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TODCO Group Research Poll #2 Results: September 16, 2014

How Voters Feel About Their Changing City

ONLY 36% OF LIKELY SAN FRANCISCO VOTERS APPROVE OF THE JOB
THE CITYS PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS DONE SO FAR TO RESPOND
TO THE IMPACTS OF THE CITYS CURRENT DEVELOPMENT BOOM AND
PLAN HOW TO GET THE BEST RESULTS FROM THE CITYS ECONOMIC
GROWTH IN THE FUTURE, WHILE ALMOST HALF 46% ARE NOT
SATISFIED AND A SIGNFICANT NUMBER 15% ARE UNDECIDED.

IN PARTICULAR, AN OVERWHLEMING 91% BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO
PROTECT SMALL BUSINESS AND ARTISTS FROM BEING DISPLACED BY
DEVELOPMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY, 78% WANT TO SEE THE FLOWER
MART AND ITS DOZENS OF SMALL PDR BUSINESSES MAINTAINED AS
PART OF ANY NEW PROJECT THERE.

OVERALL, A STRONG MAJORITY 62% BELIEVE THE PACE OF NEW
DEVELOPMEMNT IN THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXCEED
THE CAPACITY OF ITS TRANSIT, TRAFFIC, AND HOUSING, AND A CLEAR
MAJORITY OF 56% SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF THE 1986
PROPOSITION M LIMITS ON NEW OFFICE DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS
REASON, WHILE ONLY ABOUT ONE-THIRD 35% OPPOSE THAT.

A poll of 400 likely San Francisco registered voters conducted for the TODCO
Group by David Binder and Associates during the week of September 8-12
further documents the deep levels of concern among San Franciscans about
impacts of the Citys current Technology Boom upon the City. This new poll is a
follow up TODCOs July poll researching specific housing and neighborhood
impacts (copy attached) caused by the Boom.

This latest polls key findings and some salient details are presented below. Very
notably, 65% of likely City voters are ready to vote Yes on the November
ballots Proposition K, initiated by Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Jane Kim
and supported by an extraordinary coalition of the Citys Progressive
communities, development communities, neighborhood, labor, and
environmental communities. It will officially establish the Civic Vision that
at least 33% of all future San Francisco housing development will be
affordable to lower and middle income San Franciscans.
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The TODCO Group is the community-based South of Market nonprofit
community/housing development company that since 1978 built and now
operates 956 affordable housing units in 8 properties with extensive community
facilities in SOMAs Yerba Buena and Sixth Street Neighborhoods. Its Mission
Statement is South of Market Neighborhood Builders. For information contact
John Elberling, President/CEO at 415-896-1882 or johne@todco.org. Report
graphics by Alice Light, TODCOs Director of Community Planning.

FINDINGS

1. The current Job Approval rating of the San Francisco Planning
Department is very low, just 36% positive vs. 46% Disapproval. This is
generally reflective of nearly all demographic groups within a +/- range of
10% either way. The highest Disapproval rating 59% comes from
moderate income voters with household incomes between $50,000 and
$74,000 per year, while the strongest Approval rating 55% comes from
residents of District 3 (Chinatown/North Beach/Nob Hill/Financial District).



2. The astounding 91% Importance of protecting small businesses and
artists from displacement is universal among all groups. The lowest level of
support (only!) 80% is voiced by registered Republican voters. And very
unusually, only 3% of those polled have no opinion or declined to reply.
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3. The overwhelming 78% support for protecting SOMAs San Francisco
Flower Mart in particular is likewise true across the board. The lowest level
of support (just!) 63% is registered by likely voters with incomes over
$100,000 per year, while the highest level of support 91% comes from
moderate income voters earning between $40,000 and $49,000 per year.



4. The 2 to 1 voter support 62% to 31% for an overall metric that matches
the pace of new development in the City with its transit, traffic, and housing
capacity is also generally consistent across the board. Interestingly, among
age groups the strongest support for this comes from voters Under 30
years of age 70% while among income groups, again the lowest level of
support still a majority at 54% comes from voters earning over
$100,000 per year.
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5. And in particular, continuation of the 1986 Prop M limit on office
development in the City intended to effect that goal (which the development
industry is once again attacking as it does during every building boom)
registers strong continued support by 56% of likely voters surveyed, while
only 35% do not support its continuance. Interestingly, while young voters
Under 30 support Prop M by 58%, only 36% of all voters surveyed who
have lived in the City less than 5 years share that view.



6. Finally, when asked how they intend to vote on this November Elections
Proposition K on the City ballot the 33%-Affordable Housing Balance
San Francisco Vision Statement initiative put on the ballot by Supervisor
Jane Kim and Mayor Ed Lee 65% voice support while only 22% state
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opposition, a 3 to 1 majority. Exceptionally strong support is evidenced
among young voters 80% of those Under 30, African-Americans 78%,
lower-income voters with income from $25,000 to $39,000 per year 83%,
and renters 75%. But even homeowners register support at 58%, and
voters earning more than $75,000 per year are 59% in support. The only
groups at all showing opposition above 30% are Republicans 42%, and
self-identified Conservative voters 41%.





NB: This poll was limited to likely San Francisco voters, not a statistical cross
section of all City residents. Voters were specifically polled because they
will be the ultimate civic decision-makers for the Citys future. The statistical
margin of error is 5%.