A Siena College Poll also released this morning finds:

Park Closings Strongly Opposed; Wine in Grocery Stores Keeps Support; Soda Tax Opposition Grows

“By an overwhelming nine-to-one margin, voters oppose the closing of more than 50 parks and historic sites this year, a budget issue that has been the focus of a lot of grassroots public attention,” Greenberg said. “Allowing grocery stores to sell wine, another hotly debated state budget issue, continues to be supported by 57 percent of New York voters, and has majority support among voters of all regions and parties.

“Opposition to the tax on sugared beverages, an issue that has generated big advertising campaigns by supporters and opponents, has grown since last month. Currently 62 percent of voters are opposed to the soda tax, while 34 percent support it. Self described liberal voters are the only group to support the soda tax,” Greenberg said.

Voters Split on Two Proposals in the Ravitch Budget Plan

“Nearly half of the voters oppose the state borrowing up to $6 billion over the next three years. About a quarter support it, with a similar number saying they need more information,” Greenberg said. “Creating a new state financial review board is supported by 46 percent of the voters, with 24 percent opposing it and 30 percent wanting more information.

“A majority of voters continues to tell Siena that they oppose health and education cuts, even if it means raising taxes. And while voters seem to be OK with a new financial review board, it seems clear that Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch has a lot more work to do if he’s going to gain public understanding of and support for his budget proposals,” Greenberg said.