Majority of New Yorkers Cite Migrant Crisis, Crime, Cost of Living as ‘Major’ Problems, Poll Finds

New Yorkers are not in an Empire State of Mind. 

Citing the high cost of living, the continuing migrant crisis and crime rates as "major" problems, 57% of New Yorkers believe the quality of life in the state is getting worse, according to a Siena College poll released Tuesday.

Only 27% of those surveyed said it has remained the same and 14% believe it is better. 

The survey found that 83% of New Yorkers think the cost of living in the state is a "major" problem. 

Other problems listed by voters as major include: affordable housing (77%), crime (73%), the recent influx of migrants (62%) and access to quality health care (52%).

And the overwhelming negative attitude toward the state crosses all political lines. 

"In assessing the severity of problems facing New York, there is, surprisingly, considerable agreement among Democrats, Republicans and independents,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement accompanying the survey.

“At least 80% of each partisan group thinks the cost of living in the state is a major problem. At least 71% of each say affordable housing is a major problem, as do at least 64% of each about crime, and at least 51% of each about the migrant influx," he said.

Voters were asked what they thought was the single-most important issue that Gov. Kathy Hochul and the legislature should address.

Twenty-seven percent pointed to the cost of living, 19% said crime, 18% opted for the migrant crisis, 17% said affordable housing, and 8% said access to quality, affordable health care. 

Smaller percentages — 4% — cited threats to the state's environment and New Yorkers choosing to leave the state for other parts of the country. 

“Those top four issues were also the top four for Republicans, Democrats and independents, though in different orders," Greenberg said. 

“For Republicans, addressing the migrant issue is the most important issue – even bigger than cost of living. For Democrats, availability of affordable housing is virtually tied with cost of living as the top issue,” he added.

Despite the litany of problems, voters gave Hochul a 48-41% job approval rating, a slight jump from 46-46% from last month. 

And her favorability rating climbed slightly to 40-41% from 40-46% in August. 

“Hochul’s favorability rating improved a little, although the 40% who view her favorably continues to match her gubernatorial low water mark. And her job approval rating moved back into positive territory after being dead even last month,” Greenberg said.

“This is the first time we’ve seen her job approval rating move in the positive direction since January. It remains to be seen whether she has reversed the negative trend line, or this is simply a positive blip. Stay tuned," he said.

Looking nationally, 28% of New Yorkers say President Joe Biden is not fit to serve another four years, while 26% believe former President Donald Trump is unfit to serve. 

Thirty-four percent say neither is fit to serve as commander-in-chief. 

The survey polled 804 registered voters between Sept. 10-13. It has a plus/minus 4.3 percentage points margin of error.