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1 Survey Specifics and Methodology
June 22nd – July 5
th, 2022Dates
Dual-mode Voter SurveySurvey Type
Likely November 2022 Voters in City of BellflowerResearch Population 405Total Interviews
(Full Sample) ±4.9% at the 95% Confidence Level
(Half Sample) ±6.9% at the 95% Confidence LevelMargin of Sampling Error Contact Method(s)
Data Collection Mode(s)
June 2020, January-February 2020, 2018, 2016, 2015 & 2012Surveys Tracking English and SpanishLanguages
(Note: Not All Results Will Sum to 100% Due to Rounding) Telephone
Calls
Email
Invitations
Telephone
Interviews
Online
Interviews
2 3
A plurality have mixed views of the City’s
direction; for the first time since this
question was asked, less than a majority
have a favorable view.
Q1. Do you think things in the City of Bellflower are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track? Differences in Wording of Previous Surveys
41%
56%
55%
65%
64%
50%
15%
10%
11%
16%
18%
21%
35%
22%
23%
16%
9%
13%
11%
19%
18%
13%
2022
June 2020
January-February 2020
2016
2015
2012
Right Direction Wrong Track Mixed Don't Know
4 Cost of living, homelessness and lack of
affordable housing are among the top concerns.
Q7. I’d like to read you a list of things that some people say may be problems facing the City of Bellflower. Please tell me whether you think it is a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all a serious problem in Bellflower today. Split Sample 56%
66%
48%
35%
46%
30%
17%
31%
41%
28%
8%
11%
12%
16%
13%
5%
5%
9%
6%
5%
The cost of living
The number of homeless
A lack of affordable housing
The local economy
A lack of housing affordable for
working- and middle-class
individuals and families
Very Ser. Prob.Smwt. Ser. Prob.Not Too Ser. Prob.Not at All Ser. Prob.Don't Know Total Ser. Prob.
86%
83%
79%
76%
73%
(Ranked by Total Serious Problem)
5 Continued
Q7. I’d like to read you a list of things that some people say may be problems facing the City of Bellflower. Please tell me whether you think it is a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all a serious problem in Bellflower today. Split Sample 33%
29%
24%
14%
14%
5%
38%
42%
30%
38%
33%
17%
10%
18%
34%
33%
32%
34%
5%
6%
11%
13%
18%
38%
13%
6%
A lack of good paying jobs
Blight and abandoned buildings
Traffic and congestion on
local streets and roads
The condition of streets and roads
Lack of adequate parking in the
downtown area
Too much growth and development
Very Ser. Prob.Smwt. Ser. Prob.Not Too Ser. Prob.Not at All Ser. Prob.Don't Know Total Ser. Prob.
71%
71%
54%
53%
47%
22%
(Ranked by Total Serious Problem)
6 7
Potential City Charter Measure
Q3. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it? Shall the Bellflower City Charter to enhance
local control over municipal affairs and
better challenge efforts by agencies outside of
the City’s jurisdictions seeking to impose policies
upon the City’s residents without local approval
and requiring all changes to the charter be
approved by voters, be adopted?
(As Approved by Legal Counsel)
8 21%
23%
6%
6%
9%
16%
19%
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total
Yes
50%
Total
No
31%
One-in-two initially support the proposed
City Charter measure, with overall
three-in-ten initially undecided.
44%
Q3. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it?
9 10
Background Description
Q5. Having heard this, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure to establish Bellflower as a charter city, or “no” to oppose it? Currently, Bellflower is a general law city, meaning that the California Legislature makes generic laws governing the City. Becoming a charter city would give more local authority over Bellflower regulations which are tailored to the specific needs of the community. This measure would establish Bellflower as a charter city to provide more local control in determining land use and contracts with
vendors. About one-quarter of California cities are charter cities, including Downey, Cerritos, Long Beach, Whittier, and Signal Hill.
11 After a brief description of the measure,
overall support increases 25 percentage points and
those having said they would definitely vote yes
increases 21 percentage points – well above the
simple majority threshold needed for passage.
Q3 & Q5. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it? Initial Vote Vote After Description
21%
23%
6%
6%
9%
16%
19%
42%
26%
7%
1%
6%
6%
12%
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total
Yes
50%
Total
No
31%
Total
Yes
75%
Total
No
14%
44%68%
12 13
46%
45%
30%
30%
76%
75%
Much More Incl.Smwt. More Incl.
The fact that other Gateway cities have become charter
cities; that it will better protect local control on building and land use; and that it will allow the city to be more efficient on infrastructure/revitalization projects and the creation of housing are among leading reasons to support the measure.
Q8. I am going to read you some statements made by supporters of this ballot measure. Please tell me if it makes you more inclined to vote yes on the Bellflower City Charter Measure.
(Ranked by Total More Inclined to Vote Yes)
(OTHER CITIES) 8 neighboring Gateway cities, including Downey, Cerritos, Long Beach, Whittier, and Signal Hill, have become charter cities to give them more local control and protect the character and quality of life in their communities. We should do the same. (DEVELOPMENT) Becoming a charter city will give Bellflower and its residents more local control over how and where we build more affordable housing-rather than taking orders from the state to build housing developments that have no size or height limits and no parking and traffic control standards.
14 43%
46%
48%
32%
27%
23%
75%
73%
71%
Much More Incl.Smwt. More Incl.
Q8. I am going to read you some statements made by supporters of this ballot measure. Please tell me if it makes you more inclined to vote yes on the Bellflower City Charter Measure.
(Ranked by Total More Inclined to Vote Yes)
Continued
(COST OF CONTRACTS) Becoming a charter city could potentially reduce the City's costs and improve efficiency for infrastructure contracts related to Bellflower's Business Assistance Program, neighborhood revitalization, and creating housing for working- and middle-class individuals and families. This could save the City significant amounts of taxpayer dollars each year-funds that could be used for other vital city services.
(NO NEW TAX) This measure does not give the City Council the power to raise our taxes. As is the law now, any new tax measure would have to be approved by voters.
(BELLFLOWER FIRST) Becoming a charter city will allow Bellflower to create laws that put our residents and City first. We will have increased protection against unwanted state laws handed down from Sacramento that are not in the best interest of our city.
15 Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
21%
23%
6%
6%
9%
16%
19%
Total
Yes
50%
Total
No
31%
44%
Initial Vote Vote After
Education
Vote After
Description
Q3, Q5 & Q9. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it? After education, overall support increases a modest
one percentage point, from 75 to 76 percent,
but those saying they would definitely vote yes
increases five points, from 42 to 47 percent.
42%
26%
7%
1%
6%
6%
12%
Total
Yes
75%
Total
No
14%
68%
47%
24%
6%
2%
7%
6%
9%
Total
Yes
76%
Total
No
15%
51%
16 22%
17%
20%
23%
43%
41%
Much More Incl.Smwt. More Incl.
Concerns that the City is trying to use the Charter to avoid building more affordable housing and the worry that passing a City Charter could lead to corruption and bankruptcy are among the leading reasons to oppose the measure.
10. I am going to read you some statements made by opponents of this ballot measure. Please tell me if it makes you more inclined to vote no on the Bellflower City Charter Measure.
(Ranked by Total More Inclined to Vote No)
(ANTI-HOUSING) Bellflower housing prices are out of control.
But the City is just trying to pass this charter measure to get around state requirements to build more housing that is affordable to seniors and working individuals and families.
(NO RULES) Becoming a charter city makes it easier for corrupt politicians to line their pockets at our expense. They have greater authority to raise their own pay and give political favors and lucrative city contracts to their corporate special interest and wealthy friends. We've seen this happen before in places like Bell, a city that quickly went bankrupt after adopting a charter.
17 15%
15%
12%
17%
11%
13%
31%
26%
24%
Much More Incl.Smwt. More Incl.
10. I am going to read you some statements made by opponents of this ballot measure. Please tell me if it makes you more inclined to vote no on the Bellflower City Charter Measure.
(Ranked by Total More Inclined to Vote No)
Continued
(MORE TAXES) Supporters say this measure won't raise taxes, but cities that adopt a charter always seem to ask for more taxpayer money soon after. We shouldn't vote for this deceptive measure. (LABOR UNION) Becoming a charter city sounds like a positive reform, but it is really a trick to go after union workers and allow the City to avoid fair wage standards and other laws meant to protect hard working people.
(UNNECESSARY) This measure is simply not necessary.
There's nothing wrong with the way our city runs now.
18 21%
23%
6%
6%
9%
16%
19%
42%
26%
7%
1%
6%
6%
12%
47%
24%
6%
2%
7%
6%
9%
33%
22%
6%
4%
11%
8%
15%
Total
No
31%
Total
No
14%
Total
No
24%
Total
No
15%
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided,
lean yes
Undecided,
lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total
Yes
50%
Total
Yes
75%
Total
Yes
61%
Total
Yes
76%
44% 68% 71% 55%
Q3, Q5, Q9 & Q11. If there were an election today, do you think you would vote “yes” in favor of this measure or “no” to oppose it? After hearing critical statements, overall support drops 15 percentage points, from 76% to 61% -- but remains
above the threshold for passage and the margin of error.
Initial
Vote
Vote After
Education
Vote After
Description
Vote After
Critical Statements
19 20
Conclusions
Initially, 1-in-2 would vote yes on Bellflower becoming a Charter City, but only roughly two-in-ten said they would definitely vote yes.
Three-in-ten are initially undecided on the measure.
After a brief description of what being a Charter City is, particularly around it providing the City an opportunity for more local control, and the fact that one-quarter of California cities are already Charter cities, including Downey, Cerritos and Long Beach, overall support
increases 25 percentage points, from 50% to 75%.
21 Conclusions; Continued
After education, overall support remains high at 76%,
with 47% having said they would definitely vote yes.
After critical statements, overall support drops 15
percentage points, from 75 to 61 percent, but remains
above the simple majority needed for passage and above
the margin of error.
The City Charter measure appears viable at this time;
however, legally permissible outreach to explain why the City is asking voters to decide on this action will be
needed to help voters make an educated decision.
220-6490