Maurice Carroll, Director

Quinnipiac University Polling Institute

Rubenstein Associates, Inc.,

Public Relations
Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: NOVEMBER 23, 2010

SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR SHOULD HAVE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE,

NEW YORK CITY VOTERS TELL QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL;
BLOOMBERG APPROVAL AT LOWEST POINT IN 5 YEARS
New York City voters say 64 – 26 percent that a schools chancellor needs education experience
more than management experience, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Voters say 51 – 26 percent that Cathleen Black, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s nominee to
be schools chancellor, does not have the right kind of experience for the job, the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Another 23 percent are undecided.
By a smaller 47 – 29 percent margin, with 25 percent undecided, New York City voters
disapprove of Mayor Bloomberg’s appointment of Ms. Black. Voters with children in public
schools disapprove of the appointment 62 – 25 percent and say 63 – 21 percent that Black does
not have the right experience.
New York City voters approve 55 – 35 percent of the job Mayor Bloomberg is doing, his
lowest score since a 55 – 36 percent rating June 22, 2005.
Voters disapprove 48 – 41 percent of the way Bloomberg is handling the public schools
and say 63 – 25 percent that they are dissatisfied with public schools citywide. Voters also are
dissatisfied 46 – 38 percent with public schools in their own community.
But voters say 46 – 35 percent that Chancellor Joel Klein’s tenure has been a success.
“The City Hall spin machine better shift into high gear. So far, all the negative news
stories are murdering Cathleen Black – and not doing Mayor Michael Bloomberg much good,
either,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“Do New Yorkers approve of the Black appointment? Does she have the right
experience? No and no, voters say. The only positive sign for her is that about one quarter of
voters don’t know enough to say whether they approve or disapprove of her appointment. So
there’s some room for the spinners to make Bloomberg’s case.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/November 23, 2010 – page 2
“Overwhelmingly, voters would sooner put an educator than a business executive at the
head of the class,” Carroll added.
“Voters – particularly black voters – flunk Bloomberg on schools. Chancellor Joel
Klein? As a going-away present, New Yorkers say – not heavily, but positively – that he’s more
of a success than a failure.”
New York City voters say 61 – 29 percent that Bloomberg would not make a good
president and think 57 – 29 percent that he will not run for president. Voters say 65 – 24 percent
that talk of Bloomberg-for-president is “political gossip” rather than a “serious political
movement.” The so-called movement comes up short among every political or racial group and
in every borough.
But voters say 58 – 26 percent that it’s good for New York City when Bloomberg speaks
out on national issues. Democrats like the mayor speaking out even more than Republicans.
“That Bloomberg-for-president chatter? Fuhgedaboutit, New Yorkers say. Don’t
people have anything more important to think about? The talk isn’t serious, New Yorkers say;
it’s just political gossip,” Carroll said.
“We don’t think Mayor Mike will go for the White House and we don’t think he’d do a
good job if he got there.”
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly continues to lead all citywide officials, with a 67 – 19
percent approval rating, including 79 – 11 percent among white voters, 52 – 31 percent among
black voters and 64 – 21 percent among Hispanic voters.
Approval ratings for other New York City officials are:
• 50 – 24 percent for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn;
• 48 – 16 percent for Comptroller John Liu, with 37 percent undecided;
• 36 – 16 percent for Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, with 48 percent undecided.
From November 16 – 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,287 New York City
registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow
us on Twitter.

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1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as Mayor?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 55% 63% 57% 51% 62% 44% 54% 46%

Disapprove 35 32 31 40 32 38 37 41
DK/NA 11 5 12 9 6 19 10 12

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 51% 46% 53% 65% 54% 50% 55% 55%

Disapprove 42 37 36 27 37 41 36 33
DK/NA 8 17 12 8 9 8 9 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his job as
Mayor? (*High also 75% Oct 2008, Mar 2008, Jan 2007 & Nov 2005)

APPROVE....... DIS..
High Low High
Nov 23 Jun 30 May 21 Mar 23 Oct 21 Jul 2 Jul 2
2010 2010 2010 2010 2008* 2003 2003

Approve 55 57 57 61 75 31 31
Disapprove 35 33 29 27 20 60 60
DK/NA 11 10 14 12 6 8 8

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police
Commissioner?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 67% 78% 65% 68% 79% 52% 64% 67%

Disapprove 19 14 20 17 11 31 21 22
DK/NA 14 8 15 15 11 16 15 10

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 55% 67% 71% 69% 71% 67% 67%

Disapprove 29 19 15 19 15 23 17
DK/NA 16 14 14 11 14 11 16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as
Police Commissioner? (*High also 70% Feb 2010, Mar 2006 & Feb 2006)

APPROVE....... DIS..
High Low High
Nov 23 Jun 30 May 24 Feb 18 May 24 Jan 16 Jan 16
2010 2010 2010 2010 2010* 2007 2007

Approve 67 66 70 70 70 52 52
Disapprove 19 20 17 16 17 34 34
DK/NA 14 14 13 14 13 14 14
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3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill de Blasio is handling his job as Public
Advocate?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 36% 27% 43% 32% 33% 45% 35% 39%

Disapprove 16 24 13 17 14 17 21 17
DK/NA 48 49 45 50 52 37 43 44

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 39% 41% 33% 33% 32% 35% 38%

Disapprove 19 17 13 15 17 17 15
DK/NA 43 42 55 51 50 48 48

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill de Blasio is handling his job as
Public Advocate?

Nov 23 Jun 30 May 21 Feb 17

2010 2010 2010 2010

Approve 36 35 34 37
Disapprove 16 17 16 13
DK/NA 48 48 50 50

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Quinn is handling her job as City
Council Speaker?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 50% 35% 57% 48% 50% 51% 52% 49%

Disapprove 24 31 18 30 23 24 25 32
DK/NA 26 34 25 23 27 25 23 20

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 50% 52% 52% 47% 39% 43% 55%

Disapprove 28 20 19 28 35 32 18
DK/NA 22 28 29 25 26 25 27

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Quinn is handling her job as
City Council Speaker?

APPROVE.......
High Low
Nov 23 Jun 30 May 21 Feb 17 Feb 24 Mar 14 Nov 25
2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2007 2008

Approve 50 45 44 44 42 51 40
Disapprove 24 27 26 28 25 12 29
DK/NA 26 28 30 27 33 37 31

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5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Liu is handling his job as City
Comptroller?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 48% 40% 51% 46% 46% 53% 42% 53%

Disapprove 16 22 13 18 13 14 25 17
DK/NA 37 38 36 37 42 33 33 30

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 43% 49% 40% 58% 45% 50% 47%

Disapprove 25 14 15 13 12 17 15
DK/NA 32 37 44 29 43 34 39

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Liu is handling his job as City
Comptroller?

Nov 23 Jun 30 May 21 Feb 17

2010 2010 2010 2010

Approve 48 47 49 44
Disapprove 16 17 13 11
DK/NA 37 36 38 45

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 66% 23% 84% 54% 49% 90% 72% 71%

Disapprove 30 72 13 40 46 7 24 25
DK/NA 4 4 3 6 5 3 5 4

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
President?

Nov 23 Feb 17 Aug 26 Jul 28 Jun 16 Feb 25

2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009

Approve 66 72 76 74 79 78
Disapprove 30 25 19 20 16 13
DK/NA 4 3 5 6 6 9

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7. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York City
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Very satisfied 6% 4% 6% 5% 7% 3% 7% 5%
Smwht satisfied 44 43 48 38 45 44 37 38
Smwht dissatisfied 31 31 30 35 32 31 32 34
Very dissatisfied 19 22 15 22 15 20 24 23
DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 2 - -

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Very satisfied 3% 5% 8% 6% 3% 5% 6%
Smwht satisfied 41 45 50 39 33 46 42
Smwht dissatisfied 33 29 29 34 31 29 33
Very dissatisfied 21 20 12 21 32 19 19
DK/NA 2 1 - - - 1 1

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York City
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?

VERY+SMWHT...
High Low
Nov 23 Jun 30 May 21 Feb 17 Jul 28 Feb 11 Jul 2
2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 1998 2003

Very satisfied 6 6 7 8 8 18 7
Smwht satisfied 44 43 44 51 51 58 23
Smwht dissatisfied 31 30 32 26 26 18 32
Very dissatisfied 19 20 16 14 14 5 38
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

8. Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the next four years with
Andrew Cuomo as Governor?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Optimistic 73% 52% 86% 63% 70% 78% 76% 69%

Pessimistic 20 40 9 26 23 13 15 26
DK/NA 7 8 5 11 6 8 9 5

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Optimistic 71% 72% 78% 75% 59% 66% 78%

Pessimistic 19 17 18 20 35 26 15
DK/NA 10 11 4 5 6 8 7

9. Do you think Mayor Bloomberg would make a good President or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

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Yes 29% 38% 26% 33% 35% 18% 32% 24%
No 61 53 63 61 58 72 59 67
DK/NA 9 8 11 5 7 11 9 9

TREND: Do you think Mayor Bloomberg would make a good President or not?

Nov 23 Mar 12 Jan 9

2010 2008 2008

Yes 29 45 52
No 61 43 39
DK/NA 9 12 9

10. Do you think Michael Bloomberg will run for President in 2012 or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Yes 29% 27% 30% 27% 24% 36% 33% 29%

No 57 63 57 59 63 48 55 58
DK/NA 14 10 13 14 13 15 12 13

11. Do you think the Bloomberg-for-President talk represents a serious political movement
or just political gossip?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Serious political
movement 24% 24% 24% 27% 23% 21% 29% 25%
Political gossip 65 70 66 63 66 68 63 65
DK/NA 11 6 11 10 11 11 8 9

12. If Mayor Bloomberg leaves before his term expires, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio
would become the Mayor. Do you think Bill de Blasio would make a good mayor or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Yes 27% 20% 30% 23% 24% 34% 27% 27%

No 29 36 26 26 25 29 36 28
DK/NA 45 43 43 50 51 37 38 45

13. In recent weeks Mayor Bloomberg has spoken out on a number of national issues. Do you
think this is good for New York City or don't you think so?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Yes 58% 52% 64% 53% 59% 60% 53% 56%

No 26 33 22 32 24 26 30 27
DK/NA 16 14 15 15 17 14 16 18

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TREND: In recent weeks Mayor Bloomberg has spoken out on a number of national issues. Do
you think this is good for New York City or don't you think so?

Nov 23 Jul 12
2010 2010

Good 58 70
Not good 26 16
DK/NA 16 13

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the public
schools?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 41% 55% 39% 40% 43% 36% 41% 33%

Disapprove 48 31 51 50 43 57 51 61
DK/NA 11 14 11 10 13 7 8 7

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 43% 34% 42% 46% 38% 45% 45% 38%

Disapprove 52 53 46 41 55 46 44 51
DK/NA 4 13 12 13 7 8 10 11

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling the public
schools?

APPROVE....... DIS..
High Low High
Nov 23 Jul 29 Jun 17 Mar 24 Jul 29 May 7 May 7
2010 2009 2009 2009 2008 2003 2003

Approve 41 57 51 47 57 35 35
Disapprove 48 30 37 40 30 52 52
DK/NA 11 13 12 13 13 12 12

15. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York City,
or are you not satisfied?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Satisfied 25% 24% 27% 20% 24% 21% 29% 29%

Not satisfied 63 60 63 67 60 72 63 64
DK/NA 12 16 10 13 16 7 8 8

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Satisfied 42% 19% 29% 18% 26% 41% 29% 22%

Not satisfied 53 73 59 69 63 46 59 67
DK/NA 5 8 13 13 11 13 12 11

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TREND: Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in New York
City, or are you not satisfied? (*Low also 12% on Feb 2004, Mar 2002, Apr 2000 & Mar 1997)
SATISFIED....
High Low
Nov 23 Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 16 Nov 21 Jan 28 Feb 5
2010 2009 2009 2008 2007 2009 2004*

Satisfied 25 30 32 29 27 32 12
Not satisfied 63 58 55 59 55 55 74
DK/NA 12 12 14 12 18 14 13

16. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of public schools in your neighborhood,
or are you not satisfied?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Satisfied 38% 48% 36% 37% 45% 27% 38% 41%

Not satisfied 46 37 50 45 36 62 52 48
DK/NA 15 14 14 19 20 10 10 10

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Satisfied 46% 32% 39% 30% 43% 61% 39% 37%

Not satisfied 52 57 48 47 43 28 47 46
DK/NA 2 12 13 23 14 11 13 17

TREND: Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in your
neighborhood, or are you not satisfied?

SATISFIED....
High Low
Nov 23 Feb 25 Jan 28 Jul 16 Nov 21 Feb 25 Feb 5
2010 2009 2009 2008 2007 2009 2004

Satisfied 38 48 42 43 40 48 27
Not satisfied 46 39 41 45 40 39 56
DK/NA 15 13 17 12 20 13 17

17. Do you think Joel Klein's eight years as New York City School's Chancellor were
mainly a success or mainly a failure?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Mainly a success 46% 53% 44% 47% 51% 43% 40% 39%
Mainly a failure 35 29 36 37 31 39 39 46
DK/NA 19 18 20 16 18 19 20 14

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Mainly a success 46% 46% 47% 49% 43% 40% 50% 43%

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Mainly a failure 40 37 34 32 39 36 32 38
DK/NA 14 18 20 19 18 23 18 20

18. Do you approve or disapprove of Mayor Bloomberg's appointment of Cathleen Black to be

New York City Schools chancellor?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Approve 29% 35% 29% 29% 30% 29% 28% 23%

Disapprove 47 33 48 50 43 52 49 56
DK/NA 25 31 23 21 27 19 23 21

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Approve 25% 27% 30% 32% 28% 22% 29% 29%

Disapprove 62 42 43 45 51 61 49 45
DK/NA 13 31 27 23 22 17 22 27

19. Do you think Cathleen Black has the right kind of experience to be New York City's
Schools chancellor or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Yes 26% 29% 23% 31% 27% 24% 24% 21%

No 51 38 56 47 48 55 53 61
DK/NA 23 33 21 21 24 20 22 18

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Yes 21% 27% 25% 28% 22% 28% 28% 24%

No 63 47 47 50 58 58 52 51
DK/NA 16 25 27 23 20 14 20 26

20. Which kind of experience do you think is more important for New York City's Schools
chancellor - management experience or education experience?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Management 26% 41% 21% 30% 34% 18% 18% 20%

Education 64 51 68 62 57 68 78 68
DK/NA 10 8 11 8 9 14 5 12

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Management 21% 22% 27% 34% 22% 17% 27% 25%

Education 71 68 63 58 66 77 64 65
DK/NA 8 10 10 8 12 6 9 10

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21. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations.
The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there should be an expansion of
charter schools in New York City or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld

Yes 59% 69% 57% 59% 54% 64% 67% 50%

No 32 21 34 34 35 27 25 43
DK/NA 10 10 9 7 11 9 8 7

HvKids
PubSch Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom

Yes 60% 63% 57% 62% 56% 52% 58% 60%

No 36 22 34 31 34 39 34 30

TREND: As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit
organizations. The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there should be
an expansion of charter schools in New York City or not?

Nov 23 Mar 24 Feb 25

2010 2009 2009

Yes 59 62 67
No 32 29 26
DK/NA 10 9 8

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