DECEMBER 15, 2022 – JANUARY 8, 2023
2022 CITY OF OAKLAND BUDGET PRIORITIES SURVEY
320-1052 - WT
N=1270
A/B SPLITS
MARGIN OF SAMPLING ERROR ±3.1% (95% CONFIDENCE LEVEL)
Hello, I'm ________ from _______, a public opinion research firm. We’re conducting a survey about issues that concern people in Oakland. I am not trying to sell you anything and I won’t ask for a donation of any kind. (IF RESPONDENT WISHES TO COMPLETE THE INTERVIEW IN SPANISH OR CHINESE,
PLEASE HAND OFF TO BILINGUAL INTERVIEWER)
A. Before we begin, I need to know if I have reached you on a cell phone, and if so, are you in a place where you can talk safely without endangering yourself or others? Yes, cell and can talk safely ------------------------------------------------- 83% Yes, cell but cannot talk safely --------------------------------- TERMINATE No, not on cell ----------------------------------------------------------------- 17% (DON’T READ) DK/NA --------------------------------------- TERMINATE
NEXT, I AM GOING TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS TO ENSURE WE ARE TALKING TO A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OAKLAND RESIDENTS.
B. First, are you a resident of the city of Oakland?
Yes ------------------------------------------ 100%
No ------------------------------- TERMINATE
(DON'T READ) DK/NA --- TERMINATE
C. In what year were you born?
2005 or later (0-17) ---------- TERMINATE
2004-1998 (18-24) --------------------------- 9%
1997-1993 (25-29) ------------------------- 10%
1992-1988 (30-34) ------------------------- 11%
1987-1983 (35-39) ------------------------- 11%
1982-1978 (40-44) ------------------------- 11%
1977-1973 (45-49) --------------------------- 7%
1972-1968 (50-54) --------------------------- 9%
1967-1963 (55-59) --------------------------- 6%
1962-1958 (60-64) --------------------------- 6%
1957-1948 (65-74) ------------------------- 12%
1947 or earlier (75 and over) -------------- 6%
(DON’T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 2%
FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 2
D. Next, with which racial or ethnic group do you identify yourself? (IF ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER, ASK: More specifically, would you say that you are Chinese, Filipino, Indian or South Asian, Japanese, Korean or Vietnamese?) (ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES)
Latino/Hispanic ------------------------------------------------------- 26% African American/Black --------------------------------------------- 24% Caucasian/White ------------------------------------------------------ 33% Chinese ------------------------------------------------------------------- 9% Filipino ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3% Indian or South Asian -------------------------------------------------- 3% Japanese ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1% Korean -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1% Vietnamese --------------------------------------------------------------- 2% Multiracial --------------------------------------------------------------- 2% Other Asian/Pacific Islander ------------------------------------------ 2% Other ethnic/racial background (SPECIFY) ----------------------- 2% (DON’T READ) Prefer not to say ---------------------------------- 2% E. What is your gender?
Male ------------------------------------------ 46%
Female --------------------------------------- 50%
Nonbinary ------------------------------------- 2%
Another gender (SPECIFY) --------------- 0%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 2%
F. What was the last level of school you completed?
First through 11th grade --------------------- 2%
High school graduate---------------------- 31%
Vocational/technical school ---------------- 7%
Some college, no degree ------------------- 9%
Associate degree ----------------------------- 6%
Four-year college or bachelor’s degree 23%
Graduate school or advanced degree --- 20%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 2%
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE IN OAKLAND.
1. (T) Generally speaking, how would you rate Oakland as a place to live: is it an excellent place to live, a good place, only fair, or a poor place to live?
Excellent ------------------------------------ 10%
Good ----------------------------------------- 44%
Only fair ------------------------------------- 30%
Poor ------------------------------------------ 15%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 1%
FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 3
2. (T) Next, do you approve or disapprove of the overall job being done by Oakland City government in providing services to the people who live here? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK: Is that strongly or somewhat APPROVE/DISAPPROVE?)
TOTAL APPROVE ---------------------- 30%
Strongly approve ----------------------------- 3%
Somewhat approve ------------------------ 27%
TOTAL DISAPPROVE ----------------- 63%
Somewhat disapprove --------------------- 29%
Strongly disapprove ----------------------- 34%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 7%
NOW I AM GOING TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS THAT DEAL WITH THE CITY OF OAKLAND BUDGET.
FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 4
3. (T) First, in the upcoming two-year budget, what are the two most important issues facing Oakland residents that you would like to see prioritized in the City government budget? (DO NOT READ OPTIONS; OPEN-ENDED. RECORD VERBATIM RESPONSE AND THEN CODE AFTER INTERVIEW IS COMPLETE. IF RESPONDENT MENTIONS “POLICE,” FOLLOW UP FOR MORE DETAIL TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS CODE 22, 23, 24, 25 OR 26. IF RESPONDENT MENTIONS “HOMELESSNESS” OR “UNHOUSED,” FOLLOW UP FOR MORE DETAIL TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS CODE 14 OR 15)
FIRST SECOND
CHOICE CHOICE
Air quality/wildfires -------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Crime/Violence ------------------------------------------------------- 18% ------------- 18% Child Care / Head Start / Preschool -------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Coronavirus/COVID-19 ---------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Drug abuse ------------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Education/public schools --------------------------------------------- 2% -------------- 7% Emergency medical response / fire safety ------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Eviction ----------------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Facilities condition ---------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Fire safety/inspections ------------------------------------------------ 0% -------------- 0% Gentrification ---------------------------------------------------------- 1% -------------- 0% Graffiti ----------------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Government waste/inefficiency ------------------------------------- 1% -------------- 1% Homelessness/Unhoused residents (Public health/safety) ------- 7% -------------- 4% Homelessness/Unhoused residents (Humanitarian concern) --- 13% -------------- 5% Homelessness (general) --------------------------------------------- 16% ------------- 13% Housing costs/affordability ----------------------------------------- 14% -------------- 7% Internet access --------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Jobs/Local economy ------------------------------------------------- 1% -------------- 3% Keeping businesses ---------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Mental health services ------------------------------------------------ 0% -------------- 1% Parking ----------------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Police abuse / Harassment / Misconduct -------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Police funding (Spend less on police) ------------------------------ 1% -------------- 1% Police funding (Maintain or increase police funding) ------------ 2% -------------- 1% Police protection / Maintain or improve response times -------- 3% -------------- 1% Police reform / Reimagine public safety --------------------------- 3% -------------- 2% Recreation programs -------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Street and sidewalk maintenance ------------------------------------ 7% ------------- 10% Taxes too high --------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Traffic congestion/flow ---------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Tree trimming --------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Water supplies --------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 0% Youth activities -------------------------------------------------------- 0% -------------- 1% Other -------------------------------------------------------------------- 6% ------------- 12% (DON'T READ) DK/NA ----------------------------------------- 1% -------------- 4% FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 5
4. Next, over the next several years, do you think the City is projecting budget [ ] surpluses or [ ] shortfalls? (RANDOMIZE SURPLUSES AND SHORTFALLS) If you are unsure, you can say that, too. (IF SURPLUSES OR SHORTFALLS, ASK: Is the City projecting large or small budget SURPLUSES/SHORTFALLS?)
TOTAL SURPLUSES --------------------- 9%
Large surpluses ------------------------------ 3%
Small surpluses ------------------------------- 5%
TOTAL SHORTFALLS ---------------- 43%
Small shortfalls ----------------------------- 15%
Large shortfalls ---------------------------- 28%
Unsure/DK/NA ---------------------------- 48%
5. Now I am going to provide you some background information about this topic. The City of Oakland is currently projecting 100 million-dollar budget shortfalls over the next several years, meaning the Mayor, City Council, and City Administration will need to identify services to reduce in order to balance the City’s budget. To help Oakland officials make these difficult decisions, please consider the following potential budget and service reductions and indicate how acceptable it would be to you personally if that reduction was made to help balance the City’s budget: completely acceptable, somewhat acceptable, not too acceptable, or not at all acceptable. (RANDOMIZE)
NOT NOT
COMP SMWT TOO AT ALL UNSURE/ COMP/
ACCEPT ACCEPT ACCEPT ACCEPT DK/NA SMWT
[ ]a. Reduce Police Patrol and 911 Response
Staffing --------------------------------------------------- 9% ---- 13% ----- 14% ----- 62% ------ 2% 22% (SPLIT SAMPLE A ONLY)
[ ]b. Reduce homeless services, including direct
assistance, temporary shelters, and
placement in permanent housing -------------------- 7% ---- 10% ----- 16% ----- 64% ------ 2% 17% [ ]c. Reduce food distribution programs to
seniors and families in need -------------------------- 6% ------ 8% ----- 22% ----- 63% ------ 2% 14% [ ]d. Reduce summer youth employment
programs for Oakland youth ------------------------- 9% ---- 18% ----- 27% ----- 43% ------ 3% 26% [ ]e. Reduce the hours, staffing, and
programming at Oakland's Recreation
centers ---------------------------------------------------- 8% ---- 31% ----- 27% ----- 31% ------ 3% 40% [ ]f. Reduce funding for fairs and festivals
including concert series, performances, and
art vendors --------------------------------------------- 31% ---- 38% ----- 16% ----- 13% ------ 2% 69% [ ]g. Reduce the hours and operations of the
City's Oak-311 call center services that
helps residents get support with non-
emergency issues -------------------------------------- 10% ---- 25% ----- 30% ----- 31% ------ 4% 35% FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 6
NOT NOT
COMP SMWT TOO AT ALL UNSURE/ COMP/
ACCEPT ACCEPT ACCEPT ACCEPT DK/NA SMWT
(SPLIT SAMPLE A CONTINUED)
[ ]h. Reduce janitorial and restroom cleaning at
libraries, recreation centers, and parks ------------- 5% ---- 20% ----- 30% ----- 44% ------ 2% 25% [ ]i. Reduce streetlight and traffic signal
maintenance --------------------------------------------- 2% ---- 23% ----- 24% ----- 48% ------ 2% 26% [ ]j. Reduce maintenance of parks, trees, and
open space ----------------------------------------------- 5% ---- 24% ----- 30% ----- 39% ------ 1% 29% [ ]k. Reduce graffiti clean-up services ------------------- 22% ---- 38% ----- 15% ----- 23% ------ 2% 60% [ ]l. Reduce the Oakland's Violence Interrupter
program where trained community
members prevent retaliation and further gun
violence -------------------------------------------------- 9% ---- 13% ----- 22% ----- 49% ------ 7% 22% [ ]m. Reduce funding to the City's Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) to respond to
natural disasters including heat waves,
fires, and earthquakes --------------------------------- 5% ---- 17% ----- 24% ----- 53% ------ 2% 22% [ ]n. Reduce services provided to domestic
violence survivors, people experiencing
sexual exploitation, and other gender-based
violence -------------------------------------------------- 5% ---- 10% ----- 24% ----- 58% ------ 3% 15% (SPLIT SAMPLE B ONLY)
[ ]o. Reduce wildfire prevention and vegetation
management -------------------------------------------- 10% ---- 23% ----- 23% ----- 41% ------ 4% 33% [ ]p. Reduce funding for homeless encampment
cleanup services ---------------------------------------- 7% ---- 11% ----- 18% ----- 59% ------ 4% 19% [ ]q. Reduce assistance to small businesses with
façade improvement and repairs -------------------- 16% ---- 41% ----- 24% ----- 15% ------ 4% 57% [ ]r. Reduce job training and employment
services -------------------------------------------------- 9% ---- 21% ----- 27% ----- 40% ------ 3% 30% [ ]s. Reduce the sports & arts programming
available for youth ------------------------------------- 8% ---- 16% ----- 27% ----- 46% ------ 3% 24% [ ]t. Reduce programing at senior centers --------------- 9% ---- 30% ----- 27% ----- 30% ------ 4% 39% [ ]u. Reduce cultural arts grants for art
organizations and artists ----------------------------- 17% ---- 31% ----- 23% ----- 27% ------ 3% 47% [ ]v. Sweep and clean streets less frequently ----------- 15% ---- 34% ----- 18% ----- 32% ------ 1% 49% [ ]w. Reduce clean-up of illegal dumping----------------- 6% ---- 14% ----- 30% ----- 48% ------ 2% 20% [ ]x. Reduce grants to community-based
nonprofits focusing on violence prevention
in Oakland's neighborhoods -------------------------- 8% ---- 16% ----- 25% ----- 47% ------ 4% 24% [ ]y. Investigate fewer violent crimes that are not
homicides such as robberies, muggings,
and assaults ---------------------------------------------- 5% ---- 11% ----- 17% ----- 65% ------ 2% 16% [ ]z. Reduce programs that divert young people
active in gun violence and/or gangs----------------- 6% ---- 11% ----- 21% ----- 59% ------ 4% 17% FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 7
NOT NOT
COMP SMWT TOO AT ALL UNSURE/ COMP/
ACCEPT ACCEPT ACCEPT ACCEPT DK/NA SMWT
(SPLIT SAMPLE B CONTINUED)
[ ]aa. Investigate fewer property crimes, such as
burglaries, theft, arson, and other damages
to homes and businesses ------------------------------ 8% ---- 14% ----- 18% ----- 58% ------ 2% 22% (RESUME ASKING ALL RESPONDENTS)
AS YOU MAY KNOW, 38 PERCENT OF THE CITY’S BUDGET GENERAL FUND IS ALLOCATED TO POLICE SERVICES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL BUDGET ITEMS THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SAFETY AND IN 2020, THE CITY COUNCIL CREATED A TASK FORCE TO REIMAGINE OAKLAND’S PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM. THE
GOALS WERE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY SAFETY THROUGH ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES
TO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE, AND INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME ALONG WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ALLOCATION. THE TASK FORCE CAME UP WITH 151 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE’D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHER PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS.
6. Next, I am going to read you a list of some specific Task Force recommendations that would cost the City additional money to adopt. While this may be challenging given the City’s projected budget shortfalls, understanding the community’s priorities can still be very helpful with the City’s planning.
For each one, please tell me whether you think it is extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important for the City to identify the resources necessary to adopt that recommendation. (RANDOMIZE)
NOT
EXT VERY SMWT TOO EXT/
IMP IMP IMP IMP (DK/NA) VERY
[ ]a. Providing additional programs to help
people avoid jail entirely, and to help those
leaving jail re-enter their communities ------------ 34% ---- 32% ----- 21% ----- 10% ------ 2% 66% [ ]b. Providing additional Community Workers
and Violence Interrupters to reduce
shootings ------------------------------------------------ 33% ---- 35% ----- 20% ----- 10% ------ 3% 68% [ ]c. Transferring the 911 call center out of
Oakland Police Department to invest in
cross-functional teams and Mobile
Assistance Community Responders of
Oakland, also known as MACRO, to
address behavioral health issues -------------------- 31% ---- 26% ----- 21% ----- 13% ------ 9% 57% [ ]d. Improving city and county response to
mental health emergencies --------------------------- 44% ---- 34% ----- 17% -------4% ------ 1% 78% [ ]e. Increasing services to prevent gender-based
violence and serve victims --------------------------- 26% ---- 29% ----- 30% ----- 13% ------ 3% 54% [ ]f. Improving Police data reliability and
transparency -------------------------------------------- 37% ---- 33% ----- 21% -------7% ------ 2% 69% FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 8
7. And finally on the topic of community safety, in a few words of your own, what would make you feel safer living in Oakland? (OPEN-ENDED, RECORD VERBATIM RESPONSE) More services/community involvement/rehabilitation/health services ------------ 25% More police presence/visibility/patrol more ------------------------------------------- 19% Enforce the law/tough on crime/gun control/security -------------------------------- 18% Stop crime from happening/less crime -------------------------------------------------- 16% Control homelessness ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 15% Better service/faster response/active late night/different types of patrols -------- 15% Funding/employ more officers/training -------------------------------------------------- 8% Traffic enforcement/road safety ----------------------------------------------------------- 7% Clean trash and garbage --------------------------------------------------------------------- 6% Property crime/theft/robberies ------------------------------------------------------------- 6% Feel safe already ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3% Other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6% None/Nothing --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1% Don't Know/Unsure ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3% N/A/Refused/No Comment ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1% HERE ARE MY FINAL QUESTIONS. THEY ARE JUST FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES.
8. (T) About how long have you lived in Oakland? (READ LIST) Less than two years ------------------------- 7%
Two to five years -------------------------- 13%
Six to ten years ----------------------------- 15%
11 to 20 years ------------------------------ 24%
21 to 40 years ------------------------------ 24%
41 years or more --------------------------- 17%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 0%
9. (T) Do you own or rent your home? (DO NOT READ LIST) Own --------------------------------------------------------------------- 41% Rent --------------------------------------------------------------------- 50% Live with parents or someone who owns or rents ----------------- 6% Other (SPECIFY) ------------------------------------------------------ 1% (DON'T READ) DK/NA --------------------------------------------- 2%
10. (T) In the last year, have you been without permanent housing, that is, have you slept in a car, outdoors, or stayed temporarily with friends or family?
Yes --------------------------------------------- 5%
No -------------------------------------------- 94%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 1%
FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 9
11. (T) Are there any children under the age of 18 living in your household? Yes ------------------------------------------- 27%
No -------------------------------------------- 71%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 2%
12. (T) What is your current employment status? Are you ...? (READ LIST; ALLOW MULTIPLE
SELECTIONS)
Employed full-time ------------------------ 55%
Employed part-time ------------------------- 8%
Self-employed or work from home ----- 12%
A homemaker who does not
work outside the home -------------------- 2%
Retired --------------------------------------- 17%
A student -------------------------------------- 6%
Unemployed ---------------------------------- 4%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 2%
(IF “EMPLOYED FULL-TIME” OR “PART-TIME” IN Q12, ASK:); n=792
13. (T) Is your work located in the City of Oakland?
Yes ------------------------------------------- 46%
No -------------------------------------------- 53%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 1%
(RESUME ASKING ALL RESPONDENTS)
14. (T) I don’t need to know the exact amount but I'm going to read you some categories for household income. Would you please stop me when I have read the category indicating the total combined income for all the people in your household before taxes in 2021? $30,000 and under ------------------------- 11%
$30,001 - $60,000 ------------------------- 13%
$60,001 - $75,000 --------------------------- 8%
$75,001 - $100,000 ----------------------- 12%
$100,001 to $150,000--------------------- 16%
$150,001 and over ------------------------- 26%
(DON'T READ) DK/NA ---------------- 12%
15. (T) Were you born in the United States or did you immigrate to the United States? Immigrated ---------------------------------- 15%
Born in US ---------------------------------- 82%
(DON’T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 3%
FM3 RESEARCH 320-1052-WT PAGE 10
16. (T) Is anyone in your household currently or formerly incarcerated in jail or prison? Yes --------------------------------------------- 5%
No -------------------------------------------- 93%
(DON’T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 1%
17. Have you ever been the victim of a crime in Oakland in the past five years? (IF YES, ASK: Was that a violent crime such as assault or armed robbery, or a property crime such as a car break-in or burglary?)
Yes, violent crime --------------------------- 5%
Yes, property crime ----------------------- 38%
Yes, both -------------------------------------- 7%
No, neither ---------------------------------- 48%
(DON’T READ) DK/NA ------------------ 2%
THANK AND TERMINATE
LANGUAGE OF INTERVIEW: English--------------------------------------- 95% Spanish ---------------------------------------- 3%
Chinese ---------------------------------------- 3%
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT
City Council District 1 ------------------- 14%
City Council District 2 ------------------- 14%
City Council District 3 ------------------- 15%
City Council District 4 ------------------- 14%
City Council District 5 ------------------- 14%
City Council District 6 ------------------- 14%
City Council District 7 ------------------- 15%
DATA COLLECTION MODE
Telephone ----------------------------------- 45%
Online --------------------------------------- 55%
CONTACT MODE
Telephone ----------------------------------- 45%
Text ------------------------------------------ 22%
Email ---------------------------------------- 26%
Postcard --------------------------------------- 6%
CODED ETHNICITY
Latino/Hispanic ---------------------------- 26%
African American/Black------------------ 21%
Caucasian/White --------------------------- 30%
Chinese ---------------------------------------- 8%
Filipino ---------------------------------------- 2%
Indian or Southeast Asian ------------------ 3%
Japanese --------------------------------------- 1%
Korean ----------------------------------------- 0%
Vietnamese ----------------------------------- 2%
Multiracial ------------------------------------ 3%
Other Asian/Pacific Islander --------------- 2%
Other ethnic/racial background ----------- 1%
Prefer not to say ----------------------------- 2%