Some time ago, we did a poll [1] to find out what issues our readers are most concerned about. The poll received 150 responses; the poll question was What's your top New York political issue in 2007?
The results show an interesting divergence between what our readers want and what most New York blogs seem to be writing about. Nobody cares about the Presidential race (well, one respondent named it) as much as about the need to reform Albany.
Poll results and some rudimentary analysis on the flip.
This poll was launched on 02.27.07 and closed today, 04.03.07. For respondents, n=150.
A plurality, 71 of 150 votes (47%), went to legislative dysfunction and the Brennan Center reforms. Election reform, another eyes-glaze-over process issue in the conventional wisdom, was the runner-up, with 21 votes or 14%. Urban development and eminent domain, arguably one of the top-of-mind issues for City Progressives, came in third, with ten votes or 9%.
Interestingly, the issues that animate our so-called "legislature" - taxes, education, healthcare - didn't really register. This suggests a profound disconnect between the high-information voters and political actors who read this blog, and the legislative actors in Albany.
One thing this poll makes absolutely clear is this: we need to fix Albany first. A commenter puts it thus:
Stopping Legislative dysfunction will help several other issues on the list. That includes police issues,cleaning up the senate, flipping the senate, and bringing money to the school system.
Is Albany listening?
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