UCI

Executive Summary

This thirteenth report of the Orange County Annual Survey, UCI, spotlights several top concerns of Orange County residents, most notably: crime and the economy. In addition, we continue to track topics from previous years. The 1994 survey was conducted August 19 to 29 and included interviews with 1,000 adult residents. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percent. Here are the highlights of the findings from this year's survey:

The Orange County Economy

Residents are feeling somewhat better about the local economy this year -- 28 percent say it is in "excellent" or "good" condition, up 8 points from 1993. Still, 54 percent say the county's economy is "fair" and 17 percent call it "poor." Two years from now, 43 percent expect the local economy to be in better shape, 38 percent think things will stay the same and 16 percent think it will get worse. The number forecasting bad times ahead is down 7 points from last year. Optimism about the county's future is greatest in the South County and among those earning more than $50,000 a year.

Consumer Confidence

Consumer confidence reached its highest point so far this decade, with the Orange County Consumer Confidence Index now at 89. This figure is still well below the levels of the 1980s, but is a 16-point increase from last year. Four indicators show large increases since 1993: 49 percent now expect good times nationwide next year (up 20 points), 43 percent expect good national conditions for the next five years (up 12 points), 40 percent say they are better off now than they were last year (up 10 points), and 60 percent say now is a good time for making major purchases (up 8 points). Personal expectations are unchanged, with 42 percent thinking they will be better off next year. The county's median annual household income, $47,000, is the same as in 1993.

Most Important Problem

Crime (31%) is once again named the county's top public policy problem, followed by jobs and the economy(18%), immigration (16%), traffic (12%), growth (9%), schools (8%) and housing (4%). These concerns have changed little since last year. Since 1992, the number mentioning crime has increased 14 points, and the number naming the economy as the top problem has fallen 8 points. South County residents are somewhat less likely to mention crime and more likely to name traffic as the county's most important problem.

Fear of Crime

Almost all residents say crime is a problem in Orange County (89%), with 43 percent calling it a "big problem. "Nearly half (44%) are fearful that they will be the victim of a serious crime, and 7 percent are "very fearful." This is lower than the 53 percent who are fearful statewide. Many Orange County residents say crime fears "very often" or "sometimes" keep them from going to the county's public parks or beaches (39%), shopping malls or stores (31%) and the movies or other entertainment (25%). Central County residents are most likely and South County residents are least likely to avoid going places because of their fear of crime. Less affluent and older residents are also more fearful.

Crime and Public Policy

In evidence of the importance residents place on the crime issue today, four in 10 say they pay a great deal of attention to crime news in the newspapers and on television, while eight in 10 pay at least some attention. Most (53%) have confidence in the ability of the police to protect them from crime, while 46 percent have little or no confidence. Only 24 percent have confidence in the ability of the courts to convict and sentence criminals, while 75 percent have little or no confidence. Compared to the nation, local residents have more confidence in the police and the same level of confidence in the courts. Two in three county residents want tougher gun control laws enacted as a way of dealing with crime, with 48 percent "strongly" favoring this policy, while 30 percent are opposed. Compared to a 1989 national survey, county residents favor gun controls somewhat more than do residents nationwide.

County Perceptions

The county's quality of life ratings are up this year: 13 percent now say things are going "very well," 58 percent say "somewhat well" and 29 percent say "badly." These ratings are the best they have been since 1990. Only 30 percent of residents expect the county to be a worse place to live two years from now -- a 6-point improvement from 1993 - while 43 percent expect no change and 27 percent think the county will be a better place. Drug abuse (30%) is named as the most important social issue facing the county, followed by healthcare (19%), the homeless (17%), race relations (15%), child care (9%), and AIDS (5%). Mention of healthcare has declined over time.

Transportation

Satisfaction with the county's freeways is the highest it has been in the past 10 years, with 20 percent saying they are satisfied with the current system, 49 percent wanting lanes added to existing freeways and 31 percent wanting new freeways to be built. The number who are satisfied with the current freeways is up 6 points since last year. Satisfaction is lowest in the South County. The rate of driving alone to work has dropped to 76 percent, down 8 points from 1989. Among workers, 63 percent say traffic congestion is a problem during their commute, with 17 percent calling it a "great problem." The number calling traffic a great problem is down 11 points from 1989. Residents in the South and North County areas are the most likely to say traffic is a great problem for them.

Growth and Development

Fewer than half perceive rapid growth in their communities (44%), and want stricter growth controls (45%). Forty-eight percent say current growth controls are about right, while 7 percent think they are too strict. These numbers are similar to last year, and signal a stable change in residents' perceptions of growth in their communities. Support for stricter growth controls is at its lowest point since 1982. Central County residents are the most likely to think their communities are growing rapidly.

The Environment

The number thinking that environmental problems pose a serious threat to their health and well-being (35%) has dropped 25 points this decade and 8 points in the past year. Today, 41 percent say the threat is "somewhat serious" and 23 percent call it "not too serious." Younger and less affluent people are relatively more concerned about environmental problems affecting their health and well-being.

Housing

Most homeowners (57%) say buying a home in Orange County is a smart investment, with 12 percent saying it is an "excellent" one and 45 percent saying "good." Fewer than half of renters (47%) agree: 9 percent call an Orange County home an excellent investment and 38 percent say good. Homeowners' assessments are the same as last year, while those of renters have declined somewhat (6 points). Housing costs remained stable in 1994, with the median mortgage at $900 and the median rent at $750. The median rent takes up 29 percent of the median annual income for renters, while the median mortgage comes to 19 percent of the median income for homeowners.

Charitable Giving

The median donation to charity in 1994 was $224, similar to the amounts given through out most of this decade. Twenty-nine percent overall, and 44 percent of those earning more than $50,000 a year, gave more than $500 to charity. Among those earning more than $80,000, 50 percent gave more than $500, down 9 points from 1993. Among college graduates, 43 percent gave more than $500, the same as last year. Volunteering time is considered important by 62 percent, and 64 percent think volunteering can make a big difference in solving community problems. Fifty-five percent say they have volunteered in the past year and 44 percent have done so in the past month, with 26 percent volunteering for more than one organization. One in three residents say they have spent more than five hours doing volunteer work in the past month. Those most likely to volunteer are employed residents, people aged 35 to 54, college graduates and those earning more than $36,000 a year.

Political Climate

Twenty-six percent of voters describe themselves as liberal, 27 percent say they are middle of the road, and 47 percent call themselves conservative. Few are at the extreme ends -- only 7 percent say they are "very liberal" and 16 percent say they are"very conservative." These numbers have remained stable throughout the decade. Among Democrats, 47 percent are liberal, 32 percent are middle of the road and 21 percent are conservative. Among Republicans, 67 percent say they are conservative, but only 25 percent are very conservative, while 21 percent are middle of the road and 12 percent are liberal. Older people are most likely to be conservative and Republican.