Poll: Majority of N.Y. Voters Optimistic About Direction of State

A new NY1/YNN-Marist poll finds that for the first time in a decade, a majority of New Yorkers are optimistic about the direction in which their state is moving.

Fifty-two percent of New York voters who responded to the poll said the state is moving in the right direction, compared to 40 percent who say the Empire State remains on the wrong track. Marist noted the last time a majority of New Yorkers thought the state was moving in the right direction was in Oct. 2002, when 51 percent of voters said New York was on the right track.

The poll also noted that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a 58 percent approval rating, while 76 percent of respondents said they have a favorable impression of the governor. Seventy-six percent of registered New York voters also described Cuomo as a good leader for the state.

Cuomo had a 55 percent job approval rating in a NY1/YNN-Marist Poll in November--less than five months after he signed the state's marriage equality bill into law. Seventy-five percent of New York voters who responded to that poll described the governor as a good leader for the Empire State.

Poll: Cuomo Remains Popular Among N.Y. Voters

A new NY1/YNN-Marist Poll finds that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo remains popular among New York voters a year after he was elected.

Fifty-five percent of respondents said they think Cuomo has done either a good or excellent job in Albany, while 70 percent have a favorable impression of the governor. Another 75 percent of voters who responded to the poll described Cuomo as a good leader for New York. And 65 percent of respondents said they believe the governor has fulfilled the promises he made on the campaign trail.

Cuomo signed the state’s marriage equality bill into law on June 24. The governor’s $132.5 billion state budget for 2011-2012 that lawmakers approved in late March contained the first spending reduction from the previous year since 1995. Cuomo also signed an ethics reform bill into law in August designed to curb corruption that has long-tarnished state politics.

Sixty-three percent of respondents said that Cuomo is having a positive impact in Albany.

State Senate passes marriage equality bill

The state Senate earlier tonight approved a marriage equality bill by a 33-29 margin. The measure will become law 30 days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs it.

Andrew Cuomo reaffirms support for marriage equality

In an apparent response to those who questioned his commitment to marriage equality, Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged New Yorkers to contact their legislators and urge them to support a marriage equality bill in a video he released on Monday, May 23.

"This is a matter of fairness and equality," said Cuomo.

Watch live streaming video from newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor at livestream.com

State Sen. Diane Savino [D-Staten Island] confirmed to marriage equality supporters in Manhattan on Thursday, May 19, that there are currently 26 pro-marriage votes in the state Senate. The measure needs 32 votes to pass.