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Take Back the Vote

MIAMI, January 23 — Shyly, Imani Richardson approached the man unloading ice and greens from the back of his SUV in preparation for an MLK parade BBQ. "Excuse me," she squeaked hesitantly, causing the man to pause and peer over one shoulder at her.

He didn't say anything, so Richardson found her voice again. "Do you live here? Are you a voter?"

The man nodded and straightened, turning to face the petite Miami Central High School senior and her college-age aunt, community organizer Aiyeshia Hudson.

After a few more false starts, Richardson rolled out her pitch. She explained that she was with a group called the Miami Worker's Center, which was hitting the streets for its Take Back the Vote campaign.

Did the man, improbably but undeniably named McCloskey Pollock, know that there was a primary vote coming up in Florida on January 29? Did he plan to vote? Did he have a candidate in mind?

Pollock, a well-built and gregarious man comfortably in middle age, did plan to vote. But he hadn't decided for whom. "I'll make a choice when I get there," he drawled easily.

Did he know, Richardson added, that there were also a number of state and local initiatives on the ballot? In particular, a controversial measure to cut property taxes that could impact jobs and social services while providing only a few hundred dollars in tax relief to homeowners?

"Oh, I know how to vote on that one," Pollock assured. "I'm a union person for years. I know not to vote for this."

Richardson asked whether there were any particular issues that moved him in the presidential election. Pollock laughed.

"I'm retired four years," he said. "All I do is play dominoes. My issue is mo' money."

When I snapped his picture, Pollock turned to me and quipped, "If you use my picture more than one a year, send me a check."

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