The results of the University of New Orleans's annual quality of life survey are now out. Those results include grim news for Orleans Parish.
"The crime problem is having a profound effect on the quality of life in Orleans," UNO professor and pollster Ed Chervenak said. "Residents in the city are dissatisfied with life in New Orleans, and they say it has become a worse place to live over the last five years."
Chervenak said that residents of New Orleans lack confidence that the NOPD can protect them and that the offices of criminal justice are doing anything to stop crime. Chervenak also said Mayor LaToya Cantrell's approval rating is in the tank.
"Her disapproval rating is twice the size of her approval rating," Chervenak said. "Only 31 percent of residents in Orleans give her positive marks for her performance in office whereas 62 percent are unhappy with the job she is doing as mayor. Thirty-five percent strongly disapprove of the job that she is doing."
Chervenak notes that Jefferson Parish residents have a much more positive outlook about their government officials and the jobs and industry coming into the parish. Still, they fell that New Orleans's problems are causing their quality of life to decline.
"Five percent of Jefferson residents said New Orleans is Jefferson Parish's biggest problem," Chervenak said, adding that those Jefferson Parish residents believe crime and other problems from New Orleans are reducing their quality of life. "They are viewing it as more of a problem than ever."
While New Orleans residents are largely dissatisfied with their elected officials and their ability to fight crime, Chervenak says Jefferson Parish voters have confidence in their leaders.
"They still are very happy with their public officials: 75-percent approval rating for (Parish President) Cynthia Lee Sheng, 79-percent approval rating for (Sheriff) Joe Lopinto, (and) the parish council (has) a 67-percent approval rating," Chervenak said.
The survey included 500 participants from Orleans Parish and 500 from Jefferson Parish.
To view the results of the UNO quality of life survey, click here.
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