In a recent Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, it was revealed that Mayor Eric Adams of New York City is facing the lowest approval rating for a Big Apple mayor since the poll's inception in 1996. The survey, conducted through live phone interviews with nearly 1,300 self-identified registered voters from November 30 to December 4, painted a bleak picture for the mayor, with less than a third of voters approving of his job performance.

According to the poll, a staggering 58% of respondents expressed their disapproval of Mayor Adams' performance, while only 28% indicated their approval. This marked a sharp decline for the mayor since his inauguration. The previous lowest-rated New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, garnered an approval rating of 31% in 2003, according to Quinnipiac.

The survey highlighted several issues that have fueled voters' dissatisfaction with Adams. Notably, budget cuts announced by the mayor, as well as his handling of the migrant crisis, homelessness, public schools, and crime, were cited as major concerns by respondents.

Even on the campaign promise of addressing crime, Adams received a setback, with 60% of voters expressing their disapproval of his handling of the issue. This stands as a significant blow to the mayor, considering it was one of the focal points of his campaign.

Mary Snow, a poll assistant director at Quinnipiac, stated, "There's no good news for Mayor Adams in this poll. Not only are voters giving him poor grades on the job he's doing at City Hall, their views on his character have dimmed." The survey also revealed that a majority of voters, 54%, did not view Mayor Adams as "honest and trustworthy," while 55% believed that he lacked "strong leadership qualities."

Although the poll showed that Mayor Adams received more favorable reviews among his political base, with 48% of Black voters approving of his performance, compared to 38% who disapproved, the figures still fell significantly below those of his predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The release of the poll comes at a challenging time for Mayor Adams, as he faces a widening federal investigation into potential foreign campaign contributions during his 2021 mayoral run. Additionally, he has been confronted with a recently filed civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 1993, which he vehemently denies. While neither Adams nor his campaign have been implicated in any wrongdoing, the allegations and ongoing investigations have likely contributed to the decline in public perception.

Regarding the poll results, City Hall spokesperson Fabien Levy defended Adams' leadership and highlighted the positive aspects of his tenure, stating, "Incorrect polls come out every day, but the real numbers cannot be questioned: crime is down, jobs are up, and we continue to deliver billions of dollars into the pockets of working people."

As the mayor prepares to meet with federal officials in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to discuss the migrant crisis, the poll revealed that a vast majority of voters, 85%, expressed concern about the city's ability to accommodate those who have arrived since last spring. Only one-quarter of respondents approved of Adams' handling of the crisis, while two-thirds disapproved.

As the second poll in recent memory to showcase widespread disapproval of Adams' performance, it remains to be seen how the mayor will address the concerns of New York City voters and regain their trust moving forward.