Over the last eight years, New Orleans voters have been more satisfied with life in the city than in previous years, according to the 2018 Quality of Life Survey conducted by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center. The survey, also known as the UNO Poll, found that while Orleans Parish residents consider crime to be the biggest problem facing the parish, they are much less likely to report that than they did two years ago.

The survey of 500 Orleans Parish voters and 500 Jefferson Parish voters took place from October 17 to November 5, 2018. There is a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.4 percent. The UNO Poll is conducted under the direction of Ed Chervenak.

 Here is a summary of the survey’s results:
•    Over the last eight years, voters in New Orleans have been more satisfied with life in  the city than in previous years.
•    Jefferson Parish residents are more optimistic about the future than are Orleans residents.
•    Crime is the biggest problem facing both parishes but residents in Orleans are much less likely to report that than they did two years ago.
•    There is a downward trend in both parishes on the perception that crime is increasing.
•    One-quarter of Orleans residents hear gunfire at least a few times a month.
•    One-third of residents in District D and District E hear gunfire at least a few times a month.
•    Jefferson residents are three times more likely to positively rate police protection than are Orleans residents.
•    Approval ratings are lower than two years ago for Police Chief Michael Harrison and District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro.
•    A majority of New Orleans residents disapprove of the job the Criminal Courts are doing.
•    The percentage of Orleans residents rating the city’s control of drainage and flooding negatively has doubled from 2016.
•    Two-thirds of residents in Orleans Parish and one-quarter of Jefferson residents negatively evaluated the affordability of housing.
•    Jefferson residents are very optimistic about the opportunities for employment in the parish and are more positive than Orleans residents about the likelihood of new jobs and industry coming to their parish.
•    One-third of Orleans residents think the traffic cameras should remain in place while six-in-ten believe the cameras should be taken down.
•    Three-fourths of Orleans residents say that the traffic cameras should remain in place in school zones, but nearly two-thirds oppose having the traffic cameras operate outside of school zone hours.
•    New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell enjoys a 57 percent job approval rating.  
•    Nearly half of New Orleans residents approve of the job the City Council is doing.
•    Three-fourths of Jefferson residents approve of Sheriff Joe Lopinto’s job performance.
•    The Jefferson Parish Council received a 64 percent approval rating while 60 percent of Jefferson respondents reported they approve of the job Parish President Mike Yenni is doing.

The UNO Survey Research Center began its Quality of Life series in 1986. Since then, the quality of life and government services in Jefferson and Orleans parishes has been assessed approximately every other year. The current 2018 survey is the 19th in the series. These surveys are designed to provide an ongoing picture of how voters view local government services and the general quality of life. They highlight the problems that are of greatest concern to the voters, as well as areas of satisfaction in their parish.

The 32-year time series can be used to assess the effects of events, programs and policies. The series can also inform the public and officials about specific areas of perceived deterioration or improvement. The results of the Quality of Life surveys represent the perceptions and opinions of the registered voters of the two parishes. The results are not objective measures of the quality of life or the quality of government services. To review the complete 2018 Quality of Life Survey, click here.

This is the 100th survey published by the Survey Research Center during its history.