New York City (NYC) Poll * April 8, 1998 * Mayor Giuliani Is Poster Boy F - Quinnipiac University

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April 8, 1998 - Mayor Giuliani Is Poster Boy For Politeness, New York City Voters Tell Quinnipiac College Poll; Back Speeding Crackdown 13-1, But Nix Jaywalk Effort


Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is a good role model for a more civil New York City, voters say 56 - 38 percent in a Quinnipiac College Poll released today. They approve 65 - 30 percent of the job Giuliani is doing as Mayor, a drop from his record high 74 - 23 percent approval in a February 11 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College, but still above the 60 percent mark which has become normal for the Mayor.
By a 72 - 26 percent margin, voters are satisfied with the quality of life in the City, and 58 percent say the quality of life has gotten better in the last few years.
After City Hall, New York City voters prefer to see Giuliani run for the Senate: 22 percent say there is a good chance, and 27 percent say there is some chance they would vote for Giuliani if he ran for President in 2000, while 45 percent say there is no chance; 37 percent say there is a good chance and 25 percent say there is some chance they would vote for Giuliani if he ran for the Senate in 2000, while 34 percent say there is no chance; 16 percent say they would be more likely to vote Republican if Giuliani were the GOP Vice Presidential candidate in 2000, while 25 percent say they are less likely and 54 percent say it makes no difference; Voters reject 61 - 35 percent the idea of amending the City Charter so the Mayor can seek a third term.
"You've read all those stories about our in-your-face Mayor. But most New Yorkers don't see him that way. They think Mayor Giuliani is a good role model for good manners," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute.
"It's Emily Post, not Marquis of Queensbury, at City Hall these days."
"New Yorkers like the way their mayor does his job, but they're not sure what he should do next. They might support him for U.S. Senator in 2000, but they don't think of him as President or Vice President," Carroll said. "And they're not willing to change the City Charter to give him another four years."
By a 92 - 7 percent margin, New Yorkers say the crackdown on speeding drivers is a good idea, and 44 percent of drivers (24 percent of the total sample) say they've slowed down.
New Yorkers reject the jaywalking crackdown 54 - 40 percent, but 35 percent say they are walking more carefully because of it.
Dr. Ruth, Jackie Mason, Joe Torre and the other celebrities who do those taxi seat belt announcements are a good idea, New Yorkers say 86 - 10 percent, but only 47 percent say they've actually heard the warning in a taxi.
"New Yorkers give the jaywalking crackdown a thumbs-down, but one in three are walking more carefully because of it, so the Mayor can say he's making the city safer still," Carroll said.
"The crackdown on speeding wins huge support and it works. Half of those who drive in the city say they're driving more carefully."
In an open-ended question allowing for any answer, New Yorkers were asked to identify the one quality of life issue -- besides serious crime -- on which police should concentrate. The largest single group -- 21 percent -- gave answers such as community relations, minority relations, respect for civilians and police brutality. Another 18 percent listed drugs and 10 percent listed other crimes, while 9 percent said speeding, traffic or taxis.
"Frankly, we expected answers such as littering or graffiti or panhandling when we asked this question, not police-community relations," Carroll said.
From April 1 - 6, Quinnipiac College surveyed 922 New York City residents who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 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 visit: www.quinnipiac.edu
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rudolph Giuliani is handling his job as Mayor?
Feb 11 Tot Wht Blk His 1998 Approve 65% 79% 47% 62% 74% Disapprove 30 18 49 33 23 DK/NA 4 3 5 5 4
1a. Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
Feb 11 Tot Wht Blk His 1998 Approve strongly 36% 51% 15% 26% 42% Approve smwht 30 28 32 37 32 Disapprove smwht 13 7 19 16 11 Disapprove strongly 17 10 29 17 12 DK/NA 4 3 5 5 4
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alan Hevesi is doing his job as City Controller?
Tot Wht Blk His Approve 53% 58% 50% 51% Disapprove 10 7 16 12 DK/NA 36 35 34 38
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Green is doing his job as Public Advocate?
Tot Wht Blk His Approve 64% 65% 67% 61% Disapprove 9 8 9 12 DK/NA 27 27 24 27
4. If Rudolph Giuliani runs for President in the year 2000, how much chance is there that you would vote for him? Is there a good chance, some chance, or no chance?
Tot Wht Blk His Good chance 22% 29% 10% 25% Some chance 27 33 19 28 No chance 45 31 67 42 DK/NA 6 7 4 5
5. If Rudolph Giuliani runs for United States Senator in the year 2000, how much chance is there that you would vote for him? Is there a good chance, some chance, or no chance?
Tot Wht Blk His Good chance 37% 49% 18% 34% Some chance 25 25 24 30 No chance 34 23 53 36 DK/NA 3 3 5 1
6. If Rudolph Giuliani were the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in the year 2000, would that make you more likely to vote for the Republican ticket, less likely, or wouldn't it make a difference?
Tot Wht Blk His More likely 16% 22% 9% 11% Less likely 25 17 39 18 No difference 54 57 46 66 DK/NA 5 4 6 5
7. Under the current city charter the mayor and all other city officials are limited to serving 2 terms. Do you think the city charter should be amended so that a mayor can serve more than 2 terms or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 35% 37% 31% 42% No 61 60 65 52 DK/NA 4 4 4 6
8. Do you think the city charter should be amended so that all city officials can serve more than 2 terms or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 29% 27% 30% 35% No 67 69 66 57 DK/NA 4 4 4 8
9. How satisfied are you with the quality of life in New York City today? Very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Wht Blk His Very satisfied 21% 27% 14% 18% Somewhat satisfied 51 53 45 61 Somewhat dissatisfied 19 15 29 11 Very dissatisfied 7 4 11 9 DK/NA 1 1 1 1
10. Compared to a few years ago, do you think the quality of life in New York City has gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Tot Wht Blk His Gotten Better 58% 68% 44% 58% Gotten Worse 15 9 23 21 Stayed Same 24 20 31 21 DK/NA 2 2 2 1
11. Looking ahead a few years, do you think the quality of life in New York City will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Wht Blk His Get better 40% 36% 42% 49% Get worse 19 15 22 18 Stay Same 33 38 28 26 DK/NA 8 10 8 6
12. Besides serious crime, what is the one quality of life issue that you would like to see the New York City police concentrate on?
Tot Wht Blk His Other crimes/Safety 10% 10% 11% 11% Drugs 18 16 17 30 Subway/Transit system 1 2 1 2 Youth/Youth programs/Gangs 4 3 7 7 Schools/School safety 3 3 3 7 Homeless/Poor 4 5 3 1 Noise/Car alarms 4 6 2 2 Littering/Graffiti 3 5 1 1 Traffic regulations/ Taxi drivers/Speeding 9 12 5 5 Police brutality 5 4 7 7 Community relations/ Respect to citizens 13 8 20 14 Race/Minority relations 3 1 6 2 Nothing 2 2 1 2 Other 5 6 5 2 DK/NA 15 18 11 8
13. New York City is cracking down on jaywalking. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Tot Wht Blk His Good idea 40% 39% 41% 44% Bad idea 54 54 56 49 DK/NA 6 6 3 7
14. Has the city's crackdown on jaywalking made you more careful when you walk in the city or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 35% 29% 40% 49% No 60 66 55 45 DK/NA 5 5 5 6
15. The city is also cracking down on drivers who speed. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Tot Wht Blk His Good idea 92% 92% 91% 93% Bad idea 7 7 8 6 DK/NA 1 1 1 1
16. Do you currently drive a car in New York City or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 55% 59% 47% 52% No 45 41 53 47 DK/NA - - - 1
17.(If drive a car in city) Has the city's crackdown on speeding made you drive more slowly or not?
Drive a car in city Tot Wht Blk His Yes 44% 40% 41% 64% No 52 57 53 31 DK/NA 4 3 7 5
18. When passengers enter New York City taxicabs they hear a recording urging them to buckle their seat belts. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Tot Wht Blk His Good idea 86% 80% 89% 96% Bad idea 10 15 7 3 DK/NA 4 5 4 1
19. Have you been in a New York City taxicab where you heard this recording?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 47% 54% 38% 42% No 53 46 62 56 DK/NA - - - 1
20. (If heard the recording) Did you buckle your seat belt?
Heard the recording Tot Wht Blk His Yes 39% 29% 52% 59% No 60 70 48 39 DK/NA 1 1 - 2
21. (If buckled seat belt) Did the recording persuade you to buckle your seat belt or would you have done it anyway?
Buckled seat belt Tot Wht Blk His Yes/it persuaded me 43% 47% 34% 49% No/I would have done it anyway 56 51 66 51 DK/NA 1 2 - -
22. Do you think Mayor Giuliani is a good role model for a more civil New York City or not?
Tot Wht Blk His Yes 56% 65% 43% 62% No 38 30 49 34 DK/NA 6 5 8 4