From the Morning Memo: Though most New Yorkers are yet to use the ride-share app Uber, a majority of voters believe city officials are motivated by campaign contributions from the yellow car industry to limit the company’s growth, a Quinnipiac University poll this morning found. The survey of New York City voters found 65 percent believe campaign donations from the traditional cab industry is playing a role in the opposition from some city officials to Uber. A plurality, 47 percent, oppose limits to the ride-share company’s growth, while more than half — 53 percent — do not believe a cap would reduce traffic in the city. A bill the company contended would have capped its growth in the city set aside after Gov. Andrew Cuomo raised concerns with the legislation. Still, only 21 percent of voters have used Uber, but the company itself receives a favorability rating of 42 percent to 15 percent, and 40 percent of voters say they don’t know enough about it. Traditional car service is still the preference of 43 percent of voters, with 24 percent registering a referencing for the yellow cab. Nineteen percent say they prefer Uber. When it comes to brining the big-box store Walmart to New York City, voters there support the retailer’s arrival, 55 percent to 39 percent. Wal-Mart in the city also has the backing of labor households, 54 percent to 41 percent. Nevertheless, voters have mixed opinions on the retailer: 70 percent believe it would hurt small businesses, while 71 percent believe the store’s low prices help customers. The survey of 1,108 city voters was conducted from July 30 through Aug. 4. It has a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. 081015 NYC ISSUES + BP.doc by Nick Reisman
Voters in New York are showing support for Uber, with 47% saying elected officials are trying to limit Uber because of campaign donations from the yellow cab industry rather than acting in the city"s best interest. And 65% said they opposed efforts to limit Uber in New York, compared to 40% who supported such efforts.