Feels a Lot Better Up Than Down

Very few incumbent officials are getting rave reviews in the polls these days. No wonder. Despite some signs of uptick, the economy remains in pain and a sense of optimism hardly reigns over an America unnerved by employment uncertainty and the fear of crime. In two high-profile elections last Tuesday, New York City’s mayor and New Jersey’s governor were ousted. Many other incumbents across the land can only count their blessings that they didn’t have to face the voters then.

In Los Angeles, the economic and crime conditions are even worse than in the nation at large. How remarkable, then, that Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and Police Chief Willie L. Williams are doing so well in the opinion polls.

In The Times Poll published Sunday, the mayor--in office less than six months--received 2-to-1 approval (though 38% of respondents had no opinion). Chief Williams did even better, with an approval rating of 72%. Perhaps most heartening, public esteem for the Los Angeles Police Department was way up.

It had been way down--at 34% shortly after the videotaped police beating of Rodney G. King. Later there was the largely inept performance of Williams’ predecessor when the city erupted in the wake of the not-guilty verdicts in the first King trial. But then came the great work of the Christopher Commission, which provided the city with a clear path to reform, reassuring Angelenos that the department could be made better without first being dismembered. And then came Willie Williams from Philadelphia--and before long Los Angeles knew it had a police chief who was not only tough but sensitive and committed to reform.

The Times Poll now shows public esteem for the LAPD at 61%--almost double the level recorded in early 1991 polls. Public support for the Police Department is crucial. Community policing--the LAPD’s new approach--absolutely cannot work if the community regards police officers with disdain, or worse.

Poll ratings tend to be written not in marble but sand. Still, being up beats being down. So as a quick fix on how people now feel about their mayor, police chief and Police Department, the good ratings are really good to see.