As New York heads into a pivotal election year, a new survey released Thursday is offering insights into how some are feeling when it comes to some of the most pressing issues in their daily lives.
The poll, conducted from Jan. 21 to 30 by the 5BORO Institute and several other local foundations, surveyed 3,000 New Yorkers across the five boroughs. The findings are stark: More than 80% of respondents believe the city is in a mental health crisis; almost 50% have considered leaving the city because of affordability; and nearly 60% say they lack confidence in the city government’s ability to address major challenges.
“We wanted to make sure that the issues that were top of mind to New Yorkers, that they wanted to hear talked about in the political discourse were really centered in the conversation,” said Grace Rauh, executive director of the 5BORO Institute, in an interview with “Mornings On 1” following the survey’s release.
The survey—which has a results margin of error of plus or minus 2.51 percentage points—found that affordability remains a major concern for New Yorkers, with 61% saying it has become increasingly difficult to afford basic needs like housing, food and healthcare. Meanwhile, nearly half of those surveyed said they have considered leaving the city because of the high cost of living.
“Even though New York always has been an expensive place to live—right now, it's much worse,” Jocelynne Rainey, president and CEO of Brooklyn Org, said during the "Morning on 1" interview.
“What we saw in the poll that I thought was really enlightening, is that so many New Yorkers who love their neighborhoods, they want to stay, but they feel like they can't afford to. One-third of everyone who responded to the poll said that they know someone who's had to leave their home and move in with family. I mean, that is a crisis,” she said.
Housing costs remain the biggest financial burden for 42% of New Yorkers, with 78% saying prices have gotten worse in recent years. There’s also growing concern about food insecurity—31% of respondents said they or a family member have struggled to put food on the table in recent years.
When asked about solutions, respondents overwhelmingly supported increased investment in affordable housing, Rauh said.
“Clearly the public wants our leaders to go much, much further, because the housing cost crunch is affecting a widening group of New Yorkers,” she said.
The survey also found 84% of respondents say New York is facing a mental health crisis, and three in four believe too many people struggling with mental illness are not receiving proper care. Additionally, New Yorkers want to see action, particularly in the subway system.
“We asked about solutions and what types of interventions New Yorkers want to see prioritized, especially on the subways, when it comes to mental health, homelessness, the number one priority that came up, people want to see more mental health support services. Second to that was more of a police presence on subways and train platforms,” Rauh said.
However, Rainey noted that the police presence really correlates to the perception of public safety, which remains a major issue for many New Yorkers.
“I think that they’re saying police presence because they want to be safe. So many people in the survey also said they don't feel safe on the trains after a certain hour, but they want people to be healthy. So it's not only about policing, it's really about the services that people need,” she said.
About 60% of those surveyed said they feel empathy toward those struggling with mental illness and homelessness, and many support expanding outreach and intervention programs.