The Times Poll : Most in L.A. Are Satisfied Despite the Fear of Crime

Most Los Angeles residents say things here are going well overall, but they remain highly concerned about crime and many lack confidence in such local services as street cleaning and zoning, a Los Angeles Times Poll has found.

Although about 70% of residents polled said they were generally pleased, substantial numbers of respondents cited traffic and transit woes, drug abuse, lack of jobs and pollution as serious local problems.

Many also said they lack confidence that zoning matters are decided for the benefit of the community rather than for real estate developers, and many said they do not consider their neighborhood parks safe and clean. Most also said they are not confident city employees would reject bribes if offered.

Whites Most Satisfied

In general, the poll found that whites in the more affluent areas are the most satisfied group of residents, with blacks and Latinos in poorer areas more likely to cite fear of crime and economic troubles.

The Times Poll, directed by I. A. Lewis, was conducted by telephone for six days last week, collecting 2,241 responses from a scientific sample of Los Angeles County residents.

Despite the bad news, the findings do not necessarily translate into trouble for local politicians. Most people polled said they were too unaware to form an opinion about the performance of the City Council or the county Board of Supervisors, indicating a lack of great public concern. Of those with an opinion, most rated the two governing bodies positively.

Support Mass Transit

By more than 2 to 1, people who had an opinion said they support construction of a mass transit system--and residents of many areas of the county complained about traffic problems. Only 40% supported higher taxes to improve mass transit.

On the crime issue, the poll findings show a deep reservoir of local dissatisfaction. More than a third of county residents surveyed said they believe that crime is becoming worse, despite police statistics that show violent crime decreasing. About 17% said someone in their family has become a crime victim in the last year--burglary being the most common.

Belief that crime is increasing is held about equally by Los Angeles residents and those who live in other parts of the county. Almost half of city residents surveyed said they feel unsafe walking in their neighborhoods at night, compared to about a third in the rest of the county. In the city, 60% of women said they feel unsafe walking near their homes.

Poorer Areas Fearful

Within the city, fear is particularly acute in South-Central Los Angeles and other sections south of the Santa Monica Freeway, including the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods, the poll found.

Two-thirds of southern area residents polled said they feel unsafe in their neighborhoods at night, and most described their feelings as “very unsafe.” Residents of the southern areas were also more likely to avoid going to local parks because of fear of crime.

Residents in the southern area have complained in recent years that the Los Angeles Police Department uses staffing policies that deny adequate protection to their neighborhoods, which suffer a higher percentage of violent crime than most other areas of the city.

Police Deployment Issue

Police and city officials are still debating whether to change the police deployment practices. Meanwhile, the poll found that the south area is the only part of town where a majority of residents did not give the police a positive performance rating.

Citywide, the Los Angeles Police Department received a 51% approval rating, with more than 25% of residents not taking a position. The department’s support is strongest in the San Fernando Valley, a traditional political stronghold for the department.

The poll found support for the police lower than the 65% recorded in a 1982 Los Angeles Times Poll but higher than the 44% approval in a 1979 Times Poll.

51% Approve of Gates

Chief Daryl F. Gates received a 51% approval rating citywide this time, with only 18% disapproving. In 1979, when he was relatively new in the post, 44% said Gates was doing a good job.

Although the police receive good marks for trying, only a slim margin--27% in the city--said they have a “a lot of confidence” that the police can actually protect them from crime.

Despite the fear of crime, the police hiring measure on the June ballot appears certain to fail if the election were held now. Although voters all over the city favor the idea of adding more police to the force, once respondents were told it would require a property tax increase, opposition rose, indicating that the measure may not get the two-thirds majority required.

Social Issues

After crime, which topped the list in all parts of the county, the poll found that social class and where one lives helps decide what people say are the biggest problems of life in and around the nation’s second largest city.

In middle-class neighborhoods, such as those in the San Gabriel Valley and the Westside, people cited traffic and the broad category of pollution and environmental concerns, which included complaints about planned oil drilling in Pacific Palisades.

South of downtown, in the county’s most economically depressed and racially segregated section, residents said drug use, lack of jobs and poor housing were more important. Traffic and environmental problems were hardly mentioned, and job woes and drug problems were cited about twice as often as in the largely suburban South Bay section of the county.

Sharp Divisions

The simple question about the quality of life--”How do you feel things are going in Los Angeles these days?”--came up with more evidence of how the Los Angeles area divides along geographic and social lines.

On the Westside, 90% said things are going well. Across town, where most of the county’s poor blacks are concentrated, 60% say things are going well and a third say things are going badly.

When the services of local government are mentioned, opinions also vary greatly depending on what particular government is in charge.

Streets, Libraries

In the city of Los Angeles, residents are less happy with the conditions of their streets, libraries and parks than are people who live outside the city in the other communities that make up Los Angeles County--cities that are governed by either the Board of Supervisors or a local city council.

When it comes to street cleaning, only 39% in the city said they were very confident the streets would be cleaned regularly, compared to 63% in other communities.

Regardless of where they live, the poll found residents had a low regard for the integrity of the decisions made by local officials with regard to zoning and construction.

Uncertainty on Zoning

Only 12% of city residents and 17% of those in other parts of the county said they had high confidence that the public interest--instead of the interests of real estate developers--is being upheld by the zoning and planning decisions made by local officials.

Slightly more had a lot of confidence that their city employees would turn down a bribe if it was offered.

VIEWS ON LOS ANGELES

QUALITY OF LIFE These results are from Los Angeles Times Poll questions asked of Los Angeles city residents and people who live in areas of Los Angeles County outside the city. These graphs represent the percentage of respondents who believe that “things are going well” in Los Angeles these days.

CITY VS. COUNTY City of Los Angeles: 72% Rest of Los Angeles County: 68% AREAS OF THE CITY Westside: 90% San Fernando Valley: 76% Central*: 65% South**: 60% ETHNIC BACKGROUND White: 73% Latino: 63% Black: 62% BIGGEST PROBLEMS FACING L.A. AREA

These were top responses when Los Angeles city residents were asked to list the area’s biggest problems. Answers will not total 100%.

Problem Westside Valley Central South Crime/Violence 54% 55% 49% 69% Transportation/Streets 34% 21% 14% 6% Drugs 6% 15% 19% 30% Unemployment/Poverty 11% 13% 20% 32% Pollution/Environment 21% 11% 8% 2%

These were the top responses from those outside the city of Los Angeles. Answers will not total 100%.

Problem South Bay San Gabriel Valley Southeast Other Crime/Violence 45% 50% 55% 44% Transportation/Streets 26% 24% 19% 21% Drugs 16% 15% 21% 18% Unemployment/Poverty 11% 16% 21% 8% Pollution/Environment 19% 20% 8% 14%

*Central represents portions of the City of Los Angeles bounded by La Brea Avenue to the west, the city limits to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north and the Santa Monica Freeway to the south. **South represents city areas bounded by the Santa Monica Freeway to the north, the ocean to the south, La Brea Avenue and the city limits to the west, and the city limits to the east. CONFIDENCE IN LOCAL SERVICES

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES These figures represent the percentage of respondents to the Los Angeles Times Poll who said they were confident that:

City of Rest of Service Los Angeles County Garbage will be collected 74% 83% Fire protection is adequate 68% 80% Parks are safe 18% 36% Streets will be cleaned 39% 63% Traffic laws will be enforced 44% 53% City employees will reject a bribe 16% 20% Zoning decisions will benefit community 12% 17% Public schools provide good education 21% 37%

TRANSIT CONCERNS

City of Rest of Service Los Angeles County Percent favoring building mass transit 60% 60% Percent who would pay more tax for transit 43% 40%

FAITH IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT These figures represent the views of city residents for the City Council and Los Angeles County residents for the supervisors.

PERFORMANCE OF PERFORMANCE OF L.A. CITY COUNCIL COUNTY SUPERVISORS Approve 35% Approve 44% Disapprove 15% Disapprove 12% Not Aware 42% Not Aware 36%

ATTITUDES ON CRIME AND POLICE

Residents said crime remains the most serious problem in Los Angeles. Where possible, responses from city residents have been divided by region. These figures represent the percentage who feel:

CONFIDENT THAT POLICE CAN PROTECT THEM City Residents 27% Rest of County 45% CRIME IS MORE SERIOUS THAN 5 YEARS AGO City residents 37% Rest of county 35% SAFE WALKING ALONE AT NIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD City residents 47% Rest of county 60% Women 44% THAT COMPARED WITH OTHER CITIES, CRIME IN LOS ANGELES IS Greater problem 9% Less of a problem 48% Same or not sure 38% LAPD IS DOING ITS JOB Valley 57% Westside 53% Central 56% South 42% Whites 56% Blacks 35% Latinos 51% L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT. IS DOING ITS JOB Outside City of L.A. 55% Whites 53% Blacks 49% Latinos 52% SOMEONE IN HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME DURING LAST YEAR Valley 16% Westside 18% Central 17% South 16% Rest of county 16%