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COMPLAINTS ABOUT POTHOLES ADD UP IN CITY'S PHONE POLL

By Stephen Baxter

A recent poll of San Jose residents shows a bump up in concerns about potholes and rough streets since the survey was first taken in 2000.

The city's fifth survey conducted by Oakland-based consultants Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates reached 1,000 adult residents by phone from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2, 2007. It drew conclusions on residents' perceptions of city services including police, libraries, traffic, parks and city government.

When respondents were asked about the most serious issue facing the city, participants ranked crime, traffic and housing costs on top of the list. Those concerns have been followed closely by street maintenance, and 26 percent of respondents rated their neighborhood streets "just average" in the most recent survey.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, and it was reviewed by the San Jose City Council on April 15.

In 2000, 3 percent of participants said street maintenance was the most serious issue facing the city, and in 2007, 7 percent identified it as their biggest concern. Negative attitudes about neighborhood streets were higher among renters, people younger than 30, and those with annual incomes of $30,000 to $60,000, according to the 2007 study.

Some drivers' concerns may have dropped in April, as several key streets

were paved and repainted.

Camden Avenue from Highway 85 to Hillsdale Avenue in the Cambrian area was repaved, and in the Rose Garden area, Hedding Street received repairs from roughly Bascom to Coleman avenues.

Other residents still have pointed out large potholes on The Alameda between W. Julian Street and El Camino Real.

Overall, the consultants' two most recent San Jose polls said residents gave "good" or "excellent" ratings to the quality of parks, trees and sidewalks.

Councilwoman Judy Chirco, who represents District 9, said that residents' high level of satisfaction in the city is welcome considering that the council cut spending by hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2000.

"I think the city employees should take great pride in that," Chirco said.

Since 2000, concerns about traffic and housing costs have declined, but the most recent survey showed a jump in worries about crime.

Twenty-two percent of respondents cited crime, gangs and law enforcement as the most important issues facing the city, compared to 9 percent of respondents who cited it in 2000.

David Metz, senior vice president of the research firm that conducted the study, told the city council that he could not recall another city in the state with as large a jump in concerns about crime, gangs and drugs. However, he said that other questions in the poll suggested most people felt secure walking around their neighborhood during the day and night.

"While there's a concern about public safety, most people do feel relatively safe," Metz said.