New York City (NYC) Poll * March 8, 2006 * Bloomberg Approval At 4 - 1, Q - Quinnipiac University

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March 8, 2006 - Bloomberg Approval At 4 - 1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Disagree With Mayor On School Projects

New York City voters approve 73 - 19 percent of the job Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing, and even approve 54 - 34 percent of the way he is handling public schools, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 72 - 19 percent approval February 2 and an all time Bloomberg high 75 - 17 percent approval in a November 17, 2005, poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest survey, white voters approve of Mayor Bloomberg 80 - 13 percent, while black voters approve 65 - 24 percent and Hispanic voters approve 68 - 26 percent.
Bloomberg's highest approval for handling schools was 52 - 33 percent on September 22, 2005. But Schools Chancellor Joel Klein gets only a 38 - 40 percent approval, with 22 percent undecided.
"It's a bird. It's a plane. It's super-Mayor! That sky-high approval rating just won't come down. What looked like a second honeymoon seems to be settling in as a long-term love affair. But political history says something has to bring those numbers down to earth. The budget?" said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Mayor Bloomberg even gets good grades for schools, always a tough task for a Mayor, but the approval doesn't rub off on Chancellor Klein."
In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 25 percent of New York City voters say education is the most important problem in the city today, followed by 12 percent who list crime/violence and 11 percent who list economic issues. Among voters with children in public schools, 33 percent list education as the most important problem.
Only 21 percent of New York City voters are satisfied with public schools citywide, while 67 percent are dissatisfied. Looking at schools in their own neighborhood, 36 percent are satisfied, with 46 percent dissatisfied.
By a 75 - 17 percent margin, New York City voters agree with court rulings that New York State school aid formulas should be changed to provide an additional $5.6 billion per year for city schools.
City voters say 53 - 40 percent that some of that money should come from the City, rather than all of it coming from the State budget.
Voters disagree 50 - 38 percent with the Mayor's tactic of cancelling school construction projects as a way to pressure the State Legislature to approve more funding for city schools. Voters say 43 - 33 percent, with 24 percent undecided, that the tactic won't work.
"New Yorkers look at billions of dollars in court-ordered school money and say, 'Let us at it.' But they're practical. Most voters believe we'll have to come up with some municipal money along with the state money," Carroll said.
"Trying to muscle Albany for school money isn't a popular idea. A plurality doubt the tactic will work."
From March 1 - 6, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,101 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
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 73% 87% 68% 74% 80% 65% 68% Disapprove 19 9 23 17 13 24 26 DK/NA 8 4 9 9 7 10 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 66% 68% 81% 73% 75% 76% 70% Disapprove 21 22 16 17 19 18 20 DK/NA 13 9 3 10 6 6 11 Have children in public school Approve 54% Disapprove 32 DK/NA 14
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 8 Feb 2 Nov 17 Aug 18 Jul 19 Nov 17 Jul 2 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2003 Approve 73 72 75 64 60 75 31 Disapprove 19 19 17 26 30 17 60 DK/NA 8 8 7 10 10 7 8
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joel Klein is handling his job as New York City Schools Chancellor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 38% 43% 38% 38% 40% 37% 39% Disapprove 40 36 42 40 34 46 40 DK/NA 22 20 21 22 25 17 21 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 36% 34% 41% 36% 55% 45% 33% Disapprove 42 46 33 42 30 35 45 DK/NA 22 19 26 21 15 20 23 Have children in public school Approve 33% Disapprove 51 DK/NA 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joel Klein is handling his job as New York City Schools Chancellor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 8 Feb 2 Sep 22 Apr 1 Nov 25 Feb 26 Nov 25 2006 2006 2005 2004 2003 2003 2003 Approve 38 40 40 36 35 46 35 Disapprove 40 37 33 35 33 27 33 DK/NA 22 23 27 29 33 28 33
4. 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 14% 25% 10% 15% 20% 6% 9% Smwht satisfied 54 60 55 51 61 50 49 Smwht dissatisfied 20 11 21 21 15 24 22 Very dissatisfied 12 4 13 13 4 19 20 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very satisfied 5% 14% 22% 10% 15% 18% 10% Smwht satisfied 48 53 55 58 54 56 52 Smwht dissatisfied 22 22 14 23 21 16 24 Very dissatisfied 23 11 8 9 9 10 13 DK/NA 2 1 - - - - 1 Have children in public school Very satisfied 8% Smwht satisfied 52 Smwht dissatisfied 20 Very dissatisfied 18 DK/NA 1
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?
Mar 8 Feb 2 Nov 17 Sep 22 Jul 19 Mar 31 Jan 19 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 Very satisfied 14 13 19 12 11 5 10 Smwht satisfied 54 59 56 51 55 49 50 Smwht dissatisfied 20 19 16 22 22 28 24 Very dissatisfied 12 7 8 13 10 16 14 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 2 2 1
5. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York City today?
Have children Tot in public school Education Total 25% 33% Education general 20 23 Teachers 2 2 Funding education 3 5 School choice/Vouchers - 2 Education other - 1 Crime Total 12% 9% Crime/Violence general 10 7 Gangs/Youth crime 1 1 Drugs 1 1 Economy Total 11% 16% Economy general 1 4 Unemployment/jobs 5 5 Cost of living 5 7 Housing Total 10% 10% Housing general 2 2 Housing Costs/ Availability 8 6 Rent control/ Stabilization - 2 Terrorism Total 6% 4% Terrorism general 3 2 Security/Safety 3 2 Transportation Total 3% - Lack of quality mass trans/Public trans 1 - Poor condition of roads/highways 1 - Transportation other 1 - Poverty/Homeless 3% 4% Politicians Total 3% 2% Politicians/ Campaigns general 1 - Political corruption 1 1 Mayor/City leadership 1 1 Taxes Total 3% 2% Taxes general 2 2 Property tax 1 - Healthcare Total 2% 2% Healthcare/Costs/ Insurance/HMO's 2 1 Prescription costs - 1 Budget Total 1% 1% Budget general 1 - Budget priorities - 1 Children's issues 1 2 Class inequality 1 1 Environment/Pollution 1 - Immigration 1 1 Open space/Urban sprawl/ Overdevelopment 1 - Police general 1 - Racism/Race relations - 1 War (Iraq) - 1 WTC 1 1 Other 6 4 DK/NA 5 5
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Bloomberg is handling the public schools?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 54% 67% 50% 52% 55% 47% 53% Disapprove 34 24 37 33 30 41 36 DK/NA 13 9 13 15 15 12 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 52% 48% 56% 58% 55% 58% 50% Disapprove 37 38 31 28 40 29 38 DK/NA 11 14 13 14 5 13 13 Have children in public school Approve 44% Disapprove 45 DK/NA 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Bloomberg is handling the public schools? (* = ...of the way "Michael" Bloomberg...)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Mar 8 Sep 22 Apr 1 Oct 22 Sep 9 Mar 8 May 7 2006 2005 2004 2003* 2003* 2006 2003* Approve 54 52 42 36 41 54 35 Disapprove 34 33 45 49 47 34 52 DK/NA 13 14 13 14 12 13 12
8. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York City, or are you not satisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Satisfied 21% 28% 22% 17% 20% 21% 21% Not satisfied 67 59 67 69 62 71 72 DK/NA 12 13 11 13 17 8 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Satisfied 18% 24% 15% 24% 27% 23% 19% Not satisfied 74 65 70 64 60 64 70 DK/NA 8 11 15 12 13 13 11 Have children in public school Satisfied 25% Not satisfied 72 DK/NA 2
TREND: Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York City, or are you not satisfied? * - also hit 21% on 2/22/05 ** - also hit 12% on 2/5/04, 3/27/02, 4/20/00, 3/31/97
Highest Lowest Satis Satis Mar 8 Sep 22 Feb 5 Oct 22 Jul 18 Mar 8 Feb 5 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2006 * 2004 ** Satisfied 21 21 12 14 16 21 12 Not satisfied 67 66 74 72 71 67 74 DK/NA 12 13 13 14 13 12 13
9. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of public schools in your neighborhood, or are you not satisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Satisfied 36% 48% 33% 34% 43% 24% 36% Not satisfied 46 37 50 45 33 63 55 DK/NA 18 15 17 21 24 13 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Satisfied 31% 38% 26% 38% 57% 40% 32% Not satisfied 57 46 45 45 30 43 49 DK/NA 11 16 29 17 14 17 19 Have children in public school Satisfied 42% Not satisfied 55 DK/NA 3
TREND: Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in your neighborhood, or are you not satisfied?
Highest Lowest Satis Satis Mar 8 Feb 5 Oct 22 Jul 18 Mar 27 Mar 31 Feb 5 2006 2004 2003 2002 2002 1997 2004 Satisfied 36 27 30 33 39 41 27 Not satisfied 46 56 52 50 42 40 56 DK/NA 18 17 18 17 19 19 17
10. A court appointed panel has found that an additional 5.6 billion dollars must be spent on New York City's public school students every year to give them a sound basic education. Do you agree or disagree with the panel's finding?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Agree 75% 59% 81% 72% 69% 82% 80% Disagree 17 32 10 18 20 11 15 DK/NA 9 9 9 10 11 7 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Agree 74% 76% 75% 73% 77% 70% 78% Disagree 18 17 14 19 15 21 13 DK/NA 8 8 11 8 8 9 8 Have children in public school Agree 83% Disagree 13 DK/NA 3
11. Do you think that all of the money for this additional spending on New York City schools should come from the state or should New York City also contribute some money?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp All from State 40% 30% 43% 42% 41% 41% 38% City contribute 53 63 51 50 49 56 55 DK/NA 8 7 7 8 9 4 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom All from State 37% 45% 36% 42% 30% 40% 40% City contribute 57 45 57 51 65 51 54 DK/NA 6 10 7 7 5 9 6 Have children in public school All from State 37% City contribute 58 DK/NA 4
12. To put pressure on the state legislature to vote for more money for New York City schools, Mayor Bloomberg has cancelled plans to build schools in some legislative districts. Do you agree or disagree with Mayor Bloomberg's tactic?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Agree 38% 48% 35% 38% 45% 32% 27% Disagree 50 42 53 48 39 59 66 DK/NA 12 11 12 13 16 9 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Agree 36% 33% 48% 35% 38% 40% 36% Disagree 56 57 37 51 49 48 52 DK/NA 9 10 15 14 12 11 13 Have children in public school Agree 25% Disagree 66 DK/NA 9
13. Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's tactic will work to get more money from the state legislature for New York City schools?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 33% 46% 33% 27% 32% 36% 37% No 43 32 43 49 42 48 45 DK/NA 24 22 23 25 26 16 19 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 29% 34% 31% 37% 36% 35% 32% No 50 42 41 39 47 44 42 DK/NA 21 23 28 24 17 22 26 Have children in public school Yes 30% No 55 DK/NA 15