RSS Feeds

Get your real-time updates here...
feed image
feed image
feed image
feed image
feed image
feed image

Search

News Ticker

FOUND KEYS ON 7/1/09 at Rockview beach please contact Randi at 588-4988

Wednesday, July 1

more...

City Employees Downsize Work Week

Tuesday, June 30

City employees are currently taking a 10 percent furlough in an effort to solve $4 million of the city’s $9 million deficit for the 2010 fiscal year. As a result,...

more...

Mayor Declares June ‘Derby Girls Month’

Tuesday, June 23

The Santa Cruz Derby Girls are on quite a roll this season – from selling out the Civic Auditorium time and time again to finally realizing their goal of becoming...

more...

More in: The Ticker

100%
-
+
3
Show options

Sponsored Links

My Election Night | Print |  E-mail
Written by Greg Archer   
Wednesday, 05 November 2008

I felt something in the air early Tuesday evening that I hadn't felt in quite some time--Hope. 


And so, armed with good thoughts, I began my election night wanderings with a colleague at La Vida in Santa Cruz. Charmed by about a half-dozen diners at the bar, the two of us sat and watched CNN on the televisions. Obama was ahead, with 207 electoral votes, while McCain was approaching 140. Somebody down on the other end of the  bar--a nice young fellow who obviously began drinking hours before--told the crowd that he would buy a round of drinks to anyone who voted for McCain. Nobody raised their hand.

About an hour later, around 6:45 p.m., at a very-packed Cypress Lounge, the crowd's fervor was contagious. Winding my way through the sea of happy people, I ran into Mayor Ryan Coonerty, fresh off of his campaign for Santa Cruz City Council. The force of the crowd separated us for a bit, so I found a spot off to the side and kept turning my head to several of the big-screen TVs in the lounge. To everybody's surprise, it appeared that Obama was going to take Florida. While wild cheers permeated the Cypress, my colleague and I indulged in some wine, took notice of the huge victory cake from The Buttery and couldn't help noticing how many kids were dashing about. I seemed to be leaving the same time Coonerty was. When I asked the mayor how he was feeling at the moment--7:40 p.m.--he quipped: "I am dying for this thing to be over with." I could only nod. Meanwhile, Coonerty dashed off to The Red nearby and I made my way to Tampico on Pacific Avenue.

Things seemed chill at the popular Mexican restaurant. Those sitting at the bar had their eyes glued to the television set. Meanwhile, new Downtown Association E.D., Chip, was prepping for a live feed with Community TV. I sat and talked to Linda and Charlie at the bar. The couple from Watsonville told me how much hope they had that Obama would take the election. "My daughter's 16," Linda said. "She can't vote, but she's helped other people to vote. She helped people register to vote today and really made a difference. That's the difference I see between this election and the last--the young people are really getting involved!" 

About 15 minutes later, the entire bar broke out in cheers. I turned to the big screen TV--Obama won! Chip asked me what was going on and with broad grins, we high-fived Obama's victory. I hugged Linda and Charlie and was struck with a thought: I never thought I'd smell salsa when the BIG news came.  Minutes later, McCain came onto the screen and gave his speech. Outside, on Pacific Avenue, crowds had gathered and a wild wave of enthusiasm flooded the thorougfare. Sydney at Pizza My Heart hadn't heard the news, so I told her what just happened. She smiled. She asked me about Prop 8. I hadn't heard anything yet so I phoned a friend who was watching everything unfold at home. I gushed over the news of Obama but my friend was solemn for a moment. He told me it was still early, but that a Yes on Prop 8 had already generated more than 50 percent of the vote. 

It was hard not to feel as if the storm clouds were suddenly thickening as I made my way to next outing ...

Here are some pictures of the Obama celebration on campus from UCSC student Marlena McClain:

Image

Image

Image 

See more of her photos at http://www.jpgmag.com/people/undifined .

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

smaller | bigger
security image
Write the displayed characters

busy

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
 

Most Recent Comments

Pacific’s Green Inn
I live in the neighborhood where this inn was built and I can tell you for certain that there is nothing "green" about stealing water from the complexes next door during construction! Or how about wh...

Just Do it! Yourself
I Live in LA now and must say, this is a great time for local music. I was very pleased to come back to Santa Cruz to visit the family and see that The Crepe Place (???) is now hosting shows by indie ...

This week's Editor's Note & Letters to Good Times
there was no way i could get this to your paper so im writing it here in hopes that my voice matters. --------- who said the way we learn is the right way to learn? who said reading is the only way t...

Going Holistic
The address and phone number for Felton Community Acupuncture are: 6227 Hwy 9 Felton 95018 831.335.9690 feltoncommunityacupuncture@gmail.com Please call us with any questions. Thank you

pride & joy
I came down from Sac for the Pride doo-dah on Sunday and had a great time. Thanks to all who organized it.