Poll: New York voters oppose housing migrants in SUNY dorms
Asylum seekers at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan in May. Credit: Getty Images/Michael M. Santiago
ALBANY — Most New York voters oppose using dormitories at public colleges to house migrants this summer while a plurality support a study that could lead to reparations for slavery, according to a statewide poll released Wednesday.
Findings of the Siena Research Institute poll include:
- By a margin of 54% to 33%, voters oppose the use of dorms on the State University of New York campuses to temporarily house migrants to the United States.
- Respondents by a margin of 46% to 40% oppose relocating some new migrants from New York City to other counties in the state.
- By a margin of 45% to 37%, voters support creation of a commission to study slavery and discrimination against Black Americans and propose remedies such as reparations and legislation. But there was a steep partisan divide over the issue: Sixty-one percent of Democrats supported the commission while 64% of Republicans opposed it.
Legislation approved by the State Legislature this month that would automatically seal criminal records of most prisoners after they complete their sentences also elicited partisan responses.
Under the The Clean Slate Act, records would be sealed after three years for misdemeanors and eight years for most felonies if individuals stay out of legal trouble. Defendants convicted of sex crimes or other serious crimes such as intentionally taking a life wouldn’t be eligible.
The poll showed 44% of Democrats supported Clean Slate, while 33% opposed it. Among Republicans, 55% opposed the measure and 26% supported it.
About 2.3 million New Yorkers could have their records sealed under the measure.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, is considering whether to sign the legislation.
As for Hochul, the poll showed little movement in her favorability ratings. The poll found 42% of voters viewed Hochul favorably, while 43% had an unfavorable view. A month ago, 40% had a favorable view of her and 45% had a negative view. The poll pegged Hochul's job approval rating at 48% positive and 44% negative, compared with 50% to 44% a month ago.
“While Hochul has been touting her legislative achievements, many voters are not sharing their love with her,” said Steven Greenberg of the Siena College poll.
The poll also found that 58% of New York voters support the indictment of former President Donald Trump on federal charges of mishandling classified documents and obstruction of justice. Thirty-three percent opposed the indictment.
The indictment is supported by 77% of Democrats and 56% of voters not enrolled in a political party. However, 72% of Republicans oppose the indictment.
In a question put only to New York Republicans, 61% said they would vote for Trump compared with 34% who said they would vote for another GOP candidate.
The poll surveyed 816 registered voters from June 20 through Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
