CSS's release of our Unheard Third survey findings. 2016

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Fair Fares:
New poll findsbroad public support for proposal
to offer half-fareMetroCardsto lowest-income
New Yorkers
Findings fromthe UnheardThird 2016survey
October19,2016
Nancy Rankin
Vice President for Policy Research and Advocacy,
Community Service Society

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The Unheard Third 2016
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Q: Do you favor or oppose a policy to make half-price subway and bus fares available to low-
income New Yorkers, or are you not sure? Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly?
Nearly 3 out of 4 New Yorkers favor half-price MTA fares for low-income
city residents; a majority—across incomes—strongly support the idea.
Note: Percentages do not add up to 100% due to omission of responses “Not sure” or “Refused.”

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The Unheard Third 2016
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Q: Do you favor or oppose a policy to make half-price subway and bus fares available to low-
income New Yorkers, or are you not sure? Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly?
Widespread support cuts across party lines, including among
Republicans who favor the idea by more than 3 to 1.
Note: Percentages do not add up to 100% due to omission of responses “Not sure” or “Refused.”

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The Unheard Third 2016
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Q: Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate for mayor who promised to make half-
price subway and bus fares available to low-income New Yorkers, or would it make no difference?
Support for half-fares rises to a voting issue, with little opposition.
A majority—across incomes—would be more likely to vote for a
mayoral candidate who championed half-fares.
45%
52%
40%
4% 3% 4%
32%
26%
37%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
Much more likely Somewhat more likely Much less Likely Somewhat Less likely Makes no difference
67%
57%
62%
Low-Income Moderate-Higher IncomeAll Incomes
5% 4% 5%
Note: Percentages do not add up to 100% due to omission of responses “Don’t Know” or “Refused.”

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The Unheard Third 2016
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45%
56% 53%
43%
32%
24% 27%
35%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
More
Likely
Less
Likely
Makes no
difference
Much more likely Somewhat more likely Much less Likely Somewhat Less likely Makes no difference
62%
72%
71%
58%
All New Yorkers Hispanic Democrats Black Democrats Respondents rating
de Blasio’s
performance as fair
or poor
5%
2% 2%
6%
Over half of black and Latino Democrats say they would be much
more likely to vote for a mayoral candidate who supports the idea.
Q: Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate for mayor who promised to make half-
price subway and bus fares available to low-income New Yorkers, or would it make no difference?
Note: Percentages do not add up to 100% due to omission of responses “Don’t Know” or “Refused.”

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The Unheard Third 2016
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The Community Service Society designed this survey in collaboration with Lake Research Partners, who
administered the survey by phone using professional interviewers. The survey was conducted from July 5th to
August 10th, 2016.
The survey reached a total of 1,717 New York City residents, age 18 or older, divided into two samples:
•1,079 low-income residents (up to 200% of federal poverty standards, or FPL) comprise the first sample:
– 479 poor respondents, from households earning at or below 100% FPL
– 600 near-poor respondents, from households earning 101% - 200% FPL
•638 moderate- and higher-income residents (above 200% FPL) comprise the second sample:
– 432 moderate-income respondents, from households earning 201% - 400% FPL
– 206 higher-income respondents, from households earning above 400% FPL
•This year’s survey also included an oversample of 655 cell phone interviews among adult residents at
up to 400% FPL.
Telephone numbers for the low-income sample were drawn using random digit dial (RDD) among exchanges in
census tracts with an average annual income of no more than $40,000. Telephone numbers for the higher
income sample were drawn using RDD in exchanges in the remaining census tracts. The data were weighted
slightly by income level, gender, region, age, and race in order to ensure that it accurately reflects the
demographic configuration of these populations. Interviews were conducted in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
In interpreting survey results, all sample surveys are subject to possible sampling error; that is, the results of a
survey may differ from those which would be obtained if the entire population were interviewed. The size of the
sampling error depends on both the total number of respondents in the survey and the percentage distribution of
responses to a particular question. The margin of error for the low income component is 3.0%. The margin of
error for the higher income component is 3.9%. The margin of error for the entire sample is +/- 2.36 percentage
points.
How the survey was conducted