A new poll finds that while New Yorkers are concerned about the influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the state in recent months, they are more worried about the cost of living.
Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg says 80 percent of voters believe that the cost of living is a problem, which includes the cost of groceries, gas , and rent or a mortgage. A plurality named that concern as the biggest issue facing the state.
“And the winner there- 27 percent said the cost of living in the state. The second tier of issues basically tied 19 percent said crime, 18% said the recent influx of migrants 17 percent said affordable housing,” said Greenberg.
Those issues were followed by health care, the environment, and the brain drain of educated people leaving the state.
Greenberg says given the high rate of inflation experienced since the pandemic, those responses make sense. But he says he was surprised by how many New Yorkers said they think the overall quality of life in the state is declining.
“Only 14 percent of New Yorkers say it's getting better. 27 percent say it's staying the same. 57 percent of New Yorkers say the quality of life in the state is getting worse,” Greenberg said.
He says republicans were more negative, with 81% saying things are getting worse. But a plurality of Democrats, (43%) agree with that.
Despite the pessimism, Governor Kathy Hochul’s favorability rating and job approval ticked up slightly, from a low point in August.
Forty percent view her favorably, while 41 percent do not, but that’s better than the 46 percent unfavorable rate the governor received a few weeks ago. Her job approval rating also gained a couple of points- 48 percent of respondents now approve of the job she’d doing as governor.
“Her numbers are up a little bit, nothing to write home about but she at least broke her her five month trend of numbers dropping."
And finally, New Yorkers do not seem very enthusiastic about the likely major party candidates for the 2024 Presidential race. Sixty-two percent believe Democratic President Joe Biden is unfit for another four year term, while 60 percent say Republican former President Donald Trump unfit to serve. One third say neither are fit to run.
