PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey of Los Angeles, March 2005 (PPIC Publication)

Some findings of the current survey

Los Angeles residents are stunningly unhappy with some key indicators of quality of life: Large majorities say traffic congestion on freeways and major roads (74%) and the availability of affordable housing (64%) are big problems in the county today, up markedly from just two years ago (67% traffic, 54%affordable housing).
Assessments of police protection and the quality of parks, beaches, and recreation facilities have fallen considerably from the ratings given only one year ago. In addition, only one-third of county residents give excellent or good ratings to the condition of streets and roads (32% today, 51% in 2004) and public schools (36% today, 43% in 2004).
County residents are more likely to believe that the county will be a worse place to live in twenty years (37%) than a better place (24%).
Only 28% of the likely voters in the city of Los Angeles say that they trust their city government to do what is right just about always or most of the time.
Crime and gangs remain the top issue concerning county residents (21%), followed by education (17%), and traffic (10%).
One-third of county residents hope to leave Los Angeles County in the next five years.

This survey – the third in an annual series of PPIC surveys of Los Angeles County – is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey, which periodically includes regional and special-theme surveys. The intent of this survey is to provide an objective, in-depth profile of the public opinions, policy preferences, and economic, social, and political trends in Los Angeles County – the most populous county in the nation.