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Steve Levy’s Thin Grasp of Numbers

Posted October 20, 2009 by Patrick Young, Esq.

“Siena Poll Shows Levy Very Popular With Hispanic Voters”.
That was the headline of the press release sent out by Steve Levy’s office.
The lead sentence: ” A Siena poll commissioned last week by Newsday indicates that Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy holds a 57 percent to 16 percent favorability rating amongst Hispanic registered voters on Long Island.”
Of course, Levy was happy to tell the media that he was overjoyed at the result:
Levy also responded enthusiastically about his high favorability rating amongst the Hispanic demographics. He stated, “Despite some of the biased and negative media reports that have been critical of my opposition to illegal immigration, my support among the Hispanic population remains very strong. This does not surprise me. I have always told folks in the media that Hispanic voters care about the same things as do other demographics: low taxes, good schools, safe neighborhoods, and proper law and code enforcement. The overwhelming majority of Hispanic residents are just as concerned about overcrowded housing on their block as is any other demographic. They are just as concerned about ensuring those doing business with the county play by the rules.”

Levy added, “I represented heavily Hispanic areas in Central Islip and Brentwood in the state assembly and received huge victory margins in those areas. I knocked on doors to speak to the people of these communities on a daily basis and became convinced that they were just as concerned as anyone else about ensuring that their neighborhoods are not overrun by illegal housing or an illegal, underground economy. Despite the negative reports from extremist groups and a handful of illegal immigration advocates, this poll shows that our policies have been accepted across the board by the people of Suffolk County.”

I’m not sure if I’m an “extremist group” or “a handfull of illegal immigration advocates”.
But I do know how to count.
A total of 37 Latinos were part of the survey. 29 of them lived in Suffolk.
21 out of the 37 Latinos surveyed said they liked Levy.
And he crows about it.
No indication in the press release of the size of the sample. No indication that it is not considered of sufficient size to be scientifically meaningful.
My colleague Ted Hesson talked to the pollsters who conducted the survey. They admit, along with anyone else familiar with polling, that you cannot tell what a group thinks based on 37 interviews.
But Levy needs to feel loved.
And, self-love is the Greatest Love of All.