Escambia County and Pensacola on the Right Track or Wrong Track:
54% Escambia say headed in wrong direction; 52% Pensacola say headed in wrong direction.
Only 20% say we are headed in the right direction in either jurisdiction.
College graduates are the most pessimistic – 62% wrong direction
Most important issues
Escambia: Economy/jobs 28%, Education 15%, Poor Leadership 14%
Pensacola: Economy/jobs 28%, Education 8%, tie Poor Leadership, Taxes/Govt spending 9%
Quality of Life rating
Excellent 7%; Good 44%; Just Fair 39%; Poor 10%…..split evenly 51%-49%.
62% African-Americans rate negatively compared to 46% of white voters.
Rate Escambia as a place to live for the following types of people:
Only positive ratings: Retirees 72%; Families with children 52%
Negative ratings: Recent college grads 90%; New businesses 65%; Young, singles 54%; Minorities 56%; Immigrants 54%
Rating Quality of Life Factors
Negative ratings:
Quality of public schools 67%
Public safety & crime 72%
Availability of healthcare 44%
Traffic 72%
Public transportation 73%
Ratings across Demographic Differences
Negative ratings
Quality of public schools: Black 66%, White 67%; Male 71%, Female 63%
Affordable Housing: Less than $40K 76%; more 59%
Healthcare: Black 52%, White 38%; Less than $40K 60%; more 33%
Rating other Quality of Life factors
Natural beauty: Positive 69%
Parks, beaches: Positive 67%
Cultural: Positive 40%; Just Fair 45%
Vibrant nightlife: Positive 33%; Just Fair 33%
Compared to 5 years, are you visiting Downtown Pensacola for entertainment:
Same: 49%
Less: 39%
More: 11%
Not sure 1%
Rating: Economic Factors
Economic development/job growth plan & vision: Negative 86%
Job opportunities in your field: Negative 71%
Affordable housing availability: Negative 65%
Over the next five years, do you think quality will:
Stay Same: 53%
Improve: 32%
Deteriorate: 15%
Not Sure: 1%
Rating of Economic Conditions in Escambia County:
Negative Rating: 86%
Five years from now: Same 40%; Improve 30%; Deteriorate 22%; Not Sure 8%
Concern over own or family job security:
Concerned 58%
By Race: White 57%; Black 72%
By Income: More than $40K 49%; Less than $40K 69%
By Education: College grad 53%; Non-grad 61%
Likelihood of Moving from areas within next 5 years
Not Likely 69%; Likely 31%
Why leave? Poor Economy 84%; Poor leadership 81%; Poor job opportunities 72%; Poor education 50%; No sense things will improve 68%; Lack of entertainment 41%
Out-migration of 18-25 year olds:
Likely: 53%; Not Likely 46%, Note Sure 1%
Why leave? Poor job opportunities 87%; Poor Economy 82%; Lack of entertainment 70%
Does Escambia County offer kind of advantages and opportunities to attract and keep young people and talented people to the area?
Yes: 12%; No 88%
How serious do you think the loss of young people is for Escambia County?
Serious 83%; Not serious 16%
Rate Elected Officials in success in addressing new challenges and in attacting economic opportunity and job growth
Escambia County: Negative 93%
Pensacola: Negative 90%
State legislative delegation: Negative 81%
Confident leaders have vision, plans and leadership for economic development, revitalization:
Escambia County: Agree 42%; Disagree/Not sure 58%
Pensacola: Agree 42%; Disagree/Not sure 59%
Support consolidation
Support 59%; Oppose 22%; Not sure 19%
Support By Demographic:
Pensacola resident: 55%; County 60%
Democrat: 53%; Republican 61%; Independent 67%
Black 60%; White 56%
Male 70%; Female 48%
Grad 66%; Non-grad 55%
Less than $40K 51%; More 63%
If it meant a substantial savings to your tax bill, would you support consolidation?
Support 85%; Oppose 8%; Not sure 7%
How important is Community Maritime Park:
Important 72%; Not important 27%; Not sure 1%
Without leadership and a clear, shared vision there is little chance for coordinated, successful efforts to attract economic opportunity, jobs and to improve the overall quality of life
Agree 91%; Disagree 8%