(Community Matters) 86% of Austinites are satisified with Austin’s quality of life – 90% of those under 35yo; 80% of those here longer than 20 years. If you’ve lived here 20 years or less, you think Austin is going in the right direction – longer term residents are more critical. The younger you are (less than 35yo) the more favorable you see the direction of Austin, and it helps to be engaged (attending 90 or more Austin events each year). 39% of Austin residents would not leave the Austin area, 30% plan to move and 22% would do so for work reasons.
My friend, Peter Zandan, commissioned a poll, Voices of the Austin Community. Zandan Poll website
I am pleasantly surprised to read that 69% of respondents consider Austin a well-suited place to live for African Americans. I don’t have visibility of the crosstabs and would like to know how African Americans rated that question. Others – LGBT (85%), Hispanics (76%), the Middle Class (68%), People over 50 (67%), the poor (27%).
Not too surprised only 30% of Austinites feel current elected officials represent their interests (very & somewhat well). Am surprised we’re wiling to pay an additional $100/year in property taxes for quality education but only $62/year for rail – though maybe the $73 for infrastructure is on top of that. Is it insightful that 52% find traffic annoying but okay most of the time? $42/yr more for incentives to companies for relocating to Austin, really? wow.
Huge variance between under/over 35yo if we feel a sense of community with people in our neighborhoods – over yes (22%), under only 6%. In the context of all the favorable responses, I have to think about the 49% of respondents who increasingly feel like Austin belongs to other people – only 36% of those under 35yo but 57% of those over 55yo – and 55% of those here longer than 20 years. [again, the crosstabs on ethnicity and geography would be insightful.]
Community Matters 