March 9, 2006 - New York City Voters Back Mayor On Ground Zero, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Weiner Has Early Lead Among '09 Dem Contenders Redevelopment of Lower Manhattan is not going well, New York City voters say in a Quinnipiac University poll released today, with 10 percent saying "very well," 33 percent saying "somewhat well," 28 percent saying "somewhat badly," and 19 percent saying "very badly." New Yorkers have become increasingly impatient with the pace of redevelopment since the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll first asked this question March 28, 2002, but this is the first time the balance of opinion has tipped to the negative side. In that 2002 poll, 78 percent of voters said "very well" or "somewhat well," with 14 percent who said "somewhat badly" or "very badly." By a 58 - 22 percent margin, New York City voters approve of the current plans for the memorial at Ground Zero. Mayor Michael Bloomberg should have the major role in Ground Zero development 68 percent of New York City voters say, with 17 percent who say Gov. George Pataki should have the major role, the biggest margin for Bloomberg in three years. A total of 78 percent of New Yorkers say it's "very important" or "somewhat important" that there be visible progress in Ground Zero development this year. "New Yorkers are running out of patience with the pace of Lower Manhattan development and they want Mayor Bloomberg, not Gov. Pataki, to take charge," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Despite all the controversy, voters approve of the Ground Zero memorial. And they want to see some action at Ground Zero - soon," Carroll added. By a 53 - 39 percent margin, New York City voters back Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to include apartment buildings in the Ground Zero redevelopment, rather than limit it to offices and shopping. Bloomberg's plans to build office buildings on the West Side of Manhattan will not interfere with Ground Zero development, New York City voters say 59 - 23 percent. Only Mayor Bloomberg is seen as playing a "positive" role in the development of Ground Zero, 65 - 21 percent, while Gov. Pataki, the Port Authority and Larry Silverstein each are seen as playing a "negative" role. "Among the players in Ground Zero development, only Mayor Bloomberg - who has a very limited official role - wins a favorable rating," Carroll said. 2009 Mayoral Race In an early look at the 2009 mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner is the choice of 23 percent of Democrats, followed by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly with 13 percent, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum with 12 percent, City Comptroller William Thompson with 10 percent, and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion with 8 percent. Another 34 percent are undecided. "A good-natured loss can put a politician in good position for the next election. Of names on the mayoral guess list for 2009, Congressman Weiner leads. Actually, the big winner is 'don't know,' but hey, it's a long way off," Carroll said. From March 1 - 6, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,101 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 70% 84% 66% 72% 76% 63% 62% Disapprove 17 10 20 17 8 26 26 DK/NA 13 6 14 12 15 11 12 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 66% 69% 72% 72% 68% 75% 66% Disapprove 23 18 16 14 21 16 19 DK/NA 11 13 12 14 11 9 16 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? * - also hit 70% on 2/3/06 Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 9 Feb 3 Jul 20 Jun 23 Jan 19 Mar 9 Jul 20 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2006 * 2004 Approve 70 70 67 65 65 70 61 Disapprove 17 16 16 17 13 17 21 DK/NA 13 14 16 19 22 13 18 6. Who would you like to see the Democrats nominate for Mayor in 2009 if the candidates were Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, City Comptroller William Thompson, Congressman Anthony Weiner, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum? REGISTERED DEMOCRATS........................ Tot Men Wom Wht Blk Hisp Carrion 8% 8% 8% 3% 10% 17% Thompson 10 16 7 6 17 10 Weiner 23 23 23 32 13 17 Kelly 13 11 14 15 12 12 Gotbaum 12 12 12 11 13 14 DK/NA 34 30 36 32 36 29 Brnx Kngs Man Qns Carrion 30% 5% 3% 2% Thompson 6 14 9 13 Weiner 14 27 22 25 Kelly 15 14 11 11 Gotbaum 7 14 12 11 DK/NA 27 26 42 37 14. 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 10% 15% 9% 6% 8% 11% 13% Somewhat well 33 32 35 31 28 37 36 Somewhat badly 28 27 29 29 35 27 17 Very badly 19 21 17 21 22 12 21 DK/NA 10 6 10 12 7 14 13 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very well 14% 10% 8% 8% 5% 9% 10% Somewhat well 39 31 30 36 31 30 36 Somewhat badly 18 28 35 29 16 31 25 Very badly 13 19 20 17 35 25 14 DK/NA 16 11 6 10 14 6 14 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? Mar 9 Oct 13 May 12 Sep 10 May 8 Jul 17 Mar 28 2006 2005 2005 2003 2003 2002 2002 Very well 10 9 13 12 12 22 28 Somewhat well 33 38 41 50 50 50 50 Somewhat badly 28 27 23 18 20 12 12 Very badly 19 15 13 8 8 4 2 DK/NA 10 12 10 11 10 12 9 15. Who do you think should have the major role in decisions about the development of the World Trade Center site -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg or New York State Governor George Pataki? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Bloomberg 68% 66% 69% 74% 74% 65% 60% Pataki 17 26 16 11 11 19 27 DK/NA 15 8 14 15 15 16 13 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Bloomberg 63% 65% 75% 72% 60% 69% 68% Pataki 20 20 11 13 28 18 16 DK/NA 16 15 15 15 13 13 17 TREND: Who do you think should have the major role in decisions about the development of the World Trade Center site -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg or New York State Governor George Pataki? Mar 9 Nov 17 Oct 13 May 12 Sep 10 May 8 2006 2005 2005 2005 2003 2003 Bloomberg 68 61 65 60 54 58 Pataki 17 15 18 24 25 23 DK/NA 15 24 17 17 21 20 16. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed building apartments at Ground Zero along with offices and shopping. The current plan calls for offices and shopping with no apartments. Which plan do you prefer? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Apartments 53% 46% 54% 54% 56% 52% 47% No apartments 39 50 39 38 33 40 49 DK/NA 8 4 8 8 11 7 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Apartments 50% 49% 66% 51% 37% 57% 49% No apartments 39 43 28 43 51 36 43 DK/NA 11 8 7 5 12 8 8 TREND: Mayor Bloomberg has proposed building apartments at Ground Zero along with offices and shopping. The current plan calls for offices and shopping with no apartments. Which plan do you prefer? Mar 9 Nov 17 2006 2005 Apartments 53 48 No apartments 39 37 DK/NA 8 15 17. 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 42% 47% 44% 38% 39% 40% 58% Smwht important 36 34 37 36 38 37 30 Not too important 14 13 13 17 15 17 6 Not imp at all 6 4 6 7 6 5 5 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very important 54% 42% 34% 39% 59% 46% 39% Smwht important 32 37 37 40 29 30 42 Not too important 10 16 16 13 7 17 11 Not imp at all 3 3 11 6 5 5 7 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 18. Based on what you've heard or read, has Larry Silverstein played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 21% 22% 20% 23% 17% 25% 23% Negative 43 51 42 42 48 38 37 DK/NA 37 27 38 35 35 36 40 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 20% 26% 16% 21% 16% 23% 18% Negative 33 40 51 41 51 50 36 DK/NA 47 34 34 38 34 26 46 19. Based on what you've heard or read, has the Port Authority played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 29% 33% 30% 26% 22% 37% 30% Negative 36 38 32 40 39 34 40 DK/NA 35 29 38 33 39 29 30 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 31% 32% 22% 29% 33% 30% 28% Negative 31 31 40 39 42 44 29 DK/NA 38 37 38 32 25 26 43 20. Based on what you've heard or read, has Governor Pataki played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 33% 56% 29% 29% 28% 35% 38% Negative 48 29 54 51 53 49 43 DK/NA 19 15 17 20 19 16 19 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 34% 36% 24% 35% 47% 34% 32% Negative 45 47 58 45 35 52 45 DK/NA 21 17 18 20 18 14 23 21. Based on what you've heard or read, has Mayor Bloomberg played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 65% 71% 65% 64% 69% 71% 49% Negative 21 17 21 23 18 19 34 DK/NA 14 12 14 13 13 9 17 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 64% 61% 69% 65% 64% 67% 63% Negative 24 25 16 18 25 24 19 DK/NA 12 14 15 17 11 9 18 22. Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's plans to build office buildings on the West Side of Manhattan will interfere with the development of Ground Zero? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 23% 23% 22% 22% 18% 27% 31% No 59 66 60 56 61 54 56 DK/NA 18 11 18 22 21 18 13 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 27% 24% 16% 21% 33% 22% 23% No 56 55 65 60 59 63 56 DK/NA 17 20 18 19 9 15 21 23. Do you approve or disapprove of the current plans for the memorial at Ground Zero? Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 58% 60% 63% 51% 54% 65% 66% Disapprove 22 26 19 25 23 19 20 DK/NA 20 14 19 24 23 16 14 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 70% 58% 50% 58% 58% 58% 58% Disapprove 16 23 27 22 20 23 21 DK/NA 14 19 23 20 22 19 20
