This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone January 3-8, 2008, among a random sample of 1,000 adult residents of the District of Columbia. The results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. Sampling, data collection, and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. 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
1/8/08 56 31 8 5
7/18/06 42 46 7 5
5/19/02 54 33 8 5
2/7/00 69 22 6 3
8/27/98 47 46 NA 7
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
2. Would you say you are optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the District of Columbia?
Optimistic Pessimistic No opinion
1/8/08 79 15 6
5/4/97 67 27 6
2/29/96 66 29 5
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Adrian Fenty is handling his job as Mayor? Is that approve/disapprove strongly or just somewhat?
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/8/08 72 32 40 21 11 10 7
1/8/08 RV 72 31 41 22 11 11
Compare to Anthony Williams:
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
7/18/06 RV 54 20 34 40 16 24 6
5/19/02 RV 64 24 40 29 11 18 7
5/19/02 All 64 22 42 28 11 17 8
2/7/00 77 36 40 17 9 7 7
Compare to Marion Barry:
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
5/18/98 35 16 19 52 17 34 14
5/4/97 31 13 19 63 21 41 6
5/19/96 50 25 25 47 21 26 3
3/02/95 58 28 30 27 13 14 15
Compare to Sharon Pratt Kelly:
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
5/18/98 54 20 34 42 19 23 4
4. What is the biggest problem facing the District today, the one you want the mayor to work the hardest to solve? 5. (IF NAMED ISSUE, Q4) What problem is next on your list?
Top 1 issue:
1/8/08 7/18/06 RV 5/19/02 RV 2/7/00 RV
Improving schools/education 40 24 19 19
Crime/violence 26 38 22 19
Housing costs/Low income housing/
more/affordable housing 7 16 15 2
Poverty/homelessness 4 2 1 3
ECONOMIC: 4 5 14 14
Creating more jobs/employment
Opportunities 2 3 9 8
Economic development/improving
quality of life 1 2 3 4
Improve tax structure 1 1 2 2
SERVICES: 3 5 11 18
Improving city services 2 4 8 14
Improve social services 1 1 3 4
Improve city government/increase
efficiency/less corrupt 3 1 3 4
Want D.C to be self-governing/
have representation
in congress 1 1 3 2
Traffic/parking problems 1 1 2 2
Balanced budget/improve finances 1 1 1 2
Tax/tax office scandal 1 NA NA NA
HIV/AIDS 1 NA NA NA
Health care 1 NA NA NA
Youth 1 NA NA NA
Terrorism/Homeland Security/
Protecting city from attacks * 1 2 NA
Improving race relations/
equal opportunities * * 2 4
Drugs * NA NA NA
Taxis/taxi meters/zones 0 NA NA NA
Miscellaneous 5 2 2 3
Nothing * 0 * 5
No opinion 2 3 4 3
Top 1 or 2 issues NET:
1/8/08
Improving schools/education 60
Crime/violence 41
Housing costs/Low income housing/
more/affordable housing 17
ECONOMIC: 16
Creating more jobs/employment
Opportunities 8
Economic development/improving
quality of life 5
Improve tax structure 3
SERVICES: 8
Improving city services 6
Improve social services 2
Poverty/homelessness 7
Improve city government/increase
efficiency/less corrupt 6
Traffic/parking problems 4
Want D.C to be self-governing/
have representation
in congress 2
Tax/tax office scandal 2
Health care 2
Terrorism/Homeland Security/
Protecting city from attacks 1
Improving race relations/
equal opportunities 1
Balanced budget/improve finances 1
Taxis/taxi meters/zones 1
HIV/AIDS 1
Drugs 1
Youth 1
Miscellaneous 13
Nothing *
No opinion 2
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that the D.C. Council is handling its job?
----------Approve---------- --------Disapprove--------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/8/08 56 11 45 29 16 13 15
5/19/02 56 9 46 34 23 11 10
2/7/00 50 11 39 40 24 16 10
5/4/97 38 9 29 51 28 23 11
2/2/92 53 12 41 38 24 14 9
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the job that the D.C. Council member from your ward is doing?
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/8/08 62 27 35 18 8 10 20
2/2/92 58 21 37 26 15 11 17
8. Now I'm going to mention some issues that face our community, and for each, please tell me whether you think Mayor Fenty is doing an excellent job, good, not-so-good or poor job in dealing with this issue:
1/8/08 Summary Table*
--Excellent/Good--- --Not-so-good/Poor-- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor op.
a. Improving city
services 65 9 56 31 23 8 5
b. Appointing competent
and qualified people
to serve in city
government 63 13 50 32 23 9 6
c. Improving District
public schools 52 12 41 42 24 18 5
d. Reducing crime in
the city 41 5 36 55 40 15 4
e. Making it easier for
people with moderate
or low incomes to
buy homes in the city 27 3 24 59 38 21 14
f. Eliminating waste and
inefficiency in city
government 51 7 44 40 28 12 9
g. Attracting new
business to the
District 66 14 52 22 16 7 12
h. Creating more jobs
for D.C. residents 41 4 37 46 31 15 13
*Items a-d asked of full sample; items e,g asked of half sample; items f,h asked of other half sample.
Trend where available:
a. Improving city services
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
1/8/08 65 9 56 31 23 8 5
Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 60 7 53 38 26 12 2 2/7/00 68 18 50 30 20 10 2
b. No trend.
c. Improving District public schools
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
1/8/08 52 12 41 42 24 18 5
Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 31 3 28 58 38 20 11 2/7/00 45 5 40 44 30 14 11
d. No trend.
e. No trend.
f. Eliminating waste and inefficiency in city government
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
1/8/08 51 7 44 40 28 12 9
Compare to Anthony Williams:
2/7/00 68 12 56 26 19 7 7
Compare to Marion Barry:
5/19/96 32 7 25 63 33 30 5 2/29/96 28 3 25 61 31 30 11
g. Attracting new business to the District
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
1/8/08 66 14 52 22 16 7 12
Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 68 16 52 26 17 9 7 2/7/00 64 12 53 28 22 6 7
h. Creating more jobs for D.C. residents
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
1/8/08 41 4 37 46 31 15 13
Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 43 5 38 46 29 17 11 2/7/00 54 7 48 34 24 11 11
9. How would you characterize the relations between Mayor Fenty and the District Council: excellent, good, only fair or poor?
---Excellent/Good--- ---Fair/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Fair Poor opin.
1/8/08 32 3 28 59 52 7 9
Compare to:
How would you characterize the relations between Mayor Kelly and the District Council: excellent, good, only fair or poor?
---Excellent/Good--- ---Fair/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Fair Poor opin.
2/2/92 17 1 16 79 64 15 4
10. (IF MAYOR/DISTRICT RELATIONS ARE FAIR/POOR, Q9) Who do you mostly blame for the relations not being better, (Fenty) or (the Council)?
Fenty The Council Equal (vol.) No opinion
1/8/08 32 46 17 5
Compare to:
And who is most to blame that relations between the council and the mayor are not better: Kelly or the D.C. Council?
Kelly The Council Equal (vol.) No opinion
2/2/91 34 42 15 9
11. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the number of African Americans Fenty has appointed to serve in city government?
----Satisfied---- ---Dissatisfied--- No
NET Very Smwt NET Smwt Very opinion
1/8/08 58 22 36 24 12 12 18
12. Generally speaking, how would you rate:
1/8/08 Summary Table
--Excellent/Good - Not Good/Poor No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Poor op.
a. District police 61 8 53 37 27 10 2
b. District public schools 23 3 20 71 38 33 5
c. Streets in good repair 46 8 38 53 33 20 1
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.
1/8/08 61 8 53 37 27 10 2
1/8/08 RV 61 8 53 38 27 10 1
7/18/06 RV 53 6 47 43 30 13 4
5/19/02 RV 66 8 58 30 20 10 4
5/19/02 All 65 8 57 31 21 10 4
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 district public schools are doing
-Excellent/Good- -Not Good/Poor-- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
1/8/08 23 3 20 71 38 33 5
1/8/08 RV 24 3 21 72 38 34 4
7/18/06 RV 15 1 14 78 35 43 7
5/19/02 RV 26 2 24 61 36 25 14
5/19/02 All 26 3 24 59 35 23 15
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.
1/8/08 46 8 38 53 33 20 1
1/8/08 RV 48 9 39 51 32 19 1
7/18/06 RV 46 5 41 53 32 21 2
5/19/02 RV 43 4 39 56 34 22 1
5/19/02 All 43 4 39 55 33 22 2
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
13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Natwar Ghandi is handling his job as D.C. Chief Financial Officer?
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/8/08 38 10 28 40 18 22 22
Compare to:
Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Andrew Brimmer is handling his job as chairman of the Financial Control Board?
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
5/4/97 46 14 32 32 18 14 22
14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Michelle Rhee is handling her job as Chancellor of the D.C. public schools?
Approve Disapprove -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/8/08 59 27 32 29 14 15 12
15. For each of the following people, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don't know enough to say.
1/8/08 Summary Table*
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
a. Marion Barry 49 42 9
b. Joe Gibbs 57 10 33
c. Police Chief
Cathy Lanier 69 15 16
d. Cathy Lanier 38 12 51
e. District Council
Chairman Vincent
Gray 46 15 39
f. Vincent Gray 39 9 52
*Items a,b asked of full sample; items c,d asked of half sample; items e,f asked of other half sample.
Trend where available:
a. Marion Barry
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
1/8/08 49 42 9
1/8/08 Dem 53 40 7
8/29/02 Dem 43 48 10
5/19/02 Dem 44 51 5
5/18/98 Dem 47 44 9
2/2/92 35 58 6
b. Joe Gibbs
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
1/8/08 57 10 33
2/2/92 73 5 22
c. Police Chief Cathy Lanier
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
1/8/08 69 15 16
Compare to Police Chief Charles Ramsey:
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
5/19/02 73 15 12
d. No trend.
e. Cathy Lanier
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
1/8/08 38 12 51
Compare to Charles Ramsey:
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
5/19/02 55 12 33
f. No trend.
16. 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
1/8/08 74 24 50 26 16 11 0
1/8/08 RV 76 24 53 24 15 8 0
7/18/06 RV 72 15 57 28 19 8 1
5/19/02 RV 74 25 49 26 16 10 *
5/19/02 All 74 27 47 25 16 9 *
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
Questions 17-21 held for future release.
22. I'm going to read you a list of issues that some people point to as problems in the DC public school system. For each, tell me whether you think it is a big problem, a small problem, or not a problem in District public schools.
1/8/08 Summary Table
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
a. The quality of the teachers 81 47 35 12 7
b. The condition of buildings
and other facilities 92 78 13 4 5
c. The way the school chancellor
and the Board of Education
have managed the school
system's budget 77 56 21 13 10
d. The presence of violence or
crime in the schools 93 74 19 3 4
e. The quality and availability of
books and other instructional
materials 87 65 22 6 7
f. Students who are undisciplined
and disruptive 92 75 17 3 5
g. Lack of parental involvement 91 76 14 5 5
h. The school district's central
administration office 75 50 25 9 16
Trend where available:
a. The quality of the teachers
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
1/8/08 81 47 35 12 7
1/8/08 RV 83 47 35 12 6
7/18/06 RV 77 45 32 11 12
b. The condition of buildings and other facilities
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
1/8/08 92 78 13 4 5
1/8/08 RV 92 79 13 4 4
7/18/06 RV 92 78 14 4 4
c. No trend.
d. The presence of violence or crime in the schools
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
1/8/08 93 74 19 3 4
1/8/08 RV 94 74 20 2 4
7/18/06 RV 92 75 17 2 5
e. The quality and availability of books and other instructional materials
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
1/8/08 87 65 22 6 7
1/8/08 RV 87 64 23 7 6
7/18/06 RV 79 60 18 8 13
f. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
1/8/08 92 75 17 3 5
1/8/08 RV 92 75 17 4 4
7/18/06 RV 91 75 15 2 7
g. Lack of parental involvement
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opin.
1/8/08 91 76 14 5 5
1/8/08 RV 91 77 14 5 4
7/18/06 RV 88 73 15 4 9
h. No trend.
23. Which of the issues you named as big problems would you say is the ONE biggest problem facing District public schools?
1/8/08 1/8/08 RV 7/18/06 RV
Lack of parental involvement 20 20 20
The condition of buildings
and other facilities 12 12 17
The way the chancellor and
the Board of Education have
managed the school system's budget 12 11 NA
The presence of violence or crime
in the schools 12 13 15
Students who are undisciplined and
disruptive 12 13 11
The school district's central
Administration office 10 10 NA
The quality and availability of books
and other instructional materials 9 7 6
The quality of the teachers 8 9 7
No big problems 3 3 5
No opinion 2 2 3
24. As you may know, control of the D.C. public schools was transferred to the mayor last year. Overall, do you think the mayor's being in charge has made the school system (better), (worse) or has it not made a difference?
Better Worse No difference No opinion
1/8/08 39 7 46 8
25. Going forward, do you think the mayor's being in charge will make the school system (better), (worse) or won't it make a difference?
Better Worse No difference No opinion
1/8/08 68 8 19 5
26. As you may have heard or read, some employees in the District's Tax and Revenue department reportedly stole millions of dollars from the city. How closely have you been following this story - very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not closely at all?
-----Closely----- -----Not Closely----- No
NET Very Smwht NET Not too At all opinion
1/8/08 70 32 38 29 16 14 1
27. Do you think the situation is (a sign of broader problems with the way city finances are handled), or do you think it's (pretty much an isolated incident)?
Sign of broader problems Isolated incident No opinion
1/8/08 70 25 5
28. The District's Chief Financial Officer is appointed by the mayor, but serves independently. Would placing that financial authority with an agency more directly under the mayor's control make things (better), (worse) or wouldn't it make a difference?
Better Worse No difference No opinion
1/8/08 38 15 38 8
29. What do you think is more important - to protect the rights of Americans to own guns, or to control gun ownership?
Protect rights Control ownership No opinion
1/8/08 18 79 3
4/22/07* 32 60 8
*National survey by the Pew Research Center
30. District law bans private handgun ownership and requires that rifles and shotguns kept in private homes be unloaded or have a trigger lock. Do you support or oppose this law? IF SUPPORT: Is that strongly or somewhat support?
IF OPPOSE: Is that strongly or somewhat oppose?
Support -Oppose- -- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/8/08 76 60 16 23 8 15 1
Questions 31-37 held for future release.
