september 2015 nashville poll results final - tennessean

1st Vanderbilt University Poll - Nashville

September 14-27, 2015John G. Geer & Joshua D. Clinton, Co-Directors

1,000 residents of Davidson County, TN

MoE: +/- 3.80 percentage points

Approval of Nashville Political Figures & Institutions

58%

43%

66%

41%

21%

37%

18%

12%

2% 1% 1%

27%

18% 18%15%

20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Metro City Council Metro School Board Karl Dean Megan Barry

Approve Disapprove Need to wait and see Don't knowSource: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%

Approval of Nashville Political Figures & Institutions by Party Identification

65%

49%

75%

50%54%

33%

59%

26%

57%

43%

60%

39%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%


% A

PP

RO

VE

Democrats Republicans Independents

Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%

Approval of Nashville Political Figures & Institutions by Race

58%

37%

67%

37%

63%

45%

74%

48%

53%

68%

48%

42%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%


% A

PP

RO

VE

Whites Blacks Hispanics


Nashville on the Right TrackDo you think things in the Nashville area are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the

wrong track?

72%

22%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Right direction Wrong track


Nashville on the Right Track by AgeDo you think things in the Nashville area are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the

wrong track?

78%

14%

77%

17%

67%

28%

62%

30%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%


Millennial (18-28) Gen X (29-44) Boomer (45-63) Silent (64+)


Nashville on the Right Track by IncomeDo you think things in the Nashville area are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the

wrong track?


58%

26%

77%

19%

68%

27%

76%

20%

71%

24%

83%

13%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%


Under $15k $15k-under $30k $30k-under $45k $45k-under $75k $75k-under $100k $100k+

Nashville on the Right Track by RaceDo you think things in the Nashville area are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the

wrong track?

70%

24%

73%

22%

75%

14%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%


White Black Hispanic


Top 5 Priorities for Mayor & City Council

84%

76%71% 69%

65%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% R

ATIN

G “

TOP

PR

IOR

ITY

”

Improving public education

Reducing crime

Taking steps to ensure the city's long term financial health

Dealing with the problems of the poor and people in need

Easing traffic congestion


Other Priorities for Mayor & City Council

56% 53% 53%47%

25% 24%17%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% R

ATIN

G “

TOP

PR

IOR

ITY

”

Improving public transportation systems

Improving local neighborhoods outside of downtown

Encouraging people to create and develop new small businesses

Bringing new businesses to the city

Supporting music and the arts like the Nashville Symphony or the Frist Center

Limiting construction downtown

Supporting professional sports teams like the Titans, Predators, and Sounds


Top 5 Priorities for Mayor & City Council by Race



1. Improving public education



2. Taking steps to ensure the city’s long-term financialhealth

Dealing with the problems of poor people and people in need

Reducing crime

3. Reducing crime Reducing crime Dealing with the problems of poor people and people in need

4. Easing traffic congestion Improving local neighborhoods outside of downtown Nashville

Encouraging people to develop new small businesses

5. Dealing with the problems of poor people and people in need

Taking steps to ensure the city’s long-term financialhealth

Taking steps to ensure the city’s long-term financialhealth

Views on Rate of Population Growth

Do you think Nashville’s population is growing:

50%

44%

5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Too quickly About the right amount Not quickly enough

Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=523; MoE: +/- 5.21%

Spending on Social ProgramsOverall, do you think the Metro city government should spend more or less than it currently does on social programs such

as education and affordable housing?

75%

16%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Should spend more Should spend less


Spending on Social Programs by RaceOverall, do you think the Metro city government should spend more or less than it currently does on social programs such

as education and affordable housing?

65%

89%

75%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% S

HO

ULD

SPEN

DM

OR

E

White Black Hispanic


Views on Convention CenterAs you may know, in 2013, construction was completed on a new convention center in downtown Nashville. Supporters say

the building improved the city’s ability to attract tourists and business activity. Critics say that the city spent too much money on the center that could have been spent improving other parts of the city. What about you? Would you say:

46%49%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Building the new convention center was a good idea

The money should have been used elsewhere


Views on Convention Center by IncomeAs you may know, in 2013, construction was completed on a new convention center in downtown Nashville. Supporters say

the building improved the city’s ability to attract tourists and business activity. Critics say that the city spent too much money on the center that could have been spent improving other parts of the city. What about you? Would you say:


37%

61%

35%

62%

46%

54%53%

45%42%

47%

88%

12%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Building the new convention center was a goodidea

Money spent should have been used elsewhere


Tax Breaks for BusinessesWould you favor or oppose the Metro city government providing tax breaks to keep or attract the following businesses

operating within the city?


47%

55% 56%

65%

73%

51%

42%39%

30%24%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Professional sportsteams like the

Titans andPredators

Businesses focusedon tourism

Movie and TVproductions, suchas ABC's Nashville

Manufacturingcompanies such as

Bridgestone

Arts and musicorganizations like

the NashvilleSymphony or the

Frist Center

Favor Oppose

Means of Providing Affordable HousingThe Metro city government is debating some proposals to make housing more affordable for low-income people in

Nashville. Which of the following programs would you prefer that the Metro city government pursue?

50%

35%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Provide financial assistance for mortgage down payments for low-income people

Increase the number of government vouchers that low-income people can use to pay part of theirmonthly rent on apartments or townhouses


Performance of Public Schools by Use

4.1

3.63.8

3.3

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Public pre-schools, kindergartens, andelementary schools

Public junior high and high schools

AV

ERA

GE

SCO

RES

-1

=“F

” O

R“F

AIL

ING

”; 5

= “

A”

OR

‘EXC

ELLE

NT”

All respondents Parents with children in public school

What grade would you give the performance of public [PRESCHOOLS, KINDERGARTENS, and ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS]/[JUNIOR AND HIGH SCHOOLS] in your school district?


Performance of Public Schools by Race

4.1

3.63.8

3.5

4.4

3.7

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Public pre-schools, kindergartens, andelementary schools

Public junior high and high schools

AV

ERA

GE

SCO

RES

-1

=“F

” O

R“F

AIL

ING

”; 5

= “

A”

OR

‘EXC

ELLE

NT”


What grade would you give the performance of public [PRESCHOOLS, KINDERGARTENS, and ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS]/[JUNIOR AND HIGH SCHOOLS] in your school district?


Favorability of More Charter SchoolsWould you favor or oppose opening more charter schools in the metro area? Charter schools are public, and function

independently of the local district as long as they meet certain standards set by the state government.

63%

71%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

% A

PP

RO

VE

All respondents Parents with children in public school


Typical Commute TimeOn a typical [day/weekday], how much total time do you spend commuting to and from work?


53%

19%

7%

59%

27%

9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Under one hour One to two hours Over two hours

"Day" "Weekday"

Means of Commute

69%

6%

1%4%

2%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Drive yourself Ride with someone else

Walk or bike Take public transportation

Something else


On a typical day, how do you usually commute to work?

Favorability of Limiting Traffic DowntownRecently, there has been some discussion about limiting the amount of car traffic in center city Nashville. Do you think

limiting the amount of traffic in downtown Nashville is a good idea or a bad idea?

56%

36%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Good idea Bad idea


Source of Medical Care

38%35%

13%

5% 4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Primary care physician/doctor Hospital/emergency room

Clinic in drugstore/supermarket Stand-alone urgent care center

Someplace else


When you or someone close to you needs care from a medical professional for a non-life threatening issue, where do you typically go?

Source of Medical Care by Income


When you or someone close to you needs care from a medical professional for a non-life threatening issue, where do you typically go?

21%

16%

3%

47%

7%

30%

11%

4%

49%

5%

36%

14%

5%

38%

4%

42%

9% 8%

33%

7%

53%

16%

5%

21%

3%

50%

17%

2%

18%

11%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Primary carephysician/doctor

Clinic within adrugstore orsupermarket

Stand-alone urgentcare center

Hospital/emergencyroom

Someplaceelse/usually do not

go


Food Availability


Would you say it is easy, difficult, or neither easy nor difficult to purchase healthy, affordable food in stores close to orwithin your neighborhood?

60%

10%

20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Very or somewhat easy Neither easy nor difficult Very or somewhat difficult

Food Availability by Income


Would you say it is easy, difficult, or neither easy nor difficult to purchase healthy, affordable food in stores close to orwithin your neighborhood?

46%49%

66%64%

70%

75%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

% V

ERY

OR

SOM

EWH

AT

EASY


Ease of Finding Affordable HousingHow difficult would you say it is for households making [less than $30,000/between $40,000 and $60,000] a year to find

affordable housing options in Nashville?

4%

12%

28%

43%

65%

40%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

For households making less than $30k/year For households making between $40k-$60k/year

Not at all difficult Somewhat difficult Very difficult


Support for Infill HousingAs Nashville continues to grow, many people are constructing new buildings in vacant lots in established neighborhoods.

Supporters say that building in these areas revitalizes communities and makes them more walkable. Opponents argue that these new structures can damage the character of neighborhoods and increase property values so that many other people cannot afford to live there. Do you think Nashville should continue to allow construction on vacant lots without additional

regulations, or do you think more regulations are needed?

25%

69%

31%

64%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Allow construction on vacant lots withoutadditional regulations

More regulations are needed

All respondents Home owners


Knowledge of Google Fiber

66%

33%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Yes No


Have you read or heard about Google Fiber in Nashville, which is Google’s plan to build a fiber network in the city to bring ultra high-speed internet to Nashville?

september 2015 nashville poll results final - tennessean

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