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Taubman public opinion survey
Voters favor Cicilline as mayor; minorities feel they have too little power
A survey of 688 Providence voters conducted Sept. 14–22, 2002, finds a big margin for David Cicilline over his general election rivals. Minorities feel they have too little political power in Providence.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Democratic mayoral candidate David Cicilline holds a
substantial lead over his general election opponents, according to a survey
conducted by researchers at Brown University. The poll also inquired about
people’s views on minority relations, discrimination and political power
in Providence. Both African-American and Latino voters say they have too little
political power in the capital city.
The survey was conducted Sept. 14–22, 2002, at Brown University by
Darrell M. West, director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy and the John
Hazen White Sr. Public Opinion Laboratory, and Marion Orr, associate professor
of political science, urban studies and public policy. It is based on a citywide
random sample of 688 residents. The poll was designed to measure candidate
support in the general election and people’s views about minority
relations in Providence. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish,
depending on whether there were non-English speakers in the household. Overall,
the poll had a margin of error of about plus or minus four percentage points.
In the race for mayor, 70 percent of the 506 likely general election voters
say they plan to vote for Democrat Cicilline, 4 percent say they plan to vote
for Republican Dave Talan, 2 percent favor Green party candidate Greg Gerritt, 1
percent support independent Christopher Young, and 23 percent are undecided.
Cicilline’s support is strong across racial lines. While 71 percent of
whites say they favor him, he also draws support from 83 percent of
African-Americans and 81 percent of Latino and Hispanic voters.
With Providence becoming a city that has a majority of minority residents,
according to the U.S. Census, the survey asked a range of questions involving
minority relations, especially between whites, African Americans and Latinos.
Both African-American and Latino residents feel they have too little political
power in Providence. Seventy-seven percent of African Americans feel they have
too little power, while 57 percent of Latinos feel that way. Nine percent of
whites feel that whites have too little political power in Providence.
Overall, 42 percent feel that opportunities for minorities are getting
better, while 25 percent feel opportunities are staying the same, 13 percent
believe they are getting worse, and 20 percent are undecided. However,
minorities themselves are less optimistic. Among African-Americans, 36 percent
say minority opportunities are getting better, while among Latinos, 42 percent
feel opportunities are getting better. Forty-eight percent of whites feel
minority opportunities are improving.
Twenty-three percent of whites believe that minorities face a lot of
discrimination in Providence. However, 45 percent of African-Americans report
minorities encounter a lot of discrimination and 39 percent of Latinos say
minorities face a lot of discrimination.
There are differing views about electoral cooperation between African
Americans and Latinos to elect particular candidates. Sixty-two percent of
African Americans feel there should be a lot of cooperation, 59 percent of
Latinos feel that way, and 39 percent of whites believe there should be a lot of
electoral cooperation.
On issues such as affirmative action and bilingual education, there are
substantial differences by group. For example on affirmative action, 46 percent
of whites favor affirmative action efforts to hire minority employees compared
to 68 percent of African Americans and 80 percent of Latinos. Eighty-nine
percent of Latinos think Providence public schools should offer bilingual
education for those who do not speak English, compared to 57 percent of whites
and 76 percent of African Americans.
In looking at age, education and income by group, Latinos are the youngest
and poorest within the city and have the lowest educational attainment. For
example, while 15 percent of white households make less than $20,000 a year, 34
percent of Latinos and 23 percent of African-Americans earn less than $20,000.
Latinos also are the group having the highest percentage of first-generation
families. Twenty-three percent of Latinos say their family has lived in the
United States for only one generation, compared to 8 percent of
African-Americans and 7 percent of whites.
Acting Mayor John Lombardi’s performance is rated excellent or good by
26 percent, while 18 percent say it is only fair, 5 percent rate it poor, and 51
percent are undecided.
The survey was completed in conjunction with the Taubman Center’s
Thomas J. Anton/Frederick Lippitt conference, The Future of Providence,
to be held Sept. 26-27. Mayor Martin O’Malley of Baltimore will deliver
the keynote address at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept, 26, in Sayles Hall on The
College Green. A panel of experts will discuss urban issues at 10:30 a.m.,
Friday, Sept. 27, in Sayles Hall. At noon Friday, also in Sayles Hall, there
will be a mayoral debate featuring Cicilline, Gerritt, Talan and Young. All
conference events are free and open to the public.
For more information, see the report at www.InsidePolitics.org or contact
Darrell M. West at (401) 863-1163 or Marion Orr at (401) 863-9436.
Survey Questions and Responses
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Note: Responses for the following items are shown for the overall sample and
for whether the respondent was white, African-American, or Latino or Hispanic.
The mayoral general election question is based on likely voters only.
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(506 likely voters only) If the election for mayor of Providence were held
today, would you vote for: 1) Democrat David Cicilline 2) Green party Greg
Gerritt, 3) Republican Dave Talan, or 4) independent Christopher Young 8)
don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Cicilline | 70% | 71% | 83% | 81% |
Gerritt | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
Talan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Young | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Undecided | 23 | 22 | 10 | 19 |
How would you rate the job John Lombardi is doing as mayor of Providence?
1) excellent 2) good 3) only fair 4) poor 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Excellent | 5% | 6% | 5% | 4% |
Good | 21 | 21 | 27 | 29 |
Only Fair | 18 | 16 | 28 | 26 |
Poor | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
Undecided | 51 | 50 | 38 | 36 |
Do you think that African-Americans in Providence have: 1) too little, 2)
the right amount, or 3) too much political power? 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Too Little | 45% | 42% | 77% | 51% |
Right Amount | 23 | 28 | 11 | 25 |
Too Much | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
Undecided | 26 | 24 | 10 | 18 |
Do you think that Latinos in Providence have: 1) too little, 2) the right
amount, or 3) too much political power? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African AmericanLatino/Hispanic |
Too Little | 38% | 38% | 44% | 57% |
Right Amount | 30 | 31 | 34 | 25 |
Too Much | 9 | 8 | 14 | 9 |
Undecided | 23 | 23 | 8 | 9 |
Do you think that whites in Providence have: 1) too little, 2) the right
amount, or 3) too much political power? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Too Little | 7% | 9% | 6% | 3% |
Right Amount | 33 | 35 | 27 | 36 |
Too Much | 40 | 40 | 58 | 50 |
Undecided | 20 | 16 | 9 | 11 |
Are the opportunities for minorities in Providence: 1) getting worse 2)
staying the same or 3) getting better? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Getting Worse | 13% | 12% | 21% | 16% |
Staying Same | 25 | 25 | 35 | 34 |
Getting Better | 42 | 48 | 36 | 42 |
Undecided | 20 | 15 | 8 | 8 |
In thinking about your local community, do you believe that minorities
are: 1) easy or 2) hard to get along with? 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Easy | 63% | 71% | 64% | 61% |
Hard | 15 | 14 | 22 | 25 |
Undecided | 22 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
How much discrimination do minority populations face in Providence: 1)
only a little 2) some or 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Only A Little | 18% | 21% | 12% | 17% |
Some | 37 | 43 | 37 | 39 |
A Lot | 27 | 23 | 45 | 39 |
Undecided | 18 | 13 | 6 | 5 |
How would you feel about having a close relative or family member marry a
minority? 1) not favorable 2) somewhat favorable 3) very favorable? 8)
don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Not Favorable | 8% | 10% | 0% | 5% |
Somewhat Favorable | 27 | 31 | 30 | 22 |
Very Favorable | 48 | 49 | 61 | 64 |
Undecided | 17 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
At election time, how much cooperation do you think there should be
between African-Americans and Latinos to elect particular candidates? 1) a
little 2) some or 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
A Little | 10% | 14% | 5% | 3% |
Some | 28 | 32 | 24 | 33 |
A Lot | 42 | 39 | 62 | 59 |
Undecided | 20 | 15 | 9 | 5 |
How much cooperation do you think there should be between
African-Americans and Latinos to achieve public policy objectives? 1) a little
2) some 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
A Little | 9% | 14% | 0% | 3% |
Some | 26 | 30 | 24 | 28 |
A Lot | 47 | 45 | 67 | 60 |
Undecided | 18 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
How much cooperation do you think there should be between
African-Americans and Latinos to get government jobs for their members? 1) a
little 2) some 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
A Little | 11% | 16% | 3% | 4% |
Some | 24 | 28 | 24 | 26 |
A Lot | 44 | 42 | 68 | 63 |
Undecided | 21 | 14 | 5 | 7 |
We would like to know something about the feelings you have toward various
groups. Have minorities in Providence ever made you feel angry? 1) rarely 2)
sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Rarely | 45% | 52% | 38% | 49% |
Sometimes | 31 | 33 | 49 | 34 |
Often | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
Undecided | 16 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Have whites in Providence ever made you feel angry? 1) rarely 2) sometimes
or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Rarely | 31% | 34% | 25% | 38% |
Sometimes | 41 | 46 | 51 | 37 |
Often | 13 | 14 | 18 | 18 |
Undecided | 15 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Have minorities in Providence ever made you feel afraid? 1) rarely 2)
sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Rarely | 52% | 57% | 54% | 62% |
Sometimes | 26 | 31 | 32 | 21 |
Often | 6 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
Undecided | 16 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
Have whites in Providence ever made you feel afraid? 1) rarely 2)
sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Rarely | 57% | 60% | 68% | 69% |
Sometimes | 24 | 29 | 22 | 21 |
Often | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
Undecided | 16 | 7 | 10 | 5 |
The Providence school superintendent recently left to take a job in
another city. Do you think the next superintendent of Providence public schools
should be: 1) white 2) African-American or 3) Latino? 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
White | 7% | 7% | 10% | 6% |
African-American | 6 | 5 | 21 | 2 |
Latino | 5 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
Undecided | 82 | 86 | 67 | 74 |
Do you think the city of Providence should use affirmative action efforts
to hire minority employees? 1) yes 2) no 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Yes | 49% | 46% | 68% | 80% |
No | 30 | 44 | 16 | 10 |
Undecided | 21 | 10 | 16 | 10 |
Do you think Providence public schools should offer bilingual education
for those who do not speak English? 1) yes 2) no 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Yes | 59% | 57% | 76% | 89% |
No | 27 | 39 | 19 | 10 |
Undecided | 14 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
Do you think the government should offer Spanish-language election ballots
for Latinos who do not speak English? 1) yes 2) no 8) don’t know 9) no
answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Yes | 58% | 60% | 76% | 84% |
No | 28 | 38 | 24 | 14 |
Undecided | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Would you characterize your overall political beliefs as: 1) liberal 2)
moderate or 3) conservative? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Liberal | 30% | 36% | 26% | 33% |
Moderate | 33 | 40 | 37 | 27 |
Conservative | 17 | 16 | 27 | 26 |
Undecided | 20 | 8 | 10 | 14 |
Regardless of how you vote, do you usually consider yourself a: 1)
Democrat 2) Independent 3) Republican, or 4) something else? 8) don’t know
9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
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Dem | 44% | 47% | 65% | 52% |
Ind | 26 | 35 | 18 | 18 |
Rep | 6 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
Something Else | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
Undecided | 17 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
Which of the following age group are you in? 1) 18-24 2) 25-34 3) 35-44 4)
45-54 5) 55-64 6) 65 or older 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
18-24 | 15% | 12% | 27% | 31% |
25-34 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 28 |
35-44 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 24 |
45-54 | 17 | 22 | 16 | 9 |
55-64 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
65+ | 12 | 17 | 8 | 3 |
Undecided | 12 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Including yourself, how many generations has your family lived in the
United States? 1) first generation 2) second 3) third 4) fourth 5) fifth or more
8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
First Generation | 10% | 7% | 8% | 23% |
Second | 12 | 13 | 8 | 22 |
Third | 23 | 28 | 23 | 24 |
Fourth | 12 | 18 | 6 | 10 |
Fifth or More | 27 | 32 | 47 | 16 |
Undecided | 16 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
What is the latest grade of school you completed: 1) some high school or
less 2) high school graduate 3) some college 4) college graduate 5)
post-graduate work 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
Some HS | 11% | 8% | 18% | 25% |
HS Grad | 21 | 21 | 29 | 32 |
Some College | 20 | 24 | 31 | 20 |
College Grad | 19 | 23 | 17 | 15 |
Post-Grad | 16 | 24 | 5 | 6 |
Undecided | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Does your annual household income fall within: 1) $0-20,000 2)
$20,001-40,000 3) $40,001-60,000 4) $60,001-80,000 5) 80,001-100,000 or 6) over
$100,000? 8) don’t know 9) no answer |
| Overall | White | African American | Latino/Hispanic |
$0-20,000 | 17% | 15% | 23% | 34% |
$20,001-40,000 | 25 | 25 | 36 | 35 |
$40,001-60,000 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
$60,001-80,000 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
$80,001-100,000 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
$100,000+ | 7 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
Undecided | 24 | 14 | 20 | 16 |
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