who are so resentful of poor people. Not to worry! Poor people have no power - they are not the ones pulling the strings in this country. Just look at these comments from you outdated, misinformed, resentful Republicans. Yours is a dying party and if this group commenting is any indication of the rest of the Republicans, good riddance!
Gary
5:32 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
An Lj - you travel overseas? You know that people "laugh" at the US? I travel all the time and no one laughs at the US. When Bush was in office, the US was scorned as well it should have been by the rest of the world. Invading countries for no reason, dropping bombs and killing innocent civilians - yes the US was rightly scorned. Obama is well thought of now in the world for the most part. I am sure there is some fraud in the US when it comes to welfare but to make these statements that women deliberately have babies to collect more is absurd. Take your ignorance, bitterness and resentment and total lack of understanding and compassion and turn on FOX and revel in it.
Chico Little
6:47 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
You are the one who drank the Kool-Aid. Gosh, it happens Obama is less popular in the Arab world than Bush was. And I don't see you complaining about Obama invading Pakistan, Yemen and Libya. As for "no reason." Not only was Iraq attacking our planes daily, and not only did the Taliban harbor Bin Laden, but enough of the Senate voted for those wars to authorize them. Do you recall what the vote was for Obama to attack Libya, Yemen and Pakistan? Oh, wait. There wasn't one.
As for "overseas" being better than your country, and you agreeing with them, if a right-winger said that about Obama I'm sure yo'ud be chagrined.
You need to open your mind. I'm not for any of this snarky politics, especialy when Obama urged us all to disagree without being disagreeable. If you hate Bush and Republicans and citizens who disagree with you so much -- and your own country, too, sometimes -- then maybe you can at least go back and read Obama's beautiful speech from Tuscon. You'd do well to expose yourself to media other than the Daily Show and Current TV, too.
If you want the nation to improve, start with the man in the mirror like Michael Jackson said. We'll all be better for it.
Gary
9:02 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
No one said that overseas was better - just said that they respect Obama and hated Bush and I agree. And do you have proof that the "Arab" world hates Obama more than Bush? (They are not Arab in Pakistan, by the way) Don't you know that Iraq was bombed to hell because there were "wmd" there? oh wait - there weren't any wmd there! That was a LIE used as an exuse to murder Iraq people and many Americans too - but guess they were just blue collar families who lost their loved ones so la de dah. Obama did not attack Libya - remember? he led from behind? Do not dare tell anyone to open their mind - I would be willing to bet your passport (if you ever had one) is expired. Your probably (like the idiots in Congress) never traveled outside the US at all so do not bother because clearly, you do not know what the heck you are talking about
Gary
9:06 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
And the Taliban was in Afrganistan and yes - the so called purpose of that war was to get Bin Laden but Bush failed in that - too. Iraq was murder Bush murdered Iraq people - women and children as well as American soldiers died for nothing! You are OK with that? fine but civilized people are not.
Christina Weaver
5:09 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Lj you wrote: "Unfortunately now people come here&expect us to give them everything many don't even try to learn English. They want rights, go to the store everything is now English and Mulitiple languages."
Did you know there are 13 Official Languages in South Africa?
My neighbor is from Turkey.He pays rent, works long hours in a gas station&learns English on the job.My son-in-law is bi-lingual.I was his sponsor for a VISA.Completing the forms was lengthy&complicated. In that, I agreed that if my son-in-law collected any benefits from the government, I would reimburse them.He arrived here from Italy on 12/31/05.Once he got his green card, he was able to get a job in his field: the hotel industry.Can you picture yourself going to another country & being fluent enough to work in your profession?On Election Day '08, because of the poor economy, he&colleagues were laid off.He couldn't collect Unemployment. In his VISA application he'd agreed not to collect such a government benefit.He paid Taxes,Unemployment&Social Security..After his lay-off he took a course to become a NY real estate broker.Picture yourself learning new legal concepts&vocabulary in order to follow the course, pass the exams& then take the state exam to become licensed?He passed the first time&found a job in NYC.He did so well that his commissions were increased.Do you realize when you make such disparaging comments you insult my neighbor,my son-in-law&countless others?They don't deserve to be dismissed.
Susan
7:40 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
good for him, now what about the rest
Concerned
9:12 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
No one said the vets don't deserve help many of us actually donate monthly to them they deserve much more. No one said all people who come here don't want to really work. No one said they are afraid of poor people really want does that even mean? The people who come here to work and pay their share are the people who deserve the countries entitlements. Work the key word here. People who have paid into social security that is there for them and should get cost of living increases. But if we make it impossible not only for big companies to survive and small business to grew where is the work coming from to allow people to pay taxes to pay into the SS to keep the entitlements coming. No jobs no taxes doesn't take either side of the isle to figure that math out. No one deserves to be dismissed the people who actually work deserve what they pay into. People came in to our country and killed thousands of our working citizens so yes it bothers me some were relatives and close friends that was a sad day for the US. So yes we need to get tougher on our homeland security whatever it takes. We are loosing our credit rating doesn't that tell you anything? Everyone has their own thoughts main stream media never gives both sides Fox just happens to. Unfortunately we all better tighten our seat belts because we are in for many more companies to have major lay offs and small businesses will close. Good luck to all we will need it. 4 more yrs of this will be crippling.
George Clark
9:31 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
fox does what? fair and balanced? go watch a few reels of gerbels and see what fox is. Bush and his cronies crushed our economy so they could haliburton themselves all the way to the bank. how a sitting member of government is allowed to reap war fortunes they started is sickening in every possible way. But our founding fathers did they same thing so i guess its american as apple pie. You big business lovers are being destroyed by it. I think we really need to shut the games off and go back to history channel that doesn't have pawn wars or whatever it's showing now to distract us from the painful truth of our own ignorance and silliness. Scare the old vunerable white folks and we could sell millions of books and get paid to propaganda them some more. dah. Buy the way, those handing out the credit ratings are broke both morally and economically too. Isn't that funny?
jenn
9:47 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Romney was so completely out of touch with reality, he was described by his staff as "shell shocked" that he lost the election. All the polls for weeks before had him losing. Fox news and Carl Rove were still insisting Romeny could win when it was blatant that he could not. You Republicans are in a bubble and the bubble is bursting and you still won't wake up. The Koch brothers, Adelson thought they could buy this election like they buy everything else. The American people are not for sale - and you Republicans say they want "stuff" and that's why they vote Democratic? No they want fairness and that's why they vote Democrat.
George Clark
10:07 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Don't you love how people that talk for a living and give their oh so vaulable opinions as news judge others as entitlement takers? Hannity and Oreilly painted a house once and I guess it was one of Murdochs. how these two average joes are being put up so high and mighty is a mockery to America and the world. Oreilly, supposedly an ex teacher, didn't even know how the moon works the tides a year or two ago. These are the intelligent people our older folks and some niave younger ones are listening to. shame on America for snookiing our news with blond bomshells with just enough brains to read the promoter and the same whorish selling of their souls saying whatever murdoch tells them to. Yes, msnbc does the same, i suppose. The only way to get the truth is to watch and hour of both and then finish with the stewart colbert hour to laugh your tears away. lol. bbc is refreshing different look to along with al jazzeers if you can find it. i know, the enemies propaganda station.
tess
10:20 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
@CICEL, You are right Obama has money...But he still understand and has compassion on those who does not. Yes a millionaire, that you know exactly where his money is and how much he makes and where it comes from and is paying legitimate taxes. Not like Mitt Romeny, It is hidden in other countries and a struggle to find out how much is made and is taking advantage of every write off he can to pay the least amount of taxes. He is out of touch to the average middle class man or women. Something is wrong with this picture and it needs to change if someone who makes million and paying the same amount of taxes as someone making 50,000. Not to worry, The poor people don't have the power they are not the ones pulling the strings in this country. What a bunch of clowns? The Republicans are. They want to take women's rights away and tell them what they can and can't do with their bodies. If they can get an abortion or even try to have kids through different medical procedures. That is where they loss a lot of votes and politicians need to stay of peoples personal lives.
jennifer
11:07 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Right, tess. What is BIG GOVERNMENT more than dictating what a woman can do with her own body? That is BIG GOVERNMENT! Paul Ryan was one of the ones who wanted to change the definition of rape - to "focible rape" as opposed to "rape" I would call that BIG GOVERNMENT interfering in people's lives. A bunch of white men who know better than the rest of us - poor misguided women. Thanks, white guys, but I think I can make my own decisions and one of them is RAPE is RAPE.