2022-23 City of Oakland
Budget Priorities Survey
Key Findings from a Survey of Oakland Residents Conducted December 15, 2022 to January 8, 2023
320-1052
2 Dates December 15, 2022-January 8, 2023
Survey Type Multi-modal Resident Survey
Research Population Adult Residents of Oakland
Total Interviews 1,270
Margin of Sampling Error (Full Sample) ±3.1% at the 95% Confidence Level (Half Sample) ±4.0% at the 95% Confidence Level
Contact Methods
Data Collection Modes
Survey Tracking 2020-21, 2018, 2017, 2015 (voters only), 2005, 2002 and 2000 Languages English, Spanish and Chinese
(Note: Not All Results Will Sum to 100% Due to Rounding) Survey Specifics and Methodology
Postcard
Invitations
Telephone
Calls
Email
Invitations
Text
Invitations
Telephone
Interviews
Online
Interviews
3 Why Oakland Regularly
Conducts This Survey
4 Why We Conduct a Budget Survey
• The Budget Survey is conducted at the direction of the City’s Consolidated Fiscal Policy (CFP).
• The CFP directs the City to conduct a statistically valid survey to assessing the public’s concerns, needs and priorities prior to the development of the biennial budget.
• It further states that the poll should be representative of Oakland’s diverse population in terms of race and ethnicity, income, neighborhood, age, homeownership/renter-ship and other characteristics.
• The CFP states that the Budget Survey is basis and tool for the Mayor and Council to begin discussing priorities for the coming biennial budget cycle.
5 Types of Survey Questions
• The survey’s scope and questions were written at the direction of the City’s Budget Advisory Commission (BAC) with support from City staff.
• Demographic questions to ensure a representative sample and to enable analysis by different sample subgroups.
• General questions about life in Oakland and impressions of City government and the services it provides.
• Budget questions:
What should be the City’s top budget priorities?
Awareness of the City’s budget situation
Reactions to potential service cuts to balance future budgets Prioritizing select Reimaging Public Safety Task Force recommendations that would require additional budget allocations What can be done to make Oakland feel safer?
6 FM3’s Address-based Survey Approach
FM3 acquired a list of residential
addresses in the City of Oakland.
FM3 pulled a random sample of those addresses,
and using public and commercial databases, matched
phone numbers and email addresses to residents living
at those addresses.
(XXX) XXX-XXXX
[email protected]
FM3 contacted residents by phone,
email, postcard, and text, completing phone interviews
and inviting email/postcard/text recipients to take the survey online.
FM3 used demographic data from the US Census and
geographic data from the list of addresses to set
quotas, ensuring that respondents in the sample
reflected the overall, adult residential population.
Gender Ethnicity Zip Code Age
FM3 completed online and telephone interviews with
residents sufficient to fill each quota.
Gender Ethnicity Zip Code Age
7 Profile of Survey Respondents
• The sample was designed to
reflect US Census data for
Oakland adults (ages 18+) by
age, gender, Council District,
race/ethnicity, and
homeowner/renter.
• When response rates were
slightly higher for any
particular group, data were
weighted to match the
demographics of residents 18+
in the community.
• Data were also weighted to
ensure each split sample was
representative.
Demographic Group %
Male 46%
Female 50%
Ages 18-49 59%
Ages 50+ 41%
White residents 30%
Latino residents 26%
Asian/Pacific Islander residents 21%
African American/Black residents 21%
Homeowners 41%
Renters 50%
8 Impressions of Life in Oakland
and City Government
9 Q1.
10%
44%
30%
15%
1%
Excellent
Good
Only fair
Poor
Don't know
Excellent/
Good
54%
While a majority of Oakland residents feel Oakland
is an “excellent” or “good” place to live…
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? 10 Excellent/
Good
54%
59%
64%
70%
70%
61%
64%
65%
…this is the lowest share since surveying
began more than 20 years ago.
Q1. 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? 10%
13%
16%
27%
26%
19%
19%
18%
44%
46%
48%
43%
44%
42%
45%
47%
30%
26%
27%
21%
22%
30%
27%
28%
15%
14%
8%
8%
9%
8%
8%
6%
2022-2023
2020-2021
2018
2017
2015
2005
2002
2000
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Don’t Know
11 White residents have much more positive views
than residents of color, regardless of age.
Q1. 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? 71%
69%
47%
46%
46%
52%
50%
48%
White Residents Ages 18-49
White Residents Ages 50+
Latino Residents Ages 18-49
Latino Residents Ages 50+
African American Residents Ages 18-49
African American Residents Ages 50+
Asian/Pacific Islander Residents Ages 18-49
Asian/Pacific Islander Residents Ages 50+
Oakland is an Excellent/Good Place to Live by Ethnicity by Age 12 Q2.
3%
27%
29%
34%
7%
Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Don't know
Total
Approve
30%
Total
Disapprove
63%
Nearly two-thirds of residents disapprove
of the City’s provision of services.
Do you approve or disapprove of the overall job being done by Oakland City government in providing services to the people who live here? 13 Excellent/
Good
24%
35%
32%
30%
40%
34%
The approval rating is notably
lower than in the last survey.
Q2. Do you approve or disapprove of the overall job being done by Oakland City government in providing services to the people who live here? Previous Year’s Survey Language: How would you rate the overall job being done by Oakland City government in providing services to the people who live here:
excellent, good, only fair or poor?
5%
23%
31%
28%
28%
35%
30%
50%
41%
44%
49%
42%
49%
22%
20%
18%
18%
14%
13%
6%
2018
2017
2015
2005
2002
2000
Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Don't Know
Total
Approve
30%
41%6%
27%
35%
29%
24%
34%
27%
7%
8%
2022-2023
2020-2021
Strng. App. Smwt. App. Smwt. Disapp. Strng. Disapp. Don't Know 14 Unlike the quality-of-life ratings, residents’
disapproval with city services was consistent across
different ages and racial/ethnic groups.
Q2. Do you approve or disapprove of the overall job being done by Oakland City government in providing services to the people who live here? 30%
36%
33%
31%
23%
30%
27%
36%
62%
61%
64%
61%
62%
66%
59%
61%
White Residents Ages 18-49
White Residents Ages 50+
Latino Residents Ages 18-49
Latino Residents Ages 50+
African American Residents Ages 18-49
African American Residents Ages 50+
Asian/Pacific Islander Residents Ages 18-49
Asian/Pacific Islander Residents Ages 50+
Total Approve Total Disapprove
Approval Rating by Ethnicity by Age
Difference
-32%
-25%
-31%
-30%
-39%
-36%
-32%
-25%
15 Budget Priorities
16 Sample Verbatim Responses on Top Budget Priorities
Q3.
Homes to unhoused
people and
community-based
solutions to violence
Children’s education and
lower the cost of rent
Housing, crime and the
homelessness issue
Public safety overall from gun
violence, safe streets from
vehicle crashes. Housing, both
affordable and unhoused.
Keep the parks and
streets and sidewalks
clean. Gun control.
Parks, graffiti, streets and
homelessness. Clean up the
trash, plant more trees.
Infrastructure -
drainage, roads,
sidewalks... Crime
and blight.
The city is a dump and the police don’t do their jobs.
I would say making the streets safer. Partly doing something about the car break ins. Also I'd like something done with the homeless people, finding them homes. Improving walking down the streets in Oakland. And I also think encouraging businesses.
In the upcoming 2-year budget, what are the 2 most important issues facing Oakland residents that you would like to see prioritized in the City government budget? 17 18%
16%
14%
13%
7%
7%
6%
18%
13%
7%
5%
10%
7%
22%
36%
29%
21%
18%
17%
11%
9%
6%
4%
4%
3%
2%
2%
28%
Crime/Violence
Homelessness/Unhoused residents (General)
Housing costs/affordability
Street and sidewalk maintenance
Education/public schools
Police reform/Reimagine public safety
Police protection/Maintain or improve response times
Jobs/Local economy
Police funding (Maintain or increase police funding)
Government waste/inefficiency
Police funding (Spend less on police)
Other
1st Choice 2nd Choice
The top three categories of budget priorities related to crime, homelessness and housing costs; streets/sidewalks and education .
Q3.
In the upcoming 2-year budget, what are the 2 most important issues facing Oakland residents that you would like to see prioritized in the City government budget? (Open-Ended; Total 2% and Above Shown)
Homelessness/Unhoused residents (Humanitarian concern)
Homelessness/Unhoused residents (Public health/safety)
36% mentioned some version of
“homelessness” as their 1st choice
50% mentioned “homelessness”
or “housing costs” 1st
33% mentioned something related
to “policing” or “crime” 1st
18 Homelessness remains the most-urgent problem
to address in the budget as seen by residents.
Q3. In the upcoming 2-year budget, what are the 2 most important issues facing Oakland residents that you would like to see prioritized in the City government budget?
Issue 2000 2002 2005 2015-16 2016-17 2018-19 2020-21 2022-23 Homelessness
(Any reference) 3% 4% 2% 2% 7% 22% 32% 36%
*Crime/Violence 19% 26% 22% 20% 15% 11% 10% 18%
*Housing
costs/affordability 8% 12% 5% 10% 26% 25% 20% 14%
*Street and sidewalk
maintenance 3% 4% 4% 8% 7% 6% 14% 7%
Education/Public schools 33% 14% 35% 17% 12% 10% 10% 9% Jobs/Local Economy 5% 3% 4% 7% 4% 0% 4% 4%
(1st Choice; 2022-2023 3% and Above Shown)
19 Q4.
3%
5%
15%
28%
48%
Large surpluses
Small surpluses
Small shortfalls
Large shortfalls
Unsure/Don't know
Total
Surpluses
9%
Total
Shortfalls
43%
Nearly half of residents were unsure of whether the
City is projecting budget shortfalls or surpluses.
Over the next several years, do you think the City
is projecting budget surpluses or shortfalls?
Those most likely to be unsure are
Spanish and Chinese speakers, API
women, non-college educated API
residents, ages 18-29, and non-
college educated women.
20 Evaluating Budget Trade-Offs
(Background Provided to Respondents)
Q5.
The City of Oakland is currently projecting $100 million 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.
21 Q5. 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. Split Sample
31%
22%
16%
15%
17%
8%
9%
38%
38%
41%
34%
31%
31%
30%
16%
15%
24%
18%
23%
27%
27%
13%
23%
15%
32%
27%
31%
30%
Reduce funding for fairs and
festivals including concert series,
performances, and art vendors
Reduce graffiti clean-up services
Reduce assistance to small
businesses with façade
improvement and repairs
Sweep and clean streets
less frequently
Reduce cultural arts grants for art
organizations and artists
Reduce the hours, staffing, and
programming at Oakland's
Recreation centers
Reduce programing at
senior centers
Comp. Accept. Smwt. Accept. Not Too Accept. Not at All Accept. Unsure/Don't Know Comp./ Smwt.
Accept.
69%
60%
57%
49%
47%
40%
39%
Residents were most open to reducing
spending on fairs, graffiti clean up, and
cosmetic improvements for small businesses.
22 Q5. 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. Split Sample
10%
10%
9%
5%
9%
5%
25%
23%
21%
24%
18%
23%
20%
30%
23%
27%
30%
27%
24%
30%
31%
41%
40%
39%
43%
48%
44%
Reduce wildfire prevention and
vegetation management
Reduce job training and
employment services
Reduce maintenance of parks,
trees, and open space
Reduce summer youth
employment programs for
Oakland youth
Reduce streetlight and traffic
signal maintenance
Reduce janitorial and restroom
cleaning at libraries, recreation
centers, and parks
Comp. Accept. Smwt. Accept. Not Too Accept. Not at All Accept. Unsure/Don't Know Comp./ Smwt.
Accept.
35%
33%
30%
29%
26%
26%
25%
Fewer than two in five felt reductions to fire
prevention and parks maintenance were acceptable.
Reduce the hours and operations of
the City's Oak-311 call center
services that helps residents get
support with non-emergency issues
23 Q5. 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. ^Not Part of Split Sample
8%
8%
9%
9%
8%
16%
16%
13%
13%
14%
27%
25%
14%
22%
18%
46%
47%
62%
49%
58%
7%
Reduce the sports & arts
programming available for youth
Reduce grants to community-
based nonprofits focusing on
violence prevention in Oakland's
neighborhoods
^Reduce Police Patrol and 911
Response Staffing
Investigate fewer property
crimes, such as burglaries, theft,
arson, and other damages to
homes and businesses
Comp. Accept. Smwt. Accept. Not Too Accept. Not at All Accept. Unsure/Don't Know Comp./ Smwt.
Accept.
24%
24%
22%
22%
22%
Majorities said reducing police patrols and property
crime investigation was “not at all acceptable.”
Reduce the Oakland's Violence
Interrupter program where trained
community members prevent
retaliation and further gun violence
24 Q5. 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. Split Sample
5%
6%
7%
7%
17%
14%
11%
10%
24%
30%
18%
16%
53%
48%
59%
64%
Reduce funding to the City's
Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) to respond to natural
disasters including heat waves,
fires, and earthquakes
Reduce clean-up of
illegal dumping
Reduce funding for homeless
encampment cleanup services
Reduce homeless services,
including direct assistance,
temporary shelters,
and placement in
permanent housing
Comp. Accept. Smwt. Accept. Not Too Accept. Not at All Accept. Unsure/Don't Know Comp./ Smwt.
Accept.
22%
20%
19%
17%
Three in five said reductions to services for
the unhoused were “not at all acceptable.”
25 Q5. 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. Split Sample
6%
5%
5%
6%
11%
11%
10%
8%
21%
17%
24%
22%
59%
65%
58%
63%
Reduce programs that divert
young people active in gun
violence and/or gangs
Investigate fewer violent crimes
that are not homicides such as
robberies, muggings, and assaults
Reduce services provided to
domestic violence survivors,
people experiencing sexual
exploitation, and other
gender-based violence
Reduce food distribution
programs to seniors and
families in need
Comp. Accept. Smwt. Accept. Not Too Accept. Not at All Accept. Unsure/Don't Know Comp./ Smwt.
Accept.
17%
16%
15%
14%
The least-acceptable reductions include victim
services, violent crime investigation, and food
distribution.
26 Group Top 3 “Completely or Somewhat
Acceptable” to Cut
Top 3 “Not At All
Acceptable to Cut”
White
Residents Ages 18-49
• Fairs and festivals (77%)
• Graffiti clean up (73%)
• Small business façade improvements (66%)
• Homeless services (84%)
• Food distribution programs (73%)
• Domestic violence services (66%)
White
Residents Ages 50+
• Fairs and festivals (80%)
• Small business façade improvements (75%)
• Cultural art grants (62%)
• Police/911 response staffing (79%)
• Investigating violent crime (70%)
• Homeless services (68%)
Latino
Residents Ages 18-49
• Fairs and festivals (74%)
• Graffiti clean up (73%)
• Small business façade improvements (66%)
• Food distribution programs (65%)
• Domestic violence services (61%)
• Police/911 staffing & youth anti-violence (60%)
Latino
Residents Ages 50+
• Fairs and festivals (64%)
• Graffiti clean up (48%)
• Small business façade improvements (45%)
• Police/911 response staffing (75%)
• Investigating violent crime (70%)
• Streetlights/traffic signals (69%)
African American
Residents Ages 18-49
• Graffiti clean up (57%)
• Small business façade improvements (55%)
• Parks/trees/open space maintenance (44%)
• Homeless services (75%)
• Food distribution programs (70%)
• Domestic violence services (69%)
African American
Residents Ages 50+
• Fairs and festivals (52%)
• Small business façade improvements (48%)
• Street maintenance (45%)
• Youth anti-violence programs (79%)
• Investigating violent crime (77%)
• Police/911 staffing & property crime (76%)
Asian/Pacific Islander
Residents Ages 18-49
• Fairs and festivals (89%)
• Graffiti clean up (76%)
• Senior centers (69%)
• Investigating violent crime (69%)
• Investigating property crime (65%)
• Homeless encampment clean-up (63%)
Asian/Pacific Islander
Residents Ages 50+
• Fairs and festivals (75%)
• Cultural arts grants (66%)
• Sports and arts programming (65%)
• Police/911 response staffing (72%)
• Investigating property crime (66%)
• Investigating violent crime (56%)
27 Public Safety
Investments
28 Half of residents reported being a victim of crime
in recent years; for most, it was property crime.
Q17.
5%
38%
7%
48%
2%
Yes, violent crime
Yes, property crime
Yes, both
No, neither
Don't know
Total
Yes
50%
Have you been the victim of a crime in Oakland in the past 5 years? Violent crime victims
are disproportionately
the housing insecure,
unemployed, and low-
income residents.
Property crime victims
are disproportionately
ages 40-49, Latinos
ages 50+, high-income
residents, and
residents of Police
Districts 1, 2 and 5.
29 Sample Verbatim Responses on Improving Safety
More police patrols and
violence interrupters. More
immediate assistance and
management of mentally ill
homeless people.
Reduced crime including car
and home break-ins.
If when I called
about a problem the
police showed soon,
and not in 3 days.
I would feel safer if there were educational and
cultural opportunities for Black and brown youth,
including living wage job programs to focus on
beautifying Oakland and new affordable housing
especially in the flatlands, east and west Oakland.
Less crime and homeless, and
slower traffic on city streets.
Programs for boys and girls. If
there were better schools.
More of a community-first feeling. Less feelings like
people have to take care of themselves first because
they can't count on community. More opportunities.
If I felt like criminals were actually
being caught and jailed and the
police department was actually
visible and accountable and well-
staffed, I would feel safer.
In a few words of your own, what would make you feel safer living in Oakland? 30 Q7.
26%
19%
18%
15%
15%
15%
8%
7%
6%
6%
3%
6%
1%
3%
1%
More police presence/visibility/patrol more
Enforce the law/tough on crime/gun control/security
Stop crime from happening/less crime
Control homelessness
Funding/employ more officers/training
Traffic enforcement/road safety
Clean trash and garbage
Property crime/theft/robberies
Feel safe already
Other
None/Nothing
Don't know/Unsure
Refused/No comment
Residents report that more services and more
police visibility would make them feel safer.
In a few words of your own, what would make you feel safer living in Oakland? More services/community involvement/rehabilitation/health services Better service/faster response/active late night/different types of patrols (Open-Ended; Total 3% and Above Shown)
31 Residents heard or read information
about public safety in the Oakland budget
and the Reimagining Task Force.
Q6. 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.
As you may know, 38% 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.
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.
32 Ext./Very
Impt.
78%
69%
68%
66%
Q6. 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.
44%
37%
33%
34%
34%
33%
35%
32%
17%
21%
20%
21%
7%
10%
10%
Improving city and county response to
mental health emergencies
Improving Police data reliability
and transparency
Providing additional Community Workers
and Violence Interrupters to
reduce shootings
Providing additional programs to help
people avoid jail entirely, and to help
those leaving jail re-enter
their communities
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. Don't Know Residents’ top-ranking recommendation
was improved mental-health response.
33 Ext./Very
Impt.
57%
54%
Q6. 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.
31%
26%
26%
29%
21%
30%
13%
13%
9%
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
Increasing services to prevent
gender-based violence and serve victims
Ext. Impt. Very Impt. Smwt. Impt. Not Too Impt. Don't Know Majorities rate transferring 911 calls out of the
Police Department as important, but with less
intensity than other recommendations.
34 Group Top 3 “Extremely or Very Important” Top 3 “Not Too Important” White
Residents Ages 18-49
• Mental health emergencies (82%)
• Avoid jail/re-enter from jail (77%)
• Additional community workers (68%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (19%)
• Transferring 911 call center (17%)
• Additional community workers (17%)
White
Residents Ages 50+
• Mental health emergencies (82%)
• Additional community workers (68%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (67%)
• Transferring 911 call center (13%)
• Avoid jail/re-enter from jail (13%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (12%)
Latino
Residents Ages 18-49
• Mental health emergencies (77%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (73%)
• Additional community workers (61%)
• Additional community workers (14%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (13%)
• Transferring 911 call center (12%)
Latino
Residents Ages 50+
• Mental health emergencies (80%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (71%)
• Additional community workers (61%)
• Transferring 911 call center (19%)
• Avoid jail/re-enter from jail (19%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (13%)
African American
Residents Ages 18-49
• Mental health emergencies (83%)
• Avoid jail/re-enter from jail (71%)
• Additional community workers (69%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (16%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (15%)
• Additional community workers (14%)
African American
Residents Ages 50+
• Mental health emergencies (85%)
• Additional community workers (78%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (76%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (13%)
• Transferring 911 call center (11%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (5%)
Asian/Pacific Islander
Residents Ages 18-49
• Additional community workers (71%)
• Mental health emergencies (70%)
• Police data reliability/transparency (69%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (13%)
• Avoid jail/re-enter from jail (11%)
• Transferring 911 call center (10%)
Asian/Pacific Islander
Residents Ages 50+
• Police data reliability/transparency (77%)
• Mental health emergencies (72%)
• Additional community workers (60%)
• Avoid jail/re-enter from jail (22%)
• Increasing gender-based violence services (16%)
• 911 call center & community workers (10%)
35 Conclusions
36 Key Numbers: Big Picture Takeaways
Summary: It’s clear that perceptions of the quality of life, though still positive overall, have continued to decline. Broad majorities also disapprove of City government’s work providing services. Residents clearly want the City to focus on housing and homelessness, with crime and violence also ranking as a key concern.
54%
63%
50%
Feel Oakland is an “excellent” or “good” place to live, and while a majority, is down five points from the last budget survey Disapprove of the overall job being done by City government in providing services, an 11-point increase from the last budget survey Say homelessness or housing costs is their top priority for the City budget
37 The number of city services (out of 27) at least 50% of residents said were “completely” or “somewhat acceptable” to reduce The number of services (out of 27) that majorities said were “not at all acceptable” to reduce in the City budget
The number of city services (out of 27) that more than two-thirds of residents said were “not too” or “not at all acceptable” to reduce 3 Key Numbers: Budget Tradeoffs
Summary: Residents do not have much enthusiasm for budget cuts resulting in service reductions. While this is challenging in making budget decisions, likely driven by low satisfaction with overall current service levels. Relatively speaking, they are most comfortable with reductions to fairs and festivals, graffiti removal, and small-business façade repair. They are least comfortable with reductions to crime-victim services and investigation, as well as support for people experiencing food insecurity and services for people who are unhoused. 18 9
38 Feel it is “not at all acceptable” to reduce police patrols and staffers responding to 911 calls to address the City’s budget shortfall Feel it is “extremely” or “very” important to fund improvements to police data transparency despite the budget shortfall Feel it is “extremely” or “very” important to improve city and county response to mental health emergencies
62%
78%
69%
Key Numbers: Policing and Public Safety
Summary: Residents clearly value additional services to address mental- health emergencies and prevent crime and see “safety” as including many facets beyond crime and policing. At the same time, broad majorities find cuts to police patrols, 911 response and crime investigation “completely unacceptable.” With crime and violence significant concerns, residents currently favor a mix of approaches to these complex problems.
For more information,
contact:
1999 Harrison St., Suite 2020
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone (510) 451-9521
Fax (510) 451-0384
Curt Below
[email protected]
Miranda Everitt
[email protected]