The People’s Pulse

Elevating New Yorkers’ Voices and Top Issues in Citywide Elections

New Yorkers Speak Out on Affordability, Mental Health, Public Safety and More

As New York City heads into a pivotal election year, The People’s Pulse, a new issues-based survey, finds that New Yorkers are deeply concerned about and directly affected by the city’s affordability and public safety, while also believing the city faces a mental health crisis.

Background

The People’s Pulse was created to ensure that the voices of New Yorkers drive the conversation in this critical election year.

Commissioned by Brooklyn Org, The New York Community Trust, The Staten Island Foundation, and the Altman Foundation, and led by the 5BORO Institute, The People’s Pulse aims to amplify the voices of everyday New Yorkers in civic conversation.

With responses from 3,000 New York City adults across all five boroughs, the survey provides insight into the most pressing issues shaping residents’ lives.

The Results

As New York City heads into a pivotal election year, a new, issues-based survey finds that New Yorkers are deeply concerned about and directly affected by the city’s affordability and public safety, while also believing the city faces a mental health crisis. Despite concerns about the overall health of the city, a majority of New Yorkers have strong connections to their neighborhoods, rating them as excellent or good.

Key Findings

Affordability is a top concern for New Yorkers

48%

of respondents say they have considered leaving NYC, citing affordability as the number one reason
61%

say it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet basic needs such as housing, food, healthcare, and education
42%

say housing costs are their biggest financial burden
78%

say the cost of housing has gotten worse in recent years

The mental health crisis is worsening

84%

of New Yorkers believe the city is in a serious mental health crisis
77%

say too many individuals suffering from mental illness are left without adequate care
58%

express empathy for those struggling with mental health and substance abuse in public spaces
73%

support city-funded programs that combine mental health support with public safety initiatives to reduce crime and violence

Public safety concerns persist

50%

of New Yorkers feel less safe than they did five years ago
68%

avoid the subway at certain times due to safety concerns
49%

say safety concerns affect their willingness to spend time outside
39%

say they or someone they know have witnessed or experienced a crime on the subway

New Yorkers want leadership that listens

75%

of respondents say it is important for the city to support small, local organizations focused on social, economic, and housing issues
59%

favor more funding for grassroots organizations
49%

support legislation to provide faster pathways to work authorization for immigrants to address labor shortages and boost the economy
50%

of respondents believe their vote makes a difference in city elections

Methodology

The People’s Pulse was conducted by the polling firm Slingshot Strategies. It is a multimodal survey of 3,000 adults in New York City in English, Spanish, and Mandarin from January 21st to January 30th, 2025. The sample is weighted to education, age, gender, race, county, and 2024 election results, with a margin of error of ±2.51.

View Top-line Data

Acknowledgements

The People’s Pulse survey is an initiative commissioned by Brooklyn Org, The New York Community Trust, The Staten Island Foundation, and the Altman Foundation, and spearheaded by the 5BORO Institute. This first-of-its-kind collaboration builds upon the many years that these organizations have devoted to listening to and investing in New York City’s communities.

The findings will be shared with residents, the media, and candidates running for office to ensure that the real concerns of New Yorkers shape the citywide elections.