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(203) 506-8202
Rubenstein
Pat Smith (212) 843-8026
FOR RELEASE: MARCH 20, 2019
New York State voters support 62 – 29 percent offering tax breaks to encourage corporations and
businesses to locate in the state, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.
Support is strong among every listed party, gender, education, age, racial and regional group.
Voters say 64 – 28 percent that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other leaders should try to
convince Amazon to revive its plans to build a headquarters in Long Island City, the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Again, all listed groups support this by
wide margins. Voters say 59 – 32 percent that the jobs Amazon promised were worth the $3
billion in tax breaks and other benefits offered by the city and state.
New York State voters are divided on whether to allow people charged with a crime, but
with no history of violence, to be released without bail pending trial as 45 percent support the no-
bail option, with 42 percent opposed. Support for releasing non-violent suspects under 21 years
old without bail is 50 – 38 percent.
Among men 47 percent support releasing all non-violent suspects without bail, as 40
percent are opposed. Women are divided as 43 percent support the no-bail idea, with 44 percent
opposed. Democrats back the measure 57 – 30 percent. Republicans are opposed 68 – 23
percent and independent voters are divided as 42 percent support the no-bail idea, with 43
percent opposed. White voters are divided with 42 percent in support and 45 percent opposed.
Non-white voters back the idea 51 – 37 percent.
“New York State voters to Amazon: ‘Can you deliver a second chance?’ In hindsight,
New Yorkers think those hotly debated incentives offered to Amazon were worth it in the end.
Almost two-thirds of New Yorkers want elected officials to try and woo Amazon to reconsider
its decision not to build a campus in New York,” said Mary Snow, polling analyst for the
Quinnipiac University Poll.
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/March 20, 2019 – page 2
“As the clock ticks toward the April 1 deadline for the state budget, two key measures
pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo have mixed results. New Yorkers are divided on eliminating
cash bail and on the congestion pricing plan to raise revenue for the region’s mass transit
system,” Snow added.
New York State voters remain divided on the issue of congestion pricing in Manhattan as
46 percent support it, with 44 percent opposed. New York City voters back the measure 54 – 43
percent, while suburban voters are opposed 52 – 39 percent. Upstate voters are divided with 42
percent supporting congestion pricing and 41 percent opposed.
New York State voters approve 50 – 41 percent of the job Gov. Andrew Cuomo is doing,
the first time his approval rating has hit 50 percent since a 54 – 39 percent rating May 2, 2018.
Approval ratings for other New York State leaders are:
54 – 36 percent for U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer;
46 – 30 percent for U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand;
15 – 15 percent, with 71 percent undecided, for State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie;
22 – 16 percent, with 62 percent undecided, for State Senate Majority Leader Andrea
Stewart-Cousins.
Living in New York
New York State voters say 61 – 35 percent they feel like they can afford to live in the
state. By region, 67 percent of upstate voters, 55 percent of New York City voters and 63
percent of suburban voters feel they can afford to live here.
Voters say 35 – 59 percent they “will be forced to move in the next five years for better
economic opportunity.”
Voters support 65 – 32 percent “allowing adults in New York State to legally possess
small amounts of marijuana for personal use.” This 2-1 support is consistent with Quinnipiac
University New York State polls for the last year.
Voters support 59 – 38 percent the sale of legal marijuana in their community.
From March 13 – 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,216 New York State voters
nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points, including the design effect.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold
standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell
phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a
dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
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14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as governor?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United
States Senator?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
3
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as
United States Senator?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as
president?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
4
18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Carl Heastie is handling his job as State
Assembly Speaker?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrea Stewart-Cousins is handling her job as
state Senate Majority Leader?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
5
20. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Very satisfied 6% 5% 9% 2% 4% 8% 7% 6%
Smwht satisfied 41 16 58 36 41 41 44 37
Smwht dissatisfied 26 25 19 36 24 27 23 27
Very dissatisfied 26 53 12 26 30 23 25 30
DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 1 -
Very satisfied 9% 4% 5% 7% 4% 9% 7% 6%
Smwht satisfied 50 33 42 41 39 43 41 42
Smwht dissatisfied 25 29 25 26 26 24 25 27
Very dissatisfied 16 33 27 25 31 24 27 23
DK/NA - 1 2 1 - 1 - 2
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
Very satisfied 6% 7% 5%
Smwht satisfied 36 44 45
Smwht dissatisfied 26 26 24
Very dissatisfied 32 21 26
DK/NA - 2 -
21. Would you describe the state of New York State's economy these days as excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Excellent 3% 3% 4% 2% 4% 2% 4% 3%
Good 48 33 58 48 50 47 52 46
Not so good 30 34 23 36 28 32 28 30
Poor 16 29 11 11 16 15 13 18
DK/NA 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 2
Excellent 6% 1% 4% 2% 5% 2% 4% 3%
Good 60 44 44 45 48 51 50 48
Not so good 20 36 34 33 28 29 29 32
Poor 14 15 16 16 17 13 15 15
DK/NA 1 3 2 5 1 4 3 2
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
Excellent 2% 5% 4%
Good 40 50 58
Not so good 36 28 25
Poor 20 15 10
DK/NA 2 3 3
6
22. Would you describe your financial situation these days as excellent, good, not so
good, or poor?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
23. Do you feel like you can afford to live in New York State, or not?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
7
24. Do you think that you will be forced to move in the next five years for better
economic opportunity, or not?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Yes/Forced to move 35% 35% 31% 35% 35% 34% 24% 32%
No 59 60 64 57 60 58 73 63
DK/NA 6 5 6 7 4 8 4 5
Yes/Forced to move 45% 35% 38% 22% 29% 26% 27% 47%
No 47 61 57 73 67 70 69 44
DK/NA 8 4 5 6 4 5 4 9
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
8
26. Do you support or oppose a plan to charge a fee for cars and trucks entering the most
congested areas of Manhattan and using the money to pay for improvements to New York City
subways, buses, and commuter railroads?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
27. Do you support or oppose allowing people who are arrested and charged with a crime,
but have no prior history of violence, to be released without paying bail while they
await trial?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
9
28. Do you support or oppose allowing people under 21 years old who are arrested and
charged with a crime, but have no prior history of violence, to be released without
paying bail while they await trial?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
29. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations.
The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there should be an expansion of
charter schools in New York State or not?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
10
30. Do you support or oppose giving driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants
throughout New York State?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
31. As you may know, Amazon cancelled its plans to build one of its new headquarters in
New York's Long Island City. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Cuomo and other
prominent New Yorkers trying to convince Amazon to revive its plan to build one of its
new headquarters in Long Island City?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
11
32. As you may know, Amazon would have received roughly 3 billion dollars in tax breaks
and other benefits from the state and the city as part of its deal to locate one of its
new headquarters in Long Island City. Amazon said it would have created 25,000 new jobs.
Which comes closer to your point of view: the tax incentives and benefits were worth the
jobs Amazon said it would bring to New York City, or the jobs Amazon said it would bring
to New York City are not worth giving Amazon those tax incentives and benefits?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
Worth incentives 59% 71% 54% 60% 62% 57% 60% 59%
Not worth incentives 32 22 37 31 31 33 35 33
DK/NA 9 7 9 9 8 11 5 8
Worth incentives 59% 61% 57% 56% 61% 59% 60% 58%
Not worth incentives 34 33 34 32 34 34 34 28
DK/NA 7 6 9 12 5 7 6 14
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
33. In general, do you support or oppose offering tax breaks to encourage corporations
and businesses to locate in New York State?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
12
34. Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small
amounts of marijuana for personal use?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
35. Would you support or oppose the sale of legal marijuana in your community?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No
AREA.............
UpStat NYC Sub
13