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Washington Post D.C. Poll The latest Washington Post poll is based on random telephone interviews with 811 adults in the District of Columbia conducted February 4-7, 2000. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. 1. How would you rate the quality of life in Washington? Compared to other cities, would you say Washington is one of the best cities in the nation, above average, below average, or far below average?
--One of best/Above-- -----Below/Far below----
One of Above Average Below Far below No
NET best aver. (vol.) NET aver. aver. op.
2/7/00 57 22 35 30 10 8 2 3
12/84 NA 30 32 27 NA 6 2 3
Compare to:
One of best Above avg. Below avg. Far below avg.
2/29/96 13 49 33 6
2. Do you think things in the District of Columbia are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right Wrong Neither No
Direction Track (vol.) Opinion
2/7/00 69 22 6 3
5/18/98 31 58 4 6
5/4/97 20 71 6 2
5/19/96 14 78 NA 2
3/02/95 15 80 NA 5
3. In general, would you say the quality of life in the District of Columbia is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Better Worse About the same No opinion
2/7/00 52 7 38 2
5/4/97 11 47 41 1
2/29/96 8 56 33 3
9/94 10 45 44 2
12/93 5 55 38 2
1/92 5 66 28 1
12/84 49 17 28 6
4. Would you say you live in the District rather than the suburbs mainly because you like living in the District, or mainly because you’re not in a position to move to the suburbs?
Like living in Not in position Other No
District to move (vol.) opin.
2/7/00 74 22 4 *
2/29/96 60 34 5 1
12/84 72 24 -- 4
5. In recent years, has your neighborhood gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Gotten Gotten Stayed about No
better worse the same opin.
2/7/00 37 11 49 3
2/29/96 17 24 53 6
12/93 13 31 51 5
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Anthony Williams is handling his job as Mayor? (GET ANSWER, THEN ASK:)Is that approve/disapprove strongly or just somewhat?
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
2/7/00 77 36 40 17 9 7 7
7. Do you feel you have a clear idea of what Anthony Williams wants to do as mayor of the District, or not?
Yes No No opinion
2/7/00 49 49 3
8. Now I’m going to mention some issues that face our community, and for each, please tell me whether you think Mayor Anthony Williams is doing an excellent job, good, not-so-good, or poor job in dealing with this issue:
2/7/00
(asked of half sample except where noted)
--Excellent/Good--- --Not-so-good/Poor-- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor op.
A. Dealing with the
D.C. Council 58 6 53 31 24 6 11
B. Improving city
services 68 18 50 30 20 10 2
C. Improving the image
of the city nationally 80 21 58 17 13 4 4
D. Eliminating waste and
inefficiency in
city government 68 12 56 26 19 7 7
E. Reducing corruption
in city government 60 15 45 28 22 6 12
F. Dealing with Congress 68 10 58 22 17 5 10
G. Creating more jobs
for D.C. residents 54 7 48 34 24 11 11
H. Improving District
public schools 45 5 40 44 30 14 11
I. Attracting new
business to the
District 64 12 53 28 22 6 7
J. Keeping the middle
class from leaving
the city 59 8 51 33 26 7 8
k. Improving race
relations in the
District* 62 7 55 30 21 9 8
*full sample
Compare to Marion Barry:
B. Improving city services
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
5/96 35 9 26 63 34 30 2
2/29/96 28 2 26 68 35 33 4
C. Improving the image of the city nationally
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
5/96 35 11 24 63 33 30 1
2/29/96 28 2 26 64 31 33 8
D. Eliminating waste and inefficiency in city government
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
5/96 32 7 25 63 33 30 5
2/29/96 28 3 25 61 31 30 11
E. Reducing corruption in city government
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
5/96 33 5 27 60 32 28 7
2/29/96 25 3 22 61 31 30 14
F. Dealing with Congress
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
2/29/96 43 6 37 50 34 16 7
G. Creating more jobs for D.C. residents
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
2/29/96 29 4 25 59 36 23 12
H. Improving District public schools
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
2/29/96 23 2 21 67 32 35 10
I. Attracting new business to the District
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
2/29/96 26 3 23 62 35 27 12
J. Keeping the middle class from leaving the city
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
2/29/96 22 3 19 66 32 34 12
9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Mayor Anthony Williams understands the concerns of people like you.
Agree Disagree No opinion
2/7/00 60 35 5
10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that the D.C. Council is handling its job? (GET ANSWER, THEN ASK:)Is that approve/disapprove strongly or just somewhat?
---------Approve----------- --------Disapprove--------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
2/7/00 50 11 39 40 24 16 10
5/4/97 38 9 29 51 28 23 11
11. Do you think race relations in the District are getting better, getting worse, or are they staying about the same?
Better Worse About the same No opinion
2/7/00 22 11 65 2
12. Do you think the city’s mayor can improve race relations in D.C., or do you think that’s something the mayor can’t do much about?
Can improve Can't do much about No opinion
2/7/00 48 50 2
13. Who would you say has the most power in DC government these days: The Mayor, The DC Financial Control Board, The US Congress, or the DC Council?
The The D.C. Financial US D.C. No
Mayor Control Board Congress Council opinion
2/7/00 13 16 56 10 5
5/18/98 3 37 49 5 7
14. Who do you think should have the most power in D.C. government these days: The Mayor, The D.C. Financial Control Board, the U.S. Congress, or the D.C. Council?
Mayor &
The DC Financial US D.C. Council Other No
Mayor Control Board Congress Council (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/7/00 51 4 9 17 12 4 3
5/18/98 39 15 12 20 5 2 7
15. I am going to read you a few names. For each please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don’t know enough to say. How about(READ ITEM)?
2/7/00
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
A. Marion Barry 47 46 7
B. Eleanor Holmes Norton 82 7 11
C. Anthony Williams 75 16 9
D. Alice Rivlin 30 8 63
E. Linda Cropp 44 15 41
Trends:
A. Marion Barry
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
2/7/00 47 46 7
5/18/98 42 48 10
5/4/97 37 58 6
5/19/96 55 41 5
2/29/96 51 42 7
3/02/95 65 29 6
6/94 46 46 8
1/92 35 58 7
B. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
2/7/00 82 7 11
5/18/98* 77 7 16
5/4/97 81 8 12
2/29/96 77 8 15
2/95 74 8 18
6/94 78 8 14
1/92 69 12 19
C. Anthony Williams
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
2/7/00 75 16 9
5/18/98* 22 8 70
*asked of half sample
16. What is the biggest problem facing the district today: the one you want the mayor to work the hardest to solve?
2/7/00
Crime/violence 21
Improving schools/education 17
Improving city services 14
Creating more jobs/employment
Opportunities 7
Economic development/improving
quality of life 4
Improve city government/increase
efficiency/less corrupt 4
Improving race relations/equal opportunities 4
Want D.C to be self-governing/have
representation in congress 3
Poverty/homelessness 3
Traffic/parking problems 3
Improve social services 3
Balanced budget/improve finances 2
More/affordable housing 2
Improve tax structure 2
Attracting/keeping residents in the city 1
Cooperating/working with D.C. council 1
Improving the image of the city nationally 1
Miscellaneous 2
Nothing 5
No opinion 3
17. Mayor Williams has begun holding a series of events designed to allow residents to help shape District policy. Do you think he is holding these meetings more because he cares about the District, or more for show?
Cares about More for No
the district show opinion
2/7/00 71 23 7
18. Do you think these outreach meetings will result in meaningful policy changes in the District, or not?
Yes No No opinion
2/7/00 59 29 12
19. Generally speaking, how would you rate (READ ITEM): Excellent, good, not-so-good, poor, or don’t you know enough about this to say? How about (READ NEXT ITEM)
2/7/00 --Excellent/Good-- --Not Good/Poor--
Not No
NET Excel. Good NET Good Poor op.
A. District Police 63 9 54 33 23 10 4
B. District Public schools 32 3 28 56 33 23 12
C. Streets in good repair 32 3 29 65 35 31 3
D. District Fire department 82 21 61 8 6 2 11
E. Household garbage collection 57 9 48 36 20 16 7
F. Parks & recreation facilities 56 7 49 33 22 11 11
G. Department of Motor Vehicles 54 8 45 34 18 16 13
H. Snow removal 47 8 39 51 28 24 2
Full wording and trend where available
A. The job that District police are doing
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 63 9 54 33 23 10 4
5/18/98 49 7 42 45 29 16 5
5/4/97 68 15 53 30 21 9 2
B. The job that the District public schools are doing
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor---- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 32 3 28 56 33 23 12
5/18/98 18 3 16 70 30 39 12
5/4/97 18 2 16 74 35 39 8
C. The job that the District is doing to keep the streets in good repair
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 32 3 29 65 35 31 3
5/18/98 21 2 19 78 34 44 2
5/4/97 18 2 16 81 32 49 1
2/29/96 22 2 20 76 26 50 2
2/95 25 2 23 69 30 39 6
D. The job that the District fire department is doing
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 82 21 61 8 6 2 11
5/18/98 69 16 54 10 6 4 21
5/4/97 79 20 60 8 6 2 12
E. Household garbage collection by the district
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 57 9 48 36 20 16 7
5/18/98 60 10 50 30 17 12 11
5/4/97 56 8 48 34 18 17 9
2/29/96 49 6 43 44 21 23 7
2/95 52 11 41 34 20 14 14
F. The quality of District parks and recreation facilities
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 56 7 49 33 22 11 11
5/18/98 47 6 41 39 22 17 14
5/4/97 52 7 45 38 24 14 9
2/29/96 45 4 41 41 24 17 14
2/95 38 3 35 42 28 14 20
G. The quality of services provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles
--Excellent/Good-- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
2/7/00 54 8 45 34 18 16 13
5/18/98 38 4 35 46 21 25 15
5/4/97 37 4 33 49 25 24 14
20. As you may know, the D.C. school board is elected by District voters. Mayor Williams is proposing that instead of being elected, school board members should be chosen by the city’s mayor. Supporters of the plan say it would allow the mayor to take more direct responsibility for problems in the city’s troubled schools. Opponents say having the mayor appoint the board takes too much power away from D.C. voters. Do you think the mayor should appoint school board members, or do you think the school board should be elected? (If "appoint", follow with: Should the mayor be able to appoint all the members, or just some?)
------Appoint----- Elect No
NET All Some Board opinion
2/7/00 42 19 22 54 4
21. As you may know, the district government is trying to redevelop parts of the city to attract new businesses and residents. Do you think this process of redevelopment is mainly good or mainly bad for (insert item)?
2/7/00 Mainly Mainly No
good bad opin.
A. Whites in the District 85 7 8
B. Blacks in the District 72 21 7
C. The rich 82 7 10
D. The poor 64 29 7
E. District businesses 86 9 5
F. Your neighborhood 78 14 8
G. People like you 79 14 8
H. The city overall 86 10 4
22. These days, how safe from crime do you feel in your neighborhood? Would you say you feel very safe from crime, somewhat safe, not too safe, or not safe at all?
-------Safe-------- -------Not safe--------- No
NET Very Somewhat NET Not too Not at all opinion
2/7/00 80 24 56 20 15 5 1
5/18/98 67 15 52 32 20 12 *
12/93 57 11 47 43 23 20 0
23. Now thinking about the University of the District of Columbia, or U.D.C. Do you think the District should provide more money to U.D.C., less money, or about the same amount as it does now?
More money Less money About the same No opinion
2/7/00 66 5 21 8
24. Mayor Williams may eliminate hundreds of D.C. government jobs in order to reduce District spending and streamline government. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Good Bad No
idea idea opin.
2/7/00 48 46 6
25. Now thinking only about your own situation, have any of the cuts in spending or programs over the past few years hurt you or your family directly?
Yes No No opinion
2/7/00 21 77 2
5/18/98 31 65 3
26. Do you favor or oppose the District of Columbia becoming a separate state?
Favor Oppose No opinion
2/7/00 58 36 6
5/18/98 52 38 10
5/4/97 46 47 7
2/29/96 48 39 13
2/95 45 48 7
12/93 51 41 8
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© 2000 The Washington Post Company
