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Janae Pierre: Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City, from WNYC. It's Monday, November 4th. Here's the midday news from Michael Hill.

Michael Hill: Some doctors are making a last-minute attempt to get voters to support Proposition 1 on election day. The ballot initiative would enshrine abortion rights in the New York State Constitution if approved. More than 150 health providers have released a letter today saying Prop 1 will help ensure continued access to reproductive health care. Dr. Linda Prine signed on. She practices in New York City and prescribes abortion pills to people in other states with restrictive abortion laws.

Dr. Prine says there are cases of patients needing in-person follow-up care.

Dr. Linda Prine: They need to be assessed in a medical facility because they're having very heavy bleeding and they're afraid to go to the hospital.

Michael Hill: Some opponents of Prop 1 say abortion rights are not politically at risk in New York. New York Times tech workers have walked off the job one day before election day after failing to reach an agreement with management yesterday. Members of the Times Tech Guild say they're now on strike. The guild represents more than 600 workers at the paper that includes software engineers, product managers, data analysts, and designers like the people make the famous election day "Needle."

Tech Guild workers hit the picket line this morning at nine o'clock. A New York Times spokesperson says, "We look forward to continuing to work with the Tech Guild to reach a fair contract," but also noted that the workers are among the highest-paid individual contributors in the company. The Times also criticized the timing of the strike, calling it unnecessary and at odds with the paper's mission. 57 with some sunshine now partly sunny and 59 today. Election day tomorrow partly sunny and 71 and gusty. Even warmer though on Wednesday up to 77.

Janae Pierre: Stay close. There's more after the break.

Michael Hill: After months of anticipation in what feels like an endless stream of polls, ads, and debates, the time has come for voters, you, we, us to weigh in. Tomorrow is the general election with polls opening at six o'clock in the morning in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. For months now, WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk has been crisscrossing the New York metro area as you've been hearing talking with voters about what's driving them to the polls this year, if at all.

All of those conversations have been happening in laundromats. It's a perfect project that we call Suds and Civics. This morning, Editor George Bodarky is at Star Laundromat on the North Shore of Staten Island, where he spent quite a bit of time over the last few months. George in all the conversations you've had, is there a particular message or concern that's come up again and again?

George Bodarky: Yes, Michael. Costs are too high, especially groceries. 60-year-old Emeka Okechi does his wash here on Staten Island. He was planning to head across the street to the grocery store after getting his laundry done.

Emeka Okechi: As soon as I'm done, I'm going to walk in there to buy some things, but things are getting pretty expensive every day and I wish it comes down.

George Bodarky: 29-year-old Eddie Velez is a fast food manager here on Staten Island. He says people earning a minimum wage of $16 an hour in New York can't keep up with expenses.

Eddie Velez: Rents for example. Some places do like 1,000, 1,300, even 2,100, for instance. That wouldn't be enough considering utility bills like gas, water, electric.

George Bodarky: At Bubbles R Us in Paterson, New Jersey, 30-year-old Melanie Cruz shared a similar sentiment. She's the mom of a 10-year-old and an 8-month-old.

Melanie Cruz: Everything is just too expensive now to a point where I don't think our children when they get older are going to be able to survive on their own. They would definitely need help, especially with minimum wage is just not where it should be.

George Bodarky: Some 80 miles away at Fountain Square Laundry in Beacon in New York's Hudson Valley, Mary Beth Romeo reflected on the challenges her family faces in trying to buy a home. She's 43, her wife is 40 and they have a three year old son.

Mary Beth Romeo: We have pretty good jobs. I'm a personal chef, she's a chiropractor and we can't afford a house. I think my dad bought a house on disability and my mom bought a house as a bartender and it's just not like that anymore. It makes me feel like it's harder to get by in this generation as a mom, as a person in the working world.

Michael Hill: Okay, so economic concerns are on top of mind, George. What other issues are people thinking about?

George Bodarky: Safety is a big one, Michael. 75 year old Juana Lidiano was getting her wash done at Bubbly Laundry in the Bronx.

Juana Lidiano: [foreign language]

George Bodarky: She says she's worried about her safety. She doesn't feel comfortable going out at night. Salio Suso is originally from West Africa. He's lived in the Bronx for 30 years. Now in his late 60s, Suso says his main concern is making sure kids have a bright future.

Salio Suso: We have to care about our children to make sure they live in a clean environment and they get help that they needed.

George Bodarky: At Madison Ave Laundry In East Harlem, 67 year old Donna Johnson says she wants to see a greater investment in mental health care and drug treatment programs.

Donna Johnson: My concern is the safe injection sites because you see needles all over the street. Kids live in the community, so that's really a concern of mine.

George Bodarky: 35-year-old Erin Sonata also does her wash at Madison Ave. As a teacher, she says investing in education is what matters most to her, but housing affordability is also a big issue for her.

Erin Sonata: I really also find housing really important for my students because I have so many insecurely housed students. Those are the things that I think are most important and that I care about when usually how I vote and also women's rights and everything else, but those are the things I think about a lot.

George Bodarky: We heard a very emotional response here on Staten Island to the issue of immigration from 39 year old Yvonne Ramirez. As a DACA recipient, she says she's frustrated by the lack of a clear path to citizenship.

Yvonne Ramirez: They really need to consider the toll that it takes on families and individuals for the fact that I myself was here since I was 3. To feel like you don't even have a country because I don't have a way to claim Mexico because I don't really know it. I was just born there and then I've lived here my whole life and not being able to participate or engage with the only country I've known is like that doesn't make sense.

Michael Hill: I can certainly hear it there, George. Now a record number of people cast their ballots as we've been reporting. George in early voting last week, so there's clearly a lot of enthusiasm for this election. Are you hearing that too, George?

George Bodarky: For sure. Salio Suso in the Bronx says he never misses an opportunity to vote.

Salio Suso: I need changes. Not only me, but the community also needed changes and the country needs changes. We need better for the future. That's the reason why I always vote and then I always tell my friends and neighbors let's go vote. If you don't see any changes for the particular person, next time don't vote for him or don't vote for her. Vote for someone who can make changes.

George Bodarky: Now 41 year old Omar Fall was doing his wash at Madison Ave Laundry in East Harlem. He's also all in on voting in this year's election.

Omar Fall: I'm excited because people choice really have an impact on the future decision and whats going to happen in this country.

George Bodarky: Then there's Matthew Monteleone. He's in his early 40s and owns a tattoo parlor in Beacon, New York. He says he votes, but not in national elections.

Matthew Monteleone: It doesn't seem like we're getting anybody but red or blue anytime ever again. The red or blue is going to be the red or blue team's pick, not the people's pick. It's not our president. It's nobody's president. This is we're voting for Congress president. I'm not interested in that sort of politics. Honestly, the local politics has been the only thing I've ever been able to feel or see or impact myself.

Michael Hill: George, you've talked with a lot of people and a lot of laundromats. Is there a voice or a comment that really stands out to you?

George Bodarky: A common refrain we hear is that candidates don't follow through on their campaign promises, which makes some people less likely to vote. Take Eddie Velez here on Staten Island.

Eddie Velez: Just feels like there's no need to vote at that point when you get all these promises but neither party follows through. I just think they're just imitating clowns in my opinion. I mean, everyone has their opinion. I have mine. I just find political talk just one big joke.

George Bodarky: It's really a reminder to candidates on this day before the election that if you promise something, follow through.

Michael Hill: George Bodarky is WNYC's community partnerships editor. He's live at Star Laundromat on Staten Island this morning. George, your day is just getting started, isn't it?

George Bodarky: That's right. We're just getting rolling. I'll be joining the Brian Lehrer show from Bubbles R Us in Paterson, New Jersey, later this morning, and we'll be stopping by All Things Considered this afternoon from Sty Wash and Dry in East New York, Brooklyn.

Michael Hill: Michael, a long day for our George Bodarky. George, thank you. A lot of washing and folding there, George.

George Bodarky: Oh, yes. Thank you, Michael.

Janae Pierre: Thanks for listening. This is NYC Now from WNYC. Check us out for updates every weekday, three times a day, for the latest news, headlines, and occasional deep dives, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast. We'll be back this evening.

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