Batten Surveys Summary (12pgs)

The Batten Surveys:A Regional Civic Capital Assessment

2008-2009

The Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement gives special thanks to Jane P. Batten for her generous support of this project.

The mission of the Center is to support sustainable deliberative democracy in Hampton Roads and to connect public decision making with civil dialogue and the informed judgment of the region’s citizens.

Board of Directors: Program Fellows:Jim Babcock Joshua G. BehrChris Bonney Carolyn CaywoodMary Bunting Barbara L. ClarkMinette Cooper Michael DingersonLouis Guy Kevin FairleyClyde Hoey, Ramesh Kapoor Vice-Chairman and Treasurer Ed MaroneyQuentin Kidd Nicole Auer McGeeHenry Light Ken WheelerJim Oliver, Chairman Bob O’Neill Staff:Vivian Paige Betsy McBride, Executive DirectorAnita Poston, Counsel Susan Sharp, Administrative DirectorSuzanne Puryear, Secretary Todd Solomon, Program DirectorRoger Richman John Rowe Webmaster: Mike Rau Alvin Schexnider Graphic Design: Sue CurcioBert Schmidt Caitlin DanaRay Taylor Printing: Rocket DirectSanford Wanner

Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement5200 Hampton Blvd.Norfolk, VA 23508

Phone: 757.889.9359www.hrcce.org

The Batten Surveys: A Regional “Civic Capital” AssessmentTaken together the surveys attempt to assess the civic capital of the region. This “capital” is the civic values, skills and

infrastructure needed for citizens to work together to define and shape the region’s quality of life.For self-government to be sustained, citizens must be informed on the public issues of their time and take their turns

at active citizenship. All citizens, including those serving in elected and appointed positions, must accept their ultimate responsibility to provide for the practices of democracy.

There are critical roles for all. And there must be a shared belief that citizens can be co-producers of the ideas and strategies that define the future of our region.

We become regional citizens as we work together on the issues of concern for the entire region. We offer this baseline assessment to begin a regional conversation about where we are and if this is where we choose to be.

Are We Participating? The majority of Hampton Roads citizens have been •actively involved in their community during the past year.The majority of Hampton Roads citizens are showing •a commitment to civic life.The majority are participating in one or more stages of •the political process.The percentage of adults who say they have not been •actively involved in their community during the past year is extremely small, perhaps as few as one-in-fifty persons.

While Hampton Roads residents are widely affiliated with civic, social, and political networks, it is not clear how connected these networks are to each other or to larger organizational structures, how connected they are to other similar groups throughout the region, or whether the nature of their interests has any connection to discussion of issues of regional importance throughout the Hampton Roads area.

How Are We Informing Ourselves? Almost two-thirds of adults interviewed said they •follow news about local government and public affairs either somewhat or very closely. Most of the remainder say they pay attention to issues they believe touch their lives. Only about one-in-ten adults say they pay no attention •to news about local government and public affairs. Just over sixty-percent of those interviewed believe •that there is a reliable source of information about issues facing the region.

The Batten Surveys: A Regional “Civic Capital” Assessment 1

Summary: The Batten Surveys Youth Focus Group

A group of youth leaders, ages 17 to 22 years old, was invited to join a conversation about civic engagement and roles for citizens held at WHRO on March 12, 2009. Participants described civic engagement as being involved in the community, taking responsibility for the community and its people, and being knowledgeable and aware of important issues in the community.

Several had started organizations within their communities or schools in response to needs. As activists, they did not feel that most public policy problems are too big or too complicated for citizen engagement. They said that elected officials have to reach out and then show citizens that they are listening. But youth also have the responsibility to be prepared to respond and to be knowledgeable about important public issues.

Summary:The Batten Civic Health Telephone Survey

This survey was conducted between March 2 and 9, 2009 among a representative sample of 1,997 adult residents of the sixteen communities of Hampton Roads, including: the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach; and Gloucester, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry, James City and York Counties.

Do We Trust the Institutions Important for Our Public Work?

Citizens show a moderate level of trust in municipal •employees “to do what is right,” but less for local and state elected governmental representatives. Citizen trust in the media “to do what is right” is less •than confident.Overall, trust in all of these institutions is just barely •on the positive end of the trust spectrum.

Citizens have a tentative, perhaps even slightly skeptical stance regarding elected governmental representatives at the local and state level and the print media, but are less skeptical towards school boards, television, and government employees.

What Do We Say Is the Most Important Regional Issue? There does not appear to be any single “regional”

issue that galvanizes much more than a quarter of the region’s adults. When asked to name the most pressing single issue facing the Hampton Roads region, study participants mentioned hundreds of different thoughts. Just over half could be sorted into three broad categories:

Just over a quarter of citizens believe “the economy” is •the biggest issue facing the region. About one-in-five Hampton Roads citizens believe •“transportation” is the biggest issue facing the regionAbout one-in-ten Hampton Roads adults believe •education is the region’s leading issue.

2 The Batten Surveys: A Regional “Civic Capital” Assessment

Can We Work Together on Regional Issues?The vast majority of adults interviewed said they •are interested in working with other people to find solutions to the challenges they believe are the region’s highest priorities. The majority of Hampton Roads citizens do not •believe their local municipality invites citizen input.

Where Can We Work Together on Regional Issues?Only about a third of respondents, however, believe

there are currently “safe places” where they can go to discuss problems of regional scope and work with others to find solutions to these problems. For some, the first inclination is to go to a local or state government office. Existing trust levels of government representatives may impact that location, along with the complication of local entities and regional issues.

Asked about the trustworthiness of a variety of specific possible sponsors of regional discussions, study participants were again fragmented in their thinking. Two potential sponsors, churches and colleges/universities, were accorded the greatest trust, followed by “a nonprofit organization focused on civic engagement,” public libraries, the YMCA and the League of Women Voters.

Chart 1. Community Participation (Last Twelve Months)

70

52

38

36

35

30

29

27

23

17

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Re ligion

Char ity

Athletic/recreation

Support groups

Educa tion

Arts & culture

Social

Pu blic a ffairs

Wo rk-related

Civic & service clubs

%t Parti cipati on - La st Twe lve M on ths

Civic & service clubs

Work-related

Public affairs

Social

Arts & culture

Education

Support groups

Athletic/recreation

Charity

Religion

%t Participation - Last Twelve Months

Chart 2. Civic Participation (Last Twelve Months)

Chart 3. Political Action (Last Twelve Months)


82

77

38

37

37

34

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Discussed is sues wi th neighbors

Donate d to charity/service

Wo rked wi th others to solve problems

Discussed is sues wi th strangers

Attended neighborhood me eting

Donate d to local pol itical cause

%t Parti cipati on - La st Twe lve M on ths

Donated to local political causes

Attended neighborhood meeting

Discussed issues withstrangers

Worked with others to solve problems

Donated to charity/service

Discussed issues with neighbors


92

70

40

35

29

20

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Voted

Vis ited mun icipal Web site or TV chann el

Showed support for candi date/issue

Con tacted lo cal govt to express o pinion

Expresse d opinion using on line me dia

Attended lo cal gover nment meeting

%t Participa tion - Last Tw elve Months

Attended localgovernment meeting

Expressed opinion using online media

Contacted local govt to express opinion

Showed support forcandidate/issue

Visited municipal Website or TV channel

Voted


Chart 4. How Closely Follow News of Local Government and Public Affairs

Chart 5. Reliable Sources of Information About Issues Facing Hampton Roads Region


13

26

13

1

1

1

2

4

6

6

11

17

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Don't know if ther e are reliab le sources

Ther e are no reliable sour ces

Other /Don' t know

Church /Bible/God

Civic groups

Radio

Persona l contacts

Intern et

Media (unspe cified)

Government

Telev ision

Newspa per

% Mentions

Newspaper

Television

Government

Media (unspecified)

Internet

Personal contacts

Radio

Civic groups

Church/Bible/God

Other/Don’t know

There are no reliable sources

Don’t know if there are reliable sources

% Mentions

Very closely on all issu es

26%

Somewh at closely on all

issu es 37%

Mo stly thos e of my city/county

12% Mo stly thos e affe cting my life and work

12%

Don't pay attention to govt/publ ic affair s news

13%

Somewhat closely on all

issues37%

Very closely on all issues

26%

Don’t pay attention to govt/public affairs news

13%

Mostly those affecting my life and work

12%

Mostly those of my city/county

12%

Chart 6. Average Trust Ratings for Institutions

Chart 7. Regional Priorities


5.63

5.65

5.84

6.11

6.34

6.50

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Elected s tate represe ntatives

Loc al elected represe ntatives

Local daily newspaper

Loc al school board

Loc al television news

Loc al govern ment employ ees

Low Trus t Hig h Tru st

Local government employees

Local television news

Local school board

Local daily newspaper

Local elected representatives

Elected state representatives

Low Trust High Trust

6

23

1

1

1 1

2 2

4

10 21

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Don't know

Other

Growth /sprawl Healthcare

Racial reconciliation

En vironment Military

jobs

Taxes

Cr ime

Educa tion Trans por tation

Economy

% Mentions

Economy

Transportation

Education

Crime

Taxes

Military

Environment

Racial reconciliation

Healthcare

Growth/sprawl

Other

Don’t know

% Mentions


Chart 8. Interest in Working with Others to Find Solutions to Regional Issues

Chart 9. Does Your Local Government Invite Citizen Input?

Very interested26%

Somewhat interested

43%

Not very interested

18%

Not at all interested

11%

Don't know2% Very interested

26%

Somewhatinterested

43%

Not veryinterested

18%

Not at allinterested

11%

Don’t know2%

Yes

36% No

62%

Don't know 2%

Don’t know2%

Yes36%

No62%


Chart 10. Trustworthy Sponsors of Citizens Discussions of Regional Issues (Prompted)

During late 2008 and early 2009, Center friends and board members conducted interviews of many individuals engaged in the public work of the region, either as appointed or elected officials or as civic leaders. Each interview included the same questions, but not everyone answered every question.

Information and CommunicationThe matched set – the citizens’ right to be informed

and the duty to be informed echoed through the interviews with elected and appointed officials and with other civic leaders. A citizen asked to be trusted with good and bad news while another worried that bad news might be used irresponsibly against officials. Trust and the sharing of information were linked by many interviewees.

All groups said that citizens have a right to be listened to and also be accountable for using “facts” and providing “honest input.”

There was not any mention of any problem from getting too much information or any specifics about information gaps. All forms of new information technology were suggested as promising tools for more sharing of information.

Process All interview groups said they expect fair, open,

transparent and accountable government that operates with integrity and competence. There was mention that training to increase competence around civic engagement processes is necessary and that dedicated resources and public involvement policies will be needed to increase public involvement.

Civic engagement around the big strategic decisions was called for. An elected official said civic engagement should be used “often and continuously” and another said there is a “need to get public input from day one and not after decisions have been made.”

The duty to be supportive when appropriate was added to the often-mentioned duty to speak up. Civility and respect were called for along with greater understanding of decision making processes. All of the groups mentioned the misunderstandings that follow the unrealized expectation that citizen input always changes a decision. Officials and citizens said they worried about the distrust that comes when citizens conclude that they have not been heard when a policy decision is not aligned with public sentiment. More than one interviewee said that more communication after a public decision would increase overall public understanding.

Summary: The Batten Survey Interviews

10

6

4

5

16

17

20

22

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Don't know

Other

Leag ue of Women Voters

YMCA

Publi c libra ries

Non -profit focuse d on civ ic engag ement

Colleges/u niver sities

Churches

% Mentions

Churches

Colleges/universities

Non-profit focused oncivic engagement

Public libraries

YMCA

League of Women Voters

Other

Don’t know

% Mentions


Those EngagedAn appointed official said that what is needed is “Willing citizens and open government.” A civic leader was also

succinct about what is needed, “First, a receptive attitude; if that does not exist, don’t bother with the rest.”

TrustThe oft-repeated cure for distrust was more information, more communication and more work together. In other

words, true civic engagement with good information and timely communication.

TrainingThere were calls for training for civic engagement and also reports of receiving training. A review of the comments

describing training demonstrates a broad interpretation of what is considered public involvement training and, by extension, what is considered to be public involvement.

What Do You Think is the Most Important Public Issue for the Region?Three regional issues dominated “the most important public issue” list. They were transportation, regionalism

and the economy- in that order. Of the three most frequently mentioned regional issues, elected officials and other citizen leaders ranked transportation highest of the three. The economy was the highest ranked of the three top issues by appointed officials. Regionalism, the second most frequently mentioned regional issue overall, was not ranked as important by elected officials.

Regional Civic Engagement Report CardIn the same spirit as the maxim “all politics is local,” interviewees gave the highest average regional grade “B” to the

civic engagement efforts of their own groups. Effort more removed, i.e. “civic engagement in regional issues,” received the lowest grade “D.”

Regional Report Card Interview Question Grade

How would you grade the amount of effort you or your group spends in civic engagement? B

How would you grade your community’s overall civic engagement? C+

How would you grade your local government’s overall civic engagement? C+

How would you grade private businesses in overall civic engagement? C-

How would you grade overall civic engagement in regional issues? D

To view and download the complete Batten Surveys Reports, go to www.hrcce.org


Most Important Hampton Roads Regional Issues(Interview Question #18)

TransportationRegionalismEconomyEducationInfrastructureCivic EngagementCompetivenessQuality of LifeEnvironmentWaterMilitary PresencePublic HealthTrust

Citizens' Role in the Most Important Hampton Roads Regional Issues

(Interview Question #19)

Educate themselves

Participate (e.g. attend forums,online discussions)

Take action (e.g. letters to editor,email local and regional govt. andgroups)Create a regional advocacy group

Demand better civic engagement

Lobby elected officials

Batten Surveys Summary (12pgs)

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