Weather freezes out South Side voter

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Madison journal Sentinel

By Meg Kissinger
Tuesday, Feb 19 2008, 08:59 AM

Today's bitter cold is enough to keep Daniel Gozdziewski, 72, the unofficial "Mayor of Mitchell Street," away from the polls. Gozdziewski says he's not voting because 1) it's too cold, 2) he doesn't have a car and 3) snow hasn't been properly removed from bus stops, so he's afraid he would fall on his way to vote.

The high in Milwaukee is not expected to get much above 15 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. And with winds between 10 and 20 mph, it'll feel like 10 below.

He says the voices of people without cars or who are disabled won't be heard in this election because the snow isn't cleared from bus stops properly on the south side.

Read more: http://blogs.jsonline.com/allpoliticswatch/archive/2008/02/19/weather-freezes-out-south-side-voter.aspx

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Are either of the campaigns smart enough to offer this guy a ride to the polls?

[displacedtexan]

1. That's terrible!

When I worked for Kerry campaign, we often called voters across the country to invite them
to events, and we (in the DC HQ) even arranged --long-distance-- for rides to and from those
events. We did the same for voting day.

[sybylla]

4. Party orgs and campaigns do that in Wisconsin, too

The problem is in communities like Madison and Milwaukee, where there are great public transportation mechanisms in place, it's tough to plan alternatives for severe weather. It doesn't help that the campaigns essentially packed up and left Wisconsin yesterday, which leaves the party orgs in a bit of disarray on election day.

Hopefully, by later in the day, the gentleman mentioned above will either have a ride or feel safer taking the bus.

[thereismore]

2. Somebody please give this man a ride. nt

[LiberalFighter]

3. Did he even bothered to call either the Democratic Hdqtrs or the campaigns

and ask for a ride?

I guess the Milwaukee Democratic Party doesn't have a hdqtrs to make or receive calls.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. Democratic Party of Milwaukee County: [phone]

[LiberalFighter]

7. I didn't find hdqtrs address for the party there.

All I found was where they hold their monthly meetings. A local activist was talking about her days in Milwaukee and she wasn't sure they had a hdqtrs.

[eyesroll]

8. He could be a Republican.

The article didn't say which side of the ballot he'd be marking--he could also try the Republican party or the McCain/Huckabee campaigns.

[liberal N proud]

5. Where is the Get out the vote effort here?

Surely the Democratic organization there can get a ride for the man and any others with similar situations.

This is shameful if this man does not get to exercises his right.

[The Croquist]

9. It doesn't seem to me that he is trying very hard

If this guy is the "the unofficial Mayor of Mitchell Street," you would think he would know someone with a car AND voting. I'd give a neighbor a ride if they asked. Especially if he was old and the weather sucked. Maybe he should hold up a sign "Will vote for ride".

[JustDavid]

10. PEOPLE

all over the world are risking their lives to stand in line and vote for the first time in their lives and this guy says its too cold.


...but, of course, he's old. Prolly been through alot more than me, so I can't say. I don't want to put him in the same category as some Americans who can't get off the couch to vote.

Maybe he did try....

[gaspee]

13. You ever been

in 15 degree weather? How old are you? And 15 is going to be the high today.

I'm in my 30's and 15 degree weather makes it *hurt* to breathe. My 67 YO father feels like he's never going to be warm again when he goes outside in single digit weather.

Nevermind, he's just a frail old guy. who needs 'em!

[seriousstan]

14. It hurts to breath in 15 degree weather? Give it a rest. Some of us do know how 15 degrees feels.

This guy managed to get a films crew and a reporter out to his house. Now you want me to believe he can't get a fucking ride.

I'm damn near 50 and have been out and about in weather well below zero. Hurts to breath at 15 degrees.......:rofl:

[MediaBabe]

11. You're right

He isn't trying very hard. Someone interviewed him. Right there is his solution. If his not voting made a news story think what a better story it would have been had the news team stepped up and found him a way to the polls. *Film at eleven*

[BearSquirrel2]

12. Sounds bad for Hillary ...

Sounds bad for Hillary as she seemed to be favored amongst eldery women.