The third annual survey, released at the 2012 MAS Summit for New York City, engages New Yorkers from all five boroughs in reflecting on the livability of their city.
The survey found that the main barriers to living happily in New York, for roughly one-fifth of respondents, are employment concerns, public safety, housing concerns, and the cost of living.
Eighty-four percent of residents surveyed were satisfied or very satisfied with living in New York City. Different boroughs showed varying levels of satisfaction. For example, 91 percent of Staten Island residents were satisfied with their living conditions, whereas 77 percent of Bronx residents were satisfied (and 23 percent of Bronx residents were dissatisfied).
Two-thirds of poll respondents from the Bronx were happy with their local supermarkets. However, on the surface, the services provided wouldn’t seem to inspire this satisfaction, said Finkelstein.
She said city residents feel that they have invested something as part of a community, even in neighborhoods that you wouldn’t expect people to love.
“They know people, people know them. They are imbedded in a deep social network. They’re imbedded in the retail, and service, and friendship-set of networks,” she said.
