August 27, 2009 - New Yorkers Don't Believe Gound Zero Promises, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Free Crosstown Buses A Good Idea, Voters Say Word format By margins of up to 2-1, New York City voters do not believe projections by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey that key redevelopment targets at Ground Zero will be met, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. A total of 40 percent of New York City voters say redevelopment of Lower Manhattan is going "very well" or "somewhat well," while 53 percent say "somewhat badly" or "very badly," the highest negative score since the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll began asking this question in 2002. A total of 63 percent of Manhattan voters say the work is going "somewhat badly" or "very badly." Bronx voters give the most favorable score, with 49 percent saying "very well" or "somewhat well." Asking New Yorkers about specific target dates, the survey finds: 61 - 28 percent do not believe that the first phase of the 9/11 Memorial will be ready by September 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the attack; 63 - 25 percent do not believe that the Freedom Tower will be built by December 2013; 47 - 41 percent do not believe that the World Trade Center Transit Hub will be ready by June, 2014. While voters in all five boroughs are skeptical, the overall disbelief is strongest in Manhattan and Staten Island and lowest in Brooklyn. "Do New Yorkers believe anything the Port Authority tells them? The answer is 'no.' It's just a matter of degree," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "They don't expect to have any part of Ground Zero ready by the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack." "We're getting fed up with the continual lack of progress at Ground Zero. And we think it's important that there be some signs of movement this year," Carroll added. Visible progress this year in the development of Ground Zero is "very important" or "somewhat important," 77 percent of voters say. And 25 percent say the pace of development makes them "ashamed" to be New Yorkers, while 18 percent say "proud" and 55 percent say they don't feel proud or ashamed. This is the highest number of New Yorkers who say they are "ashamed" since the question was first asked in 2006. Free Cross-town Buses Allowing people to ride cross-town Manhattan buses for free is a good idea, New York City voters say 69 - 25 percent. Support is strong across the political spectrum and in every borough, ranging from 65 - 27 percent in The Bronx to 72 - 21 percent in Manhattan. While they like the idea, voters say 60 - 30 percent that it was a campaign promise to help Mayor Michael Bloomberg win reelection, rather than a sincere proposal. This sentiment is shared by Republicans, Democrats and independent voters. "New Yorkers, even New Yorkers who don't live in Manhattan, like Mayor Mike's idea of free cross-town buses," Carroll said. "Of course, they know it's reelection time and they are a little skeptical of Mayor Bloomberg's motives in making the free bus proposal." From August 18 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,290 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 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. 26. What is your impression of how well the redevelopment of lower Manhattan is going - would you say very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very well 8% 8% 9% 7% 6% 8% 14% Somewhat well 32 27 36 29 25 40 41 Somewhat badly 28 31 26 32 33 23 25 Very badly 25 28 22 27 30 19 15 DK/NA 7 6 7 6 5 10 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very well 7% 8% 8% 8% 6% 7% 8% Somewhat well 42 33 26 30 37 27 36 Somewhat badly 26 25 30 31 32 29 28 Very badly 17 25 33 24 18 31 19 DK/NA 8 10 3 7 6 5 8 TREND: What is your impression of how well the redevelopment of lower Manhattan is going? Would you say very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly? (*Low also 40% Jul 2006) VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Aug 27 Nov 15 Jul 12 Apr 12 Mar 9 Mar 28 Aug 27 2009 2006 2006 2006 2006 2002 2009* Very well 8 11 9 8 10 28 8 Somewhat well 32 39 31 36 33 50 32 Somewhat badly 28 28 30 27 28 12 28 Very badly 25 17 22 20 19 2 25 DK/NA 7 6 9 9 10 9 7 27. How important is it to you that there be visible progress in the development of Ground Zero this year - very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very important 46% 53% 45% 45% 45% 42% 59% Smwht important 31 28 33 27 31 33 24 Not too important 15 11 16 15 16 17 11 Not important at all 7 7 5 11 6 5 6 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 1 3 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very important 39% 41% 42% 56% 55% 44% 47% Smwht important 33 30 31 31 26 29 31 Not too important 20 16 18 9 14 16 15 Not important at all 6 11 7 2 4 8 6 DK/NA 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 TREND: How important is it to you that there be visible progress in the development of Ground Zero this year - very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? Aug 27 Jul 12 Apr 12 Mar 9 2009 2006 2006 2006 Very important 46 40 43 42 Smwht important 31 31 31 36 Not too important 15 18 15 14 Not important at all 7 10 9 6 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 28. Does the pace of development at Ground Zero make you feel proud to be a New Yorker, ashamed to be a New Yorker, or don't you feel either of these ways? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Proud 18% 18% 20% 14% 11% 21% 31% Ashamed 25 40 21 28 32 17 18 Not either 55 42 56 55 55 58 51 DK/NA 2 - 3 3 2 4 - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Proud 21% 18% 11% 22% 22% 16% 20% Ashamed 18 26 23 30 29 30 22 Not either 61 53 64 46 48 52 57 DK/NA 1 3 3 2 1 2 2 TREND: Does the pace of development at Ground Zero make you feel proud to be a New Yorker, ashamed to be a New Yorker, or don't you feel either of these ways? Aug 27 Jul 12 Apr 12 2009 2006 2006 Proud 18 21 20 Ashamed 25 16 17 Not either 55 60 59 DK/NA 2 3 3 29. The Port Authority says the first phase of the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero will be ready by September 11th, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the attack. Do you believe the first phase of the Memorial will be ready on time? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 28% 22% 31% 28% 29% 27% 31% No 61 71 58 62 62 60 60 DK/NA 10 7 10 11 9 12 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 24% 29% 29% 30% 30% 29% 28% No 64 58 63 62 62 64 60 DK/NA 12 13 8 8 8 7 12 30. Do you believe the Port Authority's promise that the Freedom Tower will be built by December 2013? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 25% 18% 28% 24% 17% 34% 32% No 63 71 60 66 71 52 59 DK/NA 12 12 12 10 12 14 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 29% 25% 20% 28% 20% 21% 28% No 60 60 68 64 68 70 58 DK/NA 11 15 12 8 12 9 14 31. Do you believe the Port Authority's promise that the World Trade Center Transit Hub will be ready by June 2014? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 41% 33% 46% 36% 35% 46% 53% No 47 53 41 54 51 40 38 DK/NA 13 14 13 10 14 14 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 40% 41% 36% 46% 35% 39% 42% No 47 45 51 43 54 51 43 DK/NA 13 14 13 11 11 9 15 32. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed allowing people to ride cross-town Manhattan buses for free. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Good idea 69% 63% 70% 70% 70% 68% 75% Bad idea 25 32 24 22 23 26 21 DK/NA 6 5 6 8 7 6 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Good idea 65% 71% 72% 66% 72% 67% 70% Bad idea 27 24 21 27 23 27 22 DK/NA 8 6 7 7 4 6 7 33. Do you think this was a sincere proposal by Mayor Bloomberg or a campaign promise to help him win reelection? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Sincere 30% 38% 28% 31% 38% 21% 26% Campaign promise 60 55 62 60 51 71 63 DK/NA 10 7 10 9 10 9 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Sincere 24% 30% 36% 27% 29% 27% 32% Campaign promise 71 58 54 64 57 63 58 DK/NA 5 12 10 9 14 10 10
