August 16, 2012 - Cutting Stop And Frisk Won't Increase Crime, More New Yorkers Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Voters Oppose Soda Limits, Back Liquor Crackdown Word format Almost 3-1 opposition to stop and frisk by New York City black voters tips overall voter opinion to a narrow 50 - 45 percent disapproval of the police practice, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Black voters disapprove of stop and frisk 69 - 25 percent while approval is 57 - 37 percent among white voters and 53 - 45 percent among Hispanic voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Men are divided on the practice, with 47 percent in favor and 49 percent opposed. Women oppose the practice 51 - 43 percent. A decrease in police use of stop and frisk would not lead to an increase in gun violence, voters say 50 - 41 percent, again with significant racial division. Black voters say 63 - 28 percent the reductions would not lead to more crime. White voters believe it would 49 - 39 percent and Hispanic voters agree 52 - 46 percent. New York City voters approve 64 - 26 percent, including 51 - 39 percent among black voters, of the job Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is doing. Voters approve 57 - 33 percent of the job police are doing. Black voters disapprove 47 - 37 percent. "Public opinion is just about down-the-middle on the police tactic of stop and frisk. If the decline in such stops persists, will gun violence grow? On this question, too, New Yorkers are divided" said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But we're still a liberal city. If there's a choice between taking all steps to end crime and protecting civil liberties, New Yorkers come down 78 - 16 percent on the civil liberties side. "Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and his cops continue to get high marks." New York City voters support 73 - 20 percent a law requiring businesses in the city to provide employees up to nine paid sick days per year. Support is strong among all groups except Republicans, who oppose the measure 48 - 42 percent. Voters say 54 - 37 percent that such a law would not result in businesses hiring fewer people. Again, only Republicans have that concern, 64 - 29 percent. Alcohol, Soft Drinks, Baby Formula A New York City crackdown on alcohol abuse would be a good idea, voters say 56 - 17 percent. Support is 62 - 16 percent among parents of children under 18, 61 - 13 percent among women and 63 - 14 percent among blacks. Support is strong in every borough except Staten Island, where support is 40 - 35 percent with 25 percent undecided. Voters oppose 54 - 42 percent Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to limit the size of sugary soft drinks. This compares to 51 - 46 percent opposition in a June 13 Quinnipiac University poll. While most groups strongly oppose the limit, Democrats are divided 48 - 49 percent and women are divided with 46 percent in support and 49 percent opposed. Attitudes by borough range from 49 - 48 percent in Manhattan to a negative 23 - 74 percent in Staten Island. By an even larger 56 - 24 percent margin, voters oppose another Bloomberg initiative to encourage breast-feeding by making baby formula less available to new mothers. Women oppose this measure 60 - 23 percent while men oppose it 53 - 24 percent. Voters say 74 - 19 percent that the city's bike rental program is a good idea. Voters approve 50 - 38 percent Bloomberg's handling of public health. They are divided 47 - 49 percent on whether government should get involved in eating/drinking habits to fight obesity. But they say 48 - 38 percent that these measures are not "nanny government." "Voters disagree with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's push to increase breast-feeding and to limit the size of sugary drinks, but they like the idea of cracking down on alcohol abuse," Carroll said. "Overall, New Yorkers give Hizzoner good grades on public-health as they reject the criticism that it's 'nanny government.'" From August 8 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,298 New York City voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 64% 89% 60% 64% 64% 64% 77% 51% 64% Disapprove 26 5 27 31 29 24 17 39 24 DK/NA 10 6 13 5 7 12 6 10 12 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 63% 66% 57% 64% 67% 69% Disapprove 27 25 34 29 24 17 DK/NA 10 9 9 7 9 14 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Approve 71% 60% 60% 65% 79% 67% 69% Disapprove 24 30 29 22 14 24 24 DK/NA 5 10 10 12 7 9 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 16 Jun 14 May 10 Mar 13 Feb 09 May 12 Jan 16 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2007 Approve 64 61 66 64 62 71 52 Disapprove 26 26 23 25 24 17 34 DK/NA 10 13 10 11 14 13 14 10. Would you support or oppose a law requiring New York City businesses to provide up to 9 paid sick days for employees? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 73% 42% 81% 69% 67% 79% 64% 82% 82% Oppose 20 48 14 25 28 13 28 13 14 DK/NA 6 10 5 6 6 7 8 6 4 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support 73% 74% 83% 72% 72% 68% Oppose 21 19 15 24 20 21 DK/NA 6 7 2 3 7 11 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Support 77% 75% 72% 74% 55% 74% 72% Oppose 18 17 21 21 35 21 25 DK/NA 5 7 7 5 10 5 3 11. Do you think such a law would result in businesses hiring fewer people or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 37% 64% 31% 42% 42% 32% 37% 36% 40% No 54 29 60 48 52 56 54 51 54 DK/NA 9 7 9 10 6 12 10 13 6 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 35% 40% 38% 39% 37% 32% No 58 48 56 56 54 52 DK/NA 8 12 6 5 9 16 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Yes 37% 34% 34% 40% 50% 36% 45% No 53 57 58 50 38 54 51 DK/NA 10 9 8 9 12 10 4 19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling public health issues in New York City? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 50% 38% 57% 44% 51% 49% 54% 42% 49% Disapprove 38 51 33 42 39 38 35 47 42 DK/NA 12 12 10 14 10 13 12 11 9 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 57% 41% 55% 49% 48% 52% Disapprove 33 46 34 44 40 34 DK/NA 10 13 11 7 12 14 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Approve 44% 50% 57% 49% 42% 48% 55% Disapprove 47 40 31 36 44 41 38 DK/NA 9 10 12 15 15 11 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling public health issues in New York City? Aug 16 Jun 13 2012 2012 Approve 50 47 Disapprove 38 45 DK/NA 12 8 20. As you may know, Mayor Bloomberg has a plan to ban large servings of soda and sugary drinks in an effort to help fight obesity in New York City. Bloomberg's proposal would prohibit the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces that are sold in places regulated by the city's health department like restaurants, movies theaters, and food carts. Do you support or oppose Bloomberg's plan? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 42% 24% 48% 39% 38% 46% 41% 37% 41% Oppose 54 72 49 57 59 49 55 59 56 DK/NA 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 2 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support 47% 37% 47% 38% 42% 45% Oppose 50 60 52 59 55 51 DK/NA 3 3 1 3 3 4 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Support 41% 44% 49% 39% 23% 39% 40% Oppose 58 52 48 56 74 58 57 DK/NA 2 4 3 5 3 3 3 TREND: As you may know, Mayor Bloomberg has a plan to ban large servings of soda and sugary drinks in an effort to help fight obesity in New York City. Bloomberg's proposal would prohibit the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces that are sold in places regulated by the city's health department like restaurants, movies theaters, and food carts. Do you support or oppose Bloomberg's plan? Aug 16 Jun 13 2012 2012 Support 42 46 Oppose 54 51 DK/NA 3 4 21. Do you think the government should be getting involved in people's eating and drinking habits to fight obesity, or do you think the government shouldn't be getting involved in these things? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes, get involved 47% 30% 53% 45% 44% 50% 47% 42% 50% No, not involved 49 68 42 52 53 44 49 53 46 DK/NA 4 2 4 3 2 6 5 5 4 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes, get involved 52% 41% 55% 44% 48% 43% No, not involved 44 55 43 53 48 51 DK/NA 4 4 2 4 4 6 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Yes, get involved 41% 49% 57% 44% 25% 43% 50% No, not involved 54 46 39 53 71 54 47 DK/NA 5 5 4 3 4 3 2 TREND: Do you think the government should be getting involved in people's eating and drinking habits to fight obesity, or do you think the government shouldn't be getting involved in these things? Aug 16 Jun 13 2012 2012 Yes, get involved 47 46 No, not involved 49 50 DK/NA 4 4 22. Would you describe Mayor Bloomberg's plan as an example of "nanny government" or wouldn't you describe it this way? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 38% 51% 31% 46% 41% 36% 42% 35% 40% No 48 35 53 45 50 46 46 46 45 DK/NA 14 14 16 9 9 19 12 19 15 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 39% 36% 40% 46% 37% 30% No 52 41 51 48 46 46 DK/NA 8 22 10 6 16 24 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Yes 45% 37% 34% 36% 51% 45% 48% No 38 47 58 46 39 44 44 DK/NA 16 15 9 18 10 11 8 TREND: Would you describe Mayor Bloomberg's plan as an example of "Nanny Government" or wouldn't you describe it this way? Aug 16 Jun 13 2012 2012 Yes 38 43 No 48 43 DK/NA 14 14 23. Which would you say that you drink more often, diet soft drinks or regular, non-diet soft drinks, or don't you drink soft drinks? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Diet 18% 25% 19% 16% 19% 17% 25% 16% 13% Regular, non-diet 20 17 23 15 25 15 14 26 22 Don't drink 61 58 56 69 54 68 60 56 63 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 2 1 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Diet 22% 12% 16% 15% 24% 17% Regular, non-diet 19 21 29 24 14 11 Don't drink 58 65 55 59 61 70 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 2 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Diet 13% 16% 23% 18% 21% 17% 12% Regular, non-diet 21 19 17 24 16 18 25 Don't drink 65 64 59 57 63 64 62 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 24. New York City is starting a program allowing people to rent bicycles. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good idea 74% 58% 79% 75% 75% 73% 73% 77% 74% Bad idea 19 34 16 17 19 19 20 15 21 DK/NA 7 9 6 8 6 8 7 8 5 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Good idea 79% 68% 84% 80% 76% 58% Bad idea 16 23 14 16 16 30 DK/NA 5 9 2 5 8 12 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Good idea 76% 74% 81% 67% 66% 75% 77% Bad idea 17 20 13 24 22 19 19 DK/NA 7 5 6 9 13 7 4 TREND: New York City is starting a program allowing people to rent bicycles. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Aug 16 May 11 2012 2012 Good idea 74 64 Bad idea 19 30 DK/NA 7 6 25. Do you think New York City should pressure building owners to ban all indoor smoking or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 48% 38% 55% 38% 42% 54% 45% 50% 55% No 47 62 40 57 53 42 52 42 44 DK/NA 5 - 5 5 5 4 3 7 2 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 51% 44% 55% 43% 47% 46% No 45 51 42 53 49 48 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 4 6 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Yes 40% 45% 51% 55% 43% 48% 54% No 55 51 44 41 50 49 42 DK/NA 5 4 5 4 7 3 3 TREND: Do you think New York City should pressure building owners to ban all indoor smoking or don't you think so? Aug 16 May 11 2012 2012 Yes 48 44 No 47 53 DK/NA 5 3 26. As you may know, the Bloomberg administration has a new health initiative which promotes breastfeeding by making baby formula less available to new mothers while they are in the hospital. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea, or don't you have an opinion on that? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good idea 24% 12% 25% 25% 24% 23% 19% 23% 30% Bad idea 56 71 54 57 53 60 59 56 55 No opinion 19 15 20 17 22 15 20 20 14 REFUSED 1 2 1 - 1 2 1 - 1 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Good idea 28% 18% 27% 29% 22% 18% Bad idea 52 62 53 54 60 57 No opinion 19 19 20 17 16 23 REFUSED 1 1 - - 2 3 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Good idea 23% 24% 27% 22% 12% 23% 33% Bad idea 58 55 52 56 75 59 56 No opinion 19 20 19 20 12 18 8 REFUSED - 1 2 2 1 1 2 27. There has been talk that the Bloomberg administration might try to crack down on alcohol abuse. Do you think that would be a good idea or a bad idea or don't you have an opinion on that? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good idea 56% 56% 60% 51% 50% 61% 50% 63% 59% Bad idea 17 26 14 19 22 13 22 14 15 No opinion 25 17 24 27 26 24 26 20 25 REFUSED 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Good idea 55% 57% 55% 57% 57% 55% Bad idea 17 18 15 20 19 18 No opinion 25 24 29 23 23 24 REFUSED 2 1 1 1 2 3 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Good idea 63% 58% 51% 57% 40% 57% 62% Bad idea 16 17 15 17 35 19 16 No opinion 20 23 30 24 25 22 21 REFUSED 1 1 4 2 - 1 1 28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 57% 90% 52% 57% 58% 56% 75% 37% 55% Disapprove 33 6 37 38 35 31 19 47 37 DK/NA 10 4 12 6 7 13 6 16 8 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 58% 55% 50% 60% 58% 60% Disapprove 32 35 43 31 33 28 DK/NA 10 9 8 9 9 11 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Approve 53% 55% 56% 58% 75% 56% 63% Disapprove 33 35 33 34 17 34 32 DK/NA 13 10 11 7 8 11 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 16 Jun 14 Mar 13 Feb 09 Dec 14 Feb 7 Apr 20 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2002 2000 Approve 57 59 63 62 62 76 43 Disapprove 33 32 31 30 33 18 48 DK/NA 10 9 6 8 4 6 9 29. As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 45% 88% 34% 52% 47% 43% 57% 25% 53% Disapprove 50 10 61 43 49 51 37 69 45 DK/NA 5 2 5 4 4 6 6 6 2 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 42% 50% 43% 41% 44% 49% Disapprove 53 47 54 55 50 46 DK/NA 6 4 3 4 6 5 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Approve 49% 41% 42% 44% 75% 44% 50% Disapprove 45 53 54 52 21 50 45 DK/NA 6 5 5 4 5 6 5 TREND: As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice? Aug 16 Jun 14 Mar 13 2012 2012 2012 Approve 45 43 46 Disapprove 50 51 49 DK/NA 5 6 5 30. Do you think that if the police reduced the number of stop and frisks there would be an increase in gun violence or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 41% 77% 35% 44% 44% 39% 49% 28% 52% No 50 17 55 49 49 51 39 63 46 DK/NA 9 6 10 7 7 11 11 9 2 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 37% 48% 35% 40% 45% 44% No 55 43 60 54 49 41 DK/NA 9 9 5 6 7 15 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Yes 45% 42% 37% 38% 61% 36% 49% No 48 51 53 49 32 56 48 DK/NA 6 7 10 13 7 8 3 31. Which comes closer to your view; A)The police should take all steps necessary to prevent crime in New York City even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated, or B)The police should take steps to prevent crime but not if those would violate your basic civil liberties? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp A)Take all steps 16% 41% 11% 18% 16% 16% 22% 10% 18% B)Not violate libs 78 53 83 77 78 77 72 82 78 DK/NA 6 6 6 5 5 7 6 8 3 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ A)Take all steps 14% 18% 16% 17% 12% 17% B)Not violate libs 81 74 81 79 82 73 DK/NA 4 8 3 4 6 10 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 A)Take all steps 12% 16% 17% 15% 23% 15% 24% B)Not violate libs 81 81 76 77 64 77 74 DK/NA 7 3 7 8 12 7 2 39. Have you heard or read about the delays in the bike rental program? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 31% 34% 31% 33% 32% 29% 40% 22% 23% No 67 62 67 66 66 68 58 75 76 DK/NA 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YEARS............ Yes No 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 38% 22% 23% 35% 36% 31% No 61 76 77 64 62 65 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 1 4 Union HAVE KIDS Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl HsHlds <18 Yes 23% 29% 40% 31% 25% 32% 32% No 75 70 57 68 74 67 67 DK/NA 2 2 4 1 2 1 1 Demographic Summary
