SIENA COLLEGE POLL BACKS STATE WORKERS

The New York State Capitol Building, Albany, N.Y.

photo by Ove Overmyer

Loudonville, N.Y.--  In the latest research polls released today (4/19/10) by Siena College Research Institute, public employees and communities across New York State might not be shocked by the fact that most citizens disapprove of Governor Paterson withholding negotiated cost of living increases for state workers.  “When it comes to the Governor’s proposal to withhold the contractually agreed upon pay raises for stateworkers, 47 percent oppose the idea, while only 38 percent support it,” said poll spokesperson Steven Greenberg. “A plurality of upstate and independent voters support the idea and voters over 55 are evenly divided. A majority or plurality of all other groups of voters – including Republicans and conservatives – thinks it’s a bad idea.” 

Can we fix Albany?  Voters say "Yes!"

Other interesting tidbits of info coming out of the Siena College research today suggest that New Yorkers might be more optimistic than one would think.  “An overwhelming 83 percent of voters – including at least three-quarters of every demographic group – say ‘Albany can be fixed if New Yorkers elect the right people to state office.’ Only 13 percent feel that ‘Albany cannot be fixed irrespective of who’s elected to office.’ While voters are very down on the current leadership of New York and strongly feel the state is headed in the wrong direction, there is a very real and very strong sense of optimism that Albany can improve,” Greenberg said. “Now it’s up to the voters to choose among the candidates that they believe can fix Albany.”

Who is to blame for New York State's budget mess?  It's the Legislature, stupid.

“Asked to assess blame for the state’s budget deficit and budget crisis, 41 percent of voters give that distinction to the State Legislature. Twenty-six percent place the blame on the national economy, while only 15 percent blame Governor David Paterson,” Greenberg said. “Although voters continue to view Paterson very unfavorably (his approval rating jumped 4 points from 21 to 25 this month), and a record high 49 percent now rate the job he is doing as governor as ‘poor,’ when it comes to the budget crisis, voters see the Legislature as a bigger villain than the Governor.”

To read more information about the public opinion polls, click here. 

Members of CSEA, New York's leading union,  rally in

downtown Buffalo for worker's rights in September 2009.

(photo Ove Overmyer)