New York City (NYC) Poll * February 3, 2006 * Wal-Mart Is Mixed Blessing, Bu - Quinnipiac University

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February 3, 2006 - Wal-Mart Is Mixed Blessing, But We Would Shop There, New York City Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Police Do Good Job On Terrorism, But City Is Not Ready

By a 51 - 37 percent margin, New York City voters support Wal-Mart opening stores in New York City, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Even respondents from union households support Wal-Mart 47 - 37 percent.
After asking that simple support/oppose question, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University poll asked New York City voters if they agree or disagree with a number of statements on this controversial issue. Voter attitudes are:
Agree 70 - 24 percent that Wal-Mart's lower prices benefit New Yorkers who shop there, with union households agreeing 68 - 28 percent; Agree 74 - 21 percent that Wal-Mart's lower prices hurt smaller businesses nearby, with union households agreeing 77 - 21 percent; Agree 57 - 14 percent, with 29 percent undecided, that Wal-Mart doesn't pay workers enough in wages and benefits, with union agreement at 62 - 15 percent; 46 percent say Wal-Mart should be allowed to open stores in the city only if it allows workers to unionize, while 29 percent say open with or without unions and 19 percent say Wal-Mart should not be allowed to open at all.
After this sequence, voters said 65 - 29 percent, including 63 - 31 percent among voters from union households, that they would shop at Wal-Mart if one opened near them.
"New Yorkers sympathize with the plight of their fellow workers and their local mom and pop stores, but a bargain is a bargain," said Quinnipiac Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph. D.
"As Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council deal with the issue of big box retail, they might be guided by the axiom that money talks and rhetoric walks," Dr. Schwartz added. Police Approval
By a 75 - 17 percent margin, New York City voters approve of the way the Police Department is handling the terrorism threat, but voters say 59 - 32 percent that the city is not adequately prepared to deal with terrorism.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly gets a 70 - 16 percent approval rating, by one point his highest approval ever. White voters approve 77 - 9 percent, while black voters approve 64 - 21 percent and Hispanic voters approve 66 - 24 percent.
New York City voters also say 59 - 35 percent that undercover police officers should be allowed to join protest groups to gather information. Other findings are:
Voters support random bag searches on buses and subways 76 - 22 percent; Anti-terrorism measures should not violate civil liberties, voters say 66 - 28 percent; 63 percent of voters are "very worried" or "somewhat worried" about another terrorist attack; Only 24 percent of voters have changed their daily routine because of concerns about terrorism; Voters say 70 - 23 percent that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is not doing enough to protect subways, buses and commuter trains from terrorist attacks.
"While two-thirds of New York City voters say security measures should not infringe on their civil liberties, most voters see no problem with random bag checks or with police infiltrating protest groups," Dr. Schwartz said. From January 25 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,072 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 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
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 70% 77% 69% 72% 77% 64% 66% Disapprove 16 11 16 16 9 21 24 DK/NA 14 12 14 12 14 15 10 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 68% 64% 73% 73% 79% 72% 68% Disapprove 19 18 16 13 9 16 16 DK/NA 13 18 11 14 12 12 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 3 Jul 20 Jun 23 Jan 19 Nov 10 Feb 3 Jul 20 2006 2005 2005 2005 2004 2006 2004 Approve 70 67 65 65 62 70 61 Disapprove 16 16 17 13 17 16 21 DK/NA 14 16 19 22 21 14 18
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling terrorism?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 70% 77% 69% 70% 75% 66% 68% Disapprove 17 14 18 16 13 22 20 DK/NA 13 9 12 15 12 12 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 71% 66% 72% 70% 78% 72% 69% Disapprove 19 21 12 17 16 16 19 DK/NA 10 13 16 13 6 12 13
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling terrorism? (* = ..... is handling the threat of terrorism?)
Feb 3 Jul 20 Feb 28 2006 2005 2003* Approve 70 62 60 Disapprove 17 23 27 DK/NA 13 15 13
17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling terrorism?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 26% 70% 13% 27% 33% 16% 26% Disapprove 70 26 83 70 63 81 70 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 24% 26% 20% 26% 47% 32% 21% Disapprove 71 69 76 71 50 64 75 DK/NA 5 4 4 3 3 4 4
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling terrorism?
Feb 3 Jul 20 2006 2005 Approve 26 29 Disapprove 70 67 DK/NA 4 4
18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are handling terrorism?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 75% 82% 75% 74% 80% 70% 71% Disapprove 17 11 17 19 12 22 21 DK/NA 8 6 8 8 8 9 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 74% 72% 72% 79% 84% 77% 73% Disapprove 18 20 18 14 13 18 17 DK/NA 8 9 10 7 4 5 10
19. How worried are you about another terrorist attack in New York City -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very worried 23% 24% 25% 19% 21% 26% 29% Smwht worried 40 38 41 41 47 30 40 Not too worried 22 20 23 23 20 26 17 Not worried at all 14 17 11 16 11 16 14 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very worried 27% 22% 16% 28% 25% 18% 27% Smwht worried 32 38 48 38 43 40 40 Not too worried 20 25 20 22 20 25 20 Not worried at all 19 13 15 12 12 17 12 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - - 1
20. Do you think New York City is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack, or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 32% 39% 32% 31% 35% 28% 31% No 59 51 60 62 55 63 65 DK/NA 9 10 9 6 10 9 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 33% 28% 30% 36% 49% 38% 28% No 60 64 57 58 42 55 62 DK/NA 7 8 13 6 8 7 10
21. As a result of the threat of terrorism, have you or members of your family gone about day-to-day life as usual or have you made some changes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Life as usual 76% 78% 79% 69% 82% 75% 62% Made some changes 24 22 21 31 17 24 37 DK/NA - - - - - - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Life as usual 75% 77% 80% 71% 74% 76% 75% Made some changes 24 23 20 29 26 23 25 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - - 0
22. Do you think the MTA is doing enough to protect subways, buses, and commuter trains against terrorism or should it do more?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Doing enough 23% 22% 23% 24% 26% 16% 18% Should do more 70 71 69 69 66 76 75 DK/NA 8 6 8 7 9 8 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Doing enough 20% 17% 29% 25% 26% 28% 19% Should do more 73 78 61 66 66 65 73 DK/NA 7 5 9 9 8 7 8
23. Which comes closer to your view -- A. the government should take all steps necessary to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the United States even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated; or B. the government should take steps to prevent additional acts of terrorism but not if those would violate your basic civil liberties?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp A. All steps regardless of civil liberties 28% 66% 21% 23% 32% 26% 28% B. Should not violate civil liberties 66 29 74 69 62 68 65 DK/NA 6 4 5 9 6 6 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom A. All steps regardless of civil liberties 33% 28% 17% 30% 53% 27% 29% B. Should not violate civil liberties 61 68 77 61 40 67 64 DK/NA 6 5 6 9 7 6 6
TREND: Which comes closer to your view -- A. the government should take all steps necessary to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the United States even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated. or B. the government should take steps to prevent additional acts of terrorism but not if those would violate your basic civil liberties?
Feb 3 Aug 19 Jul 20 2006 2005 2005 A. All steps regardless of civil liberties 28 38 30 B. Should not violate civil Liberties 66 55 64 DK/NA 6 7 6
24. As you may know, in response to the terrorist attacks in London, the New York City Police began conducting random searches of subway and bus passengers carrying bags or backpacks. Do you support or oppose the New York City Police doing this?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 76% 92% 74% 69% 78% 71% 78% Oppose 22 6 23 27 19 26 19 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 75% 74% 72% 79% 89% 72% 78% Oppose 21 23 26 19 11 26 18 DK/NA 5 3 3 2 - 2 3
TREND: As you may know, in response to the recent terrorist attacks in London, the New York City Police began conducting random searches of subway and bus passengers carrying bags or backpacks. Do you support or oppose the New York City Police doing this?
Feb 3 Aug 19 2006 2005 Support 76 72 Oppose 22 25 DK/NA 3 4
25. Do you think the New York City police should be permitted to have undercover officers join protest groups as a way to gather information or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 59% 84% 54% 55% 59% 60% 63% No 35 12 39 40 35 34 30 DK/NA 6 3 7 5 6 6 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 61% 58% 48% 66% 72% 56% 61% No 34 38 41 29 25 39 32 DK/NA 5 4 10 5 4 4 7
26. Have you heard or read anything about the possibility of Wal-Mart opening stores in New York City?
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds Yes 58% 61% 55% 68% No 41 39 44 30 DK/NA 1 1 1 2
27. Do you support or oppose Wal-Mart opening stores in New York City?
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds Support 51% 47% 55% 47% Oppose 37 41 35 37 DK/NA 11 12 11 15
28. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement -- Wal-Mart's lower prices benefit New Yorkers who would shop there. IF 'AGREE': Do you agree strongly or do you agree somewhat? IF 'DISAGREE': Do you disagree somewhat or do you disagree strongly?
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds Agree strongly 34% 32% 35% 32% Agree somewhat 36 34 37 36 Disagree somewhat 9 10 8 12 Disagree strongly 15 17 14 16 DK/NA 6 6 6 4
29. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement -- Wal-Mart's lower prices hurt smaller businesses in the surrounding neighborhood. IF 'AGREE': Do you agree strongly or do you agree somewhat? IF 'DISAGREE': Do you disagree somewhat or do you disagree strongly?
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds Agree strongly 51% 53% 50% 52% Agree somewhat 23 25 22 25 Disagree somewhat 13 10 16 12 Disagree strongly 8 9 7 9 DK/NA 5 4 5 3
30. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement -- Wal-Mart doesn't pay its workers enough in wages and medical benefits. IF 'AGREE': Do you agree strongly or do you agree somewhat? IF 'DISAGREE': Do you disagree somewhat or do you disagree strongly?
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds Agree strongly 45% 48% 43% 50% Agree somewhat 12 14 10 12 Disagree somewhat 7 8 7 7 Disagree strongly 7 7 6 8 DK/NA 29 24 34 22
31. Which statement comes closest to your point of view about Wal-Mart opening stores in New York City -- A. They should be allowed to open stores only if they allow workers to join labor unions. B. They should be allowed to open stores regardless of whether or not they allow workers to join labor unions. C. They should NOT be allowed to open stores in New York City either way.
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds A. Only with unions 46% 44% 48% 55% B. Regardless of unions 29 32 26 23 C. Should'nt be allowed 19 20 19 19 DK/NA 6 4 7 3
32. If there was a Wal-Mart in your community would you shop there or not?
Union Tot Men Wom HsHolds Yes 65% 62% 68% 63% No 29 33 26 31 DK/NA 6 5 6 6