February 25, 2009 - New York City Voters Want Mayor To Run Schools, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Staten Island Chuck Was Protecting Turf, Voters Say Word format By a 55 - 35 percent margin, New York City voters want mayoral control of public schools to continue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters with children in public schools support mayoral control 57 - 41 percent. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's takeover of the public schools has been a success, voters say 50 - 31 percent, including 52 - 30 percent among parents. Voters approve 50 - 39 percent of the way Bloomberg is handling the schools, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. But parents disapprove 55 - 37 percent. While voters say 58 - 30 percent that they are not satisfied with the quality of public schools in New York City, they are satisfied, 48 - 39 percent with the schools in their neighborhood, the highest rating for local school satisfaction ever measured. Parents are satisfied 53 - 44 percent with their local schools. By a 67 - 26 percent margin, New York City voters want more charter schools. There is strong support among Republicans, Democrats and independent voters and among black, white and Hispanic voters. Parents want more charter schools 72 - 26 percent. "New Yorkers, especially parents with kids in school, are feeling better about their local schools, the schools they know, and they're thinking that the Mayor should remain in control of the schools, a decision that must be made by the State Legislature," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "No one's giving Mayor Bloomberg straight A's for handling the schools, but they want him or his successor to keep on trying." New York City's budget problems are "very serious," 61 percent of voters say, while 34 percent call them "somewhat serious." Voters approve 54 - 38 percent of the way Bloomberg is handling the city budget and the Mayor even ekes out a 46 - 44 percent approval for the way he is handling taxes. By a 53 - 39 percent margin, New York City voters would rather raise taxes than cut services. Republicans would rather cut services, 66 - 22 percent, while raising taxes is preferred 59 - 34 percent by Democrats and 56 - 39 percent by independent voters. If taxes must be raised, 49 percent of voters say raise the sales tax, while 22 percent say hike property taxes and 21 percent say raise income taxes. If cuts must be made, hit culture and recreation, 53 percent of voters say, with 14 percent targeting social services, 7 percent hitting sanitation, 6 percent citing police, 4 percent listing schools and 3 percent listing firefighters. "Voters have gotten the message that the city's in rough fiscal shape. But they shy away from making cuts in the big ticket items, schools and police," Carroll said. Voters support 50 - 45 percent raising taxes on business in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) service area and using the money to reduce the amount of increases in transit fares and bridge and tunnel tolls. But voters oppose 56 - 41 percent setting new tolls on bridges over the East and Harlem Rivers and using the money to offset fare and toll hikes. The toll bridge proposal wins 55 - 42 percent support in Manhattan and 51 - 47 percent support in Staten Island. Opposition is 67 - 29 percent in The Bronx, 59 - 37 percent in Brooklyn and 61 - 38 percent in Queens. When he bit Bloomberg, Chuck the Groundhog was just defending his Staten Island turf, 61 percent of New Yorkers - including 79 percent of Staten Islanders - say. But 15 percent say Chuck was making a political statement. "Since there are no term limits for groundhogs, yet, Staten Island Chuck expects to be looking for his shadow again next year. Let the Mayor, whoever he or she may be, beware," Carroll said. From February 17 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 984 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. The survey includes 646 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 78% 29% 91% 72% 68% 90% 83% Disapprove 13 63 1 16 22 - 12 DK/NA 9 8 7 12 9 9 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 79% 81% 80% 76% 64% 76% 80% Disapprove 7 14 12 13 27 15 11 DK/NA 14 5 8 11 9 9 9 39. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 75% 25% 89% 66% 63% 89% 85% Disapprove 16 70 3 23 28 1 12 DK/NA 9 6 8 11 8 10 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 83% 74% 75% 73% 61% 73% 76% Disapprove 7 17 16 18 32 19 14 DK/NA 9 8 9 10 7 8 10 40. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Excellent 1% 1% 1% - - 2% 1% Good 2 5 2 2 2 1 5 Not so good 25 26 27 20 19 27 33 Poor 72 68 70 77 78 69 61 DK/NA - - - - - - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Excellent 1% 1% - 1% - 1% - Good 2 2 2 3 6 2 3 Not so good 26 30 18 24 24 25 24 Poor 70 67 79 72 71 71 72 DK/NA - 1 1 - - - - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent - - 2% 1% - - 2% - Good 1 3 4 4 3 1 3 2 Not so good 28 23 24 30 25 18 28 22 Poor 71 74 70 65 72 81 66 76 DK/NA - - - 1 - - 1 - 41. Would you describe the state of New York City's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Excellent - - - - - - - Good 6 15 5 5 5 3 9 Not so good 52 45 53 53 54 51 52 Poor 42 41 42 41 41 45 39 DK/NA - - - 1 - - - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Excellent - - - - - - - Good 5 6 5 7 7 6 6 Not so good 58 51 50 51 54 50 54 Poor 37 42 45 42 39 44 40 DK/NA - 1 - - - 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent - - - - - - - - Good 4 6 8 6 8 3 6 6 Not so good 53 50 52 52 50 57 48 54 Poor 43 43 39 42 42 40 45 40 DK/NA - - - - - - - - TREND: Would you describe the state of New York City's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 May 7 Feb 27 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003 Excellent - 1 - - 1 Good 6 14 12 10 13 Not so good 52 46 56 45 52 Poor 42 38 30 44 34 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 42. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in New York City will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Get better 30% 25% 35% 25% 20% 44% 37% Get worse 32 35 29 35 42 19 23 Stay the same 35 38 34 36 36 33 39 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 3 3 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Get better 38% 29% 23% 34% 30% 32% 29% Get worse 28 34 37 26 34 37 28 Stay the same 31 33 37 36 36 30 39 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 1 1 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Get better 31% 26% 34% 38% 27% 22% 40% 23% Get worse 35 37 24 24 33 46 21 39 Stay the same 33 36 38 34 39 32 34 35 DK/NA 2 1 5 4 1 - 4 2 TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in New York City will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 May 7 Feb 27 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003 Get better 30 29 24 23 25 Get worse 32 36 45 35 32 Stay the same 35 33 26 38 38 DK/NA 3 2 5 4 4 43. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Excellent 4% 5% 4% 3% 5% 3% 4% Good 46 60 41 53 56 36 34 Not so good 33 28 36 31 27 43 37 Poor 15 7 17 12 11 17 24 DK/NA 2 - 1 1 1 1 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Excellent 2% 4% 4% 4% 4% 5% 3% Good 35 45 53 42 66 49 44 Not so good 37 33 32 35 24 32 34 Poor 25 16 9 16 7 13 16 DK/NA 1 2 2 3 - 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent 1% 5% 5% 2% 3% 8% 3% 5% Good 51 43 47 30 49 68 34 55 Not so good 32 37 32 42 37 18 41 28 Poor 15 14 15 24 10 5 21 11 DK/NA 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Feb 25 Nov 26 Feb 27 2009 2008 2003 Excellent 4 4 5 Good 46 45 45 Not so good 33 34 35 Poor 15 15 13 DK/NA 2 1 2 44. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Better off 23% 30% 23% 16% 18% 32% 26% Worse off 52 50 53 58 59 47 48 SAME(VOL) 24 20 23 25 23 20 27 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Better off 22% 25% 29% 17% 17% 27% 20% Worse off 53 47 51 57 60 50 54 SAME(VOL) 24 27 19 24 23 22 25 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Better off 38% 22% 11% 23% 20% 30% 21% 25% Worse off 39 59 57 50 58 50 54 51 SAME(VOL) 22 19 30 26 21 20 24 23 DK/NA 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 1 TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Feb 25 Nov 26 Feb 27 2009 2008 2003 Better off 23 24 31 Worse off 52 56 44 SAME(VOL) 24 19 23 DK/NA 1 1 2 45. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Get better 35% 24% 40% 29% 23% 55% 40% Get worse 15 18 14 13 21 8 8 Stay the same 48 56 44 54 54 35 51 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 2 2 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Get better 46% 32% 29% 38% 30% 36% 33% Get worse 9 16 18 14 12 13 15 Stay the same 42 49 51 45 58 48 48 DK/NA 4 3 3 3 1 2 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Get better 47% 33% 26% 38% 35% 34% 38% 32% Get worse 11 19 13 13 12 20 11 17 Stay the same 41 45 57 46 51 45 47 48 DK/NA 1 3 3 3 1 - 3 2 TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Feb 25 Nov 26 Feb 27 2009 2008 2003 Get better 35 28 38 Get worse 15 23 11 Stay the same 48 43 49 DK/NA 3 6 3 46. By the end of Barack Obama's term in office, do you expect the economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Better 77% 45% 88% 66% 69% 87% 81% Worse 9 32 2 15 14 2 11 Same 12 18 9 16 14 8 8 DK/NA 2 4 2 3 3 3 - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Better 78% 76% 80% 75% 72% 75% 78% Worse 5 12 7 8 17 14 5 Same 16 10 10 14 10 10 13 DK/NA 1 3 3 3 1 2 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Better 78% 77% 75% 78% 76% 76% 78% 76% Worse 12 7 9 8 10 9 7 11 Same 10 14 12 11 12 13 11 12 DK/NA 1 1 4 3 2 1 4 1 47. Congress has passed President Obama's economic stimulus package which includes tax cuts and new federal spending of about 800 billion dollars. Do you support or oppose this economic stimulus package? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 78% 28% 92% 72% 67% 94% 83% Oppose 18 67 5 25 29 1 17 DK/NA 4 6 3 3 4 4 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 86% 76% 77% 78% 62% 73% 81% Oppose 11 18 20 18 34 22 15 DK/NA 3 6 3 3 4 4 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 77% 81% 77% 80% 80% 76% 79% 77% Oppose 20 16 19 16 17 22 18 19 DK/NA 4 3 4 5 3 2 4 4 48. How confident are you that this economic stimulus package will help solve the nation's economic problems - Very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very confident 12% 4% 16% 6% 5% 21% 19% Smwht confident 53 16 66 44 46 63 53 Not too confident 21 37 12 32 28 10 17 Not confident at all 12 41 4 18 19 3 11 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 2 3 - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very confident 15% 11% 11% 14% 9% 11% 13% Smwht confident 57 53 55 53 39 47 58 Not too confident 20 17 23 21 30 24 18 Not confident at all 8 16 10 10 20 16 9 DK/NA - 3 1 1 2 2 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Very confident 7% 15% 13% 17% 9% 6% 19% 7% Smwht confident 51 56 54 53 57 55 50 56 Not too confident 25 17 20 19 20 24 20 21 Not confident at all 14 12 10 10 14 13 11 14 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 - 2 1 2 49. How long do you think it will take for the program to work - less than a year, more than a year, or will it never work? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Less than a year 7% 2% 10% 1% 2% 10% 17% More than a year 78 51 84 78 75 84 72 Never 13 47 3 19 21 3 9 DK/NA 2 - 3 2 2 3 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Less than a year 6% 7% 6% 9% 4% 5% 8% More than a year 84 75 79 78 75 75 80 Never 8 14 12 12 20 17 9 DK/NA 1 4 3 1 1 3 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Less than a year 9% 6% 5% 9% 6% 4% 12% 4% More than a year 72 80 82 78 80 78 76 79 Never 16 11 11 10 12 16 11 14 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 50. Do you think the economic stimulus package will help your personal financial situation? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 41% 18% 50% 32% 28% 58% 54% No 54 76 44 63 66 37 40 DK/NA 6 5 5 5 6 5 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 47% 38% 39% 43% 36% 39% 42% No 48 56 55 50 64 57 51 DK/NA 4 6 6 7 1 4 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 34% 47% 41% 53% 38% 30% 52% 32% No 61 49 53 41 58 66 42 62 DK/NA 5 4 7 6 5 5 6 6 51. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the city budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 54% 55% 50% 62% 61% 49% 44% Disapprove 38 40 40 29 30 44 47 DK/NA 9 5 9 9 9 7 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 51% 53% 54% 53% 64% 55% 53% Disapprove 40 39 34 39 33 36 38 DK/NA 8 8 12 8 4 9 9 TREND. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the city budget? APPROVE....... High Low Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 Oct 22 Sep 9 Jan 28 Sept 9 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003 2009 2003 Approve 54 55 51% 36 33 55 33 Disapprove 38 38 38 51 59 38 59 DK/NA 9 7 11 13 8 7 8 52. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling taxes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 46% 44% 45% 52% 52% 39% 42% Disapprove 44 50 45 37 38 53 49 DK/NA 10 6 10 11 10 9 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 38% 44% 47% 47% 61% 47% 45% Disapprove 51 46 42 42 37 43 45 DK/NA 12 9 11 11 1 9 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling taxes? Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 Oct 22 May 7 Feb 26 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003 2003 Approve 46 47 45 28 26 32 Disapprove 44 42 44 61 67 59 DK/NA 10 11 11 11 7 8 53. To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Raising taxes 53% 22% 59% 56% 47% 59% 64% Cutting services 39 66 34 39 45 34 30 DK/NA 8 12 7 5 8 7 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Raising taxes 65% 51% 55% 50% 39% 45% 59% Cutting services 31 38 39 44 52 47 33 DK/NA 5 11 6 6 9 7 8 TREND: To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 2009 2009 2008 Raising taxes 53 46 48 Cutting services 39 39 37 DK/NA 8 15 15 54. To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, which city tax do you think should be increased - personal income tax, sales tax or property tax? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Income tax 21% 14% 24% 19% 22% 19% 23% Sales tax 49 58 49 47 49 57 45 Property tax 22 17 22 25 20 20 27 DK/NA 7 11 5 10 9 4 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Income tax 23% 16% 28% 20% 20% 22% 20% Sales tax 53 47 42 54 62 47 51 Property tax 19 28 23 17 11 24 20 DK/NA 6 9 6 8 7 7 8 TREND: To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, which city tax do you think should be increased - personal income tax, sales tax or property tax? Feb 25 Nov 25 May 7 Nov 21 Jul 17 2009 2008 2003 2002 2002 Income tax 21 21 23 19 21 Sales tax 49 44 40 37 30 Property tax 22 24 23 32 35 DK/NA 7 11 14 12 14 55. How serious do you think New York City's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious or not at all serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very serious 61% 55% 64% 55% 59% 69% 63% Smwht serious 34 35 33 38 37 29 29 Not too serious 3 6 2 4 3 2 4 Not at all serious 1 1 1 - - - 2 DK/NA 1 2 - 3 1 - 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very serious 64% 56% 66% 58% 65% 61% 60% Smwht serious 29 36 32 39 32 33 35 Not too serious 5 5 1 2 1 3 3 Not at all serious 3 - - - 1 1 - DK/NA - 2 1 1 1 2 1 TREND: How serious do you think New York City's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, not at all serious? Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 May 7 Feb 27 Nov 21 Jul 17 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003 2002 2002 Very serious 61 64 66 68 63 60 46 Smwht serious 34 31 28 24 29 29 41 Not too serious 3 3 3 4 5 7 9 Not at all serious 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 DK/NA 1 1 2 3 2 2 3 56. To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, where do you think city spending should be decreased - public schools, police, firefighters, sanitation, social services or culture and recreation? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Public schools 4% 9% 3% 2% 6% 2% 2% Police 6 - 8 4 4 5 10 Firefighters 3 - 3 3 3 5 1 Sanitation 7 5 7 8 7 7 8 Social services 14 27 12 13 15 13 16 Culture/Recreation 53 55 52 59 55 54 46 DK/NA 13 5 15 10 11 15 16 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Public schools 5% 3% 3% 5% 6% 3% 5% Police 10 6 6 4 5 9 4 Firefighters 2 3 3 3 1 5 1 Sanitation 6 5 6 8 15 7 6 Social services 14 13 18 12 11 17 12 Culture/Recreation 45 59 50 53 57 50 55 DK/NA 18 10 15 15 5 9 17 TREND: To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, where do you think city spending should be decreased - public schools, police, firefighters, sanitation, social services or culture and recreation? Feb 25 Jan 28 Nov 25 May 7 2009 2009 2008 2008 Public schools 4 7 3 4 Police 6 6 7 6 Firefighters 3 2 3 2 Sanitation 7 8 6 8 Social Services 14 12 12 14 Culture/recreation 53 50 51 42 DK/NA 13 16 18 24 57. If city spending on the public schools must be cut, do you think this will hurt the quality of education in New York City? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 85% 63% 91% 84% 78% 94% 90% No 13 35 8 15 20 6 8 DK/NA 2 2 1 1 2 - 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 86% 85% 83% 87% 84% 81% 89% No 11 13 16 11 16 19 9 DK/NA 3 2 1 2 - 1 2 58. (If yes q57) Will it hurt it a lot or only a little? YES/WILL HURT EDUCATION Q57................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp A lot 81% 73% 85% 74% 72% 88% 90% Only a little 15 25 11 22 22 10 9 DK/NA 4 2 4 4 6 3 1 59. If Medicaid spending must be cut, do you think this will hurt the quality of health care in New York City? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 83% 64% 90% 76% 74% 91% 85% No 15 35 8 23 23 8 13 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 82% 84% 78% 86% 82% 78% 86% No 16 15 20 11 17 21 11 DK/NA 2 1 2 3 1 2 2 60. (If yes q59) Will it hurt it a lot or only a little? YES/WILL HURT HEALTHCARE Q59.................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp A lot 81% 74% 83% 80% 73% 90% 89% Only a little 15 24 13 16 20 8 11 DK/NA 4 2 4 5 7 2 - 61. If police spending must be cut, which should be reduced, a focus on quality-of-life offenses or regular patrols? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp QOL offenses 52% 53% 52% 52% 56% 48% 42% Regular patrols 34 31 36 33 30 37 41 DK/NA 14 16 12 15 14 15 17 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom QOL offenses 50% 50% 58% 48% 55% 55% 49% Regular patrols 32 34 31 38 33 32 36 DK/NA 18 16 11 14 12 14 15 62. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed fare increases for buses, subways and trains, and toll hikes for bridges and tunnels. To help reduce the size of these fare and toll hikes would you support or oppose increasing taxes on businesses within the area served by the MTA? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 50% 34% 57% 43% 44% 53% 57% Oppose 45 62 38 52 50 42 39 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 6 5 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 48% 51% 53% 46% 53% 48% 51% Oppose 44 43 44 50 45 49 42 DK/NA 8 6 3 5 3 3 7 TREND: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed fare increases for buses, subways and trains, and toll hikes for bridges and tunnels. To help reduce the size of these fare and toll hikes would you support or oppose increasing taxes on businesses within the area served by the MTA? Feb 25 Jan 28 2009 2009 Support 50 47 Oppose 45 46 DK/NA 5 7 63. To help reduce the size of these fare and toll hikes would you support or oppose placing tolls on the East river and Harlem river bridges? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 41% 41% 44% 38% 44% 31% 40% Oppose 56 55 54 60 53 69 56 DK/NA 3 5 2 2 3 - 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 29% 37% 55% 38% 51% 39% 43% Oppose 67 59 42 61 47 59 54 DK/NA 4 4 3 1 2 2 3 TREND: To help reduce the size of these fares and toll hikes would you support or oppose placing tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges? Feb 25 Jan 28 2009 2009 Support 41 36 Oppose 56 61 DK/NA 3 3 64. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the public schools? HvKids Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp PubSch Approve 50% 56% 49% 51% 56% 45% 43% 37% Disapprove 39 31 40 39 30 46 49 55 DK/NA 11 13 11 10 14 9 8 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 47% 47% 52% 49% 58% 51% 49% Disapprove 45 41 36 37 33 38 40 DK/NA 8 12 12 13 8 11 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the public schools? APPROVE....... High Low Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 16 Jul 26 Mar 15 Jul 16 May 7 2009 2009 2008 2007 2007 2008 2003 Approve 50 53 56 52 50 56 35 Disapprove 39 35 32 33 39 32 52 DK/NA 11 13 12 14 11 12 12 65. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York City, or are you not satisfied? HvKids Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp PubSch Satisfied 30% 41% 31% 22% 32% 28% 30% 40% Not satisfied 58 48 59 61 52 68 59 57 DK/NA 12 11 10 17 16 4 11 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Satisfied 23% 33% 22% 38% 42% 31% 30% Not satisfied 68 56 66 47 47 60 56 DK/NA 8 11 12 15 11 9 14 TREND: Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York City, or are you not satisfied? (*Low also 12% on 2/5/04, 3/27/02, 4/20/00 & 3/31/97) SATISFIED.... High Low Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 16 Nov 21 Jul 26 Jan 28 Feb 5 2009 2009 2008 2007 2007 2009 2004* Satisfied 30 32 29 27 25 32 12 Not satisfied 58 55 59 55 63 55 74 DK/NA 12 14 12 18 12 14 13 66. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of public schools in your neighborhood, or are you not satisfied? HvKids Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp PubSch Satisfied 48% 59% 47% 45% 54% 37% 43% 53% Not satisfied 39 30 41 39 26 58 46 44 DK/NA 13 11 12 16 20 4 11 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Satisfied 44% 50% 35% 58% 57% 46% 49% Not satisfied 44 39 45 30 30 41 37 DK/NA 11 11 20 11 13 12 14 TREND: Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in your neighborhood, or are you not satisfied? SATISFIED.... High Low Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 16 Nov 21 Jul 26 Feb 25 Feb 5 2009 2009 2008 2007 2007 2009 2004 Satisfied 48 42 43 40 38 48 27 Not satisfied 39 41 45 40 46 39 56 DK/NA 13 17 12 20 16 13 17 67. Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's take-over of the public schools has been a success or failure? HvKids Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp PubSch Success 50% 61% 50% 48% 56% 49% 42% 52% Failure 31 25 30 34 25 34 42 30 DK/NA 19 13 19 17 19 17 16 18 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Success 44% 46% 53% 55% 58% 51% 50% Failure 39 32 27 31 24 30 31 DK/NA 17 22 20 14 18 19 18 TREND: Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's take-over of the public schools has been a success or failure? Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 16 Nov 21 Jul 26 Mar 15 2009 2009 2008 2007 2007 2007 Success 50 47 54 47 51 39 Failure 31 31 26 25 27 34 DK/NA 19 22 20 27 22 27 68. Mayoral control of the public schools expires this year, unless the state legislature renews it. Do you think Mayoral control of the public schools should continue or not? HvKids Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp PubSch Continue 55% 63% 54% 57% 62% 51% 49% 57% Stop 35 24 37 34 26 43 44 41 DK/NA 9 13 9 9 12 6 7 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Continue 50% 52% 58% 59% 62% 58% 53% Stop 40 39 35 29 26 34 36 DK/NA 10 9 7 12 12 8 11 TREND: Mayoral control of the public schools expires this year, unless the state legislature renews it. Do you think Mayoral control of the public schools should continue or not? Feb 25 Jan 28 2009 2009 Continue 55 56 Stop 35 34 DK/NA 9 10 69. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New York City or not? HvKids Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp PubSch Yes 67% 71% 66% 71% 64% 74% 72% 72% No 26 20 27 23 27 22 18 26 DK/NA 8 9 8 6 9 5 10 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 70% 71% 64% 63% 65% 68% 66% No 23 24 26 29 27 27 24 DK/NA 7 6 10 9 7 5 9 70. In biting Mayor Bloomberg, do you think the groundhog was making a political statement, or was he just defending his Staten Island turf? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Political statement 15% 9% 16% 17% 14% 17% 21% Defending his turf 61 66 61 60 62 66 51 DK/NA 24 25 23 23 23 17 28 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Political statement 17% 14% 18% 15% 14% 14% 17% Defending his turf 62 58 58 62 79 61 61 DK/NA 21 29 24 24 7 25 23
