The NY Times Polls NYers On Mayor Bloomberg

The New York Times conducted various polls about how New Yorkers feel about Mayor Bloomberg and his policies so far and the consensus is that there is no consensus. While more people approve of him than they did last June (38%, up from the lowest ever for a mayor 24%) and many feel the economy is doing better, they are still wary of his handling of the schools as well as effort to develop the West Side. The poll also shows that many don't want him reelected, but many New Yorkers don't really care about the Democratic challengers. This seems to fit in with Gothamist's impression of Mayor Bloomberg: Clearly a smart man, he's kind of all over the place - we can't get a clear picture of him or what he stands for. Is this because he's a business leader, versus a seasoned politician whose views seem much more ingrained in his/her personality? Maybe it's because we don't know what Mayor Bloomberg's personality is - he's a little vague. Probably a nice man, you know, picks up after his dog, but what is he about, really? And why won't he let Gothamist know what his nickname is?

Gothamist can't help but be reminded of Steinhauer's analysis of the Mayor's attempt to "establish" his charisma in the minds of New Yorkers, especially the part about his struggle to physically express emotions: "His face often remins screwed in the same sideways grin, whether he is giving a speech to business leaders, playing a game of boccie in Corona or talking to third graders in the South Bronx." Gothamist calls this the Bloomberg Billionaire Poker Face.

Some of the numbers from the Times:
46% of New Yorkers disapprove, while 38% approve, the way the Mayor is handling the school system
63% support ending social promotion
66% approve the smoking ban
71% favor NYC bidding for the 2012 Olympics
45% support while 43% do not support building Jets Stadium on the West Side

How do you feel about Mayor Bloomberg? Do you know "what he's about"?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 23, 2004 9:05 AM

Comments [rss]

bloomberg sells us out

Does anyone care that he sold out New York's name as a "brand"? He's a businessman, all right. Unfortunately, New York City is not a business; it's a home for over eight million people.

Richard

I think Mayor Mike greatest strength is his illusive personality. He is a businessman with a cool head. While he does not embody the "New Yorker" as say Ed Koch or Rudy, he is not a polarizing figure generating hatred and chaos. Some how his evasiveness and blurriness has kept the ethnic crazies & special interest loonies confused and let the city try it's best.

natis

I think Bloomy gets a bad rap. As a registered Democrat, I still think he's doing the best that he can given what he's working with. He's a business man and moreso than typical politicians, he knows when he needs to make a tough decision that's not going to be popular and he does it and he makes no excuses for it. Politicians on the other hand make the tough decisions, but then point fingers here and there to maintain points in the polls.

And besides, what would you rather have: a self-made billionaire businessman or a self-made billionaire actor making decisions for you?

no foolin'

We can only see one digit.

Maybe it's actually a 999,999,999 cent store!

Coolfer Glenn

A picture of Mike with a 99 Cent Store in the background. Is that a first?

Brian

I'm no fan of Republicans but SOMETHING has to be done about the awful public school system and any aggressive change to this city's incestuous bureaucracy is going to provoke a hostile response. Bloomberg is, mercifully, the most independently-minded politician I've seen in years. Since this city likes to think of itself as being so special, they should take a little pride in that.

As for the smoking ban, NYCers have gotta get over it. Cali did it years ago and the sky never fell.

--"Opinions are like a**holes - everybody's got one." (me included)

Doctor Memory

My prediction: Bloomberg becomes the least-liked mayor ever to win re-election by a substantial margin in the city of New York.

Evidence for this assertion: (a) Rudy Giuliani (who proved that being a genuinely loathsome human being is no obstacle to re-election here -- and Bloomberg is cuddly by comparison), and (b) the New York City Democratic Party, which seems structurally incapable of nominating anyone other than a blithering party hack as their mayoral candidate. (Heck, if only they could settle on one or two blithering hacks...)

Oh well. Wake me when the Working Families party runs its own candidate. I could rally around that.

Ari

And did I mention his freakish resemblance to Dr. Seuss' Grinch? Right. So there's that and his constant, creepy smirk.

Ari

Uhm... Gothamist, I'll take micro-managing, control freak for a thousand.

And as far as do I like him, does the phrase "wouldn't spit on him if he were on fire" mean anything to you?

But yeah... I don't like Gifford the Dog... oops, politician, much either. Wow, now that I think of it, this reminds me of another election. *lol*