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Poll Shows Strong Support For Cuomo Proposals

The New York State Capitol
WAMC Photo by Dave Lucas
The New York State Capitol

A new Siena Research Institute poll out this morning finds many of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s legislative proposals are widely supported by New Yorkers. WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas discussed some of the results with pollster Steve Greenberg.

Siena took a look at 14 proposals Cuomo made in his State of the State and budget presentations.  greenberg says 12 of them enjoy widespread support, while eight have widespread bipartisan support.

"Issues like the $2 billion infrastructure act that the governor proposed. 89 percent of New Yorkers support it compared to only 8 percent who oppose. His giving preference to American-made goods in state purchasing, 82 percent support. Allowing ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft to operate throughout the state, 77 percent support. Extending the millionaires’ tax. 74 percent, nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers support that, including a strong majority, 61 percent of Republicans. So, on and on, so many of the governor's proposals enjoy widespread support. Only two of the proposals that Siena asked about don't really have the support of voters: one of those is to raise the criminal age of responsibility from 16 to 18. 46 percent of New Yorkers support it, 49 opposed. And the governor's plan to build a trailway, completing the 750-mile biking and hiking pathway across New York state: 43 percent of New Yorkers support, but a majority, 52 percent, oppose," said Greenberg.

In response to the poll showing overwhelming support for ridesharing services, Uber NY General Manager Josh Mohrer released a statement saying statewide support for ridesharing is at a tipping point. In part, the statement says it’s “time for the legislature to ignore New York City special interests and ensure that upstate is no longer left behind the rest of the country in having access to ridesharing.”

Uber did not respond to requests to put a spokesperson on mic. 

Credit Composite image by Dave Lucas

Greenberg notes that although respondents were upbeat about Cuomo's proposals, they were lukewarm to the man himself.  "When we asked voters how they feel about Governor Cuomo, virtually no change in the last month. Right now, 56 percent of New Yorkers view Andrew Cuomo favorably, compared to 37 percent who view him unfavorably. Little change, basically unchanged from last month when it was 56-36 percent. His job performance rating, 45 percent give him a positive job performance rating as governor, 53 percent give him a negative job performance rating, up a tick from 44 to 54 percent last month. So, the voters in the state like the governor's proposals, but it really hasn't had an impact on how they feel about him. Maybe they're waiting to see how much he can get done."

The survey says New Yorkers think President Donald Trump, with a negative 37-55 percent favorability rating, down from negative 41-53 percent last month, will make America better through his infrastructure policies and his policies dealing with the relationship between the United States and Russia.  On seven other issues, New Yorkers think he will make America worse, including large majorities when it comes to the environment and race relations.

The state Senate has a 49-36 percent favorability rating, up from 48-39 percent in December, while the Assembly has 45-35 percent favorability rating, up from 43-40 percent last month. For both houses, it’s both the highest favorability and lowest unfavorability rating ever in a Siena College Poll.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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