The larger the word, the more frequently it was mentioned in a question about Gwinnett’s challenges
(Editor’s note: Today this is a report from my son, who conducted a survey recently for us. –eeb)
By Andy Brack, special to GwinnettForum
MARCH 29, 2019 | A broad recent survey of GwinnettForum readers shows two issues – transportation and education — rub readers as the county’s biggest challenges and opportunities.
When asked to define three top challenges, sample comments of readers responding included:
- “Overcrowded schools, traffic congestion, both of which could be helped significantly by slowing down the building of new homes for a while.”
- “Overdevelopment; overcrowded schools; traffic congestion.”
- “Maintain and improve education for those who are not in the magnet schools; more arts and music; decrease traffic congestion with more public transit options.”
When asked to define three top priorities for the county in 2019, readers offered similar comments:
- “Public transportation – we have to provide a way for people to get around without a car. People need to be able to work in the area without spending hours on a commute.”
- “Managed growth. Improved infrastructure. Less development.”
- “Affordable housing. Transportation. Public safety.”
Two in five respondents of the survey, taken before county voters said no this month to expanding MARTA into Gwinnett, identified as Republican while one in five said they were Democrats and 25 percent said they were independent. The non-random survey provides a snapshot about what motivated GwinnettForum readers thought in January about the county and state. Other issues related to Gwinnett County:
Direction of county: Six out of 10 percent of respondents said they thought the county was moving in the right direction overall, compared to a third who picked wrong direction.
Growth: A quarter of respondents said Gwinnett’s growth was natural and should be left alone, but another quarter said the county needed to regulate growth more strictly. A few people (10 percent) said local governments should set limits while others (6 percent) said growth should be stopped. The rest of respondents – 35 percent – had specific comments on growth, most of which fit into the four categories previously mentioned.
Entertainment: Overall, readers said they wanted more bars, parking, venues, restaurant, entertainment and theaters in the new entertainment district at Infinite Energy Center.
Four dozen respondents also gave thoughts on several state issues:
Reform: Those surveyed said the most important issue that state legislators should deal with is ethics reform for local and state government with 68 percent ranking it in the top four issues. Following closely were campaign finance reform to eliminate dark money (66 percent picked as one of top four issues), reform (49 percent) and tax reform ( 34 percent).
Investment: When asked to rank areas for state government investment, 88 percent of readers ranked transportation infrastructure investments in the top four answers, followed by increasing teacher pay (60 percent), investing to reduce poverty (54 percent), and investing to curb flooding (48 percent).
Vaping: Readers generally were opposed to vaping, with 25 percent saying electronic cigarettes should be outlawed, while 37 percent said vaping should be tightly regulated by the state and 6 percent said local governments should regulate it.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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