PR Newswire Poll Finds New York State Puerto Ricans Strongly Support Congressionally Sanctioned Self-Determination Process For Puerto Rico New Poll Among New York State Puerto Rican Voters Indicates Strong Support for New York's Congressional Delegation to Endorse Legislation (06/05/98, Copyright © 1998 PR Newswire) NEW YORK June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- A poll released today by Puerto Ricans in Civic Action (PRCA) demonstrates that New York State's Puerto Rican voters overwhelmingly support the U.S. House of Representatives' March 1998 passage of the U.S.-Puerto Rico Political Status Act (H.R.856/S.472). Further, the poll demonstrates that they would be much more likely to support candidates in New York's upcoming federal elections who endorse the legislation. "The results of this poll clearly say to New York's Congressional delegation that if they wish to win over Puerto Rican voters in this year's election, then they should support Puerto Rico's right to vote for self- determination," said Miriam Ramirez de Ferrer, M.D., President of PRCA. "In fact, the poll shows that New York Puerto Ricans are much more likely to vote for candidates who support the U.S.-Puerto Rico Political Status Act, like Senator D'Amato." H.R. 856, and its Senate companion bill S.472, which is cosponsored by Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY), would give the people of Puerto Rico a congressionally-sanctioned mechanism for self-determination for the first time in the 100-year U.S.-Puerto Rico relationship. The legislation calls for a 1998 plebiscite allowing the people of Puerto Rico to resolve their political status with three options for island residents: continued commonwealth, statehood or independence. "The poll also shows that political candidates willing to lead the fight in Congress for Puerto Rico's self-determination would receive strong support from New York Puerto Ricans." "The fate of Puerto Rico's political future belongs in the hands of the island's 3.8 million residents," said Ramirez, the founder of PRCA. "After 100 years, the people of Puerto Rico deserve to make their will known in a congressionally-approved process, and today's poll indicates strong support for such a process among New York's Puerto Rican community." Support for granting the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico the right to begin the process of determining their own political status has bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This joint effort marks a crossing of traditional political boundaries because the idea of self- determination is one of the founding principles upon which the United States was built. Ramirez said, "Over the years, it has been the cornerstone of numerous foreign policy initiatives. Therefore, it only seems proper that the people of Puerto Rico have the same opportunities as we advocate elsewhere in the world." The poll was commissioned by Puerto Ricans in Civic Action, a non-partisan civic organization based in San Juan working to secure political equality for the people of Puerto Rico. The Alexandria, VA-based firm of Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates conducted the poll from May 20th to 27th, using 400 registered voters from New York state who are Puerto Rican. The poll also found that: - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 67.5-percent are in favor of giving Puerto Rico residents the right to vote in a plebiscite on the issue of self-determination. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 49-percent had a favorable opinion of Senator D'Amato. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 51.8 are more likely to vote for Senator D'Amato because he supports giving Puerto Rico residents the right to vote in a plebiscite on the issue of self-determination. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 50.3 are more likely to vote for Senator D'Amato if they know that he is leading the fight in the United States Senate for self-determination for Puerto Rico. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 47-percent had a favorable opinion of New York Governor George Pataki. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 44.8-percent had a favorable opinion of New York Senatorial Candidate Geraldine Ferraro. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 50.3-percent had a favorable opinion of Jose Serrano. - When New York's Puerto Rican voters were asked to choose between all the candidates for the upcoming U.S. Senate race in New York, voters narrowly backed Democratic challenger Geraldine Ferraro over Senator Al D'Amato, 44-percent to 39- percent. 17.3-percent of New York's Puerto Rican voters were undecided. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 31.5% identified themselves as Conservative, 30.5% identified themselves as moderate, and another 28.3% identified themselves as Liberal. - Of New York's Puerto Rican voters who were polled, 66.8-percent are registered Democrats, while 19-percent are registered Republicans. CONTACT: Karen M. Jordan, kjordan@mww.com, or 201-964-2362, A.J. Sabath, asabath@mww.com, or 201-964-2389, or David M. Lopez, dlopez@mww.com, or 201-964-2371, all of The MWW Group, for Puerto Ricans in Civic Action Self-Determination Legislation | Puerto Rico Herald Home Newsstand | Puerto Rico | U.S. Government | Archives Search | Mailing List | Contact Us | Feedback