9 In 10 New Yorkers Say Tax Rich Before Cutting Services: Poll

NEW YORK CITY — A solid 90 percent of New Yorkers have a three-word solution for the state’s budget woes: tax the rich.

That’s the central finding of a poll conducted by a coalition of unions and released Tuesday. The survey found broad support for raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers over cutting social services like education and health care.

Any tax hike on the rich likely would impact the poshest New York City dwellers. And, indeed, the poll found 93 percent of those surveyed supported a pied-a-terre tax on New York City luxury worth more than $5 million, according to a release.

“This poll makes clear: an overwhelming majority of New Yorkers want our leaders to ask the wealthy to pay more so everyone can survive,” said Michael Kink, director of Strong Economy For All, in a statement. “The choice is simple: New York State can continue to cut essential services for New Yorkers in need during a pandemic, or the wealthiest can pay more.”

The poll was discussed in a Tuesday teleconference with scheduled speakers state Sen. Robert Jackson, who hails from Manhattan, and representatives of numerous unions including SEIU 1199.

The state faces a $30 billion two-year budget deficit which could lead to deep cuts in services. Similarly, the city faces a $9 billion hole and is on the brink of issuing up to 22,000 layoff notices.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has regularly questioned taxing wealthy New York City residents. They’ll simply leave the city and likely the state as well, he has argued.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, on the other hand, has shown less interest in appeasing rich New Yorkers.

“I think it's a fool's errand,” he told Errol Louis in an Aug. 10 interview. “I think the fact is build your whole foundation with working people and the needs of working people.”