Primary Day: At one Brooklyn Heights polling site, slim turnout and voters leaning toward Hillary

Voting for Clinton, but 'not too happy with either'

April 19, 2016 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Turnout was low at 101 Clark St. in Brooklyn Heights Tuesday afternoon. Map data © 2016 Google Maps

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Despite reports of polling snafus at various sites across Brooklyn, Primary Day voters at 101 Clark St. in Brooklyn Heights had no problems casting their votes Tuesday afternoon.

One poll worker told the Brooklyn Eagle that she was surprised by how slow it was. “This is as crowded as it’s been all day,” she said, pointing to roughly 10 voters making their way around the tables and polling booths around 1:30 p.m.

After casting their votes, several Brooklyn Heights residents told the Eagle that they went with Hillary Clinton.

“This is a Hillary neighborhood,” said Barbara Habenstreit. “Though in the last few days, I’ve heard a lot from Bernie supporters,” she added. “Hillary’s been sort of complacent – but the phone calls are all from Hillary. That may be the Teachers Union; they’re very vigorous.”

Habenstreit said she has “a pack of lefty friends in Brooklyn Heights who are supporting Bernie,” including a group who patronize Eastern Athletic health club. “And they’re Bernie’s age. A lot of older people are still at heart young lefties.”

Who does Habenstreit think will win the primary in New York?

“You never know till the very end,” she said.

Another woman, who did not want her name used, said she voted for Clinton “but I’m not too happy with either … I’m very unhappy,” she added.

“Sanders is very provocative; there’s a lot of food for thought, and he’s right. But he makes me nervous, like Donald Trump. He’s a little extreme.”

Even though she voted for Clinton, she complained that “Hillary changes with the winds. But there’s nobody else.”

She mused, “She really did try on the health issue years ago. They’re a sophisticated couple, and they know the right people. Whether she’ll be a good president of the United States … we’ll see.”