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Baltimore is a dirty city with few good jobs. But its also a green city whose residents love their neighborhoods, public parks and libraries. Their biggest worry is crime, but they consider their own blocks quite safe.
Those are among the sometimes-contradictory feelings to emerge when 1,812 Baltimoreans were asked about their city. Mayor Sheila Dixon, who commissioned the $60,000 survey by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, said it is the first of its kind for the city and would help her determine where to focus her attentions - and budgetary dollars.
Other findings: City residents think the Fire Department does a better job than the Police Department. Few see high taxes as a major concern. Most would tell a friend to live here.
And: Drugs, homelessness, property crime and vacant buildings are major citywide problems, but the vast majority of residents say that their own neighborhood is safe.
What works in Baltimore? Parking. There is plenty of it, residents say. What doesn't work? Rat control.
The mayor said the findings of the survey, which was paid for with general city funds, reinforce much of her agenda of pushing for a cleaner, greener and safer Baltimore.
"These are all issues we are working on," she said. "There are areas I think we came out fairly well in, and there are some where we need some improvement."
In one of the more striking findings, 93 percent of those questioned said that they feel safe or very safe in their neighborhoods during the day, but most also listed public safety as their biggest concern, and most who plan on leaving the city said crime is too high.
"They don't want us to lose sight that public safety still has to be a priority in the city," Dixon said.
The mayor noted that violent crime is down in the city - by 7 percent - and blamed news reports for creating what she views as an inaccurate perception of the problem. "Of course, the great media helps us to keep reminding people that we have a serious problem, when overall we've reduced crime in all areas," Dixon said.
Compared with other cities, though, Baltimore remains a violent place, ranking as the second-most murderous city last year despite deep reductions in killings.
Jobs are another problem - 70 percent of those polled said the availability of work was either "fair" or "poor."
But that finding didn't ring true for Edward Dennis, 38, who lives in Edmondson Village and spoke to a reporter while shopping at Lexington Market yesterday. He works three jobs and said all of his employers are hiring.
"There are jobs," he said, noting that some of the stalls in the market were looking for help. "A lot of people just don't want [a] Lexington Market job," he added.
Most of those polled - 78 percent - view homelessness as a significant problem, and it is one that Dixon has vowed to end within a decade. Despite budget cuts, she pushed successfully for a new $9 million homeless shelter that is under construction.
Many found the city to be filthy, with 72 percent rating cleanliness as "fair" or "poor." The appearance of the city has long been a top concern, and Dixon says residents agree with her calls for more cleaning. Amid budget woes, she has reduced trash pickup, but increased recycling, and also launched a program in which workers are sent to clean up alleys.
Though the Fire Department got the highest marks of all city services, Dixon said she does not regret deep cuts to its budget this year. She acknowledged that there are "some struggles and issues" with rotating closures of fire companies. But she concluded that "people felt that fire protection was very important and we were providing a quality service."
The mayor was displeased with attitudes toward recreation activities - 66 percent of those surveyed reported, for example, that they never visit parks or visit only occasionally.
"We have the best parks in the state, and we've got to get people who feel safe in coming into the parks and increasing activities and using them," she said.
But most respondents - 53 percent - said they believe their neighborhoods have "good" or "excellent" green space.
Those are among the sometimes-contradictory feelings to emerge when 1,812 Baltimoreans were asked about their city. Mayor Sheila Dixon, who commissioned the $60,000 survey by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, said it is the first of its kind for the city and would help her determine where to focus her attentions - and budgetary dollars.
Other findings: City residents think the Fire Department does a better job than the Police Department. Few see high taxes as a major concern. Most would tell a friend to live here.
And: Drugs, homelessness, property crime and vacant buildings are major citywide problems, but the vast majority of residents say that their own neighborhood is safe.
What works in Baltimore? Parking. There is plenty of it, residents say. What doesn't work? Rat control.
The mayor said the findings of the survey, which was paid for with general city funds, reinforce much of her agenda of pushing for a cleaner, greener and safer Baltimore.
"These are all issues we are working on," she said. "There are areas I think we came out fairly well in, and there are some where we need some improvement."
In one of the more striking findings, 93 percent of those questioned said that they feel safe or very safe in their neighborhoods during the day, but most also listed public safety as their biggest concern, and most who plan on leaving the city said crime is too high.
"They don't want us to lose sight that public safety still has to be a priority in the city," Dixon said.
The mayor noted that violent crime is down in the city - by 7 percent - and blamed news reports for creating what she views as an inaccurate perception of the problem. "Of course, the great media helps us to keep reminding people that we have a serious problem, when overall we've reduced crime in all areas," Dixon said.
Compared with other cities, though, Baltimore remains a violent place, ranking as the second-most murderous city last year despite deep reductions in killings.
Jobs are another problem - 70 percent of those polled said the availability of work was either "fair" or "poor."
But that finding didn't ring true for Edward Dennis, 38, who lives in Edmondson Village and spoke to a reporter while shopping at Lexington Market yesterday. He works three jobs and said all of his employers are hiring.
"There are jobs," he said, noting that some of the stalls in the market were looking for help. "A lot of people just don't want [a] Lexington Market job," he added.
Most of those polled - 78 percent - view homelessness as a significant problem, and it is one that Dixon has vowed to end within a decade. Despite budget cuts, she pushed successfully for a new $9 million homeless shelter that is under construction.
Many found the city to be filthy, with 72 percent rating cleanliness as "fair" or "poor." The appearance of the city has long been a top concern, and Dixon says residents agree with her calls for more cleaning. Amid budget woes, she has reduced trash pickup, but increased recycling, and also launched a program in which workers are sent to clean up alleys.
Though the Fire Department got the highest marks of all city services, Dixon said she does not regret deep cuts to its budget this year. She acknowledged that there are "some struggles and issues" with rotating closures of fire companies. But she concluded that "people felt that fire protection was very important and we were providing a quality service."
The mayor was displeased with attitudes toward recreation activities - 66 percent of those surveyed reported, for example, that they never visit parks or visit only occasionally.
"We have the best parks in the state, and we've got to get people who feel safe in coming into the parks and increasing activities and using them," she said.
But most respondents - 53 percent - said they believe their neighborhoods have "good" or "excellent" green space.
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Once again the Baltimore Sun manages to sugarcoat the real problems. I moved back home five years ago and actually bought a house. My property taxes are outrageous and i have seen my relatively decent neighborhood slowly deteriorate. It isn't in the section that I live in but it is bad if you go two blocks either way.
The issue in this city is a lack of jobs for people to become middle class.
No one did any planning for what to do with the people who worked at the steel plants or sugar plant. Every one isn't meant to do biotech work. They aren't going to be homeowners if they cant find a permanent career. Not a job. You can't get a mortgage if you don't have a decent work history and a way to save moeny.
How about the schools? I am holding back on having kids until I know I can afford to send them to one of the more elite private schools. I don't do any activities in the city because parking is horrible and everything is one block away from trouble.
Public transportation is horrible. Customer service is the worst. There is a lack of diversity in the city management structure which creates an environment of yes men and entitlement. The nepotism that goes on is criminal. I am considering moving back to Northern Virginia
Hatethewaste (10/17/2009, 10:36 AM )