While there is considerable agreement among regions on many issues, residents of the tri-state region are significantly more concerned with high state and local taxes than are residents of the four other regions. Eleven percent of tri-state area residents cite high taxes as the most disliked thing about their community, ranking just behind crime. Another issue where significant differences arise is the tri-state region's use of and satisfaction with its public transportation system. Lack of good public transportation is less of a problem in the tri- state region than in the four others. Tri-state residents also had less of a problem moving around without a car.
People are willing to spend money to improve specific quality of life issues.
More than half of the respondents would personally spend money to preserve open space and manage parks. Listed in order as most important are safe streets, clean air and water, quality public schools, race relations, greenery and open space, employment opportunities, a sense of community, affordable housing, high taxes and uncongested roads and highways. The New York region is viewed quite negatively by the rest of the country. Less than one in ten would move to the tri-state region if given the opportunity. The sampling error for subgroups is larger.