Young Astoria likes democracy, but not Di Blasio
Youth speaks out on NYC Primary Day
Rachel O’ Malley hopped down the stairs of PS-85 Judge Charles Vallone in Astoria, Queens, wearing a sporty outfit, her dark hair tied in a bun. On September, 12th she made a pit stop on her way to the gym to cast a vote in the New York City Democratic primaries.
“In the current political environment, any opportunity you have as a citizen of the United States to have your say is a privilege,” said O’ Malley. “It is exciting […] to feel that you are making a difference in what your country will accomplish.”
O’ Malley, 32, an Oregon native, has been living in New York for seven years. Here, O’ Malley feels at home.
“I have lived in New York longer than everywhere else,” she said.
She works as a bartender, a burlesque performer and a mezzosoprano opera singer.
Before settling down in the Big Apple, she had bounced from one continent to another. She lived in the Middle East, in Norway…
Her travels made O’ Malley appreciate the democratic nature of US politics, despite its shortcomings.
She recounted she had lived in Oman, one of the last sultanates on the planet.
“There the political climate is different. You have no idea of what is going on,” she explained.
O’ Malley was clear on who should be the next Democratic mayor candidate. “Di Blasio has the money, but Gangi has the plan,” she said.
What she likes about Mayoral candidate Robert Gangi is that he is an advocate for minorities and homeless people. O’ Malley also praised his ideas to reform the city’s budget.
“Closing Rikers Island will free $1.3 billion. So much money for smaller class sizes, affordable housing and free transportation for low income individuals,” she said.
Gangi, O’ Malley claimed, could fulfill Di Blasio’s empty promises. She is worried about the high amount of imprisonment for small drug crimes in the city.
“Di Blasio said he was going to do something about that, but the imprisonment for small drug crimes has been higher in 2016 than in 2015,” she added.
