New York City voters and suburbanites are sharply divided on congestion pricing, according to a poll released Thursday.
Fifty-four percent of voters in the five boroughs supported charging motorists a fee to enter midtown Manhattan, while 42 percent did not, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
In the more car-dependent suburbs, the results were flipped: 55 percent gave a thumbs down to the idea, while 40 percent were for it.
Statewide, voters were almost evenly split — 45 percent for the fee and 44 percent against.
Likewise, New Yorkers were divided on whether to ban non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags, with 48 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed.
Upstaters were most supportive — 52 percent backed the ban, while 44 percent didn’t.
But in New York City, only 46 percent were on board for the bag ban and 49 percent were opposed. Suburbanites were also divided, with 45 percent ready to get rid of the bags and 48 percent opposed.
There was also a huge partisan gap: Nearly 60 percent of Democrats supported the ban, while nearly two-thirds of Republicans didn’t.
“Given that more Democrats support a ban on plastic bags, what’s surprising is that opposition is greater in New York City than it is in upstate New York,” said pollster Mary Snow.
On other issues:
– 65 percent support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, while only 31 percent are opposed. About 6 in 10 voters also back allowing the sale of weed in their community. But 58 percent are concerned that marijuana use will lead to increased auto accidents.
– 84 percent endorsed the so-called “Red Flag” bill, which would allow police, family members or educators to petition a judge to remove guns from a person who may be at risk of violent behavior. Similarly, 82 percent support extending the waiting period for gun purchases from three days to 10 days.
– 73 percent support a new state law strengthening abortion rights, while only 22 percent objected.
– Voters were split on whether New York should establish a single-payer, government-run health care system, with 45 percent opposed and 40 percent in support. Democrats overwhelmingly backed the measure while Republican and independent voters strongly opposed it.
The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 929 New York state voters from Jan. 16 to Jan. 21 and has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.