CBC’s first post-pandemic Resident Survey shows sharp drops in citywide satisfaction ratings from 2017; New Yorkers rate life in their neighborhoods generally higher than citywide quality of life; Adams Administration’s priorities align with those of New Yorkers

The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) today released the results of its 2023 Resident Feedback Survey, which shows that New Yorkers generally rate the quality of life and the quality of core City services much lower than they did in 2017. The Survey provides the most comprehensive, statistically valid, post-pandemic view into how New Yorkers feel about the city’s quality of life and government services. By essentially replicating CBC’s 2017 and the City’s 2008 surveys, New Yorkers’ current views can be compared to previous surveys’ ratings.

“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. Tremendous progress is needed in many areas, especially for certain populations and in certain neighborhoods. Fortunately, the City leadership’s priorities generally align with New Yorkers’, including safety, housing, and clean streets, parks, and public spaces.”

Here's an overview of the Survey results.

Quality-of-Life Ratings Plummet

• Only 30 percent rate the quality of life as excellent or good, down from 50 percent in 2017 and 2008; and
• One-third of New Yorkers rate the quality of life as poor;

New Yorkers Happier with Their Neighborhood than City as a Whole

• New Yorkers feel better about their neighborhoods as a place to live, with 50 percent rating it excellent or good; and
• The gap between these city and neighborhood ratings is present in most Community Boards, with the notable exception of southern and central Bronx, where the ratings in each Community Board for both the neighborhood or city quality of life as excellent or good top out at 20 percent;

New Yorkers Feel Much Less Safe

• Only 37 percent rate public safety in their neighborhood as excellent or good, down from 50 percent in 2017; and
• New Yorkers feel only marginally safer riding the subway during the day now as they felt on the subway at night in 2017;

City-Service Ratings Declined Sharply; But Fire Protection, Household Garbage Pickup, 311, and Bus Services among Those with High Marks

• Only 24 percent rate the quality of government services good or excellent, down from 44 percent in 2017; and 
• Still, over 50 percent of New Yorkers rates particular services as excellent or good, including fire protection, household garbage pickup, 311, and bus services; and

Ratings Highest among Wealthiest New Yorkers

• Households with income over $200,000 remained the most satisfied with quality of life in the city, with 45 percent rating it excellent or very good, and

Only 11 Percent Believe the Government Is Spending Tax Dollars Wisely, Down from 21 Percent in 2017.

“We hope City leadership finds this in-depth, standardized data valuable and considers incorporating it into its management systems and policy development,” said CBC Vice President for Research Ana Champeny. “This feedback should complement and be viewed alongside City service performance data to get a sharper view into service quality and to shape continuing conversations with stakeholders on City priorities.”

“CBC’s survey is an important new tool for guiding public policy and investment strategy,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City. “One important indicator from the survey, especially during this budget season, is the level of negative response to how government is spending tax dollars. Another is that traffic is one of the top areas of public dissatisfaction with conditions in the city, which implies support for the long-awaited introduction of congestion pricing as an antidote to gridlock.”

“Hearing directly from New Yorkers is vital, as all sectors- government, nonprofits, and private- do important work for our neighborhoods, but it needs to be the right work,” said Michelle Jackson, Executive Director, Human Services Council. “The Citizens Budget Commission’s NYC Resident Survey is crucial to giving New Yorkers a voice and ensuring New York is working for them. The results of this survey show that we have a lot of work to do, and one of those areas is ensuring New Yorkers can afford to live and work here. The members of the Human Services Council work every day to improve the lives of New Yorkers, and this data is key for them to respond to needs and also advocate for the people they serve.”

“The Survey is a sobering, but hugely valuable assessment of what things matter the most for New Yorkers right now,” said Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director, Center for an Urban Future. “Policymakers should take notice and grasp that there’s still a lot of work to do to make the city more livable and affordable.”

A summary report and full data reports are available on the CBC website.

• CBC Brief: Straight from New Yorkers
• Selected Maps: At-a-Glance Ratings, by Location
• Full Data Report, Compiled by Survey's Research Firm
• Community Board Breakdowns: Ratings by NYC Neighborhood
• Slide Presentation: Full Breakdowns by Categories and Comparisons to Previous Surveys
• Resident Survey Navigator: Interactive Graphics & Maps, with Breakdowns by Demographics and Neighborhood

The 2023 Resident Feedback Survey, administered for CBC by Polco, employed a random sample of more than 125,000 New York City households, with responses from more than 6,600 New Yorkers. Responses were gathered from September through December 2023. The citywide margin of error is +/- 1 percent. The survey is very comparable to CBC’s 2017 NYC Resident Feedback Survey, as well as a similar survey conducted by the City of New York in 2008. Polco conducted all three surveys, using comparable methodology and materials. Most questions were replicated in all three surveys.