PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey of Los Angeles

Some findings of the current survey

• Los Angeles residents are stunningly unhappy with some key indicators of quality of life: Large majorities say traffic congestion on freeways and major roads (74%) and the availability of affordable housing (64%) are big problems in the county today, up markedly from just two years ago (67% traffic, 54%affordable housing).
• Assessments of police protection and the quality of parks, beaches, and recreation facilities have fallen considerably from the ratings given only one year ago. In addition, only one-third of county residents give excellent or good ratings to the condition of streets and roads (32% today, 51% in 2004) and public schools (36% today, 43% in 2004).
• County residents are more likely to believe that the county will be a worse place to live in twenty years (37%) than a better place (24%).
• Only 28% of the likely voters in the city of Los Angeles say that they trust their city government to do what is right just about always or most of the time.
• Crime and gangs remain the top issue concerning county residents (21%), followed by education (17%), and traffic (10%).
• One-third of county residents hope to leave Los Angeles County in the next five years.

This survey ” the third in an annual series of PPIC surveys of Los Angeles County ” is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey, which periodically includes regional and special-theme surveys. The intent of this survey is to provide an objective, in-depth profile of the public opinions, policy preferences, and economic, social, and political trends in Los Angeles County i the most populous county in the nation.