Skip to Content

Concerns About Crime Weigh On Mayor Adams' Approval Ratings, Quinnipiac University New York City Poll Finds; Influx Of Migrants To NYC Seen As A Crisis

Two-thirds of voters (66 percent) in New York City think crime is a very serious problem, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in New York City released today, down from a record high of 74 percent in February 2022, but still one of the highest levels seen since the Quinnipiac University Poll first asked this question in 1999. Twenty-six percent of voters think crime in New York City is a somewhat serious problem, 6 percent think crime is not a very serious problem, and 1 percent think it is not a problem at all.

Nearly 4 out of 10 voters (39 percent) say they feel less safe in New York City compared to a year ago, while 8 percent say they feel safer, and 53 percent say they feel about the same.

Crime (41 percent) outranks all other issues as the most urgent issue facing New York City today, followed by affordable housing (17 percent) and homelessness (12 percent).

Voters give Mayor Eric Adams his first negative job approval rating since taking office in 2022 with 37 percent approving of the way he's handling his job as mayor, 43 percent disapproving and 20 percent not offering an opinion. In a Quinnipiac University poll in May 2022, voters approved 43 - 37 percent with 20 percent not offering an opinion.

Asked specifically about the way Adams is handling crime in New York City, 36 percent of voters approve, while 57 percent disapprove. This compares to Quinnipiac University's May 2022 poll when 37 percent of voters approved and 54 percent disapproved. In Quinnipiac University's February 2022 poll voters approved 49 - 35 percent of the way Mayor Adams was handling crime in New York City.

"A law-and-order mayor confronts a cold winter of discontent as crime far eclipses all other voters' concerns," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

ADAMS' HANDLING OF ISSUES

In addition to crime, voters were asked about Mayor Adams' handling of:

  • immigration issues: 39 percent approve, while 46 percent disapprove;
  • the public schools: 35 percent approve, while 42 percent disapprove;
  • the city budget: 32 percent approve, while 47 percent disapprove;
  • homelessness: 26 percent approve, while 61 percent disapprove.

MIGRANT CRISIS

Seven out of 10 voters (70 percent) think it is a crisis for New York City that more than 40,000 migrants seeking sanctuary have arrived in the city since last year, while 25 percent of voters do not think it is a crisis.

A majority of voters (63 percent) do not think New York City has the ability to accommodate the migrants seeking sanctuary, while 31 percent think the city has the ability to accommodate them.

Eighty-two percent of voters think the federal government has a responsibility to help New York City with the migrants seeking sanctuary, while 14 percent do not think the federal government has a responsibility to help.

Two-thirds of voters (67 percent) approve of a proposal by Mayor Adams to have the federal government ease work requirements allowing migrants seeking sanctuary the ability to obtain employment, while 27 percent disapprove.

Voters approve 65 - 26 percent of a proposal by Mayor Adams to send some of the migrants seeking sanctuary to areas of upstate New York with shrinking populations.

"While a majority of voters acknowledge the influx of migrants is reaching crisis proportions, New Yorkers largely accept assimilating them into the work force," added Malloy.

SATISFACTION

One-third of voters (33 percent) are either very satisfied (4 percent) or somewhat satisfied (29 percent) with the way things are going in New York City today, while 64 percent are either somewhat dissatisfied (27 percent) or very dissatisfied (37 percent). These numbers are similar to satisfaction levels in Quinnipiac University polls in February and May 2022. Satisfaction levels in Quinnipiac University polls over the last year are the lowest since July 2003.

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Voters approve 59 - 37 percent of having legal recreational marijuana dispensaries in New York City.

Nearly 7 in 10 voters (69 percent) think it is either a very serious problem (44 percent) or a somewhat serious problem (25 percent) that there are shops in New York City selling unlicensed marijuana products, while 27 percent think it is either not a very serious problem (16 percent) or not a problem at all (11 percent).

"Voters are good to go on selling weed in the five boroughs, but say, do it by the book," added Malloy.

JOB APPROVALS

Job approval ratings for other New York City officials:

  • Public Advocate Jumaane Williams: 46 percent approve, 22 percent disapprove, with 32 percent not offering an opinion;
  • Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell: 42 percent approve, 29 percent disapprove, with 29 percent not offering an opinion;
  • City Comptroller Brad Lander: 38 percent approve, 25 percent disapprove, with 36 percent not offering an opinion;
  • City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams: 37 percent approve, 22 percent disapprove, with 40 percent not offering an opinion;
  • Schools Chancellor David Banks: 31 percent approve, 36 percent disapprove, with 33 percent not offering an opinion.

1,310 New York City registered voters were surveyed from January 26th - 30th with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

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

Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

Poll Questions