Very interesting New Poll released about Jax

[fsu813]

Jacksonville voters see the city poised for success but many criticize the schools and want City Hall to pay more attention to cultural activities, the economy and downtown development.

Those are some of the highlights from a poll the newly branded Jacksonville Civic Council, a group of about 50 business and civic leaders, plans to use to help shape public policy debate.

The group, which has risen from the shadows of Jacksonville’s political circles in an effort to push the city forward with public-private thinking, released the poll this morning.

Peter Rummell, who’s chairing the group, said the Civic Council is “an army in search of a war.” The poll is the ammunition. The group’s first meeting was Wednesday night.

Rummell said the initial goal is to identify two to three issues to thrust into Jacksonville’s political arena within the next several months.

The poll, which Washington, D.C.-area firm American Viewpoint conducted in early February, was a starting point.

The poll of 400 likely Jacksonville voters carries a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.
Some highlights:

•Among those who believe the city is pointed generally in a good direction are 46 percent of Southside/Mandarin voters, 55 percent from the urban core, 48 percent from the Westside and 39 percent from the Beaches.

•Two of three respondents said they were not satisfied with Jacksonville’s public schools.

•Overall, the majority of voters would like to see City Hall do more to solve the city’s problems, including 51 percent of self-reported conservative voters.

•When asked whether taxes should be kept low or increased to provide city services, the poll found 57 percent of Republicans wanted no tax increase while 63 percent of Democrats were comfortable with a higher tax bill.

•Asked if city government should fund cultural and economic programs for the city, the pollsters got a “yes” response from 70 percent of Southside/Mandarin voters, 79 percent of urban core voters, 71 percent of Westside voters and 74 percent of Beaches voters.

•Asked if City Hall should spend money improving downtown, 65 percent of self-described liberals were in favor, as were 52 percent of self-described conservatives.

•Sweeping majorities of voters representing all neighborhoods, political philosophies and income levels said they believe the Jacksonville Jaguars are important to the city’s economy.

The group refused to release several poll questions gauging respondents’ approval ratings for City Hall and local elected officials, arguing that the information would distract a forward-thinking tone the Civic Council would like to establish.




http://jacksonville.com/news/2010-02-18/story/jacksonville_poll_city_should_do_more_for_ailing_schools_downtown

[brapt]

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but did the entire Northside decline to vote or were they simply not polled?

[JaxNative68]

^not to mention they only polled 400 people.  For a city of our population, that seems low and possibly cherry picked to get the answers they wanted.

[tufsu1]

^not to mention they only polled 400 people.  For a city of our population, that seems low and possibly cherry picked to get the answers they wanted.

not really...as long as it is a good cross-sample, 400 could be just fine....surveys are considered valid when the margin of error is 5% or less

[fsujax]

I really thought this poll could possibly be a good sign for a BJP2 that would include major transit investments.

[vicupstate]

^not to mention they only polled 400 people.  For a city of our population, that seems low and possibly cherry picked to get the answers they wanted.

not really...as long as it is a good cross-sample, 400 could be just fine....surveys are considered valid when the margin of error is 5% or less

National polls are based on 1000 respondents, so 400 for one city/county is not out of  line.

[tufsu1]

I really thought this poll could possibly be a good sign for a BJP2 that would include major transit investments.

I think that will become the main purpose for this group....garner community support for BJ2

[fsujax]

well, i hope they dont miss the transit side of the equation!

[urbanlibertarian]

Would BJP2 involve another sales tax increase or just extend the current .05%?

[tufsu1]

Would BJP2 involve another sales tax increase or just extend the current .05%?

I assume just an extension...the current one ends in the next few years

[Charles Hunter]

I didn't think the current BJP tax ended until around 2030 - earlier if tax receipts are high, which they aren't.  There is a maximum amount the sales tax can be - we may be there.  Seems it would have to be a refi and extension of the existing tax.

I was wondering about the lack of "Northside" respondents, too.  Also, the focus groups were "upper income" and "middle income".  Isn't there a population missing?