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%
Metro City Council Metro School Board Karl Dean Megan Barry
% 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%
Metro City Council Metro School Board Karl Dean Megan Barry
% A
PP
RO
VE
Whites Blacks Hispanics
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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%
Right direction Wrong track
Millennial (18-28) Gen X (29-44) Boomer (45-63) Silent (64+)
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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?
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
58%
26%
77%
19%
68%
27%
76%
20%
71%
24%
83%
13%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Right direction Wrong track
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%
Right direction Wrong track
White Black Hispanic
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
Top 5 Priorities for Mayor & City Council by Race
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
Whites Blacks Hispanics
1. Improving public education
Improving public education
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=477; MoE: +/- 5.46%
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:
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=477; MoE: +/- 5.46%
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
Under $15k $15k-under $30k $30k-under $45k $45k-under $75k $75k-under $100k $100k+
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?
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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?
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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”
Whites Blacks Hispanics
What grade would you give the performance of public [PRESCHOOLS, KINDERGARTENS, and ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS]/[JUNIOR AND HIGH SCHOOLS] in your school district?
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=517; MoE: +/- 5.24%
Typical Commute TimeOn a typical [day/weekday], how much total time do you spend commuting to and from work?
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Under $15k $15k-under $30k $30k-under $45k $45k-under $75k $75k-under $100k $100k+
Food Availability
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Under $15k $15k-under $30k $30k-under $45k $45k-under $75k $75k-under $100k $100k+
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=1,000; MoE: +/- 3.80%
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
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=482; MoE: +/- 5.43%
Knowledge of Google Fiber
66%
33%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Yes No
Source: Vanderbilt University PollSeptember 2015N=502; MoE: +/- 5.32%
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?