FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kelly Chesney 313-909-8203 [email protected] Survey Finds “Great Optimism for Detroit” City residents believe things will get better in 2014, overwhelmingly support Duggan DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 26, 2003—A new survey of Detroit voters reveals city residents’ abiding belief in the city’s future, with more than 60 percent of respondents saying things will get better during the next year. “There’s been a tremendous amount of media coverage devoted to Detroit in recent months, but we hope this is the story that sticks,” said Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan. “The people of Detroit are resilient, optimistic, and ready for change.” The survey also tracked the city’s mayoral race, showing Mike Duggan with a 2–1 lead over Benny Napoleon. With a margin of 48–24 percent, Duggan’s lead is substantial and holds in every age group. While voters are optimistic about the upcoming year, they believe the city is on the wrong track right now, by a margin of 35–42 percent. More than 47 percent of Detroiters say that crime is the city’s overriding challenge. They say the abandoned houses, drugs and gangs are leading concerns related to public safety. The survey found that city services remain inconsistent: . More than 40 percent of survey respondents say streetlights never work or do not work very often. Around 64 percent of voters say their garbage is picked up on time “most of the time.” . Just 12% of Detroit residents say that public transportation is on time “most of the time.” Nearly half of voters did not know. “This is hopeful news as all of these issues are solvable,” Rothwell said. “Detroit voters see the city services challenges as problems that can be fixed.” The 600-sample live telephone survey of registered likely 2013 Detroit Mayoral Race general election voters was conducted by the Glengariff Group between September 12–14, 2013 for Business Leaders for Michigan and the Center for Michigan. 35% of respondents were contacted via cell phone. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.0% with a 95% level of confidence. # # # DETROIT SURVEY – SEPTEMBER 2013 Field Dates: September 12-14, 2013 Sample Size: N=600 (Registered Voters) Margin of Error: +/- 4.0% with a 95% level of confidence Conducted by the Glengariff Group, Inc. Hello, my name is ________. I’m not selling anything. I’m doing a quick survey of people in the City of Detroit. It should take no more than five minutes. A. Are you registered to vote in the City of Detroit? 1. Yes….CONTINUE 100.0% (600) 2. No…TERMINATE 1. Thinking about the upcoming Mayoral Election in November, would you say you will definitely vote, probably vote, probably not vote, or definitely not vote in that election? 1. Definitely vote….CONTINUE 88.0% (528) 2. Probably vote….CONTINUE 12.0% (72) 3. Probably not vote….THANK/TERMINATE 4. Definitely not vote…THANK/TERMINATE 2. Generally speaking, do you think things in Detroit are on the right track or would you say things in Detroit are on the wrong track? 1. Right track 35.7% (214) 2. Wrong track 43.2% (259) 3. Don’t Know…DO NOT OFFER 21.0% (126) 4. Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.2% (1) 3. Thinking about the next year, do you think things in Detroit will get better, get worse or stay the same? 1. Get better 60.2% (361) 2. Get worse 7.2% (43) 3. Stay the same 22.2% (133) 4. Don’t Know…DO NOT OFFER 10.5% (63) 5. Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.0% (0) 4. As a resident of Detroit, what is the single biggest challenge you face ever day living in Detroit? RECORD AS WRITTEN/ CODE RESPONSE As a resident of Detroit what is the single biggest challenge you face every day living in Detroit? Number Percent Crime 284 47.3 % Unemployment 40 6.7 % Streetlights not working 16 2.7 % Abandoned homes 41 6.8 % Cost of living 32 5.3 % Poor schools 6 1.0 % Poor city services 77 12.8 % The city's finances 9 1.5 % Misc. 32 5.3 % Nothing 29 4.8 % Don't know/Refused 34 5.7 % Total 600 100.0 % 5. Think for a moment about your quality of life in Detroit. Would you rate your quality of life as excellent, good, fair or poor? 1. Excellent 11.5% (69) 2. Good 34.0% (204) 3. Fair 38.3% (230) 4. Poor 15.5% (93) 5. Don’t Know/ Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.7% (4) 6. How often would you say your garbage is picked up on time: most of the time, some of the time, not very often or would you say it is never picked up on time? 1. Most of the time 64.5% (387) 2. Some of the time 16.2% (97) 3. Not very often 11.3% (68) 4. Never 7.0% (42) 5. Don’t Know/ Refused….DO NOT OFFER 1.0% (6) 7. How often would you say public transportation is on time in your neighborhood? Most of the time, some of the time, not very often or never? 1. Most of the time 12.0% (72) 2. Some of the time 13.3% (80) 3. Not very often 14.3% (86) 4. Never 10.5% (63) 5. Don’t know/ Refused….DO NOT OFFER 49.8% (299) 8. And how often would you say that the streetlights work in your neighborhood? Most of the time, some of the time, not very often or never? 1. Most of the time 36.5% (219) 2. Some of the time 22.7% (136) 3. Not very often 20.2% (121) 4. Never 20.3% (122) 5. Don’t Know/ Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.3% (2) I am going to read you a list of names. For each name that I read, please tell me if you recognize that person. If you do recognize that name, tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion. The first name is….. 9. Rick Snyder NAME ID: 98.7% 1. Heard/ favorable 18.7% (112) 2. Heard/ unfavorable 59.2% (355) 3. Heard/ no opinion 20.8% (125) 4. Never heard of 1.3% (8) 10. Benny Napoleon NAME ID: 98.0% 1. Heard/ favorable 46.5% (279) 2. Heard/ unfavorable 27.0% (162) 3. Heard/ no opinion 24.5% (147) 4. Never heard of 2.0% (12) 11. Mike Duggan NAME ID: 97.5% 1. Heard/ favorable 60.3% (362) 2. Heard/ unfavorable 12.5% (75) 3. Heard/ no opinion 24.7% (148) 4. Never heard of 2.5% (15) 12. If the election for Mayor of Detroit was held today, and the candidates were [ROTATE] Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan, you would you vote for to be the Mayor of Detroit? IF DON’T KNOW, ASK: WHICH WAY DO YOU LEAN? 1. Duggan 45.0% (270) 2. Lean Duggan 3.5% (21) 3. Napoleon 20.8% (125) 4. Lean Napoleon 3.3% (20) 5. Other_______________________/DO NOT OFFER 0.2% (1) 6. Don’t Know….DO NOT OFFER 21.5% (129) 7. Refused….DO NOT OFFER 5.7% (34) 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the job being done by the Detroit City Council? ASK: WOULD THAT BE STRONGLY APPROVE/DISAPPROVE OR JUST SOMEWHAT APPROVE/DISAPPROVE? 1. Strongly approve 2.0% (12) 2. Somewhat approve 16.0% (96) 3. Somewhat disapprove 18.5% (111) 4. Strongly disapprove 54.3% (326) 5. Don’t Know….DO NOT OFFER 8.8% (53) 6. Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.3% (2) 15. In July the City of Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy to help restructure the city’s finances. Do you agree or disagree with Detroit filing for bankruptcy? ASK: WOULD THAT BE STRONGLY AGREE/DISAGREE OR JUST SOMEWHAT AGREE/DISAGREE? 1. Strongly agree 22.7% (136) 2. Somewhat agree 20.2% (121) 3. Somewhat disagree 13.5% (81) 4. Strongly disagree 31.3% (188) 5. Don’t Know….DO NOT OFFER 12.2% (73) 6. Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.2% (1) 16. Who do you think deserves the MOST blame for Detroit’s finances? ______________________________________________ CODE RESPONSE 1. Dave Bing 8.5% (51) 2. Kwame Kilpatrick 18.8% (113) 3. Past Mayors 11.0% (66) 4. City Council 11.3% (68) 5. Kevin Orr / Emergency Manager 0.3% (2) 6. Governor Snyder/ State Government 5.5% (33) 7. Past City Councils 3.0% (18) 8. Federal Government 1.0% (6) 9. Everyone 5.8% (35) 10. Don’t Know 24.3% (146) Other 10.3% (62) 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the job that Kevin Orr is doing as the Emergency Manager for Detroit? ASK: WOULD THAT BE STRONGLY APPROVE/DISAPPROVE OR JUST SOMEWHAT APPROVE/DISAPPROVE? 1. Strongly approve 13.0% (78) 2. Somewhat approve 21.3% (128) 3. Somewhat disapprove 9.7% (58) 4. Strongly disapprove 32.2% (193) 5. Don’t Know…DO NOT OFFER 23.3% (140) 6. Refused….DO NOT OFFER 0.5% (3) 18. When it comes to your safety in Detroit, which do you think is the biggest problem? 1. Street lights not working 11.7% (70) 2. Abandoned houses 30.2% (181) 3. Gang activity 15.7% (94) 4. Drugs 16.5% (99) 5. Or would you say something else?_________________________ 8.0% (48) 6. Not enough police on the streets….DO NOT OFFER 11.5% (69) 7. Don’t Know/ Refused…DO NOT OFFER 6.5% (39) Now just a couple of questions for statistical purposes.