New York City (NYC) Poll * July 29, 2009 * New York City Voters Like Car- - Quinnipiac University

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July 29, 2009 - New York City Voters Like Car-Free Times Square, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bloomberg Gets Almost 2-1 Backing To Run Schools

Word format Banning cars on Broadway, creating a pedestrian mall from Times Square to Herald Square is a good idea, New York City voters say 58 - 34 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support ranges from 66 - 27 percent among Manhattan voters to 50 - 44 percent among Bronx voters.
By a smaller 48 - 46 percent margin, voters say the city should create more pedestrian malls. But voters say 57 - 38 percent that they don't want such a mall in their neighborhood, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. The two-month experiment has attracted 44 percent of New Yorkers, who say they've spent time on Times Square.
Looking at other transit issues:
52 percent of New York City voters say subway service is "excellent" or "good;" 56 percent say bus service is "excellent" or "good."
Mass transit has gotten better in the last five years, 25 percent of voters say, while 20 percent say it has gotten worse and 50 percent see no change. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority does an "excellent" or "good" job notifying riders of service interruptions, 41 percent of voters say, while 54 percent say "not so good" or "poor."
"Times Square with lawn chairs instead of cars is a nice idea, most New Yorkers say, but NIMBY," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway and bus service gets passing grades from most New Yorkers. Ever listen to a public announcement in a subway station? Ever understand it? Most New Yorkers think the MTA should do better telling us about service delays."
New York City voters say 70 - 26 percent that recent MTA fare hikes are not justified. But voters oppose two possible ways to limit future fare hikes:
67 - 27 percent against placing tolls on free East River bridges; 55 - 40 percent against congestion pricing. Opposition among mass transit users is 50 - 46 percent.
Getting to work, 23 percent of New Yorkers drive; 25 percent use subways; 11 percent take the bus; 14 percent use a subway/bus combination and 6 percent take a commuter train.
Even as the MTA announced that the 2nd Avenue Subway would be delayed, 78 percent of New Yorkers are "not too confident" or "not confident at all" that it will be built on time.
And 64 percent of voters are "not too confident" or "not confident" at all that the extension of the Number 7 subway line to the West Side will be built on time.
"When we started this poll, it seemed a good idea to ask if New Yorkers were confident the 2nd Avenue subway would be built on time. Then the MTA gave us the official answer: No," Carroll said. "We haven't heard from the MTA yet, but we have the public judgment on the Number 7 extension's chance of finishing on time. Again: No."
Control of the Schools
New York City voters approve 57 - 30 percent of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's handling of public schools and say 56 - 24 percent that the Mayor's takeover of the schools has been a success. These are Bloomberg's highest scores on both questions.
Voters say 57 - 30 percent that the Mayor should maintain control of the public schools, also the strongest support so far. Support ranges from 50 - 33 percent in Brooklyn to 65 - 24 percent in Manhattan. Black voters back mayoral control 48 - 39 percent, while white voters back Bloomberg's bid 63 - 25 percent and Hispanic voters back the Mayor 61 - 30 percent.
"The biggest opponents of mayoral control of the schools are state senators from Manhattan and Brooklyn, but two-thirds of Manhattan voters and more than 50 percent of Brooklyn voters say let the Mayor do it," Carroll said.
From July 21 - 27, 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.
23. 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 57% 62% 58% 58% 59% 55% 59% 55% Disapprove 30 21 31 29 26 35 30 39 DK/NA 13 17 11 13 15 10 11 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 62% 49% 65% 58% 50% 64% 52% Disapprove 30 34 24 28 40 27 32 DK/NA 8 17 12 14 10 9 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the public schools?
APPROVE....... DIS.. High Low High Jul 29 Jun 17 Mar 24 Feb 25 Jul 29 May 7 May 7 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003 Approve 57 51 47 50 57 35 35 Disapprove 30 37 40 39 30 52 52 DK/NA 13 12 13 11 13 12 12
24. 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 56% 55% 57% 57% 58% 54% 57% 56% Failure 24 22 24 24 21 27 25 33 DK/NA 20 24 19 19 21 20 18 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Success 58% 48% 62% 60% 49% 62% 51% Failure 27 25 20 22 35 22 26 DK/NA 15 27 18 18 16 16 23
TREND: Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's take-over of the public schools has been a success or failure?
SUCCESS....... High Low Jul 29 Jun 17 Mar 24 Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 29 Mar 15 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2007 Success 56 49 46 50 47 56 39 Failure 24 29 33 31 31 24 34 DK/NA 20 22 22 19 22 20 27
25. 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 57% 62% 56% 61% 63% 48% 61% 52% Stop 30 24 32 29 25 39 30 38 DK/NA 12 14 12 10 12 13 9 10 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Continue 61% 50% 65% 57% 54% 64% 52% Stop 33 33 24 30 36 28 32 DK/NA 6 16 11 13 10 8 16
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?
Jul 29 Jun 17 Mar 24 Feb 25 Jan 28 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Continue 57 56 52 55 56 Stop 30 32 37 35 34 DK/NA 12 12 12 9 10
26. How would you rate the quality of subway service in New York City - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Excellent 5% 8% 4% 5% 7% 3% 4% 5% Good 47 46 47 51 55 41 37 48 Not so good 26 23 27 24 22 33 26 28 Poor 14 9 15 12 6 17 28 17 DK/NA 8 14 6 8 10 7 5 1 Sbway Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom UsersQ31 Excellent 2% 6% 5% 5% 6% 5% 5% 6% Good 41 45 52 51 47 53 43 47 Not so good 28 28 24 24 19 23 27 28 Poor 19 16 13 11 10 13 15 19 DK/NA 9 5 6 9 18 6 9 -
27. How would you rate the quality of bus service in New York City - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Excellent 6% 4% 7% 6% 7% 6% 7% 7% Good 50 53 51 50 52 48 44 49 Not so good 22 21 23 18 20 26 25 26 Poor 10 5 10 12 6 13 16 12 DK/NA 11 17 9 14 14 7 8 6 Bus Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom UsersQ31 Excellent 7% 4% 9% 7% 4% 7% 6% 8% Good 52 47 53 53 42 51 50 49 Not so good 20 25 22 18 28 19 24 28 Poor 13 11 8 10 10 10 10 13 DK/NA 8 14 8 11 17 13 10 1
28. How would you rate the quality of Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter train service in New York City - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? (* n less than 75, additional caution should be taken when interpreting the findings of this group because of the large margin of error.)
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Excellent 6% 5% 6% 7% 6% 7% 10% 7% Good 38 37 43 33 37 40 40 42 Not so good 7 8 6 9 7 6 10 8 Poor 2 1 2 3 2 2 3 3 DK/NA 46 49 44 48 48 44 37 41 Rail* Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom UsersQ31 Excellent 7% 6% 5% 9% 1% 7% 6% 17% Good 39 28 48 44 28 38 39 40 Not so good 4 8 7 8 7 8 6 14 Poor 2 2 2 3 - 3 2 2 DK/NA 47 56 37 37 65 44 48 27
29. Compared to 5 years ago, do you think transit service in New York City has gotten better, worse, or stayed about the same?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Better 25% 25% 24% 27% 25% 24% 27% 24% Worse 20 13 21 21 16 23 22 24 Stayed about same 50 53 50 45 53 46 49 49 DK/NA 5 9 4 7 6 7 1 2 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Better 21% 19% 27% 32% 25% 26% 23% Worse 24 21 19 19 14 19 21 Stayed about same 47 55 50 44 52 50 49 DK/NA 7 5 4 5 9 4 6
30. (If Worse q29) Who do you blame more - the MTA or the state legislature?
WORSE Q29...... PubTrnst Tot UsersQ31 MTA 56% 59% Legislature 21 19 BOTH EQUALLY(VOL) 17 16 DK/NA 6 7
31. How do you get to work? Do you take a subway, bus, commuter train or drive?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Subway 25% 15% 27% 22% 27% 18% 25% Bus 11 9 12 10 7 12 20 Commuter train 6 3 7 5 3 7 10 Drive 23 40 18 27 23 28 16 SUBWAY&BUS(VOL) 14 8 17 14 11 19 15 DK/NA 21 25 20 23 29 16 13 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Subway 15% 31% 35% 19% 7% 28% 23% Bus 14 8 13 9 12 10 11 Commuter train 4 6 6 6 6 6 5 Drive 32 20 10 31 38 27 20 SUBWAY&BUS(VOL) 17 15 13 14 11 12 16 DK/NA 18 21 23 21 27 18 24
32. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has raised fares for subways, buses and commuter trains. Do you think this was justified or not justified?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Justified 26% 27% 26% 25% 38% 14% 13% 25% Not justified 70 66 71 70 57 81 83 71 DK/NA 4 7 3 6 5 5 4 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Justified 18% 21% 33% 29% 28% 31% 22% Not justified 77 74 61 69 70 66 73 DK/NA 6 5 6 2 2 4 5
33. In order to limit future fare increases, would you support or oppose placing tolls on the free East River bridges?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Support 27% 19% 30% 26% 37% 16% 21% 32% Oppose 67 78 63 68 58 76 73 62 DK/NA 6 4 7 6 4 8 6 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 19% 24% 43% 19% 36% 26% 28% Oppose 77 69 53 74 56 70 64 DK/NA 4 7 4 7 9 4 8
34. In order to limit future fare increases, would you support or oppose congestion pricing, where car and truck drivers are charged a fee for entering certain areas of Manhattan?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Support 40% 23% 43% 44% 43% 31% 40% 46% Oppose 55 72 52 53 52 62 56 50 DK/NA 5 5 5 4 5 7 3 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 29% 38% 55% 36% 37% 41% 39% Oppose 67 56 42 59 55 56 54 DK/NA 4 5 3 5 8 3 7
35. How would you rate the job the MTA does in letting people know about service interruptions - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Excellent 5% 8% 5% 3% 5% 5% 6% 6% Good 36 40 36 31 37 35 35 39 Not so good 33 30 34 37 34 32 32 31 Poor 21 10 21 23 18 22 25 23 DK/NA 5 11 4 6 7 5 2 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Excellent 3% 5% 5% 6% 7% 7% 3% Good 36 40 30 37 35 39 33 Not so good 34 29 38 32 31 29 36 Poor 22 22 23 19 14 20 22 DK/NA 5 5 4 6 13 5 6
36. How confident are you that the 2nd Avenue subway line will be completed on time - very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident or not confident at all?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Very confident 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 3% 3% 3% Smwht confident 12 9 14 13 9 13 19 13 Not too confident 33 35 33 30 33 32 35 32 Not confident at all 45 43 44 48 51 41 39 46 DK/NA 8 11 6 8 6 11 4 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very confident 2% 2% 2% 2% 4% 4% 1% Smwht confident 15 13 11 10 12 12 12 Not too confident 29 34 31 35 32 30 35 Not confident at all 46 41 51 44 41 47 44 DK/NA 8 10 4 8 12 7 9
37. How confident are you that the Number 7 subway line extension will be completed on time - very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident or not confident at all?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Very confident 3% 4% 3% 3% 2% 4% 5% 4% Smwht confident 21 14 23 18 18 21 27 21 Not too confident 32 33 31 32 32 30 32 31 Not confident at all 32 31 32 32 35 30 27 33 DK/NA 13 18 11 13 14 15 9 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very confident 3% 2% 3% 4% 3% 5% 1% Smwht confident 20 21 17 23 23 20 21 Not too confident 33 33 30 31 29 32 31 Not confident at all 32 30 37 29 27 32 31 DK/NA 12 14 13 12 19 11 15
38. As you may know, New York City recently banned cars, trucks and buses on Broadway from Times Square to Herald Square, making that section of Broadway a pedestrian mall. Do you think this was a good idea or a bad idea?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Good idea 58% 43% 62% 58% 58% 57% 62% 62% Bad idea 34 47 31 35 35 34 31 31 DK/NA 8 10 7 7 8 9 7 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Good idea 50% 58% 66% 56% 59% 60% 57% Bad idea 44 32 27 35 36 34 33 DK/NA 6 9 8 9 6 6 10
39. Do you think New York City should create more such pedestrian malls around the city or not?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Yes 48% 29% 52% 50% 49% 47% 49% 50% No 46 63 43 43 45 47 46 46 DK/NA 6 8 5 7 6 6 5 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 45% 47% 56% 43% 46% 49% 47% No 48 45 39 52 48 44 48 DK/NA 6 8 5 5 6 7 6
40. Would you like a pedestrian mall in your neighborhood?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Yes 38% 28% 42% 36% 39% 35% 42% 42% No 57 68 53 61 57 59 52 55 DK/NA 5 4 5 3 4 5 6 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 38% 40% 46% 31% 29% 38% 38% No 57 56 51 64 63 59 56 DK/NA 5 4 4 4 8 3 6
41. Have you spent any time on the Broadway pedestrian mall?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 Yes 44% 40% 45% 43% 42% 41% 48% 54% No 55 60 54 56 57 58 50 45 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 2 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 38% 41% 57% 41% 41% 47% 42% No 62 58 43 58 57 53 57 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
42. Which comes closer to your point of view - closing Broadway was a good way to reduce the number of cars in the area and give people more room to walk around, or, closing Broadway was a waste of tax dollars and creates more traffic?
PubTrnst Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp UsersQ31 More room 58% 43% 63% 55% 58% 59% 56% 62% Waste of taxes 35 49 31 37 36 34 35 33 DK/NA 7 8 6 7 7 7 9 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom More room 51% 57% 65% 58% 58% 61% 56% Waste of taxes 42 37 28 35 34 34 36 DK/NA 7 6 7 7 8 6 8