New York City (NYC) Poll * April 12, 2006 * New Yorkers Tell NJ Gov To Sta - Quinnipiac University

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April 12, 2006 - New Yorkers Tell NJ Gov To Stay Out Of Ground Zero, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Approve Memorial And Oppose Admission Charge

By a 66 - 29 percent margin, New York City voters agree with New York State's Congressional delegation's calling on New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine to stay out of discussions involving the rebuilding of Ground Zero, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
But only 44 percent of New York City voters say the redevelopment of Ground Zero is going "very well" or "somewhat well," with 47 percent who say "somewhat badly" or "very badly," the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
In other Ground Zero issues, New York City voters:
Approve the current plans for the memorial 54 - 23 percent; Oppose 61 - 33 percent charging admission to help pay for the memorial; Say 63 - 25 percent that the Freedom Tower is an important symbol of recovery, rather than a terrorist target and hard to rent; Say 46 - 38 percent that plans to build the Freedom Tower first should proceed, rather than starting the planning over again.
"A Bronx cheer, from all five boroughs, against New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's role in Ground Zero, " said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "New Yorkers turn thumbs down on Gov. Pataki, too. It's our city, they say; let Mayor Mike be in charge."
"They're voting with their hearts, ignoring the fact that Gov. Pataki and Gov. Corzine control the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey which controls Ground Zero, while the Mayor has no legal standing here."
"Some say the Freedom Tower will be a terrorist target, but most see it as a symbol of a wounded city's rebirth. There's more of a split on timing. Almost half say build it now. But about a third would like to see new plans."
Voters say 67 - 15 percent that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg should have the major role in Lower Manhattan redevelopment, not New York State Gov. George Pataki. Voters say 67 - 19 percent that Mayor Bloomberg has played a positive role in Ground Zero development, while the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey gets a split decision and Gov. Pataki and developer Larry Silverstein are seen playing more of a negative role.
Bloomberg gets a 69 - 20 percent overall job approval rating, compared to 73 - 19 percent in a March 8 Quinnipiac University poll.
Black voters approve of the Mayor 65 - 23 percent, while white voters approve 77 - 15 percent and Hispanic voters approve 61 - 24 percent.
By a 5 - 1 margin, New York City voters want to help, not punish, illegal immigrants:
77 percent favor a proposal for temporary work visas and a six-year path to citizenship; 17 percent want to make illegal immigration a crime, with no illegal immigrant allowed to remain in the U.S.
By a 63 - 30 percent margin, voters oppose a proposal to make it a federal crime to aid illegal immigrants.
"This city of immigrants is sympathetic to immigrants, even illegal immigrants. By 2- to-1, voters agree it's nutty to make it a crime to aid an illegal immigrant. Three quarters would let illegal immigrants earn residence," Carroll said.
From April 4 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,316 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 69% 79% 67% 72% 77% 65% 61% Disapprove 20 14 22 16 15 23 24 DK/NA 11 7 11 12 8 12 15 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 61% 67% 72% 74% 67% 73% 65% Disapprove 22 24 16 18 18 16 23 DK/NA 16 10 12 7 15 10 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Apr 12 Mar 8 Feb 2 Nov 17 Aug 18 Nov 17 Jul 2 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2003 Approve 69 73 72 75 64 75 31 Disapprove 20 19 19 17 26 17 60 DK/NA 11 8 8 7 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% 44% 39% 37% 37% 40% 34% Disapprove 39 36 38 38 34 46 44 DK/NA 23 19 23 25 30 14 22 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 32% 45% 32% 43% 33% 43% 35% Disapprove 48 35 36 40 41 36 41 DK/NA 20 20 32 18 25 21 24
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 Apr 12 Mar 8 Feb 2 Sep 22 Apr 1 Feb 26 Nov 25 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004 2003 2003 Approve 38 38 40 40 36 46 35 Disapprove 39 40 37 33 35 27 33 DK/NA 23 22 23 27 29 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 12% 15% 12% 13% 17% 6% 11% Smwht satisfied 56 62 56 56 62 51 52 Smwht dissatisfied 22 14 23 21 16 29 24 Very dissatisfied 9 9 8 8 5 13 14 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very satisfied 9% 10% 15% 12% 15% 14% 11% Smwht satisfied 51 58 60 55 55 61 53 Smwht dissatisfied 26 23 16 22 24 17 25 Very dissatisfied 13 7 9 9 6 8 10 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 - 1 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?
Apr 12 Mar 8 Feb 2 Nov 17 Sep 22 Jul 19 Mar 31 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 Very satisfied 12 14 13 19 12 11 5 Smwht satisfied 56 54 59 56 51 55 49 Smwht dissatisfied 22 20 19 16 22 22 28 Very dissatisfied 9 12 7 8 13 10 16 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
5. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York City today?
Tot Education Total 24% Education general 19 Teachers 1 Funding education 2 School choice/ Vouchers 1 Education other 1 Economy Total 14% Economy general 3 Unemployment/jobs 5 Cost of living 6 Housing Total 11% Housing general 1 Housing Costs/ Availability 8 Rent control/ Stabilization 1 Overcrowding/Over population 1 Crime Total 11% Crime/Violence general 8 Gangs/Youth crime 1 Drugs 2 Taxes Total 3% Taxes general 2 Property tax 1 Transportation Total 3% Lack of quality mass trans/Public trans 1 Highway traffic/ congestion 1 Transportation other 1 Immigration 3 Terrorism general 3 Security/Safety 3 Budget Total 2% Budget general 1 Budget priorities 1 Poverty/Homeless 2 Children's issues 1 Environment/Pollution 1 Healthcare/Costs/ Insurance/HMO's 1 Open space/Urban sprawl/ Overdevelopment 1 Police general 1 Racism/Race relations 1 Other 5 DK/NA 6
17. What is your impression of how well the redevelopment of lower Manhattan is going? Would you say very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very well 8% 9% 9% 8% 5% 11% 14% Somewhat well 36 40 38 26 29 40 45 Somewhat badly 27 29 25 33 34 22 21 Very badly 20 15 20 24 24 17 11 DK/NA 9 7 9 8 8 10 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very well 8% 8% 9% 9% 3% 8% 8% Somewhat well 42 39 28 36 38 27 43 Somewhat badly 26 24 31 26 28 31 24 Very badly 15 18 26 18 24 26 15 DK/NA 8 12 6 10 7 8 10
TREND: What is your impression of how well the redevelopment of lower Manhattan is going? Would you say very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?
Apr 12 Mar 9 Oct 13 May 12 Sep 10 May 8 Jul 17 2006 2006 2005 2005 2003 2003 2002 Very well 8 10 9 13 12 12 22 Somewhat well 36 33 38 41 50 50 50 Somewhat badly 27 28 27 23 18 20 12 Very badly 20 19 15 13 8 8 4 DK/NA 9 10 12 10 11 10 12
18. Who do you think should have the major role in decisions about the development of the World Trade Center site - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg or New York State Governor George Pataki?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Bloomberg 67% 67% 68% 73% 72% 66% 60% Pataki 15 19 15 12 10 15 27 DK/NA 18 14 17 15 18 18 13 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Bloomberg 64% 64% 72% 68% 65% 67% 67% Pataki 18 15 10 16 15 15 15 DK/NA 18 20 18 16 20 18 18
TREND: Who do you think should have the major role in decisions about the development of the World Trade Center site - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg or New York State Governor George Pataki?
Apr 12 Mar 9 Nov 17 Oct 13 May 12 Sep 10 May 8 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2003 2003 Bloomberg 67 68 61 65 60 54 58 Pataki 15 17 15 18 24 25 23 DK/NA 18 15 24 17 17 21 20
19. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed building apartments at Ground Zero along with offices and shopping. The current plan calls for offices and shopping with no apartments. Which plan do you prefer?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Apartments 47% 38% 51% 51% 47% 49% 51% No apartments 40 50 37 39 36 43 41 DK/NA 13 13 12 11 17 8 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Apartments 50% 45% 54% 46% 34% 54% 43% No apartments 39 42 28 44 57 33 45 DK/NA 11 13 18 10 8 13 13
TREND: Mayor Bloomberg has proposed building apartments at Ground Zero along with offices and shopping. The current plan calls for offices and shopping with no apartments. Which plan do you prefer?
Apr 12 Mar 9 Nov 17 2006 2006 2005 Apartments 47 53 48 No apartments 40 39 37 DK/NA 13 8 15
20. How important is it to you that there be visible progress in the development of Ground Zero this year - Very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Very important 43% 49% 42% 43% 42% 40% 55% Smwht important 31 30 32 33 34 28 26 Not too important 15 13 14 17 16 13 13 Not at all 9 6 9 6 6 16 5 DK/NA 2 2 2 - 2 3 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very important 44% 44% 39% 43% 51% 46% 41% Smwht important 27 29 29 36 39 27 34 Not too important 15 14 22 13 5 14 16 Not at all 10 11 8 7 4 10 8 DK/NA 4 2 3 1 2 2 2
TREND: How important is it to you that there be visible progress in the development of Ground Zero this year - Very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
Apr 12 Mar 9 2006 2006 Very important 43 42 Smwht important 31 36 Not too important 15 14 Not important at all 9 6 DK/NA 2 2
21. Based on what you've heard or read, has Larry Silverstein played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 20% 26% 21% 15% 18% 22% 26% Negative 45 42 45 54 54 40 33 DK/NA 34 32 34 32 28 37 41 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 20% 23% 17% 19% 26% 20% 20% Negative 41 43 51 46 46 53 39 DK/NA 40 34 33 35 28 27 40
TREND: Based on what you've heard or read, has Larry Silverstein played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Apr 12 Mar 9 2006 2006 Positive 20 21 Negative 45 43 DK/NA 34 37
22. Based on what you've heard or read, has the Port Authority played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 32% 35% 34% 26% 22% 38% 43% Negative 33 36 31 39 40 32 27 DK/NA 35 30 35 35 39 30 30 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 34% 37% 22% 35% 27% 32% 32% Negative 34 31 34 31 41 39 28 DK/NA 32 32 44 34 32 29 40
TREND: Based on what you've heard or read, has the Port Authority played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Apr 12 Mar 9 2006 2006 Positive 32 29 Negative 33 36 DK/NA 35 35
23. Based on what you've heard or read, has Governor Pataki played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 32% 44% 31% 29% 30% 33% 35% Negative 48 40 49 52 51 47 44 DK/NA 20 16 20 20 19 21 21 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 31% 35% 24% 33% 43% 32% 32% Negative 51 43 57 46 38 52 45 DK/NA 19 22 19 21 19 16 24
TREND: Based on what you've heard or read, has Governor Pataki played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Apr 12 Mar 9 2006 2006 Positive 32 33 Negative 48 48 DK/NA 20 19
24. Based on what you've heard or read, has Mayor Bloomberg played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Positive 67% 76% 68% 66% 69% 68% 61% Negative 19 19 18 18 17 19 23 DK/NA 15 6 14 17 14 13 16 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Positive 63% 66% 65% 70% 68% 68% 66% Negative 21 19 19 14 22 19 18 DK/NA 15 15 16 16 10 13 16
TREND: Based on what you've heard or read, has Mayor Bloomberg played a positive or negative role in the development of Ground Zero?
Apr 12 Mar 9 2006 2006 Positive 67 65 Negative 19 21 DK/NA 15 14
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the current plans for the memorial at Ground Zero?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Approve 54% 57% 54% 54% 48% 60% 67% Disapprove 23 23 22 24 26 20 18 DK/NA 23 20 23 22 26 20 15 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 54% 58% 46% 58% 55% 55% 54% Disapprove 26 22 24 20 25 24 23 DK/NA 19 20 30 22 20 21 24
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the current plans for the memorial at Ground Zero?
Apr 12 Mar 9 2006 2006 Approve 54 58 Disapprove 23 22 DK/NA 23 20
26. To help finance the building of the memorial at Ground Zero, would you support or oppose an admission charge to the memorial?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 33% 37% 33% 31% 31% 34% 33% Oppose 61 60 62 62 63 61 61 DK/NA 6 3 5 7 6 5 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 32% 35% 30% 35% 29% 32% 34% Oppose 59 60 63 61 68 62 60 DK/NA 9 6 7 4 4 6 6
27. Does the pace of development at Ground Zero make you feel proud to be a New Yorker, ashamed to be a New Yorker, or don't you feel either of these ways?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Proud 20% 24% 21% 16% 15% 25% 29% Ashamed 17 16 19 18 18 16 17 Not either 59 58 56 64 64 56 51 DK/NA 3 2 3 2 3 3 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Proud 21% 26% 13% 19% 26% 18% 23% Ashamed 20 16 17 15 24 20 15 Not either 54 55 66 63 50 59 59 DK/NA 5 2 4 3 1 3 3
28. Members of Congress from New York State have told New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine that all decisions regarding Ground Zero should be made by New Yorkers. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Agree 66% 74% 64% 72% 65% 66% 70% Disagree 29 23 33 25 31 32 26 DK/NA 4 3 4 2 4 2 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Agree 67% 67% 62% 68% 77% 65% 67% Disagree 30 29 32 30 21 30 29 DK/NA 3 5 6 3 2 5 3
29. The current plans for rebuilding Ground Zero call for the construction of Freedom Tower as the first office building at the site. Critics say that it will be a terrorist target and hard to rent. Supporters say this is an important symbol of New York's recovery. Which is closer to your point of view?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Terrorist target 25% 21% 27% 22% 26% 24% 24% Symbol of recovery 63 70 62 69 63 65 66 DK/NA 12 9 11 9 11 11 10 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Terrorist target 24% 26% 29% 24% 18% 21% 28% Symbol of recovery 62 61 58 68 77 68 59 DK/NA 14 13 13 8 5 11 12
30. Do you think that NYC officials should proceed with the current plans to build the Freedom Tower first or start over again with new plans?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Build FT first 46% 51% 48% 48% 47% 46% 51% Start over 38 33 38 37 34 40 41 DK/NA 16 16 15 15 20 14 8 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Build FT first 44% 46% 41% 50% 61% 48% 46% Start over 44 37 40 34 29 37 38 DK/NA 12 18 19 16 10 16 16
36. Two different approaches have been suggested to deal with illegal immigrants. Please tell me which comes closest to your views - A) Make illegal immigration a crime and not allow anyone who entered the country illegally to work or stay in the United States under any circumstances. Or B) Allow illegal immigrants to get temporary work visas so the government can track them, and allow them to earn permanent residence after six years if they learn English, pay a fine, pay any back taxes, and have no criminal record.
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp A) Make it a crime 17% 29% 15% 13% 17% 20% 11% B) Can earn residence 77 66 80 80 77 75 87 DK/NA 6 5 5 7 6 6 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom A) Make it a crime 16% 17% 10% 21% 26% 18% 16% B) Can earn residence 78 77 82 74 73 76 78 DK/NA 6 6 8 5 1 7 6
37. As you may, know there is a proposal to make it a federal crime to aid illegal immigrants. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Support 30% 52% 25% 28% 32% 33% 22% Oppose 63 41 68 65 61 61 71 DK/NA 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Support 32% 29% 21% 38% 40% 33% 29% Oppose 63 65 69 55 54 60 65 DK/NA 5 6 10 7 7 7 7