UCI

PPIC STATEWIDE SURVEY: SPECIAL SURVEY ON ORANGE COUNTY
NOVEMBER 4—NOVEMBER 10, 2003

1,004 ORANGE COUNTY ADULT RESIDENTS; ENGLISH AND SPANISH
MARGIN OF ERROR +/- 3% AT 95% CONFIDENCE LEVEL FOR TOTAL SAMPLE

1. Is the place you currently live a single-family detached home; an attached home such as a condo, duplex, or town home; an apartment; or another type of dwelling?

53% single-family detached home
27 apartment
17 attached home
3 other

2. Overall, how satisfied are you with the house or apartment you live in? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

62% very satisfied
27 somewhat satisfied
7 somewhat dissatisfied
3 very dissatisfied
1 don’t know

3. Overall, how satisfied are you with the neighborhood you live in? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

62% very satisfied
28 somewhat satisfied
6 somewhat dissatisfied
2 very dissatisfied
2 don’t know

I’d like to ask how you would rate some of the public services in your local area. [rotate questions 4 to 7]

4. How about local freeways, streets, and roads? Would you say they are excellent, good, fair, or poor?

17% excellent
50 good
22 fair
10 poor
1 don’t know

5. How about local parks, beaches, and other public recreational facilities?

33% excellent
48 good
12 fair
3 poor
4 don’t know

6. How about local police protection?

35% excellent
44 good
11 fair
3 poor
7 don’t know

7. How about local public schools?

21% excellent
37 good
12 fair
5 poor
25 don’t know

8. Overall, how would you rate the performance of city government in solving problems in your city— excellent, good, fair, or poor?

10% excellent
43 good
30 fair
8 poor
9 don’t know

Next, we are interested in your opinions about the region or broader geographic area that you live in. I am going to read you a list of problems other people have told us about. For each one, please tell me if you think this is a big problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem in your part of Orange County. [rotate questions 9 to 12].

9. How about traffic congestion on freeways and major roads?

56% big problem
34 somewhat of a problem
8 not a problem
2 don’t know

10. How about population growth and development?

33% big problem
38 somewhat of a problem
27 not a problem
2 don’t know

11. How about the availability of housing that you can afford?
51% big problem
30 somewhat of a problem
16 not a problem
3 don’t know

12. How about the lack of opportunities for well-paying jobs?

23% big problem
39 somewhat of a problem
28 not a problem
10 don’t know

13. Next, we are interested in your opinions about Orange County as a whole. First, what do you think is the most important issue facing Orange County today? [code response; do not read list]

15% population growth, development, sprawl
13 traffic and transportation
13 housing costs, availability, affordability
13 jobs, the economy, unemployment
5 schools, education
5 immigration, legal and illegal
5 crime, gangs
3 state budget, deficit
2 environment and pollution
1 government regulations
1 poverty, the poor
1 drugs
1 El Toro, Great Park
5 other (specify)
17 don’t know

14. In general, how would you rate the economy in Orange County today? Would you say it is excellent, good, fair, or poor?

8% excellent
49 good
33 fair
8 poor
2 don’t know

15. Would you say that Orange County is in an economic recession or not? (if yes: Do you think it is in a serious, a moderate, or a mild recession?)

7% yes, serious recession
19 yes, moderate recession
10 yes, mild recession
55 no
9 don’t know

16. Do you think that buying a home in Orange County today is an excellent, good, fair, or poor investment?

35% excellent
45 good
12 fair
6 poor
2 don’t know

17. Thinking about the quality of life in Orange County, how do you think things are going—very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

32% very well
58 somewhat well
7 somewhat badly
2 very badly
1 don’t know

18. In the future, do you think that Orange County will be a better place to live than it is now, a worse place to live than it is now, or there will be no change?

33% better place
28 worse place
33 no change
6 don’t know

19. How would you rate the performance of county government in solving problems in Orange County—excellent, good, fair, or poor?

4% excellent
36 good
41 fair
11 poor
8 don’t know

20. What type of transportation project do you think should have the top priority for public funds in Orange County? [rotate list]

33% freeways and highways
21 light rail system
18 public bus system
14 local streets and roads
9 carpool lanes
2 other (specify)
3 don’t know

[rotate questions 21 and 22]

21. Do you think that the toll roads—including the Foothill, San Joaquin Hills, and Eastern Corridor—have been a good thing or a bad thing for the Orange County transportation system, or have they made no difference?

52% good thing
15 bad thing
22 no difference
11 don’t know

22. Do you think that a light rail transit line linking the large cities and major employment centers would be a good idea or a bad idea for the Orange County transportation system, or would it make no difference?

70% good idea
10 bad idea
15 no difference
5 don’t know

23. Current state law requires that a local sales tax for transportation projects must be approved by two-thirds of the voters in a local election. What if there was a state ballot measure that would change the two-thirds majority to a 55 percent vote for passing a local sales tax for transportation projects? Would you vote yes or no?

44% yes
49 no
7 don’t know

24. Measure M, the one-half cent sales tax approved by Orange County voters, is funding freeway projects, public transit, and local street improvements. In general, how satisfied are you with the way the Measure M funds are being used for transportation projects in Orange County—very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, or not satisfied?

10% very satisfied
58 somewhat satisfied
20 not satisfied
12 don’t know

25. The Measure M sales tax is currently set to expire in 2011. If an election were held today, would you vote yes or no on an Orange County ballot measure to extend the half-cent sales tax another 20 years to fund transportation projects in Orange County?

65% yes
26 no
9 don’t know

26. On another topic, would you say you (and your family) are financially better off or worse off than you were a year ago?

53% better off
26 worse off
21 same (volunteered)

27. Looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family) will be better off, worse off, or just about the same as now?

45% better off
45 same
6 worse off
4 don’t know

28. Turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next 12 months we will have good times financially or bad times?

63% good times
27 bad times
10 don’t know

29. Looking ahead, in the country as a whole, will we have continued good times during the next five years, or will we have periods of widespread unemployment or depression?

47% good times
42 periods of unemployment or depression
11 don’t know

30. How about the big things that people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, a stove, a television, and things like that—generally speaking, do you think now is a good or a bad time for people to buy major household items?

62% good time
27 bad time
11 don’t know

31. On another topic, do you think things in California are generally going in the right direction or the wrong direction?

50% right direction
40 wrong direction
10 don’t know

32. Turning to economic conditions in California, do you think that during the next 12 months we will have good times financially or bad times?

56% good times
35 bad times
9 don’t know

33. Overall, from what you know so far, do you approve or disapprove of Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plans and policies for California’s future?

55% approve
25 disapprove
20 don’t know

[rotate questions 34 and 35]

34. In your opinion, in terms of priorities for Governor-elect Schwarzenegger, should improving the job situation and the economy in California be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?

66% top priority
28 important but lower priority
2 not too important
1 should not be done
3 don’t know

35. In your opinion, in terms of priorities for Governor-elect Schwarzenegger, should dealing with the state budget and taxes be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?

70% top priority
23 important but lower priority
2 not too important
2 should not be done
3 don’t know

36. In general, how much of the time do you trust the state government in Sacramento to do what is right—just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time?

7% just about always
24 most of the time
58 only some of the time
7 none of the time, not at all (volunteered)
4 don’t know

37. In general, which of the following statements do you agree with more—I’d rather pay higher taxes to support a larger state government that provides more services, or I’d rather pay lower taxes and have a smaller state government that provides fewer services?

38% higher taxes and more services
54 lower taxes and fewer services
8 don’t know

38. On another topic, the state government faces an
8 billion dollar budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year. How would you prefer to deal with the state budget deficit—mostly through spending cuts, mostly through tax increases, through a mix of spending cuts and tax increases, or do you think that it is okay for the state to borrow money and run a budget deficit?

39% mixture of spending cuts and tax increases
36 mostly through spending cuts
8 okay for the state to borrow money and run a budget deficit
7 mostly through tax increases
3 other answer (specify)
7 don’t know

I’d like your opinions on how efficiently state and local governments use your tax money. [rotate block 1 and block 2]

[block 1: questions 39 and 39a]

39. In general, do you think local government in your area could spend less and still provide the same level of services?

63% yes, could spend less [ask q. 39a]
31 no, could not spend less [skip to q. 40]
6 don’t know [skip to q. 40]

39a.How much could local government cut its spending without reducing services? [read list]

32% under 10 percent
38 10 percent to under 20 percent
15 20 percent to under 30 percent
7 30 percent or more
8 don’t know

[block 2: questions 40 and 40a]

40. In general, do you think the state government could spend less and still provide the same level of services?

75% yes, could spend less [ask q. 40a]
21 no, could not spend less [skip to q. 41]
4 don’t know [skip to q. 41]

40a.How much could the state government cut its spending without reducing services? [read list]

21% under 10 percent
40 10 percent to under 20 percent
18 20 percent to under 30 percent
11 30 percent or more
10 don’t know

41. On another topic, do you think things in the United States are generally going in the right direction or the wrong direction?

56% right direction
38 wrong direction
6 don’t know

42. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way that George W. Bush is handling his job as president of the United States?

59% approve
37 disapprove
4 don’t know

43. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way that President Bush is handling economic issues?

55% approve
37 disapprove
8 don’t know

44. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that President Bush is handling terrorism and homeland security issues?

60% approve
37 disapprove
3 don’t know

45. If the 2004 presidential election were being held today, would you vote for [rotate] George W. Bush, the Republican, or for the Democratic nominee?

46% George W. Bush, the Republican
34 Democratic nominee
6 other answer (specify)
14 don’t know

46. If the election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican Party’s candidate or the Democratic Party’s candidate for the House in your district?

43% Republican
35 Democrat
6 other answer (specify)
16 don’t know

47. Overall, at this time, how do you rate the job performance of the representative to the U.S. House of Representatives from your congressional district—excellent, good, fair, or poor?

8% excellent
40 good
30 fair
8 poor
14 don’t know

Which political party—the Democrats or the Republicans —do you trust to do a better job in handling the following national issues? [rotate questions 48 to 50]

48. (Which political party—the Democrats or the Republicans—do you trust to do a better job in handling the issue of) health care?

49% Democrats
35 Republicans
1 both (volunteered)
5 neither (volunteered)
10 don’t know

49. (Which political party—the Democrats or the Republicans—do you trust to do a better job in handling the issue of) jobs and the economy?

40% Democrats
46 Republicans
1 both (volunteered)
3 neither (volunteered)
10 don’t know

50. (Which political party—the Democrats or the Republicans—do you trust to do a better job in handling the issue of) national security and terrorism?

28% Democrats
55 Republicans
2 both (volunteered)
5 neither (volunteered)
10 don’t know

51. On another topic, generally speaking, how much interest would you say you have in politics—a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or none?

26% great deal
45 fair amount
23 only a little
5 none
1 don’t know

52. Some people are registered to vote and others are not. Are you absolutely certain that you are registered to vote?

75% yes [ask q. 53]
25 no [skip to q. 54a]

53. Are you registered as a Democrat, a Republican, another party, or as an independent?

32% Democrat [skip to q. 54b]
45 Republican [skip to q. 54c]
3 another party (specify)
18 independent [ask q. 54a]
2 don’t know

54a.Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican Party or Democratic Party?

30% Republican party
40 Democratic party
19 neither (volunteered)
11 don’t know

54b.Would you call yourself a strong Democrat or not a very strong Democrat?

44% strong
55 not very strong
1 don’t know

54c.Would you call yourself a strong Republican or not a very strong Republican?

61% strong
37 not very strong
2 don’t know

55. How often would you say you vote—always, nearly always, part of the time, seldom, or never?

49% always
20 nearly always
8 part of the time
4 seldom
18 never
1 don’t know

56. On another topic, would you consider yourself to be politically very liberal, somewhat liberal, middle-of-the-road, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?

7% very liberal
20 somewhat liberal
30 middle-of-the-road
30 somewhat conservative
10 very conservative
3 don’t know

[D1-D11: demographic questions]

D5b. (if employed) How do you usually commute to work— drive alone, carpool, public bus or transit, or some other means?

77% drive alone
9 carpool
5 public bus or transit
6 some other means (specify)
3 work at home (volunteered)[skip to q. D6]

D5c. (if employed) Overall, how satisfied are you with your commute to work? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

47% very satisfied
32 somewhat satisfied
12 somewhat dissatisfied
9 very dissatisfied