New York City (NYC) Poll * March 31, 2005 * New Yorkers Oppose Stadium, Bu - Quinnipiac University

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March 31, 2005 - New Yorkers Oppose Stadium, But Say Jets Will Win, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Support Among Black, Hispanic Voters

New York City voters oppose 53 - 38 percent the proposed West Side stadium for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and the New York Jets football team, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 56 - 35 percent anti-stadium opinion in a March 3 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest poll, opposition to the stadium drops to 49 - 42 percent if voters consider that the stadium would host the 2010 Super Bowl.
With the Super Bowl factored in, white voters oppose the stadium 52 - 38 percent, while black voters split 46 - 46 percent and Hispanic voters support the stadium 50 - 41 percent. Looking at the boroughs, Manhattan voters oppose the stadium 59 - 31 percent while Queens and Staten Island voters support it 50 - 41 percent.
"Mayor Michael Bloomberg is gaining some ground in his battle for the West Side stadium, especially among black and Hispanic voters. The Super Bowl gives him a few more yards, but it doesn't put him in the end zone," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Stadium opponents say put it in Queens, but Queens voters want the Manhattan plan. Is that because they like the stadium - or because they like it someplace else?"
New York City voters say 63 - 30 percent that they want the city to host the 2012 Olympics, a number which has remained consistent for months.
By a 49 - 39 percent margin, voters now agree with Bloomberg that without the stadium, the city will not win the Olympic bid, the first time more voters have sided with the Mayor on this question.
The owners of the New York Jets will win the stadium battle, 46 percent of New Yorkers say, while 29 percent think the owners of the Knicks and Rangers will win, with 25 percent unsure of the outcome.
The Mayor's support for the West Side stadium in the face of public opposition shows leadership, 43 percent of voters say, but 45 percent say it shows arrogance. While 23 percent of voters say they are less likely to vote for Bloomberg because of his position on the stadium, 6 percent say they are more likely and 68 percent say this issue will not affect their vote.
"Most New Yorkers don't want the stadium, but more voters bet on the Jets to win this battle with the people who own the Knicks, Rangers and Madison Square Garden," Carroll said.
"Voters are split on whether Mayor Mike's strong position for the stadium shows leadership or arrogance."
From March 21 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,371 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 and nationwide as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York City today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Very Smwht Smwht Very sat sat dis dis DK/NA Mar 31, 2005 5 49 28 16 2 Jan 19, 2005 10 50 24 14 1 Nov 10, 2004 8 50 26 15 1 Jul 20, 2004 7 49 26 17 1 Jun 9, 2004 9 46 25 18 1 Mar 31, 2004 9 48 26 16 1 Feb 4, 2004 8 47 27 18 1 Nov 25, 2003 5 40 30 24 1 Oct 22, 2003 8 43 31 18 1 Sep 9, 2003 5 37 32 25 2 Jul 2, 2003 7 23 32 38 1 May 7, 2003 3 30 34 31 2 Feb 28, 2003 6 43 32 17 2 Nov 21, 2002 5 39 34 20 2 Jul 18, 2002 9 55 24 9 3 Mar 28, 2002 15 56 19 7 2 Aug 2, 2000 20 46 22 11 1 Jun 15, 2000 20 46 22 10 2 Apr 19, 2000 18 45 20 17 1 Apr 8, 1999 16 47 25 12 1 Feb 17, 1999 17 46 22 14 1 Nov 18, 1998 23 51 17 8 1 Feb 11, 1998 18 58 18 5 1 Oct 29, 1997 12 58 19 10 1 Oct 1, 1997 15 53 22 9 1 Mar 27, 1997 11 54 22 12 1 Feb 11, 1997 11 54 24 11 1 Nov 19, 1996 8 53 25 13 1
TREND: There is a proposal to build a new stadium for the New York Jets football team and the 2012 Olympics on the West Side of Manhattan. In general, do you support or oppose this proposal?
Sup Opp DK/NA Mar 31, 2005 38 53 9 Mar 3, 2005 35 56 8 Jan 20, 2005 34 58 9
TREND: Do you support or oppose New York City hosting the 2012 summer Olympics? (* The word "favor" was used instead of "support")
Support Oppose DK/NA Mar 31, 2005 63 30 7 Mar 3, 2005 63 30 7 Jan 20, 2005 63 32 5 Nov 11, 2004 64 30 7 Jun 10, 2004 67 25 8 Nov 22, 2002* 69 25 6
TREND: Mayor Bloomberg has said that without the stadium NYC will not be able to get the 2012 Olympics. Do you agree or disagree?
Agree Dis DK/NA Mar 31, 2005 49 39 12 Mar 3, 2005 42 45 13 Jan 20, 2005 36 48 16 Nov 11, 2004 39 47 14
8. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York City today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very satisfied 5% 9% 4% 6% 8% 1% 3% Smwht satisfied 49 57 47 50 59 39 37 Smwht dissatisfied 28 22 30 27 24 37 29 Very dissatisfied 16 11 17 15 7 22 29 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 1 1 1
9. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York City today?
Tot Economy total 22% Economy general 4 Unemployment/jobs 12 Cost of living 5 Businesses leaving/ Outsourcing 1 Education total 20% Education general 13 Teachers 2 Funding education 5 Housing total 7% Housing general 2 Housing Costs/ Availability 5 Crime total 6% Crime/Violence general 5 Drugs 1 Transportation/DMV Total 5% Lack of quality mass trans/Public trans 4 Transportation other 1 Budget/Spending total 4% Budget general 1 Budget cuts/Cuts in services 1 Budget deficits 1 Budget priorities 1 Taxes total 4% Taxes general 2 Property tax 2 Terrorism/Security Total 4% Terrorism general 2 Security/Safety 2 Poverty/Homeless 3 War (Iraq) 2 Class inequality 1 Healthcare/Costs/ Insurance/HMO's 1 Social security 1 Governor/State leadership 1 Mayor/City leadership 1 Immigration 1 Other 6 DK/NA 4
15. There is a proposal to build a new stadium for the New York Jets football team and the 2012 Olympics on the West Side of Manhattan. In general, do you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 38% 54% 35% 37% 35% 44% 39% Oppose 53 35 57 53 54 49 53 DK/NA 9 11 8 10 11 8 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 38% 36% 29% 45% 48% 45% 32% Oppose 52 52 62 47 45 48 56 DK/NA 10 12 9 7 7 7 12
16. If a new stadium on the West Side of Manhattan would attract the 2010 Super Bowl, would you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 42% 58% 39% 42% 38% 46% 50% Oppose 49 32 52 49 52 46 41 DK/NA 9 10 9 9 10 9 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 44% 41% 31% 50% 51% 48% 37% Oppose 48 50 59 41 41 44 53 DK/NA 8 9 10 9 8 8 10
17. Do you support or oppose New York City hosting the 2012 summer Olympics?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 63% 64% 63% 67% 56% 73% 69% Oppose 30 29 30 29 38 22 24 DK/NA 7 7 8 4 6 6 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 69% 63% 55% 69% 59% 67% 60% Oppose 24 30 37 26 36 27 32 DK/NA 7 8 8 5 5 5 8
18. Mayor Bloomberg has said that without the stadium New York City will not be able to get the 2012 Olympics. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Agree 49% 62% 46% 52% 57% 44% 40% Disagree 39 26 43 36 29 45 52 DK/NA 12 12 11 11 14 11 8
19. Does Mayor Bloomberg's support of the West Side stadium make you more likely to vote for him in November, less likely to vote for him, or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp More likely 6% 12% 4% 9% 7% 5% 7% Less likely 23 16 26 21 27 19 21 Doesn't make diff 68 69 68 69 64 74 70 DK/NA 2 3 2 1 1 2 3
20. Who do you think will win the battle over the proposed West Side Stadium: the owners of the New York Jets, who support the new stadium or the owners of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, and Madison Square Garden who oppose the new stadium?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Owners of Jets 46% 53% 44% 48% 42% 51% 50% Owners of Knicks, Rangers, MSqG 29 22 32 29 27 31 31 DK/NA 25 25 24 24 31 18 18
21. Have you heard or read anything about New York City tax breaks given to Madison Square Garden?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 40% 37% 38% 43% 43% 37% 27% No 60 63 61 56 57 63 72 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - - 2
22. (If 'heard' q21)Do you think New York City should eliminate those tax breaks or not? (* Number of respondents is 75 or less in Rep subgroup. Caution should be taken interpreting the findings of this subgroup because of the larger margin of error.)
HEARD Q22.................................. Tot *Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Yes/End tax breaks 61% 63% 56% 65% 56% 55% No/Keep tax breaks 28 28 31 28 30 37 DK/NA 11 8 13 7 14 8
23. Some people think that Mayor Bloomberg's support of the West Side stadium in the face of public opposition shows leadership. Others think it shows arrogance. Which comes closer to your view?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Leadership 43% 63% 36% 49% 47% 43% 33% Arrogance 45 27 51 40 42 46 54 DK/NA 13 10 13 11 11 12 13