Poll says Schenectady residents happy with revived downtown Friday, February 15, 2008
SCHENECTADY — Schenectady County residents are overwhelmingly pleased with the revitalization of the downtown Schenectady, according to a new poll by the Siena Research Institute. The poll, sponsored by the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, said 82 percent of residents have an improved opinion of downtown as compared to several years ago, with 70 percent saying they are excited about the new development and 75 percent agreeing downtown has "come back to life" in recent years. According to the survey, 79 percent of county residents have visited downtown Schenectady over the past year, with about 76 percent of those respondents attending arts events, 68 percent visiting entertainment venues, 45 percent conducting business and 38 percent shopping. Respondents also said the revitalization is important to the community, with 84 percent agreeing the county needs an active and appealing downtown to be a first-class place to live, and 80 percent believing a revitalized downtown will help everyone in the county. Although a majority of visitors are satisfied, the amenities most in need of attention in the opinion of visitors are, in order, more restrooms, better police presence, additional parking and better access to information.
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Brad Littlefield
February 15, 2008, 3:32pm
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The poll, sponsored by the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority ...
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According to the survey, 79 percent of county residents have visited downtown Schenectady over the past year, with about 76 percent of those respondents attending arts events, 68 percent visiting entertainment venues, 45 percent conducting business and 38 percent shopping.
76% of the 79% of county residents who have visited the City of Schenectady have done so to attend an arts event. That would equate to 60% of ALL Schenectady County residents (79% x 76%) have attended an arts event in the past year. Arts events are identified as theatre, movie, or museum exhibit. Let us post a poll of our own to see if this finding represents the sampling of those who post on this forum.
The SRI survey of Use and Perception of Downtown Schenectady was conducted in January 2008 by random telephone calls to 625 Schenectady residents over the age of 18. All overall data reported has a margin of error of + 3.9 points. For more information or comments, please call Dr. Don Levy, Director Siena College Research Institute, at 518-783-2901. Survey cross-tabulations, the final report and a pdf of the release can be found at http://www.siena.edu/sri/schenectady08
Having been awarded a Masters Degree in Mathematics and Education from Syracuse University, I will state that the size of the sample and the method of the selection of the sample from the population can significantly bias the results. In reviewing the details of the survey (available at the link above), I found it interesting that 57.6% of those who responded are over 55 years of age and 88% described themselves as White or Caucasian. For this to be a proper sampling that reflects the population of Schenectady County, those percentages must be consistent with the demographics of the general population of Schenectady County.
The Siena College Research Institute is a respectable polling organization. I believe, however, that the questions posed and the sampling of the respondents may have biased the results and do not accurately reflect the views of the general population.
One question that was omitted from the poll is if the county residents believe that they have received the appropriate return on their investment of tens of millions of dollars of public revenues (i.e., taxes) that have been redistributed by the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority to private individuals and businesses. To ask such a question, however, would require full accounting of the revenues spent and the income generated.
Opponents of the Metroplex Authority could hire Siena to conduct an opinion poll to skew the results in their desired direction, much like Metroplex did.
I'm curious about this paragraph in the report:
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Still a smaller group of residents do not use the Downtown, are, as we showed, concerned about the extant amenities and are concerned about the cost of revitalization. Just over 27% of all residents agree that we are spending too much to redevelop Downtown (60% disagree with them). And a similar number (25.6%) simply do not have Downtown on their radar screen.
Conclusion
At rates in the 70 to 80 percent range, Schenectady residents are aware of redevelopment in Downtown Schenectady. They visit the Downtown for a variety of reasons and see the Downtown as an important source of pride as well as a worthwhile engine of economic growth. They see the improvements and believe that the revitalization will continue. While some 20 to 27% do not go Downtown and tend not to appreciate nor support its redevelopment, that sentiment is clearly a minority position. Some that hold that position cannot be expected to change. However, by appealing to issues including adding more Cultural Events, solving perceived problems with parking, signage and safety, more of those that use the Downtown will become more active good will ambassadors and some of those that now believe it inconvenient may begin to frequent downtown. Continuing efforts to make known what is happening Downtown and what is available will assist the positive vector of use and perception that is clearly well under way.
I would like to know the education level, and household income of the 27% who don't support the government subsidized redevelopment, as well as the 60% who disagree with them.
It seems to me from reading this report that when the numbers favored the government subsidized redevelopment, the writer of the report made sure to emphasize that those people were affluent or college educated.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Survey reveals city on right path People happy with downtown BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
A majority of Schenectady County residents overwhelmingly supports efforts to revitalize the city’s State Street corridor and believes a strong, vital downtown will improve their lives, according to a Siena Research Institute survey released Friday. At the same time, the survey showed some weaknesses: People believe downtown’s amenities meet but do not exceed their expectations. Some of the key findings: That 84 percent of the county’s 120,000 adults agree the county needs an active and appealing downtown to become a first-class place to live; That 82 percent have an improved opinion of downtown, compared to five years ago; That 80 percent believe a revitalized downtown will help everyone in the county; That more than 79 percent visited downtown during 2007 at least once for business, entertainment, shopping or for some other activity; That 27 percent believe too much money is being spent on downtown’s revitalization. The Metroplex Development Authority commissioned the independent “use and perception” survey for $7,800. The survey, conducted Jan. 20-22 with 625 residents, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said he and the board are encouraged by the survey’s findings. “The results indicate broad-based support and excitement for downtown, that downtown has changed for the better and is going in the right direction.” He said the survey numbers that “get us most excited are those about how downtown is perceived, considering where we came from, which was the perception that downtown was troubled.” Now, Gillen said, “we’ve got people excited in the direction we are going and believe it will be sustained and will continue.” Mayor Brian U. Stratton said the survey shows him “people are coming in droves to downtown and that they will generate sales tax dollars and help our economy not only in the city but provide economic benefits to the county as whole.” Metroplex was created 10 years ago behind the belief that “so goes downtown, so goes the county,” Stratton said. The benefits of downtown’s revitalization will spill into the city’s neighborhoods and into the surrounding towns, he said. Metroplex is using a percentage of the county’s sales tax and the ability to bond up to $50 million to promote downtown’s rebirth. Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, said the survey shows her that residents have a “confidence and a reason to be optimistic for the first time in a generation about the direction we are headed.” According to Don Levy of the Siena Research Institute, the survey solidifies downtown’s place as an arts and entertainment district. “It shows that the No. 1 reason they come is to visit the theater, see a movie or attend some other cultural event. Clearly, Proctors and the movie theater have made big impressions,” he said. The survey also identified weaknesses of downtown. “A large number of people say downtown amenities — restrooms, parking, police presence, access to information — meet but do not exceed their expectations,” Levy said. City Councilman Gary McCarthy said “those are areas we want to look at to change. Some of it is perception, but perception is reality. We have to get the perception changed.” McCarthy said crime downtown is virtually non-existent but the city is stepping up police patrols in the area nonetheless. He also said people see buildings downtown undergoing rehabilitation and associate them as areas of potential crime. “The next step is a public awareness campaign. We didn’t have anything to market five years ago. Now there are venues here and more things happening,” Mc-Carthy said. Schenectady County Legislator Vincent DiCerbo, D-Schenectady, chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development, said “perception does drive people’s habits. We have to clear up those perceptions to drive in more people.” Gillen said Metroplex and the city are already working on issues raised in the survey. “We are putting up more signs and adding more security cameras downtown,” he said. Also, Metroplex has added 105 additional parking spots behind Center City to the more than 1,000 spots it controls through seven other surface parking lots and the parking garage on Broadway.
Take note that this survey was conducted on 1/20-22, AFTER Brad made it know of his concern for a state audit of the Metroplex. Was this a timely coincidence?
As a leader of a large nonprofit agency based for 120 years in Schenectady, it was indeed gratifying to read the results of the Siena Research Institute in Michael Lamendola’s Feb. 16 article, “Survey shows downtown going in right direction.” As new positive indicators continue to emerge almost every week, it appears that consensus is finally building regarding the efforts of our leaders to revitalize our community. Congratulations are due especially for Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton, Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage and Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen, whose teamwork and perseverance are at the heart of this success. We are fortunate that they all plan to continue to serve in this effort. One survey finding has special meaning to nonprofit agencies serving the poor, troubled and disabled: 80 percent of our adult citizens now believe that a revitalized downtown will help everyone in the county. In the nonprofi t sector, we know that a rising tide fl oats all boats, and improving our economy will eventually yield more resources and opportunity for everyone, including those in need. Perhaps more importantly, I sense a wave of encouragement and optimism beginning to flow across our community. The survey indicates that 82 percent of our adult citizens have an improved opinion of downtown compared to fi ve years ago. As the momentum continues to build, negative attitudes are being replaced by hope, and our citizens are rushing to support the rebirth of our community. The survey says that positive change is really happening in Schenectady. It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that there is much more good news to come. Success usually breeds more success, and everyone wants to be connected with a winning initiative. Hooray for all our elected officials and community leaders that have been instrumental in this turnaround! JAMES F. JOHANS Schenectady The writer is president and CEO of the Northeast Parent & Child Society.
And exactly how much in taxes from NEPC has come into Schenectady? What are they contributing to the city/county? The children in their care are free to come and go, run away and live in vacant building, start fires and burn them down ... yet NEPC refuses to take any responsibility - instead pushing financial responsibility back into the City - even tho THEIR actions led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses for city / county taxpayers.
Because that is what Schenectady does. If there is a problem....they just throw money at it. OUR MONEY!! The money goes into the abyss with no sound solution.
As far as residents happy with down town...they must have been polling the prostitutes, drug dealers and homeless people. There are some businesses struggling down there, but we just don't hear about it.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
NEPC? What a JOKE? It's just a form of--we care and will help and can make things better----NOT!! I work with alot of folks who have been 'touched' by NEPC---got nothing out of it, waste of money given and collected to make someone rich---it's a monkey that builds walls and gives stigma and prejudice.....
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In the nonprofi t sector, we know that a rising tide fl oats all boats, and improving our economy will eventually yield more resources and opportunity for everyone, including those in need.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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