MILWAUKEE — A survey of 400 registered Milwaukee voters explored issues important to area residents ahead of April's election of a new mayor.
The survey was conducted March 10-14 by the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors (GMAR) and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
According to GMAR, Milwaukee voters are in a sour mood heading into the 2022 mayoral elections.
A majority of voters, 56%, say that Milwaukee is off on the wrong track. Only 31% feel the city is headed in the right direction.
The survey found 38% of voters rate the quality of life in Milwaukee fair, and 22% rate it as poor. Just 29% of voters feel the quality of life will get better over the next three years.
Crime is a dominant issue for Milwaukee voters with nearly half (48%) saying crime is the most important issue for the mayor and city government to focus on. Three quarters say that Milwaukee crime is either an extremely serious (39%) or very serious (36%) problem.
GMAR also says that many voters have little confidence in the ability of Milwaukee police to protect them from crime. The survey found 42% have "quite a lot or a great deal" of confidence in the poll, 44% do not have very much confidence, and 12% have no confidence at all.
However, 60% said they would like to see city spending on policing increased by either a little (26%) or a lot (33%).
When asked to grade public education in Milwaukee, most gave a low grade. Thirty-seven percent of Milwaukee voters gave a grade C, 18% gave a grade D, and 18% gave a grade F. GMAR said just one-in-five give the schools a B (18%) or an A (4%).
GMAR also says 70% of Milwaukee voters favor making marijuana use legal in the city. Half "strongly" favor the idea and only 28% opposed.
As for the economy, GMAR says Milwaukee voters believe the following:
- Fair economic conditions in Milwaukee: 54%
- Poor economic conditions in Milwaukee: 25%
- Positive economic conditions in Milwaukee: 20%
- 1/2 say their family's incoming falls behind the cost of living
- Cost of living is a very big or fairly big problem: 50%
- Cost of housing is a moderate problem: 28%
- There are plenty jobs available: 60%
- Lack of public transit options is a big reason why some people can't find/keep a job: 37%
- Lack of public transit options is a small reason why some people can't find/keep a job: : 14%
