Support for Measure B fell drastically over last year
Yorba Linda residents once overwhelmingly supported the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote initiative that requires a public vote on major changes to city planning documents, according to a poll commissioned by the since-dismissed Old Town development team.
Until now, only top city officials and the former downtown developers had access to the findings of the survey, conducted by telephone over a four-day period last August. This columnist obtained a copy of the closely held 682-page report on the poll just last week.
The survey also gauged residents’ reactions to several individuals and groups active on the local civic scene. The results represent the most detailed study of voter opinion on important political issues ever compiled during Yorba Linda’s nearly 39 years as a city.
A professional polling organization conducted the survey by interviewing 500 individuals who said they voted in local elections “always” or “most of the time.” The survey sample included all of the city’s geographic areas as well as all age, income and education levels.
Two initial requests for opinions on the Right-to-Vote initiative drew favorable responses from 77 and 75 percent of those polled and unfavorable answers from 15 and 20 percent.
Interestingly, the favorable response increased to 80 percent after statements supporting the measure were read but only dropped to 74 percent when opposing arguments were presented.
The poll also asked voters for opinions on 19 organizations and individuals. The following lists the favorable percent first and the unfavorable percent second. (The percentages don’t add up to 100 because mixed and don’t know answers are excluded.)
Organizations: Placentia-Yorba Linda school district 62-16, Chamber of Commerce 61-9, city government overall 58-25, City Council 51-26, Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment 45-16, Old Town Yorba Linda Partners 39-20, Shapell Builders 23-20 and Creative Housing Associates 12-17.
Council members: Keri Wilson 50-17, Mike Duvall 47-17, Jim Winder 46-12, Ken Ryan 45-17 and Allen Castellano 34-16. Former council member results were 41-19 for Mark Schwing and 35-22 for Hank Wedaa.
Others: Community activists Jan Horton (25-11) and Ed Rakochy (24-8), developer Michael Dieden 22-17 and Yorba Linda Star columnist Jim Drummond 35-2.
Regarding eminent domain, voters opposed taking commercial property for economic development 65 to 27 and residential property 77 to 16. Friends Christian High School at Casa Loma Avenue and Bastanchury Road was favored 57-27.
The Yorba Linda Star was the most read newspaper at 80 percent, followed by the Orange County Register at 79 percent and the Los Angeles Times at 34 percent.
A FINAL WORD
All five council members opposed Measure B, and last August’s poll results show they had reason to delay the election as long as possible, giving the building and real estate groups time to organize and raise, through June 1, $168,000 for the anti-B campaign.
The money paid for mailers, recorded phone calls and cable TV ads suggesting that the initiative threatened the public high school and police and fire services. The deceptive campaign cut the initial high 70s approval rating to a final 51.1 to 48.9 percent margin.
Obviously, large cash outlays by deep-pocket development-related special interests continue to play a key role in shaping voter opinion in this city’s elections.
I’ll present more survey results in next week’s column.
Until now, only top city officials and the former downtown developers had access to the findings of the survey, conducted by telephone over a four-day period last August. This columnist obtained a copy of the closely held 682-page report on the poll just last week.
The survey also gauged residents’ reactions to several individuals and groups active on the local civic scene. The results represent the most detailed study of voter opinion on important political issues ever compiled during Yorba Linda’s nearly 39 years as a city.
A professional polling organization conducted the survey by interviewing 500 individuals who said they voted in local elections “always” or “most of the time.” The survey sample included all of the city’s geographic areas as well as all age, income and education levels.
Two initial requests for opinions on the Right-to-Vote initiative drew favorable responses from 77 and 75 percent of those polled and unfavorable answers from 15 and 20 percent.
Interestingly, the favorable response increased to 80 percent after statements supporting the measure were read but only dropped to 74 percent when opposing arguments were presented.
The poll also asked voters for opinions on 19 organizations and individuals. The following lists the favorable percent first and the unfavorable percent second. (The percentages don’t add up to 100 because mixed and don’t know answers are excluded.)
Organizations: Placentia-Yorba Linda school district 62-16, Chamber of Commerce 61-9, city government overall 58-25, City Council 51-26, Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment 45-16, Old Town Yorba Linda Partners 39-20, Shapell Builders 23-20 and Creative Housing Associates 12-17.
Council members: Keri Wilson 50-17, Mike Duvall 47-17, Jim Winder 46-12, Ken Ryan 45-17 and Allen Castellano 34-16. Former council member results were 41-19 for Mark Schwing and 35-22 for Hank Wedaa.
Others: Community activists Jan Horton (25-11) and Ed Rakochy (24-8), developer Michael Dieden 22-17 and Yorba Linda Star columnist Jim Drummond 35-2.
Regarding eminent domain, voters opposed taking commercial property for economic development 65 to 27 and residential property 77 to 16. Friends Christian High School at Casa Loma Avenue and Bastanchury Road was favored 57-27.
The Yorba Linda Star was the most read newspaper at 80 percent, followed by the Orange County Register at 79 percent and the Los Angeles Times at 34 percent.
A FINAL WORD
All five council members opposed Measure B, and last August’s poll results show they had reason to delay the election as long as possible, giving the building and real estate groups time to organize and raise, through June 1, $168,000 for the anti-B campaign.
The money paid for mailers, recorded phone calls and cable TV ads suggesting that the initiative threatened the public high school and police and fire services. The deceptive campaign cut the initial high 70s approval rating to a final 51.1 to 48.9 percent margin.
Obviously, large cash outlays by deep-pocket development-related special interests continue to play a key role in shaping voter opinion in this city’s elections.
I’ll present more survey results in next week’s column.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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