New Yorkers dislike of the mayor’s proposed soda ban has grown, while city voters support of stop-and-frisk is split along racial lines, according to a new poll.
Half of New York City voters questioned in a recent Quinnipiac poll said they disapproved of the controversial police practice, though a large disparity persisted between black and white voters.
More than two thirds of black voters (69 percent) opposed stop-and-frisks, while 57 percent of white voters supported it. Fifty-three percent of Hispanic voters also approved the practice.
Though there was a difference in support of stop-and-frisk, all races approved of the job Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is doing.
The poll was conducted between August 8 and 12 with 1,298 New York City voters surveyed on land lines and cell phones. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
Voters are against Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to ban sugary beverages over 16 ounces with 54 percent opposing it and 42 percent in support. The opposition has grown since a June poll found 51 percent against the plan and 46 percent for it.
“New Yorkers are smart enough to make their own choices about what to eat and drink without government help,” said New Yorkers for Beverage Choices spokesperson, Eliot Hoff.
Bloomberg’s push to make baby formula less available to new mothers was opposed by 56 percent of voters with just 24 percent in favor of it.
“Voters disagree with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s push to increase breast-feeding and to limit the size of sugary drinks, but they like the idea of cracking down on alcohol abuse,” Carroll said. “Overall, New Yorkers give Hizzoner good grades on public-health as they reject the criticism that it’s ‘nanny government.'”
There is also strong support from New Yorkers (73-20 percent) to provide employees sick days, a plan Council Speaker Christine Quinn said she is not ready to bring to a vote.
