It’s not all bad!
Results of a new survey released on Tuesday showed many New Yorkers are not very happy with the quality of life — yet they gave high marks to the basics that keep the city running, from first responders to libraries to trash collection.
The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC), a civic watchdog group, conducted a Resident Feedback Survey throughout late 2023 asking people to rate the quality of life and core city services. As the organization’s first post-pandemic survey, it showed a sharp drop in citywide satisfaction from 2017.
Statistically speaking, the news is bleak. Only 30% of survey-takers rated the NYC quality of life as excellent or good, down from 50% in both 2017 and 2008. And a third of New Yorkers even go so far as to rate it as “poor.”
“This feedback straight from New Yorkers is a valuable tool to help focus priorities and drive improvements,” CBC president Andrew Rein said. “Of course, it’s important to consider context, coming out of the pandemic, employment just recently returning to pre-COVID levels, and increasing affordability challenges, but what New Yorkers’ responses crystalize the stark reality that they clearly rate the quality of life and quality of city services as not good.”
According to the CBC survey, many city-service ratings declined sharply. Yet, more than 50% of New Yorkers rate services such as fire protection, garbage pickup, 311 and bus services as “excellent” or “good,” the survey reports.
Moreover, the survey found that most New Yorkers felt better about their neighborhoods as places to live, with 50 rating them excellent or good.
Accentuating the positives in NYC
Although the survey showed only 37% rate public safety in their neighborhood as excellent or good, many residents who spoke with amNewYork Metro about the survey Wednesday they are very supportive of the work police are doing.
Angela Kambarian, who lives on Manhattan’s West Side near Hudson Yards, travels through the city often and feels safe on the trains.
“I’m glad to see police patrolling the subways,” she said. “Though, the presence of the National Guard could create unnecessary panic and deter some visitors from coming to NYC.”
Dona Giorgadze, of the Upper West Side, underscored Kambarian’s sentiments about public safety.
“I personally like to see police in the subways,” she said “It makes me feel safe, even late at night.”
As a hat tip to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Kambarian said she has noticed the city getting better with cleanliness, especially in recent years. The survey found that 57% of respondents were pleased with garbage collection efforts citywide. Even the city’s recycling program rated highly at 55%.
“When it comes to garbage collection, in my opinion, things have somewhat improved after the pandemic,” the New Yorker, originally from Moscow, said. “There was so much more garbage everywhere, and while NYC is far from ‘sparkling clean,’ I see less garbage surrounding residential buildings, including mine.”
Giorgadze credits DSNY and her building’s management with her area’s clean streets and sidewalks.
“Our building management is amazing, never see any garbage outside, although the neighborhood itself is a little dirty,” she said. “But I feel it’s also people’s responsibility to not leave their dog poop or even bagged poops on the streets or throw the garbage. The cleanliness varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and time of the day as well.”
New Yorkers seem most pleased with the city’s Fire Department. The survey found that 68% of respondents rated fire services excellent or good, while 65% of them gave the same good marks for EMS.
What New Yorkers love most
As often as New Yorkers like to share complaints about the city, they share compliments and accolades just as much.
Audra Boltion-Ortiz, a native New Yorker, said her favorite thing about the city is its rich history and the way it “reinvents itself.” She enjoys exploring different neighborhoods and learning more about them.
“My favorite thing about New York City is its history,” the public relations executive who now lives in Brooklyn with her husband, said. “New York is the birthplace of the Gilded Age and the Harlem Renaissance. How lucky are we?”
Kambarian said she loves how the city continues to evolve and enjoys living within a lively arts and culture scene. She loves the array of cuisine found around the city, including an especially scrumptious eggplant dish from Rosa Mexicano in Lincoln Center.
“I see so many new buildings, parks, entertainment venues, so many opportunities to see, learn, explore and expand your horizons,” she said. “No matter how much time you spend visiting and revisiting different neighborhoods, museums, there is always something new to see next time.”
Speaking of parks, woven throughout the bustling metropolis of NYC is lots of natural space. Natasha Price says she loves the city’s parks, greenery and gardens.
“I love the parks, the hidden gems you find in each one, the community gardens, that in such a big city you can still find respite amongst nature and flowers,” she said.
New York City: ‘There’s no other place like it’
Marilyn Zayfert of Staten Island loves the city’s diversity.
“I love that everyone around the world is here in NYC. That I learn about and experience so much without leaving home. There is no other place like it,” she said joyfully.
Another Staten Islander, named Carolyn, agrees with her fellow borough resident.
“I like that NYC is a melting pot,” she said. “I like the mix of different cultures and races. I’m glad that my kid has friends from different nationalities and backgrounds.”
