A new Siena College Poll shows that by almost a two-to-one margin, New Yorkers believe that the Staten Island grand jury was wrong to not have brought charges against the police officer in the death of Eric Garner. Siena says there were significant partisan, geographic and racial differences. With similar differences, voters favored having the federal government bring civil rights charges against the officer.
The survey also shows that New Yorkers strong oppose a pay raise for legislators by a 63 to 28 percent margin.
The issue of fracking continued to see New Yorkers divided on this issue. The poll was taken before this week's negative findings about the method used to extract natural gas. The survey showed 38 percent of those surveyed against fracking and 35 percent supporting it. But when the poll is broken out among upstaters and downstaters, more upstate residents oppose fracking, than those living in the New York City area.
The Siena poll also showed a majority of New Yorkers supporting the SAFE ACT; and voters were divided on the Dream Act.
On questions about politicians, Governor Cuomo has a 58 to 37 percent favorability rating, up from the last poll taken in October.
And looking ahead to 2016 presidential primaries, among registered Democrats, Hillary Clinton had a strong lead. For Republicans, the poll was tighter, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie leading Mitt Romney.
