1/6: Bloomberg Approval Rating at All-Time Low

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took a lot of heat over how the city handled the December 26th blizzard, and his approval rating reflects the firestorm of controversy.  In fact, Bloomberg’s approval rating is at its lowest point — 37% — since taking office.  Included here are 11% who say he is doing an excellent job in office and 26% who report he is doing a good one.  34% rate his performance as fair while 26% believe he is doing a poor job.  Only 3% are unsure.

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg

Click Here for Complete January 6, 2011 NYC NY1-Marist Poll Release and Tables

When Marist last asked this question in its October survey, half of registered voters — 50% — gave Bloomberg high marks.  At that time, 14% said he was doing an excellent job, and 36% reported he was doing a good one.  30% thought his performance was fair, and 15% believed the mayor was doing a poor job.  Five percent were unsure.

Looking at the boroughs, a majority of voters in Manhattan — 55% — approve of Mayor Bloomberg’s job performance while fewer voters in the other boroughs share this view.  39% in the Bronx, 36% in Queens and Staten Island, and 24% in Brooklyn give the mayor high marks.  In Marist’s previous survey, 58% of those in Manhattan, 48% of voters in the Bronx, 48% in Queens and Staten Island, and 46% in Brooklyn thought Bloomberg was doing well in office.

“Mayor Bloomberg clearly will need a big shovel if he wants to dig himself out of this political storm, and it looks like the next opportunity is heading his way,” says Dr.  Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

Key Findings:

  • When it comes to how Bloomberg handled the snow removal from the recent storm, 21% of adults in New York City approve while more than seven in ten — 71% — disapprove.  Just 7% are unsure.  Regardless of borough, residents are displeased with Bloomberg’s handling of the situation.  Residents in Brooklyn (78%) and in Queens and Staten Island (71%) are most dissatisfied.  69% in the Bronx and 63% in Manhattan are also unhappy with the mayor’s performance during and after the blizzard.
  • The New York City Department of Sanitation does not fare better.  21% of city residents approve of how the DSNY handled the snow removal while 72% disapprove.  Seven percent are unsure.  Again, disapproval spans borough boundaries.  More adults residing in Brooklyn (77%) and in Queens and Staten Island (72%) feel this way compared with those in the Bronx (69%) and Manhattan (68%).
  • Nearly four in ten residents — 37% — think Bloomberg learned a lot from the recent snowstorm.  26% believe he learned a little, and 28% say he took away nothing at all from the experience.  Nine percent are unsure.
  • The storm has had a slight impact on Bloomberg’s legacy.  Almost four in ten voters — 39% — think he will leave behind a positive legacy.  Included here are 12% of voters who report the mayor will be remembered as one of the city’s best mayors and 27% who say he will be considered an above average mayor in New York City’s history.  35% think Bloomberg will be thought of as an average mayor.  However, 15% think his legacy will be below average, and 10% report he will be perceived as one of the city’s worst mayors.  In Marist’s August survey, 46% thought the mayor’s legacy would be positive, either one of the best or above average.

Table: Bloomberg Approval Rating
Table: Bloomberg Approval Rating (Over Time)

Trend graph: Bloomberg approval rating over time.

Click on the graph to enlarge the image.

Table: Bloomberg Handling of Snow Removal
Table: New York City Department of Sanitation Handling of Snow Removal
Table: Lessons Learned from the Snowstorm – Bloomberg
Table: Bloomberg’s Legacy

Expectations for Black as Schools Chancellor?

Former media executive Cathie Black is the city’s new schools chancellor, and most New Yorkers don’t have high expectations for her.  In fact, a notable 28% are unsure.  25% think Black will do a fair job, and 16% say she will perform poorly.  Three in ten residents citywide — 30% — say Black will do either an excellent or good job in the position.  Included here are 4% who report she will excel and 26% who believe she will do a good job.

Table: Expectations for Cathie Black as Schools Chancellor

Majority Say NYC Needs a New Compass

Since Bloomberg’s tenure as mayor, this is the first time a majority of registered voters in the city — 53% — report that the Big Apple is moving in the wrong direction.  However, 38% think it is traveling along the right path.  Nine percent are unsure.

When Marist last asked this question in October, 47% said the city was pointed in the wrong direction, 40% thought it was on the proper trajectory, and 13%, at the time, were unsure.

Table: New York City Direction
Table: New York City Direction (Over Time)

Trend graph: Voters' opinions of New York City direction.

Click on the graph to enlarge the image.

NY1-Marist Poll Methodology