Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Half Of NY Voters (Correctly) Believe Cuomo Runs The MTA
By
David Colon
Published Jul 18, 2017
Modified Jul 18, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Governor's Office
By
David Colon
Published Jul 18, 2017
Modified Jul 18, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Governor Andrew Cuomo, seen above in his preferred Wacky Races-style way of getting around, has enjoyed playing games with the idea of who really steers the fate of the subway system. (For the record: he does.) And while bold unreality gambits like claiming the MTA, a state agency, is not a state agency, may have worked in the past, the constant nightmare that is the subway system seems to be eroding Cuomo's ability to pin this problem on someone else.
A Siena College poll found that 52 percent of New Yorkers across the state, and 53 percent of New York City residents hold Cuomo most responsible for the state of the MTA. And while 59 percent of New Yorkers say that the governor has done a fair or poor job with mass transit, somehow there's a holdout 26 percent who think he's doing an excellent job with it. Maybe they just ride the Times Square shuttle back and forth?
The bad subway grades and voters' ongoing realization that the MTA is a state agency controlled by the governor of the state of New York has also managed to hurt his reelection chances, with voters tied at 46 percent between reelecting Cuomo or going with someone else. Only 52 percent of voters have a favorable view of Cuomo overall, compared to 61 percent of voters in May.
Bill de Blasio didn't escape from the poll totally unscathed though, as 35 percent of voters in New York City still think he's primarily responsible for the MTA, and 20 percent of voters say he's doing a good job handling the whole mass transit meltdown thing. And despite his well-known contempt for cheap symbolism, it seems de Blasio is at least trying to make good with voters, including experiencing what it is to stand crushed and dead-eyed on an increasingly packed 7 train wondering what sin you committed in a past life to have this be your every day existence.
Tagged
andrew cuomo
bill de blasio
MTA
things relating to state agencies
David Colon
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress
A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.
By
Walter Wuthmann
,
Jon Campbell
and
Brigid Bergin
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .