1 Survey Specifics and Methodology
Not all results will sum to 100% due to rounding
In 2005 and 2007, the survey used a Random Digit Dial (RDD) sampling methodology. In the 2013 through 2016 studies, a voter listed sample was used.
The survey was conducted in 2003 and 2001 as well, but results are only presented for the last seven studies.
2 The Quality of Life
and Major Issues
in Bellflower
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2 out of 3 residents rate Bellflower positively
as a place to live—unchanged from 2018
Q2.
Generally speaking, how would you rate Bellflower as a place to live:
is it an excellent place to live, a good place, just fair, or a poor place to live?
4 Salience of homelessness continues to increase
Q3. What do you think is the most serious issue facing the residents of Bellflower that you would like to see City government do something about? *Topic areas are unchanged from previous years, but wording from year to year is different; – indicates item was mentioned by less than one percent or not mentioned at all (Open-ended; Multiple Responses Accepted; Includes Grouped Responses; Ranked by 2023)
5 Homelessness, housing, and crime-related issues top the list of serious problems Q6. 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. ^Not Part of Split Sample (Ranked by Very/Somewhat Serious Problem)
6 There is more modest concern about
traffic and other city services
Q6. 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 (Ranked by Very/Somewhat Serious Problem)
7 Homelessness remains the top concern; concern rose most about housing, taxes, quality of services, government inefficiency, and public transit Q6. 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. ^Not Part of Split Sample, “--” in the table indicates that the question was not asked (Ranked by 2023 Very/Somewhat Serious Problem)
8 Impressions of
City Government Departments and the City Council
9 9
Half of residents continue to have
a positive view of City government;
slightly lower for the Council
Q4a & b. I am now going to mention some City organizations and departments. Please tell me how you would rate the job performance being done by that organization or department. Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? Not Part of Split Sample (Ranked by Excellent/Good Job Performance 2023)
10 Q4c, d, f. I am now going to mention some City organizations and departments. Please tell me how you would rate the job performance being done by that organization or department. Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? ^Not Part of Split Sample (Ranked by Excellent/Good Job Performance 2023)
Ratings for Bellflower departments are little changed from 2018, but most remain down from years prior
11 Residents have a more negative reaction
to Community Service Officers without
hearing their job description
Q4e & g. I am now going to mention some City organizations and departments. Please tell me how you would rate the job performance being done by that organization or department. Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? Split Sample
(Ranked by Excellent/Good Job Performance 2023)
12 Q7. I would like to read you a list of specific services provided by Bellflower's City government to residents of the city. Please tell me how important you think that service is.
We will use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT and 10 means VERY IMPORTANT. (Ranked by Mean Score; Mean Scores on a 10-Point Scale
Where 10 = Very Important and 1 = Not at All Important) Trash collection; fiscal management; public safety; and street, storm drain, and park maintenance are of top importance
13 Q7. I would like to read you a list of specific services provided by Bellflower's City government to residents of the city. Please tell me how important you think that service is.
We will use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT and 10 means VERY IMPORTANT. (Ranked by 2023 Mean Score; Mean Scores on a 10-Point Scale Where 1 = Not at All Important and 10 = Very Important) Residents consider all services tested to be important; sewer/storm drain maintenance is up from 2016
14 Satisfaction With
City Services
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Q5. Would you say that the job the City government is doing is _______? Excellent/
Good
52%
How would you rate the overall job being done by Bellflower City government in providing services to Bellflower’s residents and businesses? Just over half of residents give the City a positive review for the job it is doing providing services
16 Ratings for providing services is little changed from 2018 and fairly consistent since 2015 Q5. Would you say that the job the City government is doing is _______? How would you rate the overall job being done by Bellflower city government in providing services to Bellflower’s residents and businesses?
17 Residents are satisfied on average with all services—but a majority are strongly satisfied with only two services Q8. I am going to mention each service again This time I would like you to tell me how satisfied you are personally with the job that Bellflower’s City government is doing in providing that service for the City’s residents We will use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means NOT AT ALL SATISFIED with the service and 10 means you are VERY SATISFIED with the service. (Ranked by Mean Score; Mean Scores on a 10-Point Scale
Where 10 = Very Satisfied and 1 = Not at All Satisfied)
18 Mean satisfaction ratings are down at least slightly in many areas, including some areas of top concern
Q8. I am going to mention each service again This time I would like you to tell me how satisfied you are personally with the job that Bellflower’s City government is doing in providing that service for the City’s residents We will use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means NOT AT ALL SATISFIED with the service and 10 means you are VERY SATISFIED with the service. “--” in the table indicates that the question was not asked
(Ranked by 2023 Mean Score; Mean Scores on a 10-Point Scale Where 1 = Not At All Satisfied and 10 = Very Satisfied)
19 Mean Importance and Satisfaction Rating Comparisons of Services and Features Q7. I would like to read you a list of specific services provided by Bellflower's City government to residents of the city Please tell me how important you think that service is. We will use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT and 10 means VERY IMPORTANT.
Q8. I am going to mention each service again This time I would like you to tell me how satisfied you are personally with the job that Bellflower’s City government is doing in providing that service for the City’s residents We will use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means NOT AT ALL SATISFIED with the service and 10 means you are VERY SATISFIED with the service. (Based on Average Mean Score for Satisfaction and Importance)
8.09 High Importance, Low Satisfaction
High Importance, High Satisfaction
Low Importance, High Satisfaction
Low Importance, Low Satisfaction
20 Mean Importance and Satisfaction Rating Comparisons of Services and Features Q7/Q8.
(Based on Average Mean Score for Satisfaction and Importance)
7.05 8.09
HIGH
LOW
LOW
HIGH
(Low Importance, High Satisfaction)
(High Importance, High Satisfaction)
(High Importance, Low Satisfaction)
(Low Importance, Low Satisfaction)
21 Public Safety
in Bellflower
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Nearly half of respondents believe crime in their neighborhood has increased in the last five years Q9.
Total
Increased
48%
Total
Decreased
7%
Thinking about the last 5 years, do you think crime in your neighborhood has increased, stayed the same, or decreased?
23 Q9. Thinking about the last 5 years, do you think crime in your neighborhood has increased, stayed the same, or decreased? Perception that crime has increased in their neighborhood is up from previous years
24 Q10. What would you say is the most serious public safety problem in your neighborhood? *Wording Slight Different in Prior Surveys, “--” in the table indicates that the question was not asked
(Open-ended question; Multiple Responses Accepted;
Includes Grouped Responses of 1% or Greater; Ranked by 2023) Homelessness, unsafe driving, and residential theft remain the most salient public safety concerns
25 Opinions Toward Policies to Address Homelessness
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Homeless prevention and response
proposals garner the most support
Q11. I am going to mention some policies that have been proposed to address homelessness in Bellflower. Please tell me whether you would support or oppose increasing public spending on that policy by the Bellflower City government to address homelessness. ^Not Part of Split Sample (Ranked by Strongly/Somewhat Support)
27 3 out of 4 or more residents support
supportive housing, but with less intensity
Q11. I am going to mention some policies that have been proposed to address homelessness in Bellflower. Please tell me whether you would support or oppose increasing public spending on that policy by the Bellflower City government to address homelessness. ^Not Part of Split Sample (Ranked by Strongly/Somewhat Support)
28 The Most Important Thing
the City Can Do to Improve City Services for the People Who Live/Work in Bellflower
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Addressing crime and homelessness remain atop the list of the most important things the City can do to improve services Q12. In thinking about all the issues we have discussed or some other issue related to Bellflower, what is the most important thing the City of Bellflower can do to improve city services for the people who live and/or work in Bellflower? Topic areas are the same from past years, yet descriptions reflect results in 2023; * In past years this category focused on gangs; ** in past years this category included other government issues (Open-ended; Multiple Responses Allowed; Grouped Responses; Ranked by 2023)
30 Summary of Key Findings
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Key Findings
Two out of 3 residents view Bellflower favorably as a place to live—a finding that is unchanged since 2018 but down slightly from years prior.
Homelessness is the most top-of-mind issue, and its saliency continues to rise. Homelessness also tops a list of 17 issues in the proportion calling it a serious problem in Bellflower today.
The proportion who call a lack of affordable housing a serious problem is second only to homelessness—and up notably from 2018 and past years. In addition to housing costs, this year’s study showed a heightened concern about inflation and the cost of living.
Crime rounds out the most mentioned concerns and is a growing concern as well. Concern about crime is near equal to that of homelessness in saliency, and issues related to crime rank just behind homelessness and affordable housing in seriousness on the list of issues tested.
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Key Findings; Continued
Nearly half of residents believe crime has increased in their neighborhood in the past five years—up notably from 2018 and continuing an upward trend from years prior.
When asked the most serious public safety concerns in their neighborhood, homelessness; unsafe driving; and home burglaries, break-ins, and theft were the most mentioned, followed by drug abuse, security and police patrols, and gangs and juvenile violence.
Three out of four or more residents respond positively to increasing public spending on policies that would address homelessness, with policies related to prevention and response generating more intensity of support than those related to supportive housing.
Ratings for Bellflower’s community service officers are modest generally—perhaps reflecting the term “officers” suggests “police.” Positive ratings were higher among those who heard a job description.
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Key Findings; Continued
A majority of residents rate Bellflower City government’s job performance positively, but ratings are slightly lower when considering the City Council specifically. While these ratings are little changed since 2018, the survey revealed increased concern about the quality of Bellflower’s basic City services and inefficiency in City government.
While residents express more concern about quality of City services and government inefficiency, they are at least somewhat satisfied on average with all 16 specific city services tested in the survey—including management of City finances.
Areas where comparisons between importance and satisfaction ratings suggest need for attention or improvement are management of City government finances, road maintenance, neighborhood clean-up, police protection, business development, after-school activities, and graffiti removal.
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