New York City (NYC) Poll * January 16, 2007 * Bloomberg Approval Unharmed Af - Quinnipiac University

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*January 16, 2007 - Bloomberg Approval Unharmed After 50-Shot Tragedy, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Giuliani Had Negative Approval After Amadou Diallo ( RELATED RELEASE, Diallo , April 8, 1999)**

Two months after the police shooting of Sean Bell, New York City voters approve 75 - 16 percent of the job Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing, matching his highest approval rating ever, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a negative 40 - 51 percent approval rating for former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in an April 8, 1999 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, two months after the police shooting of Amadou Diallo.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly gets a 52 - 34 percent approval rating, his lowest score ever and down from a 70 - 16 percent all-time high February 3, 2006. Approval among black voters has dropped from 64 - 21 percent last February to a negative 32 - 57 percent today. Former Commissioner Howard Safir had a negative 38 - 48 percent overall approval April 8, 1999.
New York City voters approve 53 - 40 percent of the job police are doing citywide, down from 72 - 20 percent April 13, 2006. Black voters give police a negative 27 - 68 percent approval. Police had a split 45 - 44 percent approval, with a negative 23 - 63 percent among blacks, April 8, 1999.
"When the name of Sean Bell joined Amadou Diallo in the unhappy history of police mistakes - or misconduct, take your pick - New Yorkers' view of race relations was dramatically different: We see a positive picture with Mayor Bloomberg in City Hall in 2007; we saw it as negative with Mayor Giuliani in 1999," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. -more-
"The job-approval contrast between Bloomberg and Giuliani takes us back to the contentious days before Giuliani's 9-11 heroics earned him the title of 'America's mayor,'" Carroll added. "Bloomberg's approval is stratospherically high, including 69 - 18 percent among black voters. Giuliani's overall approval was negative, with black voters giving him a negative 12 - 76 percent rating.
"Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and police overall have taken a hit, especially among black voters."
New York City voters approve 54 - 31 percent of Bloomberg's response to the Sean Bell shooting, compared to a negative 23 - 67 percent approval of Giuliani's response to the Amadou Diallo shooting.
The police shooting of Sean Bell was tragic "and there is no excuse for how police acted," 58 percent of voters, including 41 percent of white voters and 84 percent of black voters say. Another 30 percent, including 44 percent of whites and 11 percent of blacks, say, "It is understandable that the police could have acted this way."
"An understandable mistake or inexcusable action by the police? Most New Yorkers blame the police. Black New Yorkers assess the blame more heavily," Carroll said.
On other police and race-related questions, New York City voters say:
57 - 31 percent that race relations in the city are generally good, with white voters saying "good" 69 - 19 percent and black voters saying "bad" 51 - 38 percent; 64 - 21 percent approve of the way Bloomberg is handling relations between black and white New Yorkers, with black voters approving 50 - 36 percent; 59 percent say police are tougher on blacks, while 30 percent say police treat everyone the same; 55 - 23 percent approve of bringing criminal charges against the officers involved in the Sean Bell case; 68 percent say police brutality is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem.
From January 9 - 15, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,013 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 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 additional data and a complete copy of the April 8, 1999 survey -- www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or (203) 582-5201
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 75% 77% 76% 77% 82% 69% 69% Disapprove 16 17 15 15 10 18 26 DK/NA 9 6 9 8 8 12 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 69% 71% 79% 77% 85% 76% 74% Disapprove 22 19 14 13 13 15 17 DK/NA 9 10 8 10 2 9 9
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?
App Dis DK/NA Jan 16, 2007 75 16 9 Nov 14, 2006 72 20 8 Jul 12, 2006 72 19 9 Apr 12, 2006 69 20 11 Mar 8, 2006 73 19 8 Feb 2, 2006 72 19 8 Nov 17, 2005 75 17 7 Aug 18, 2005 64 26 10 Jul 19, 2005 60 30 10 Jun 22, 2005 55 36 10 May 11, 2005 47 41 12 Mar 30, 2005 46 41 12 Mar 2, 2005 48 40 12 Jan 19, 2005 50 37 13 Nov 10, 2004 49 39 12 Aug 26, 2004 44 42 14 Jul 20, 2004 49 39 12 Jun 9, 2004 50 38 12 Mar 31, 2004 47 41 12 Feb 4, 2004 44 45 11 Nov 25, 2003 37 51 13 Oct 22, 2003 42 47 12 Sep 9, 2003 38 52 11 Jul 2, 2003 31 60 8 May 7, 2003 32 56 12 Feb 26, 2003 48 41 11 Nov 21, 2002 41 46 13 Jul 18, 2002 57 23 19 Mar 27, 2002 62 16 22 Feb 6, 2002 65 6 29
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rudolph Giuliani is handling his job as Mayor?
App Dis DK/NA Oct 9, 2001 79 16 6 Jul 25. 2001 50 40 10 Jun 7, 2001 51 41 8 May 2, 2001 50 40 10 Apr 4, 2001 51 39 10 Feb 28, 2001 54 36 10 Jan 31, 2001 51 38 11 Nov 21, 2000 55 37 8 Aug 2, 2000 48 42 10 Jun 14, 2000 49 45 7 Apr 19, 2000 37 57 6 Mar 15, 2000 43 49 7 Oct 20, 1999 46 46 8 Jun 17, 1999 46 48 6 May 19, 1999 44 48 8 Apr 8, 1999 40 51 9 Feb 17, 1999 44 47 9 Nov 18, 1998 60 33 6 Jul 23, 1998 55 41 4 Apr 8, 1998 65 30 4 Feb 11, 1998 74 23 4 Oct 29, 1997 68 28 4 Oct 1, 1997 63 33 4 Aug 5, 1997 64 29 7 Jun 18, 1997 60 35 5 Mar 27, 1997 67 29 5 Feb 11, 1997 62 32 6 Nov 19, 1996 54 34 11 Oct 13, 1996 54 38 9 Jul 29, 1996 50 40 9 Apr 21, 1996 48 43 8
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 52% 71% 47% 57% 69% 32% 41% Disapprove 34 20 38 31 18 57 44 DK/NA 14 8 15 12 12 11 15 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 42% 44% 60% 59% 68% 60% 47% Disapprove 46 37 27 32 24 29 38 DK/NA 12 19 13 9 9 11 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way -- is handling his job as Police Commissioner?
App Dis DK/NA Ray Kelly: Jan 16, 2007 52 34 14 Jul 12, 2006 66 20 14 Apr 13, 2006 68 18 14 Mar 9, 2006 70 17 13 Feb 3, 2006 70 16 14 Jul 20, 2005 67 16 16 Jun 23, 2005 65 17 19 Jan 19, 2005 65 13 22 Nov 10, 2004 62 17 21 Aug 26, 2004 63 17 20 Jul 20, 2004 61 21 18 Jun 9, 2004 67 16 17 Mar 31, 2004 67 16 17 Feb 4&5, 2004 65 16 19 Nov 25, 2003 69 15 16 Jul 3, 2003 63 24 13 May 7, 2003 68 15 17 Feb 26, 2003 68 18 14 Bernard Kerik: May 3, 2001 46 21 33 Feb 1, 2001 45 16 40 Howard Safir: Apr 20, 2000 32 58 10 Mar 15, 2000 38 48 14 Jun 17, 1999 37 49 13 April 8, 1999 38 48 14 Oct 2, 1997 54 35 11 Feb 12, 1997 55 17 28
3. Do you think race relations in New York City today are generally good or generally bad?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Good 57% 72% 53% 60% 69% 38% 53% Bad 31 21 33 32 19 51 36 DK/NA 12 8 13 8 12 11 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Good 48% 57% 62% 58% 58% 65% 51% Bad 43 27 27 32 36 26 35 DK/NA 9 16 11 10 6 9 14
TREND: Do you think race relations in New York City today are generally good or generally bad?
Good Bad DK/NA Jan 16, 2007 57 31 12 Jun 15, 2000 37 55 9 Apr 19, 2000 30 63 7 Apr 8, 1999 35 53 12
4. Do you think race relations in New York City are getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Better 25% 32% 25% 23% 27% 15% 33% Worse 14 15 14 14 9 21 15 Same 58 49 58 61 61 62 50 DK/NA 3 3 3 2 4 2 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Better 23% 21% 30% 26% 30% 26% 24% Worse 22 16 9 12 12 10 18 Same 51 59 59 59 58 61 55 DK/NA 4 4 2 2 - 3 3
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Bloomberg is handling relations between blacks and whites?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 64% 72% 61% 72% 74% 50% 61% Disapprove 21 18 23 18 12 36 23 DK/NA 15 10 16 11 14 14 16 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 59% 58% 69% 69% 75% 72% 58% Disapprove 25 23 16 19 20 16 24 DK/NA 16 19 15 12 6 11 18
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way -- is handling relations between blacks and whites?
App Dis DK/NA Mayor Bloomberg: Jan 16, 2007 64 21 15 Mayor Giuliani: Aug 2, 2000 26 63 11 Jun 14, 2000 21 68 11 Apr 19, 2000 20 73 7 May 19, 1999 26 65 9 Apr 8, 1999 24 65 11
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Bloomberg is handling crime?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 75% 83% 77% 73% 83% 64% 72% Disapprove 17 13 17 20 10 28 23 DK/NA 7 5 6 7 7 8 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 72% 74% 81% 71% 84% 80% 72% Disapprove 23 16 13 20 15 15 19 DK/NA 5 10 6 9 2 5 9
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 53% 77% 44% 61% 70% 27% 45% Disapprove 40 17 47 35 21 68 48 DK/NA 8 6 9 4 9 5 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 42% 48% 61% 53% 69% 63% 45% Disapprove 51 43 30 40 27 32 46 DK/NA 7 9 9 7 4 5 10
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job?
App Dis DK/NA Jan 16, 2007 53 40 8 Apr 13, 2006 72 20 8 Jun 23, 2005 69 23 7 Jul 3, 2003 63 32 6 Feb 7, 2002 76 18 6 May 3, 2001 54 34 11 Feb 1, 2001 50 37 14 Apr 20, 2000 43 48 9 Mar 15, 2000 46 43 11 Jun 17, 1999 49 43 8 Apr 8, 1999 45 44 11 Oct 2, 1997 48 46 6 Feb 21, 1996 61 29 10
8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in your community are doing their job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 67% 79% 63% 68% 81% 52% 52% Disapprove 29 20 32 28 15 42 44 DK/NA 5 1 5 4 4 6 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 57% 64% 73% 65% 85% 68% 66% Disapprove 38 31 21 30 15 27 30 DK/NA 5 5 6 4 - 5 5
9. Do you generally think of the police more as friends, more as enemies, or don't you think of them in either of these ways?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Friends 36% 50% 32% 33% 45% 22% 30% Enemies 9 7 9 11 5 18 12 Neither 53 42 56 54 48 56 55 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 1 3 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Friends 32% 34% 37% 38% 44% 39% 33% Enemies 11 11 7 11 5 10 9 Neither 57 53 53 51 48 50 55 DK/NA - 3 3 1 3 1 2
10. In general, how serious a problem do you think crime is in New York City? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very serious 31% 28% 32% 28% 17% 51% 42% Smwht serious 53 47 53 54 63 39 45 Not very serious 14 21 12 16 17 8 13 Not at all 1 2 1 1 1 1 - DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very serious 44% 34% 19% 30% 32% 23% 37% Smwht serious 43 49 57 60 51 55 51 Not very serious 10 14 20 9 14 18 10 Not at all 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2 1
11. In general, do you think New York City is about as safe as other big cities, less safe, or more safe?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp About as safe 42% 34% 45% 40% 39% 49% 38% Less safe 13 9 15 12 7 22 19 More safe 41 54 37 46 51 27 40 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom About as safe 50% 40% 35% 48% 39% 33% 50% Less safe 20 16 6 13 11 12 14 More safe 28 39 57 36 49 53 32 DK/NA 2 4 3 2 1 2 3
12. Is being the victim of a crime something you personally worry about or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 49% 44% 51% 46% 42% 49% 65% No 50 56 48 53 57 49 32 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 - 1 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 54% 50% 42% 51% 45% 41% 55% No 45 47 57 48 55 58 44 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 - 1 2
13. How have the policies of the Bloomberg administration affected the amount of crime in New York City? Have they caused crime to increase, decrease or haven't the policies of the Bloomberg administration made much difference in the amount of crime?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Increase 9% 10% 9% 11% 5% 11% 17% Decrease 35 43 34 35 37 36 33 No difference 49 45 51 48 49 50 44 DK/NA 6 2 6 7 8 3 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Increase 10% 10% 9% 8% 13% 11% 9% Decrease 30 32 38 37 49 38 34 No difference 57 51 45 49 33 45 51 DK/NA 4 7 8 6 4 6 7
14. Do you think the police in New York City are generally tougher on whites than on blacks, or tougher on blacks than on whites, or do the police treat them both the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Tougher on whites 2% 2% 1% 3% 1% - 1% Tougher on blacks 59 31 70 53 50 81 56 Both the same 30 57 21 34 39 12 30 DK/NA 10 10 8 10 10 7 13 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Tougher on whites 2% 1% 2% 0% 7% 2% 1% Tougher on blacks 57 62 64 55 44 52 64 Both the same 34 27 23 36 37 37 24 DK/NA 8 9 11 9 12 9 10
15. Do you think the police in your community are generally tougher on whites than on blacks, or tougher on blacks than on whites, or do the police treat them both the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Tougher on whites 3% 3% 1% 7% 3% - 5% Tougher on blacks 43 20 52 38 31 67 42 Both the same 43 70 36 45 54 25 42 DK/NA 11 6 11 11 12 8 10 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Tougher on whites 1% 3% 3% 2% 10% 4% 2% Tougher on blacks 49 44 43 43 22 38 47 Both the same 40 42 41 46 57 50 39 DK/NA 10 11 13 9 11 9 13
16. How serious a problem do you think police brutality is in New York City? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very serious 32% 12% 36% 36% 14% 62% 40% Smwht serious 36 32 43 24 41 30 34 Not very serious 21 37 15 28 32 6 14 Not at all 7 18 4 10 10 1 8 DK/NA 3 2 2 2 3 1 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very serious 42% 35% 25% 34% 20% 26% 37% Smwht serious 33 36 40 34 35 32 39 Not very serious 18 18 22 23 38 27 17 Not at all 5 9 7 8 7 11 5 DK/NA 2 3 7 1 - 4 3
17. Is being the victim of police brutality something you personally worry about or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 27% 16% 28% 31% 11% 44% 41% No 73 84 72 69 88 56 58 DK/NA - - - 1 - 1 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 32% 27% 20% 31% 19% 27% 26% No 68 72 79 69 81 72 74 DK/NA - - 1 - - 1 -
18. How have the policies of the Bloomberg administration affected the amount of police brutality in New York City? Have they caused police brutality to increase, decrease or haven't the policies of the Bloomberg administration made much difference in the amount of police brutality?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Increase 12% 7% 11% 16% 5% 16% 17% Decrease 16 12 16 18 19 13 13 No difference 63 74 62 60 63 64 63 DK/NA 10 7 11 6 12 7 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Increase 11% 16% 8% 12% 6% 12% 12% Decrease 15 13 19 17 17 20 13 No difference 70 59 60 63 71 62 63 DK/NA 4 12 13 9 5 6 12
19. How closely have you been following the case of Sean Bell, the young black man who was shot and killed by police officers after leaving a night club last November? Would you say you have been following it very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very closely 31% 23% 33% 31% 23% 44% 38% Smwht closely 44 51 44 45 53 36 39 Not too closely 19 20 20 14 20 15 14 Not at all 6 5 3 9 4 4 9 DK/NA - 1 - - - - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very closely 35% 32% 23% 37% 26% 31% 31% Smwht closely 40 42 54 41 45 44 45 Not too closely 18 20 19 16 24 19 18 Not at all 7 6 5 5 4 5 6 DK/NA - - - - - - -
20. Do you approve or disapprove of Mayor Bloomberg's public response to this incident?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 54% 56% 55% 53% 59% 50% 44% Disapprove 31 31 32 30 25 38 39 DK/NA 16 13 14 17 16 12 16 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 54% 53% 56% 52% 57% 56% 52% Disapprove 33 31 26 34 30 32 30 DK/NA 13 16 19 14 14 12 18
21. From what you know about the police shooting of Sean Bell, which statement comes closer to your opinion? It was a tragic thing, and there is absolutely no excuse for how the police acted. Or It was a tragic thing, but it is understandable that the police could have acted this way.
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp No excuse 58% 36% 67% 53% 41% 84% 68% Understandable 30 52 22 34 44 11 19 DK/NA 12 12 11 12 15 5 12 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom No excuse 63% 59% 53% 61% 47% 47% 66% Understandable 27 30 29 29 48 40 23 DK/NA 10 11 18 10 5 13 11
22. Do you approve or disapprove of bringing criminal charges against the police officers for the death of Sean Bell?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 55% 32% 63% 51% 39% 79% 58% Disapprove 23 41 17 29 33 10 22 DK/NA 22 27 20 20 28 11 20 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 58% 60% 53% 53% 31% 48% 60% Disapprove 20 23 20 24 44 28 20 DK/NA 22 16 28 22 25 24 20
23. Do you think that criticism of the police will result in police officers being too cautious and less effective in fighting crime, or don't you think it will make much difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Too cautious 27% 45% 19% 33% 34% 14% 28% No difference 66 52 73 58 59 82 62 DK/NA 7 3 8 8 7 5 10 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Too cautious 21% 28% 21% 28% 50% 30% 24% No difference 77 65 67 65 43 64 67 DK/NA 3 7 11 7 7 6 9
24. Do you support or oppose the New York City police Department's hiring of the RAND Center on Quality Policing, a private non-profit group to evaluate police training procedures?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 66% 60% 69% 66% 65% 63% 72% Oppose 15 20 14 15 13 21 12 DK/NA 19 20 17 18 21 16 17