March 28, 2018 - New York City Voters Divided On Paying First Lady, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Want Mayor, Council To Have Equal Power

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New York City voters approve 43 - 28 percent of the job First Lady Chirlane McCray is doing and are divided 46 - 45 percent on whether she should be paid for her city work, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.





There is not much of a gender gap, but a substantial racial gap on whether Ms. McCray should be paid, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Men are split 45 - 47 percent on paying the First Lady, and women support paying her by a thin 48 - 43 percent. Support for paying McCray is 61 - 33 percent among black voters and 49 - 41 percent among Hispanic voters. White voters oppose paying her 57 - 35 percent.





New York City voters approve 48 - 38 percent of the job Mayor Bill de Blasio is doing, his lowest grade since a 45 - 46 percent approval rating in a January 18, 2017 survey.





Looking at the mayor's qualities, voters say:

50 - 39 percent that he is honest and trustworthy;

51 - 43 percent that he has strong leadership qualities;

50 - 42 percent the he understands their problems.

New York City voters approve 56 - 37 percent of the job Gov. Andrew Cuomo is doing and say 58 - 22 percent that he would be better for the city than Cynthia Nixon. Democrats say 64 - 21 percent that Cuomo would be better.





"New York City voters like First Lady Chirlane McCray, but they're apparently of mixed opinion about giving her a paycheck," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





"Gov. Andrew Cuomo is much better for the city than his high profile challenger, Cynthia Nixon. Again, the governor has a higher job approval rating than Mayor Bill de Blasio.





"New Yorkers to Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo, 'Yeah, we know you don't get along, but knock it off for the good of the city.'"





Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are involved in a "personal feud" 47 percent of New York City voters say, while 40 percent believe they have "honest disagreements."





Either way, 60 percent of voters say the conflict hurts the city, while 9 percent say it helps the city and 25 percent say it makes no difference.





In this conflict, New York City voters agree more with Cuomo than de Blasio 38 - 32 percent. Democrats agree more with de Blasio 40 - 33 percent. Mayor and City Council





The mayor and the New York City Council should have equal power governing the city, 71 percent of voters say, as 18 percent want the mayor to have more power and 7 percent want the City Council to have more power.





Voters approve 43 - 15 percent of the job newly elected City Council Speaker Corey Johnson is doing, an approval rating Melissa Mark-Viverito achieved only once in her four years as Council Speaker. Approval ratings for other citywide leaders are:

53 - 18 percent for Police Commissioner James O'Neill;

46 - 19 percent for Public Advocate Letitia James;

55 - 19 percent for City Comptroller Scott Stringer, close to his highest rating ever.

New York City voters disapprove 76 - 19 percent of the job President Donald Trump is doing.





Voters approve 52 - 37 percent of the way de Blasio is handling the Police Department, but he gets mixed or negative grades for handling other issues:

A divided 43 - 46 percent for handling the public schools;

26 - 60 percent for handling public housing projects;

31 - 56 percent for handling affordable housing;

Split 40 - 40 percent for handling taxes;

28 - 62 percent for handling poverty and homelessness.

From March 22 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 955 New York City voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll





Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.









1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill de Blasio is handling his job as Mayor?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 48% 10% 60% 38% 48% 48% 35% 60% 55% Disapprove 38 75 27 50 40 38 54 26 31 DK/NA 13 15 13 13 12 15 10 14 15 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 48% 48% 53% 47% 34% 45% 54% 45% 46% Disapprove 35 38 34 39 61 37 34 44 39 DK/NA 16 14 13 14 4 17 11 11 15

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way James O'Neill is handling his job as Police Commissioner?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 53% 54% 53% 56% 56% 51% 58% 61% 48% Disapprove 18 26 15 21 21 16 13 20 24 DK/NA 28 20 32 24 23 33 29 19 28 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 48% 56% 53% 53% 60% 38% 54% 56% 63% Disapprove 26 19 13 19 14 22 21 21 12 DK/NA 26 26 34 28 26 40 24 23 26

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Letitia James is handling her job as Public Advocate?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 46% 23% 52% 48% 47% 46% 40% 66% 39% Disapprove 19 39 13 24 23 17 24 13 22 DK/NA 34 38 34 28 30 37 36 21 39 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 38% 59% 42% 41% 44% 48% 49% 46% 46% Disapprove 22 14 17 27 20 14 20 22 23 DK/NA 40 27 41 32 36 38 31 32 31

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Corey Johnson is handling his job as City Council Speaker?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 43% 32% 49% 40% 42% 43% 36% 55% 48% Disapprove 15 31 7 22 20 12 20 13 16 DK/NA 42 37 44 38 38 45 44 32 36 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 38% 50% 44% 36% 38% 44% 49% 43% 37% Disapprove 21 14 10 18 14 16 17 16 14 DK/NA 41 35 46 45 47 40 34 40 48

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Scott Stringer is handling his job as City Comptroller?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 55% 45% 61% 53% 59% 52% 58% 62% 47% Disapprove 19 26 12 23 19 20 18 18 25 DK/NA 26 29 26 24 22 29 23 20 28 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 43% 61% 57% 54% 53% 42% 58% 59% 65% Disapprove 24 14 20 21 23 24 18 22 14 DK/NA 33 25 23 25 24 34 24 19 21

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 56% 35% 64% 51% 53% 59% 49% 64% 63% Disapprove 37 61 29 45 42 33 47 29 29 DK/NA 6 3 7 4 5 8 4 7 8 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 57% 61% 52% 57% 43% 50% 59% 60% 56% Disapprove 37 32 41 36 54 41 39 35 35 DK/NA 5 6 7 8 3 9 3 5 9

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 19% 72% 6% 27% 23% 16% 30% 7% 16% Disapprove 76 21 92 66 72 80 68 89 83 DK/NA 4 7 2 7 5 4 2 4 1 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 16% 24% 12% 18% 34% 14% 21% 18% 22% Disapprove 82 70 87 75 62 82 75 78 73 DK/NA 3 5 1 8 4 4 4 4 5

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chirlane McCray is handling her job as First Lady of New York City?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 43% 27% 49% 40% 44% 42% 39% 57% 47% Disapprove 28 52 21 33 28 28 34 23 29 DK/NA 28 21 29 26 27 29 26 20 24 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 43% 50% 46% 34% 35% 40% 44% 49% 42% Disapprove 33 22 23 37 35 25 29 28 34 DK/NA 24 28 30 30 30 34 27 23 23

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?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very satisfied 7% 4% 9% 4% 9% 5% 6% 7% 10% Smwht satisfied 45 35 51 41 48 43 46 48 44 Smwht dissatisfied 28 24 26 36 23 33 29 29 23 Very dissatisfied 18 37 12 20 19 18 20 16 21 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1 2 - 1 3 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Very satisfied 6% 5% 11% 5% 7% 7% 5% 7% 10% Smwht satisfied 41 51 45 40 46 38 52 45 43 Smwht dissatisfied 30 27 26 33 19 36 27 26 25 Very dissatisfied 22 17 14 20 28 17 15 21 21 DK/NA 1 1 3 1 - 3 - 1 1

10. Thinking about the election for governor this year, who do you think would be better for New York City as Governor: Andrew Cuomo or Cynthia Nixon?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Cuomo 58% 49% 64% 55% 56% 59% 56% 66% 60% Nixon 22 19 21 26 25 20 23 19 26 DK/NA 20 32 16 20 19 21 21 14 14 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Cuomo 63% 61% 50% 58% 55% 51% 55% 63% 64% Nixon 15 23 25 21 28 34 26 16 13 DK/NA 23 16 24 21 17 15 19 21 22

11. Who should have more power in governing New York City: the Mayor, the City Council or both equally?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Mayor 18% 31% 17% 19% 21% 16% 19% 16% 14% City Council 7 11 6 9 9 5 10 3 6 Both equally 71 55 76 67 65 76 67 77 77 DK/NA 4 4 2 5 5 3 4 4 2 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Mayor 14% 19% 22% 17% 19% 6% 21% 26% 16% City Council 4 8 6 8 8 6 6 7 8 Both equally 76 69 72 70 72 84 70 65 72 DK/NA 6 4 1 5 1 4 3 2 4

12. Would you say that Bill de Blasio - has strong leadership qualities or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 51% 20% 62% 42% 50% 52% 36% 70% 52% No 43 78 34 52 44 43 60 26 41 DK/NA 5 2 4 7 5 5 4 3 7 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 57% 52% 52% 50% 36% 53% 59% 44% 48% No 40 43 42 44 60 41 36 51 48 DK/NA 3 5 6 6 4 6 6 5 4

13. Would you say that Bill de Blasio - understands the problems of people like you or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 50% 24% 60% 44% 52% 50% 41% 64% 50% No 42 72 32 51 42 42 56 30 41 DK/NA 7 4 8 5 6 9 4 6 9 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 45% 55% 52% 51% 38% 43% 62% 49% 50% No 46 39 38 43 61 49 30 48 44 DK/NA 9 7 10 7 2 7 9 3 5

14. Would you say that Bill de Blasio - is honest and trustworthy or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 50% 22% 62% 39% 50% 51% 40% 63% 51% No 39 70 28 49 42 36 52 28 36 DK/NA 11 7 11 12 8 13 8 8 12 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 48% 50% 54% 50% 41% 48% 59% 47% 46% No 39 37 35 40 55 41 34 44 39 DK/NA 13 13 11 9 3 11 8 9 15

15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - the police department?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 52% 29% 60% 46% 49% 55% 50% 61% 48% Disapprove 37 67 28 45 43 32 43 36 37 DK/NA 11 3 12 8 7 13 7 4 15 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 47% 52% 59% 53% 43% 46% 55% 51% 57% Disapprove 43 38 28 36 55 40 37 39 34 DK/NA 10 10 13 11 2 13 8 10 9

16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - the public schools?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 43% 25% 49% 40% 47% 39% 38% 55% 38% Disapprove 46 64 41 49 42 49 47 39 52 DK/NA 11 11 10 12 11 12 15 6 10 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 34% 51% 42% 40% 37% 41% 47% 41% 39% Disapprove 53 38 44 51 53 52 44 48 45 DK/NA 13 10 14 9 9 7 9 10 16

17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - public housing projects for low income people?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 26% 18% 28% 24% 29% 24% 24% 28% 25% Disapprove 60 72 58 62 58 62 63 63 62 DK/NA 14 10 14 14 13 14 13 9 12 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 23% 28% 29% 26% 21% 25% 31% 24% 23% Disapprove 64 57 58 61 69 61 55 66 63 DK/NA 13 15 14 14 10 14 13 10 14

18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - affordable housing for low and middle income people?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 31% 19% 36% 25% 32% 30% 26% 38% 26% Disapprove 56 68 51 61 55 56 60 54 65 DK/NA 14 13 13 14 13 14 13 9 9 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 27% 31% 35% 31% 20% 22% 37% 32% 28% Disapprove 68 52 53 53 60 62 52 57 57 DK/NA 4 17 12 16 20 16 11 11 15

19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - taxes?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 40% 19% 47% 36% 41% 40% 36% 48% 37% Disapprove 40 72 31 47 44 37 47 35 39 DK/NA 20 9 22 17 15 23 17 17 24 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 39% 42% 43% 38% 30% 38% 45% 41% 39% Disapprove 42 39 34 44 54 40 39 45 40 DK/NA 19 19 23 18 16 22 16 15 21

20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - poverty and homelessness?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 28% 16% 32% 26% 27% 30% 25% 37% 22% Disapprove 62 77 58 67 64 61 67 57 68 DK/NA 9 7 10 7 9 10 8 6 10 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 27% 33% 26% 28% 18% 24% 31% 29% 27% Disapprove 63 56 68 61 76 68 59 66 63 DK/NA 9 11 7 11 6 8 10 5 10

21. Do you think First Lady Chirlane McCray should be paid if she is doing work for New York City or don't you think so?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Paid 46% 36% 51% 45% 45% 48% 35% 61% 49% No 45 58 41 48 47 43 57 33 41 DK/NA 9 6 8 8 8 9 8 6 10 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes/Paid 50% 51% 50% 36% 42% 61% 50% 45% 32% No 43 42 39 54 47 31 43 47 58 DK/NA 7 7 11 10 11 8 7 8 10

31. Who do you think most closely represents your political views: Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, or neither?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Cuomo 29% 15% 33% 30% 27% 30% 30% 28% 31% de Blasio 21 13 29 12 21 22 22 26 19 Neither 44 72 32 54 49 40 47 44 40 DK/NA 6 - 7 3 2 8 2 3 11 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Cuomo 25% 29% 27% 33% 25% 24% 26% 34% 33% de Blasio 15 21 28 22 12 23 24 19 23 Neither 50 45 38 41 61 44 46 43 40 DK/NA 10 5 6 4 3 9 4 3 5

32. Do you believe Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are involved in a personal feud or do you believe they have honest disagreements about what's best for New York City?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Personal feud 47% 53% 40% 61% 52% 43% 57% 44% 40% Honest disagreements 40 31 48 26 39 40 34 45 39 DK/NA 13 17 12 12 8 17 9 10 21 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Personal feud 38% 49% 50% 48% 45% 44% 49% 49% 48% Honest disagreements 45 40 39 38 39 46 36 40 39 DK/NA 17 12 11 14 16 10 15 11 13

33. Thinking about this conflict, do you agree more with de Blasio or more with Cuomo?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp de Blasio 32% 14% 40% 26% 36% 29% 28% 36% 36% Cuomo 38 58 33 44 39 37 43 30 40 DK/NA 30 28 27 30 25 34 28 34 24 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Bklyn Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ de Blasio 26% 30% 40% 33% 26% 36% 38% 28% 31% Cuomo 40 40 26 42 51 37 35 45 38 DK/NA 34 30 34 26 23 27 27 27 31

34. Does the conflict between Cuomo and de Blasio help New York City, hurt New York City, or doesn't it make a difference?