People’s Pulse Survey Highlights Brooklyn Voters’ Voices and Top Issues in 2025 Elections

• Issues-focused survey from Brooklyn Org, The 5BORO Institute, and leading NYC foundations finds affordability, mental health and public safety are top concerns 
• Nearly half of Brooklynites say they have considered leaving New York City, with 45% citing high housing costs as the primary reason 
• More than 60% of Brooklyn residents believe the city is in a mental health crisis and three of four say that too many individuals suffering from mental illness are left without adequate care 
• When asked how they feel about individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues in public spaces, 60% expressed empathy, saying they feel sad that those in need are not receiving adequate support 
• 50% of respondents in Brooklyn say they support legislation to provide faster pathways to work authorization for immigrants as a way to address labor shortages and boost the city’s economy 
• Seventy-five percent of New Yorkers surveyed say it is important for the city to support small, local organizations focused on social, economic and housing issues; close to 60% favor more funding for grassroots organizations 

As Brooklyn voters prepare to select new leadership in the 2025 elections, a new, issues-based survey finds that residents are deeply concerned about and directly affected by the city’s affordability and public safety, while also believing the city faces a mental health crisis. Despite concerns about the overall health of the city, 50% of Brooklyn residents rate their neighborhoods as an excellent or good place to live.

Nearly half (49%) of Brooklynites say they have considered leaving the city, with 45% citing the high cost of housing as their top concern and 35% citing the cost of food, utilities, and clothing. While the cost of living and the pressure it exerts on New Yorkers is top concern, 51% of Brooklynites with children under the age of 18 say that they expect to stay in the city while their children grow up.

The People’s Pulse survey is an initiative commissioned by Brooklyn Org, The New York Community Trust, The Staten Island Foundation, and the Altman Foundation, and spearheaded by the 5BORO Institute. This first-of-its-kind collaboration builds upon the many years that the organizations involved have devoted to listening to and investing in New York City’s communities. The survey aims to amplify the voices of everyday New Yorkers in civic conversation.

The survey, which reached 3,000 New York City adults across all five boroughs, offers insights into the most pressing issues facing residents. Its findings reveal that large majorities of city residents are grappling with an affordability crisis, harbor deep concerns about public safety, and are increasingly disconnected from the electoral process.

Housing remains the most significant financial burden, with 45% of Brooklyn residents citing it as their top economic challenge, and more than 80% say that housing costs have worsened in recent years.

Financial strain has prompted many Brooklyn residents to reshuffle their living arrangements, with 30% of New Yorkers reporting that they or someone they know has had a family member move in to save money, while 39% say they or someone they know had to move in with family to stay afloat. These numbers highlight the extent to which affordability concerns are reshaping not just individual lives, but also household dynamics and community stability.

A wide majority of Brooklyn residents (85%) believe that the city is facing a serious mental health crisis. Most New Yorkers prefer an approach that would help their neighbors, with 58% saying they feel mostly empathy for those on the streets or subways struggling with mental health, substance abuse, and other issues. Nearly one-third of respondents (29%) say that the city should prioritize expanding mental health and housing support to those experiencing mental health issues and homelessness.

New Yorkers surveyed strongly support city-funded programs that combine mental health support with public safety initiatives to reduce crime and violence. However, 60% say they are not confident in the city government’s ability to address major challenges facing the city.

Jocelynne Rainey, President and CEO of Brooklyn Org: “As Brooklyn voters prepare to select the slate of leaders who will guide our city for the next four years, it is imperative that the authentic voices and views of our residents are at the center of the debate. The People’s Pulse is an opportunity for all of us, and especially the candidates for elected office, to truly listen to the voices of our communities.”

“The People’s Pulse was created to ensure that the voices of New Yorkers drive the conversation in this critical election year,” said Grace Rauh, Executive Director of the 5BORO Institute. “The findings in this survey makes clear that the housing affordability crisis is having a profound effect on our city and forcing Brooklyn’s families to adjust their living arrangements in significant ways. New Yorkers want the city to take meaningful action on affordability, public safety, and mental health, but few have confidence that it can make a difference.”

Key Findings: 

Affordability is a top concern for Brooklyn residents

• 49% of respondents say they have considered leaving NYC, with affordability concerns being the number of reason
• Housing costs are the biggest financial burden for 45% of respondents
• 81% say the cost of housing has gotten worse in recent years
• 62% say it is increasingly difficult to meet the basic costs of living like food, healthcare, housing, and education
• Nearly one in three New Yorkers said they or someone they know had to move in with a family member to save money in the past few years
• 35% of Brooklynites said they or a family member have struggled with food insecurity in the last few years

Mental health crisis worsening 

• 85% believe New York is experiencing a serious mental health crisis
• 60% say too many individuals suffering from mental illness are left without adequate care ● When asked which approach NYC should prioritize to address mental illness and homelessness on the subway system, respondents said:

○ Expand mental health and housing support programs (30%)

○ More police and security on subway platforms and subway cars (21%)

○ Increase the presence of outreach teams and social services (19%)

○ Involuntary commitment for people unable to care for themselves (16%)

Public safety concerns persist 

• 48% of Brooklyn residents feel less safe than they did five years ago
• 64% say they avoid the subway at certain times due to safety concerns
• 39% say they or someone they know have witnessed or experienced a safety-related incident on the subway
• 36% say they or someone they know have witnessed a crime in public

Migrants in NYC 

• 50% would support legislation to provide faster pathways to work authorization for immigrants as a way to address labor shortages and boost the city’s economy

Voter engagement challenges 

• While only 48% of respondents believe their vote makes a difference in city elections, a strong share of New Yorkers (71%) say they think voting is important to New York’s social and economic future
• 43% say more information about candidates and ballot measures would increase their likelihood of voting

Nonprofit Sector

• 75% of respondents say it is important for NYC government to support small, local organizations that are focused on addressing social, economic and housing issues in communities across the five boroughs
• 56% say they favor more city funding for grassroots, community-based organizations to hire staff, improve their work and reach more people in need

About the People’s Pulse 

The People’s Pulse was conducted by the polling firm Slingshot Strategies. It is a multimodal survey of 3,000 adults in New York City in English, Spanish, and Mandarin from January 21st to January 30th, 2025. The sample is weighted to education, age, gender, race, county, and 2024 election results, with a margin of error of ±2.51.

The findings from the People’s Pulse will be shared with residents, the media, and candidates running for office to ensure that the real concerns of New Yorkers shape the citywide elections. 5BORO Institute and its partners will continue working to elevate these voices in public debates, media coverage, and candidate forums. The People’s Pulse partners thank the New Yorkers who participated in this randomized survey.

For more information on the People’s Pulse, visit fiveboro.nyc/peoplespulse/

About the 5BORO Institute 

The 5BORO Institute is an innovative think tank dedicated to strengthening New York City through creative and actionable public policy solutions. By partnering with policymakers, the private sector, academia, and community leaders, 5BORO tackles NYC’s most complex challenges to ensure the city remains vibrant and resilient.

About Brooklyn Org 

Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn bringing together community changemakers to be a new model for local philanthropy, built from the ground up, in pursuit of a more equitable and just borough. Since its founding in 2009, Brooklyn Org has moved over $130 million to nonprofits through its strategic grantmaking and Donor Advised Funds, while driving action to address urgent crises and long-term change in Brooklyn. Learn more at brooklyn.org.

The New York Community Trust is New York’s largest community foundation, serving New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. For more than 100 years, The Trust has brought together the local knowledge and diverse expertise of its team and nonprofit and philanthropic partners to support thriving and equitable communities and help donors champion the causes they love. The Trust makes approximately $200 million in grants each year from its charitable funds set up by individuals, families, foundations, and corporations.

The Staten Island Foundation supports initiatives to improve the quality of life on Staten Island, particularly for the least advantaged, with a focus on education, health, and economic security. Strategies to accomplish the mission include financial support; providing leadership for the community; collaboration with grantees, funders, and other entities; and building the capacity of local organizations to better fulfill their missions.

Altman Foundation works to enrich the quality of life in New York City through support for programs and institutions that advance opportunity and equity for individuals, families, and communities.

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CONTACT: 

Matt Sollars, matt@anatgerstein.com, 347-925-0101