Mayor Eric Adams earns poor marks from New Yorkers in latest Quinnipiac poll

Amid a growing migrant crisis and a federal investigation, Mayor Eric Adams's approval ratings have plunged to the lowest of any New York City leader since 1996, according to a new Quinnipiac poll.

The poll found 28% of city residents approve of the Democrat's performance as mayor, while 58% disapprove. About 14% did not offer an opinion, according to the poll, which was released Wednesday.

"There's no good news for Mayor Adams in this poll," Quinnipiac University poll assistant director Mary Snow said in a statement, adding that the mayor's approval rating is the lowest since they began polling registered voters in 1996.

The previous low was a 31% job-approval rating for former Mayor Michael Bloomberg in July 2003.

Adams, speaking to reporters in front of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday after a series of meetings on the migrant crisis, did not respond to shouted questions about his poll numbers.

In a statement, City Hall spokesman Fabien Levy said: "Incorrect polls come out every day, but the real numbers cannot be questioned: crime is down, jobs are up, and we continue to deliver billions of dollars into the pockets of working people."

The mayor's office also released statements of support from lawmakers, business leaders and activists in response to the "misleading poll."

Among his own party, 35% of Democrats approved of the job Adams is doing while 49% disapproved. 

The poll found 38% of voters feel less safe in the city compared to a year ago, while 8% say they feel safer, and 55% say they feel about the same.

The poll also found that only 40% of New Yorkers believe Adams has strong leadership qualities while 32% said he was "honest and trustworthy."

"In 80 years only three nyc mayors seeking re-election have been defeated," said Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic consultant, in an email. "Their polling numbers were higher.”

Last month, FBI agents seized phones and an iPad belonging to Adams and raided the home of his chief campaign fundraiser as part of an investigation into fundraising during his 2021 campaign.

"Not only are voters giving him poor grades on the job he's doing at City Hall, their views on his character have dimmed," Snow said.

The survey results come about two weeks after a woman said Mayor Adams sexually assaulted her in 1993 "while they both worked for the City of New York."

Adams has denied the accusation.

With Laura Figueroa Hernandez