NYers support fixes to lax laws: poll

New Yorkers overwhelmingly support changes made to bail reform in the recently passed state budget — but only about a third believe it will help drive down crime, according to a new wideranging survey released Monday.

Two-thirds of state voters said they supported changes to the state’s bail-reform law that will make it easier for judges to jail defendants for gun crimes, violations of protection orders or multiple appearance tickets, according to the Siena College poll.

Just 14% of voters said they opposed the changes.

“While the original bail reform law is still viewed as bad for the state, 54-34%, down a little from 56-30% last month, that largely depends on which side of the aisle you sit on,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a press release. “The overwhelming majority of Republicans and independents continue to say the law has been bad for the state, and Democrats, by a narrower but growing margin say the law has been good for New York.”

The poll, conducted between April 18 and April 21, found that less than a quarter of voters approve of $600 million in state money to help fund a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills, while nearly three-quarters of voters support a six-month suspension of state gas taxes passed in the state budget that adds up to 16 cents.

Meanwhile, more voters support than oppose the legalization of to-go cocktails and authorization for additional downstate casinos.

And a slight majority of voters said they support a $4.2 billion bond act that will be on the statewide ballot this November.

Gov. Hochul backed changes to cash bail and promised money for the Bills stadium and other controversial provisions of the plan.