The vast majority of city voters support giving free lunch to all public school students, a new poll shows.
The poll done by the Global Strategy Group for the New York State Health Foundation, which supports the proposal, found 82% of New York voters back universal free lunch. Of those, 61% strongly support it and 20% somewhat support it.
Another 14% oppose the idea.
Currently, low-income students get free lunch at city schools. But advocates have been pushing to make the $1.75 meals free for everyone — saying many families struggle to pay for lunch even if they make too much to qualify, while other kids skip lunch because they’re too embarrassed to claim the free meal.
“It’s really sky high,” Melissa Feldsher, who managed the poll, said of support for the proposal.
Mayor de Blasio has balked at funding universal free lunch in his budgets. He ponied up for a pilot program to offer free lunch at all middle schools, but officials have said it did not do much to boost participation.
In the poll, 66% of voters said they’re more likely to vote for a mayoral candidate who supports free lunch for all.
“Eliminating school lunch fees will mean that all kids in New York City public schools, regardless of income, can eat a healthy lunch without fear of stigma and bullying,” said NYS Health president said David Sandman.
De Blasio’s spokeswoman said this week the administration was looking at expanding free lunch to more schools but wants to make sure the money is used wisely.
