Phone survey dials in on people’s opinions
Santa Monicans are primarily concerned about traffic and homelessness — and they are willing to pay for solutions, according to results of a recently-conducted phone survey.
Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities, a coalition of hundreds of residents and business interests, hired Moore Information, a research firm based in Portland, to conduct the survey in March. The firm polled 300 residents throughout the city, of all ethnic backgrounds, 50 percent of whom were male and 50 percent whom were female, said Bob Moore, owner of the research firm.
The firm, which has done other surveys in Santa Monica, used a sample survey based off of voting records. Based on the coalition’s objectives, Moore Information drafted 49 questions to ask respondents that ranged from quality of life issues to how city government should be run.
It was similar to City Hall’s annual survey in that the results show that the community’s top priorities are solving the issues surrounding homelessness in Santa Monica, reducing traffic congestion and eliminating bureaucracy in city government. Those have been the priorities at the top of the list for the majority of locals for years, according to City Hall’s survey, which polls 400 residents at random but represents a cross section of the citizenry.
Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities’ goal is to either force the current city leaders to find solutions or elect people who will.
In the most recent survey, homelessness was once again the most important problem, just as it has been for the past five years in City Hall’s survey.
“The voters are willing to spend money,” said coalition spokesman Seth Jacobson of the survey results. “If we come up with some reasonable solutions that deliver results, they’ll pay.”
When asked what City Hall’s funding priorities should be, the majority of respondents said improving public schools was the priority. The second funding priority was addressing the homeless problem, according to survey results.
Seventy-one percent of residents polled said they would support a regional homeless center in Los Angeles that is supported by area cities. Another 58 percent of the respondents said they would support building several new homeless centers in selected areas throughout the city that offer shelter, as well as drug and alcohol treatment programs and education.
LOOKING FOR POLITICAL BACKING On the political front, Jacobson said a highlight of the survey showed that residents would support more candidates like newly-elected City Councilman Bobby Shriver, who is viewed as a moderate.
An endorsement by Shriver on a particular issue or political candidate would be viewed positively by 39 percent and negatively by 14 percent of those asked, survey results show. The remaining 46 percent said an endorsement by Shriver wouldn’t impact their voting decisions.
Tim Dubois, president and CEO of the Thomas Edwards Management Co., which owns Casa Del Mar and Shutters on the Beach — two hotels that helped pay for the survey — said more politicians like Shriver should be elected to the council.
“I look at Bobby Shriver as a breath of fresh air,” Dubois said. “No one would describe him as a pro-business candidate but he has brought into the discussion long-term solutions to the problems.”
Jacobson said perhaps the most significant highlight of the poll shows that the majority of residents believe City Hall runs inefficiently when it comes to governing and responding to citizens.
“It’s this bubbling, fermenting problem rising to the surface,” Jacobson said. “The community does in fact know that the city is not working properly.”
Survey results show that voters favor changing the city charter to allow the mayor to hold city department heads accountable for their performance (77 percent in favor); make City Council meetings shorter and more efficient (71 percent in favor); and set the agendas for budget discussions for each fiscal year (54 percent in favor).
When asked if they would support a new city government position — a city ombudsman who is responsible for helping businesses and residents navigate through government bureaucracy — 49 percent said they would, even if it meant a tax increase. Thirty-eight percent said they would oppose such a position and 12 percent they didn’t know.
FINANCING PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH LOCAL DOLLARS The survey found that funding issues lead the concerns among residents regarding public schools in Santa Monica. Seventy-six percent of those polled said they support the use of city tax dollars to create and operate after-school programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
A majority of supporters — 55 percent — also support the use of city tax dollars to help fund local schools, in addition to funds already collected from taxpayers by schools. City Hall currently gives to the local school district about $6 million annually from its general fund, as well as millions of dollars in programming and facilities.
TAKING A BITE OUT OF CRIME Three crime prevention proposals offered to respondents generated support, survey results show. A majority — 63 percent — favor increased crime prevention activities in city schools and 58 percent favor more police patrolling downtown Santa Monica on foot; 54 percent are in favor of more officers patrolling in cars.
OPEN SPACE A WORTHY INVESTMENT Homelessness is the leading concern in city parks and natural areas, survey results show. About 63 percent believe there are enough parks and natural areas in Santa Monica. However, 53 percent are in favor of using city tax dollars to purchase vacant land and buildings to create more parks.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 31, 2005. Read the original PDF.