CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 79% 9% 86% 3% S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 86	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 85% n/a 33% 5 %
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

NEW YORK 6 : Southeast Queens - Jamaica; St. Albans

The 6th is centered - economically and physically - around John F. Kennedy Airport on Jamaica Bay in southeastern Queens. This majority-black, middle-class district has elected black Democrats to the House since 1986. Bill Clinton took the 6th by more than three-fourths of the vote in both presidential bids. White, middle-class ethnic communities in the northeast and near the district's western border lean Democratic but are more willing to vote across party lines than the rest of the district.

The 6th's eastern border is formed by the line separating New York City's Queens from Nassau County. More than a generation ago, such communities as Springfield Gardens and St. Albans were settled by a burgeoning Irish and Italian Roman Catholic middle class. Today, while the economic profile of these areas is not much different, the demographics are completely changed - most of the residents are black.

The 6th is one of the most economically sound majority-minority districts. Its largest employer, the JFK Airport, provides a steady job base and, combined with health care, municipal government and construction jobs, helps create a strong union constituency.

While most district residents are middle class, some southern Queens communities, including South Jamaica, have historically been troubled by unemployment and other urban ills, including a poor education system, persistent crime and drug abuse. In 1998, statistics showed violent crime declining significantly throughout the district.

Major Industry
Aviation, health care, education

Population
581,812 (1990)

Cities
New York (pt.) 581,812 (1990)

People
100% urban; 11% age 65+ (ranks 24 of 31 in state; middle third nationally); 52% married couples, 25% married couples with children; 15% college educated (ranks 26 of 31 in state; bottom third nationally); 58% white collar (ranks 22 of 31 in state; middle third nationally), 23% blue collar (ranks 12 of 31 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
Non-Hispanic: 23% white, 53% black, 6% Asian; 16% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$36,223 (ranks 11 of 31 in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Queens was home to singers Billie Holiday and James Brown.

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