Houston Daily

A recent report from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston sheds light on the current issues facing Houston residents. Despite many Houstonians rating the city's quality of life positively, longstanding problems such as poorly maintained streets, crime, and traffic congestion remain significant concerns.

Key findings from the survey indicate that nearly half of the respondents, 49%, view the condition of city streets as a critical issue, with crime following closely at 41% and traffic congestion at 37%. The survey reflects wider discontent, as noted by Renée Cross, a researcher and senior executive director at the Hobby School, who said, “While 58% of the people we surveyed gave high marks to the city’s quality of life, about the same percentage said the city is headed in the wrong direction.” Cross highlighted issues such as streets, traffic, crime, and housing costs.

Mark P. Jones, a senior research fellow at the Hobby School and political scientist at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, noted racial and ethnic disparities in how these issues are perceived. When asked about neighborhood quality of life, 67% of white registered voters rated it positively, compared to 56% of Black voters and just 47% of Latino voters.

Additional findings showed that opinions on local services are mixed, with fire/EMS receiving the highest satisfaction at 81%. In contrast, public works received just 28% approval. The survey asked about a proposal to exceed the city’s revenue cap by up to $40 million a year for public safety, which 39% of residents supported, while 38% opposed it. Moreover, 77% backed a proposal to increase funding for the city-run animal shelter, BARC.

Despite the challenges, public support for local leadership remains relatively strong, with 59% approving of Houston Mayor John Whitmire's performance and 55% approving of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's leadership. However, 59% of respondents believe Houston is heading in the wrong direction, similar to sentiments about Harris County, the state of Texas, and the United States.

The survey involved 1,400 registered voters in Houston, conducted in English and Spanish, with a margin of error of +/-2.62%. Further reports from the Hobby School intend to focus on attitudes towards future political candidates and the city's cultural landscape.