Nearly 30 years ago, Ronald Reagan famously asked Americans, "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" More than 60 NYCity News Service reporters fanned out through the city in the days before the historic Nov. 4 election to ask New Yorkers:

"Where do you want this country to be four years from now?"

2008 Election Snapshots

Louis Ross

Age: 45
Name: Louis Ross
Neighborhood: Alphabet City
Occupation: Grocery manager
First Time Voter: Yes
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“I would like to see more equal opportunity for minorities and for women.”

louis_ross_audio

Maxwell Lau

Age: 45
Name: Maxwell Lau
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Occupation: Owner of Anime Manga
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“You need to have happy neighbors.”

maxwell_lau_audio

Raul Aristud

Age: 35
Name: Raul Aristud
Neighborhood: East Village
Occupation: Interactive Media Marketing
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“Whatever happened to separation of church and state?”

raul_astrud_audio

Kate Horsfield

Age: 60
Name: Kate Horsfield
Neighborhood: East Village
Occupation: Artist
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Democrat

“Something’s really wrong.”

kate_horsfield_audio

Sarah Daley

Age:31
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Occupation: Freelance graphic designer/ “cheese shop girl”
First Time Voter: No
Political Affiliation: Independent

“We have to value everybody.”

sarah_daley_audio