PPIC Survey Finds Growing Air Quality Concerns Among Central Valley Residents -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin - Volume 10, Bulletin 13 -- May 8, 2003

Air pollution is further developing into more of a concern among California Central Valley residents than those living in Los Angeles County, according to the most recent Special Survey of the Central Valley conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) and the Great Valley Center (GVC). Furthermore, respondents identified other growth and development related concerns as among the most serious issues when asked to name the most important policy issues for the region.

According to the report, of 2,000 residents polled in the 19-County Central Valley area, air pollution (16%), water quality and supply (14%), jobs and the economy (11%), population growth (8%), and crime and gangs (8%) were recorded most frequently as the most important issues facing the region. Seventy-five percent of respondents view air pollution as either a big problem or somewhat of a problem, with residents of South San Joaquin most likely to be concerned with air quality as a big problem.

Residents also showed a willingness to alter lifestyles in order to improve the quality of the air; with 51 percent expressing a willingness to take more frequent public transit trips and 77 percent of SUV owners showing a willingness to drive more fuel efficient cars. Respondents also showed support for tougher federal environmental regulations (66%); on the other hand, they were significantly less approving of government action to ameliorate air pollution if it were to hurt the local economy (39%).

PPIC is a private operating foundation dedicated to improving public policy in California through independent, objective and non-partisan research. The Central Valley Survey is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey, conducted to provide a comprehensive advocacy-free study of the political, social and economic attitudes and public preferences of Central Valley residents. To view a copy of this report visit the PPIC website at http://www.ppic.org .

To expand communications between Washington and California, the California Institute provides periodic faxed bulletins regarding current activity on Capitol Hill which directly impacts our state. Bulletins are published weekly during sessions of Congress, and occasionally during other periods. The e-mail edition is made possible in part by in kind donations from Sun Microsystems and IBM Corp.

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