President Donald Trump and the countdown clock in Long Island City (The White House and Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Nov. 6, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A large digital clock on the Long Island City waterfront makes it clear that President Donald Trump’s days are numbered.
The clock located by Anable Basin has been counting down the days until Trump’s term in office comes to an end–and for many residents that day can’t come soon enough.
The timepiece was put up on the front of Sound River Studios, located at 4-40 44th Dr., more than three years ago by Matthew Barney, who operates out of the building, along with fellow artists such as Brandon Stosuy.
The clock features bright red lights that display the days and hours until the next U.S. presidential inauguration. The digits can be seen from across the East River and from the northern end of Gantry Plaza State Park.
The meaning of the timepiece has left some residents baffled because it stands alone without any explainer of what the numbers mean.
“All this time I just thought it was some doomsday clock or project,” said Michael Russinik, a Long Island City resident, who was looking at the clock today from Gantry Plaza State Park.
“But hearing that now makes complete sense that someone would put that here in Long Island City,” Russinik said. He then quipped: “I don’t think it’s going fast enough, I look forward to that date.”
Trump first-term presidency countdown clock (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Although Trump is from Queens, the majority of voters in the borough did not support him in 2016 nor on Tuesday. According to unofficial election results, only 30 percent of residents voted for him on Nov. 3.
Two voters, Greg Schaffert and Eileen Coyne, a Long Island City couple who backed Joe Biden, said they have eagerly watched the clock for over a year.
The couple, who were in the Gantry Plaza State Park today, said that they had celebrated countdown milestones.
“I remember when it was at 300 and we celebrated–and when it hit 200 and then 100,” Schaffert said. “It was 78 on election day.”
Coyne said that the clock reflects the animosity that many residents have toward the president. She said that the artists did a good job in conveying the message without making the clock too imposing.
“I like that it’s not too in-your-face, it’s just subtle,” she said.
The clock, however, symbolizes much more than a repudiation of the president, according to Raghu Govindan, an Indian tourist who was in Long Island City today.
He said that its existence shows that America is about freedom of speech.
“A democracy like the United States provides freedom of expression to all kinds of thoughts and this is an expression of one belief,” Govindan said.
“That’s what makes America a great country because it allows people to express themselves whether they are for the party or against the party in government, it doesn’t matter.”
Trump’s presidency countdown clock (Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
The clock I made with Jane and Matthew and friends in 2017 is still counting down the days and hours left in Trump’s presidency. Vote and help it stay at zero on Election Day. pic.twitter.com/PuvhP5hF3J
— brandonstosuy (@brandonstosuy) October 24, 2020
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2 Comments
Not sure what the countdown is about. The election results are not officially in and the an recount is completely legal and within reason considering how close the count is at the moment. This money was wasted and could have been allocated to small businesses in the area or donated to NYPD programs or anything in-between.
Would not it have been better to give the money that is paying for the clock to some charity. I mean all I hear about how bad it is here, in Queens, food insecurity , evictions and other things that are the fault of President Trump so why don’t they shut down the clock save some money and then give the money to charity? Just a suggestion