The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released the results of its 2023 Resident Feedback Survey, which showed that New Yorkers generally rate the quality of life and the quality of core city services much lower than they did in 2017.
Only 30% of those surveyed rated the quality of life as excellent or good, down from 50% in 2017 and 2008; and one-third of New Yorkers rate the quality of life as poor. Households with income over $200,000 remained the most satisfied with quality of life in the city, with 45% rating it excellent or very good, according to a news release.
“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."
Progress is needed in many areas, especially for certain populations and in certain neighborhoods, he added. Fortunately, the city leadership’s priorities generally align with New Yorkers’ including safety, housing, and clean streets, parks, and public spaces, Rein said.
The survey notes New Yorkers feel much less safe, only 37% rate public safety in their neighborhood as excellent or good, down from 50% 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.
A summary report and full data reports are available on the CBC website.
