Businesses along Broadway and the Bowery board up their windows ahead of Election Day

You've probably seen the news reports that some retailers across the country are boarding up their storefronts in anticipation of any potential unrest tied to the fallout from Election Day. (Per the Times: "For weeks, fears have grown that no matter who wins, the aftermath of the election could include unrest.") 

Businesses along Broadway near Astor Place and on the Bowery were among those putting up the plywood in the days before the election. Both corriders were vandalalized and looted in late May and early June at the beginning of the protests. (Here and here.) 

Here's a plywood report from early last evening ... in many cases, the businesses were open...

... and on the Bowery...

... and along East Houston between Avenue A and Avenue B... where the vacant storefronts at 250 E. Houston St. got the plywood treatment...

... Steven shared these photos from Second Avenue at Ninth Street ... as landlords have boarded up two empty spaces... the former Starbucks and Otto's Tacos... this corridor was also hard hit in late May...

Updated 10 a.m. 

Dave on 7th shared this from 14th Street and Avenue A...

H/T Lola Sáenz and Eden!

Remember to vote today!

Polls are open today (Nov. 5!) from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in what promises to be a pretty slow day at the ballot boxes.

As City Limits points out, though: "Those voters who do show up will make important decisions on citywide offices, changes to the city’s governing structure and judicial posts."

Among those offices is public advocate. Letitia James, the previous public advocate, was elected as state attorney general in November 2018. City Councilmember Jumaane Williams won a special election in February, and is seeking to serve out the remainder of James’ term, which ends on Dec. 31, 2021.

Anyway, the office of the public advocate exists to be a watchdog, a check on the mayor. The public advocate is also the first in line to assume the title of mayor if something were to happen to said mayor.

City Limits has a nice voters' guide, which you can find at this link.

Election Day

At Evelyn & Louis Green Residence at Cooper Square and Fifth Street this morning around 9... photos via Derek Berg...

Today: VOTE

[Spotted on Avenue C and Seventh Street]

As you may have heard... the midterm elections are today... and in NYC, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Board of Elections has this site for you to find your polling location.

Aside from all the various races — WNYC has a guide to the candidates here — there are three ballot measures for NYC voters:

Proposal 1: Campaign Finance

This proposal would lower the amount that a candidate for city office may accept from a contributor to their campaign, increase the amount of public funds available to participating candidates, and make public funds available earlier. Candidates in the 2021 election would have the choice of whether or not to have the new limits apply to them.

Proposal 2: Civic Engagement Commission

This proposal would create a Civic Engagement Commission that would centralize civic engagement initiatives, create a citywide participatory budgeting program, assist community boards, and provide language interpreters throughout the city on Election Day.

Proposal 3: Community Boards

This proposal would change how community boards throughout the city are run, by imposing term limits on appointees, changing the application and appointment process for community board members, and require the Civic Engagement Commission (if Question 2 is approved) to provide resources to community boards.

Term limits for Community Boards is of particular interest... Curbed has an explainer here looking at the argument for and against term limits. (FWIW: The Orchard Street Block Association is for term limits.)

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UPDATED 11/7: All three ballot measures were approved by voters.

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For inspiration, longtime New Yorker contributor Roger Angell is 98 and legally blind, and he's voting today. Read his latest essay here.

And lastly... there are numerous voting-related deals today ... including a free day pass from Citi Bike (if you download the app) ... or 10-percent off (with an I Voted sticker) at Academy Records on 12th Street and Limited To One Record Store on 10th Street... or a free coffee at Black Seed Bagels on First Avenue... at the UCB Theatre on Avenue A, you can show your I Voted sticker to their box office staff to get in for free to any show tonight (subject to venue capacity)...