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Most Important Problems Orange County residents seem to be having trouble deciding what the biggest problem is in a decade that has so far been beseiged with troubles. After years of consensus on traffic as the top county issue, residents for the second year in a row have identified a new issue as the biggest public policy problem facing the county. This year, concerns about crime have surpassed all other local topics, with 29 percent calling this the most important problem. Jobs and the economy come second, mentioned by 20 percent. Other issues mentioned less often are immigration (19%), traffic (11%), schools (10%), growth (7%) and housing (4%). In the 1992 survey, 26 percent named jobs and the economy as the most important problem, followed by crime (17%), traffic (14%), schools (13%), growth (11%), immigration (10%) and housing (9%). Mentions of crime increased by 12 points since last year. Concerns about crime have nearly doubled since 1986, when 15 percent called it the most important problem. Crime is the top issue in all age groups, named by 29 percent of those under 55 and 31 percent of older residents. The economy is named second among residents under 55 (22%), followed by immigration (16%), while among older residents, immigration is second (32%), followed by the economy (12%). Traffic is mentioned with equal frequency in all age groups. By region, crime emerges as somewhat less pressing in the South County, where it is mentioned by 23 percent while 21 percent say the economy and 17 percent each say traffic and immigration. In the rest of the county, 32 percent name crime as the top problem, while 20 percent say immigration, 19 percent say the economy, and only 8 percent mention traffic. Among those earning less than $80,000 a year, 31 percent mention crime as the most important issue, 19 percent each mention the economy and immigration, and 11 percent say traffic. Higher-income residents note the economy (22%), crime (20%) and immigration (20%) about equally, while 14 percent say traffic. The most recent survey indicates that a new top issue is emerging in Orange County. Only a year ago, residents faced with a long and deep recession had named jobs and the economy as the top issue, after years of focusing on traffic problems and growth. Certainly, attitudes seem to shift rapidly in these trying times.
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