New York City (NYC) Poll * April 8, 1999 * Despite Crime Approval, Mayor' - Quinnipiac University

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April 8, 1999 - Despite Crime Approval, Mayor's Job Rating Is Negative, Quinnipiac College Poll Finds; New Yorkers Concerned With Race Relations, Police


Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's approval rating among New York City voters is a negative 40 - 51 percent, his lowest ever, despite credit from black and white voters for his efforts to reduce crime, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today.
White voters approve of the Mayor 57 - 34 percent, while black approval is a negative 12 - 76 percent.
Among all voters, 63 percent say policies of the Giuliani administration have resulted in a drop in crime, while 8 percent say these policies caused crime to increase and 23 percent say they made no difference. Among white voters, 76 percent say the Mayor's policies caused crime to drop while 17 percent say the had no impact; 44 percent of black voters say these policies caused crime to drop, while 32 percent say they had no impact and 16 percent say they caused crime to increase.
"Mayor Giuliani's approval rating already was slipping as a number of issues had eroded his impressive post-election Quinnipiac College Poll numbers, but the Amadou Diallo case has resonated like nothing else," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute. "The Mayor has run into the same problem with race relations that vexed his predecessors, Mayor Koch and Mayor Dinkins.
"A majority of the white community doesn't approve of the Mayor's response to the Diallo case, although he has some support. He has virtually no support among blacks.
"Despite this furor, black and white voters do credit the Mayor for reducing crime."
The Mayor gets a 36 - 43 favorability rating, with 20 percent mixed and one percent saying they haven't heard enough to form a opinion. Favorability is 52 - 27 percent among white voters and 9 - 68 percent among black voters. Ratings for other leaders are:
Favorable Unfavorable Mixed No Opinion Mayor Ed Koch - all 47% 14% 28% 8% white voters 52 14 28 5 black voters 43 14 29 12 Mayor David Dinkins - all 38 26 28 7 white voters 20 42 31 6 black voters 64 5 23 8 Rev. Al Sharpton - all 23 46 26 4 white voters 8 69 19 2 black voters 49 10 34 5
"Rev. Sharpton, the leader of the protest movement, has improved his standing among black New Yorkers, but Mayor Dinkins still is regarded more favorably and even Mayor Koch comes close to Rev. Sharpton among black voters," Carroll said.
By a 53 - 35 percent margin, voters say race relations in New York City are bad, with white voters saying 46 - 42 percent they are bad and black voters saying 64 - 24 percent they are bad. Race relations are getting worse, according to 34 percent, while 19 percent say they are getting better and 44 percent say they are the same.
Still, a total of 63 percent of New York City voters are very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with life in the City, while 37 percent are somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Police Approval
New Yorkers are split 45 - 44 percent in their approval of the way police citywide are doing their job. Looking at police in their own community, approval is 66 - 27 percent. White voters approve of the cops they know 83 - 11 percent, while black voters split in their approval of local cops 45 - 47 percent.
"New Yorkers started taking a skeptical look at police after the Abner Louima case, and it has gotten worse," Carroll said. "Very few see police as `the enemy' -- 5 percent of white voters and 16 percent of black voters -- but only 33 percent see police as `friends.'"
Among all voters, 33 percent see cops as friends, while 10 percent see them as enemies and 53 percent see them as neither friends or enemies; 45 percent of white voters see cops as friends, while 5 percent see them as enemies; 17 percent of black voters see cops as friends while 16 percent see them as enemies.
By a 73 - 23 percent margin, all New York City voters say newly-hired cops should live in the city. Results are similar among black and white voters.
A total of 86 percent of New York City voters say crime is a very serious or somewhat serious problem. Among white voters, 24 percent say it is very serious, while 62 percent say it is somewhat serious. Among black voters, 49 percent say it is very serious, while 38 percent say it is somewhat serious.
To make the City safer, police might have to interfere with some freedoms and rights, 24 percent of New Yorkers say, while 68 percent say crime-fighting can be done without interfering with freedoms and rights.
By a 62 - 27 percent margin, New Yorkers do not think a safer city is worth the cost of losing some freedoms or rights.
A total of 82 percent of all voters say police brutality is a very serious or somewhat serious problem in the city: 73 percent of white voters and 94 percent of black voters share this opinion.
Among all voters, 67 percent say the Amadou Diallo shooting was tragic, but that there is no excuse for how police acted, while 25 percent say police actions are understandable.
By a 73 - 15 percent margin, voters approve of the decision to bring criminal charges against the officers allegedly involved in the shooting. White voters approve 62 - 24 percent, while black voters approve 93 - 3 percent.
The round of non-violent protests helped make things better, according to 48 percent of voters, while 23 percent say the protests made things worse and 25 percent say they had little impact. White voters split 32 - 33 percent on whether the protests made things better or worse, while black voters say 68 - 9 percent they made things better.
Criticism of police will make them too cautious and less effective in fighting crime, 38 percent of voters say, while 55 percent say it won't make much difference.
By a 71 - 20 percent margin, all voters say police citywide are tougher on blacks than on whites. Looking at police in their own community, 46 percent of New York City voters say cops are tougher on blacks, while 38 percent say police treat everyone the same. Among white voters, 33 percent say police in their community are tougher on blacks, while 69 percent of black voters say police are tougher on them.
Fifty-three percent of black voters and 13 percent of white voters personally fear being victims of police brutality.
From March 29 - April 7, Quinnipiac College surveyed 825 New York City residents who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent. The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rudolph Giuliani is handling his job as Mayor?
Feb 17 Tot Wht Blk His 1999 Approve 40% 57% 12% 35% 44% Disapprove 51 34 76 61 47 DK/NA 9 9 12 5 9
2. Is your opinion of Police Commissioner Howard Safir favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Nov 18 Tot Wht Blk His 1998 Favorable 24% 33% 10% 13% 36% Unfavorable 36 27 51 36 18 Mixed 24 24 20 30 25 Haven't heard enough 15 14 18 21 20 DK/NA 2 2 2 - 1
3. Is your opinion of Schools Chancellor Rudolph Crew favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Nov 18 Tot Wht Blk His 1998 Favorable 43% 46% 44% 28% 44% Unfavorable 10 8 9 16 11 Mixed 26 22 30 33 23 Haven't heard enough 20 22 16 22 20 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 2
4. Is your opinion of Reverend Al Sharpton favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Aug 5 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Favorable 23% 8% 49% 15% 12% Unfavorable 46 69 10 39 58 Mixed 26 19 34 40 19 Haven't heard enough 4 2 5 6 10 DK/NA 1 2 1 - 1
5. Is your opinion of former Mayor Ed Koch favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Feb 15 Tot Wht Blk His 1996 Favorable 47% 52% 43% 46% 49% Unfavorable 14 14 14 14 20 Mixed 28 28 30 23 22 Haven't heard enough 8 5 10 17 9 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 1
6. Is your opinion of former Mayor David Dinkins favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Wht Blk His Favorable 38% 20% 64% 35% Unfavorable 26 42 5 19 Mixed 28 31 23 37 Haven't heard enough 7 6 8 10 DK/NA 1 2 - -
7. Is your opinion of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?
Nov 18 Tot Wht Blk His 1998 Favorable 36% 52% 9% 32% 49% Unfavorable 43 27 68 45 29 Mixed 20 20 20 23 20 Haven't heard enough 1 1 1 - 1 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1
8. If Rudolph Giuliani is the Republican candidate for United States Senate in the year 2000, how likely is it that you would vote for him? Very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all?
Feb 17 Tot Wht Blk His 1999 Very likely 20% 30% 5% 15% 18% Smwht likely 15 21 6 12 18 Not very likely 12 13 9 17 11 Not likely at all 49 31 78 52 49 DK/NA 4 5 2 3 4
9. 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?
Feb 17 Tot Wht Blk His 1999 Very satisfied 16% 23% 6% 10% 17% Smwht satisfied 47 54 39 42 46 Smwht dissatisfied 25 17 30 34 22 Very dissatisfied 12 5 24 12 14 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1
10. Do you think race relations in New York City today are generally good or generally bad?
July 24 Tot Wht Blk His 1994 Good 35% 42% 24% 25% 32% Bad 53 46 64 67 61 DK/NA 12 11 12 8 7
11. Do you think race relations in New York City are getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
July 24 Tot Wht Blk His 1994 Better 19% 23% 9% 14% 16% Worse 34 28 44 38 30 Same 44 46 44 45 51 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 4
12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling relations between blacks and whites?
June 22 Tot Wht Blk His 1994 Approve 24% 37% 5% 18% 53% Disapprove 65 51 89 71 35 DK/NA 11 12 6 12 13
13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling education?
Feb 18 Tot Wht Blk His 1999 Approve 37% 43% 22% 42% 38% Disapprove 49 42 64 48 49 DK/NA 14 15 14 10 13
14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling crime?
Feb 18 Tot Wht Blk His 1999 Approve 60% 72% 41% 66% 76% Disapprove 32 21 48 27 19 DK/NA 8 7 12 7 5
15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Howard Safir is handling his job as Police Commissioner?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Approve 38% 53% 16% 28% 54% Disapprove 48 32 68 60 35 DK/NA 14 15 16 12 11
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Approve 45% 63% 23% 31% 48% Disapprove 44 27 63 63 46 DK/NA 11 11 14 6 6
17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in your community are doing their job?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Approve 66% 83% 45% 54% 65% Disapprove 27 11 47 38 31 DK/NA 8 7 8 8 4
18. 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?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Friends 33% 45% 17% 25% 39% Enemies 10 5 16 15 11 Neither 53 48 59 59 48 DK/NA 4 2 8 1 2
19. Do you think newly hired New York City Police should be required to live in New York City or not?
Feb 12 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Yes, should be required 73% 69% 78% 81% 64% No, should not be required 23 27 18 16 32 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 4
20. 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
Tot Wht Blk His Very serious 35% 24% 49% 37% Somewhat serious 51 62 38 54 Not very serious 11 12 10 8 Not a problem at all 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 1 1 - -
21. Is being the victim of a crime something you personally worry about or not?
Feb 12 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Yes 57% 56% 55% 67% 65% No 42 44 43 33 34 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1
22. How have the policies of the Giuliani administration affected the amount of crime in New York City? -- Have they caused crime to increase, decrease or haven't the policies of the Giuliani administration made much difference in the amount of crime?
Tot Wht Blk His Increase 8% 3% 16% 13% Decrease 63 76 44 64 No difference 23 17 32 21 DK/NA 6 5 8 3
23. In order to make New York City safer, do you think it is sometimes necessary for the police to interfere with innocent people's freedoms and rights, or is it possible to make New York City safer without interfering with innocent people's freedoms and rights?
Tot Wht Blk His Necessary to interfere with freedoms and rights 24% 31% 15% 17% Possible without interfering with freedoms and rights 68 61 78 77 DK/NA 8 8 7 6
24. Do you think a safer New York City is worth the cost of losing some rights and freedoms, or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes, worth the cost of losing some rights 27% 33% 17% 23% No, not worth it 62 55 72 72 DK/NA 11 12 11 5
25. 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?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Tougher on whites 1% 1% - - 1% Tougher on blacks 71 62 88 78 62 Treat them the same 20 27 6 16 29 DK/NA 9 10 6 6 8
26. 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?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Tougher on whites 1% 1% - - 1% Tougher on blacks 46 33 69 56 48 Treat them the same 38 49 19 34 40 DK/NA 15 17 12 10 11
27. 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?
Oct 2 Tot Wht Blk His 1997 Very serious 46% 26% 73% 59% 47% Somewhat serious 36 47 21 35 33 Not very serious 12 18 4 4 15 Not a problem at all 3 5 - - 4 DK/NA 3 4 2 1 2
28. Is being the victim of police brutality something you personally worry about or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 32% 13% 53% 53% No 67 86 46 45 DK/NA 1 1 1 3
29. How have the policies of the Giuliani 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 Giuliani administration made much difference in the amount of police brutality?
Tot Wht Blk His Increase 48% 32% 74% 57% Decrease 7 7 3 6 No difference 36 48 18 34 DK/NA 9 12 5 3
30. How closely have you been following the case of Amadou Diallo, the African immigrant who was shot and killed by four white police officers? Would you say you have been following it very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
Tot Wht Blk His Very closely 42% 36% 53% 39% Somewhat closely 43 49 33 45 Not too closely 12 12 13 10 Not at all 3 2 - 5 DK/NA 1 1 1 -
31. Do you approve or disapprove of Mayor Giuliani's public response to this incident?
Tot Wht Blk His Approve 23% 36% 6% 15% Disapprove 67 52 89 75 DK/NA 10 12 5 10
32. From what you know about the police shooting of Amadou Diallo, which statement comes closer to your opinion?
Tot Wht Blk His It was a tragic thing, and there is absolutely no excuse for howthe police acted. 67% 52% 89% 81% It was a tragic thing, but it is understandable that the police could have acted this way. 25 39 5 12 DK/NA 8 9 6 7
33. Do you approve or disapprove of bringing criminal charges against the police officers for the death of Amadou Diallo?
Tot Wht Blk His Approve 73% 62% 93% 77% Disapprove 15 24 3 9 DK/NA 12 15 4 14
34. Recently in New York City there have been non-violent protests of police treatment of minorities. People, including public officials and celebrities, have been arrested during these protests. Do you think these protests make things better, make things worse, or don't they have much effect?
Tot Wht Blk His Better 48% 32% 68% 59% Worse 23 33 9 19 Not much effect 25 31 17 19 DK/NA 5 4 6 3
35. 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 Wht Blk His Yes, police will be too cautious and less effective 38% 44% 24% 47% No, it won't make much difference 55 49 69 50 DK/NA 7 7 7 3