Poll: Mayor Nutter's approval rating at 53%, but Philadelphians are racially divided on the topic

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A new public opinion poll finds Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter surviving through a tough economic year to score a majority of approval from the city’s residents.

The poll commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initiative (PRI) surveyed 1,602 Philadelphians and pegs the Mayor’s approval rating at 53% with just 32% disapproving of his job performance. Nutter’s current rating comes halfway through his four-year term as city mayor and is an improvement from the 47-39% approval to disapproval margin he received in April of last year. Additionally twice as many city residents have a favorable (60%) than negative (30%) impression of Nutter.

However PRI also finds a racial divide in the city on the topic of Mayor Nutter. While 65% of Philadelphia’s white residents approve of the job he is doing, only 43% of the black citizenry agrees. Hispanics approve of the mayor by a margin of 55-24%. According to Census Bureau estimates for 2008 black residents (43.2%) outnumber whites (41%) in Philadelphia. The Hispanic/Latino population of any race meanwhile numbers 11.5%. Also according to revised census figures the city has experienced its first population growth since 1950 and could be as high as 1,562,461 residents as of 2009.

College graduates (62%), elders over the age of 65 (65%) and those with higher incomes (62%) are most likely to approve of Mayor Nutter’s job performance. By neighborhood Nutter is strongest where the white population is most dominant, including Northeast Philadelphia where 59% give him high marks. Not surprisingly he struggles more in traditionally black neighborhoods like those found in North Philly (42%).

“Obviously, I’m pleased with the direction, but more
pleased that the public is demonstrating an understanding of what kind of
challenges we’re facing.” – Mayor Nutter / Philadelphia Daily News

The prolonged budget crisis is the top concern for Nutter in dealing with the perceptions of voters. Nearly as many (46%) lack confidence in his ability to handle budget concerns as those who are confident (47%). On his decision to hike the city sales tax by one-percentage point Nutter receives the approval of 47% of Philadelphians but an additional 49% are against the increase. Nutter’s overall budget cuts have, fortunately for him, not been problematic for most city residents with 62% claiming to have witnessed no change in the quality of services.

Nutter defeated Republican Al Taubenberger in November of 2007 securing over 83% of the vote in Philadelphia to succeed John Street as city mayor. 83% was also the popular vote won by Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential Election, a record for a Democrat in Philadelphia. Currently over 78% of the city is registered Democrat and a Republican has not served as mayor since the end of Bernard Samuel’s record length term expired in 1952.

Just as they were according to the last PRI survey from a year ago Philadelphians are almost evenly split on the topic of taxes and city services. 41% would prefer to see more services at the expensive of higher taxes while 43% favor the tradeoff of lower taxes and fewer city services. Table gambling is also a topic of interest with Philadelphia’s first slots parlor due to open its doors on the Delaware River waterfront in Fishtown and a second location proposal currently in the works. 54% of city residents favor table gambling legislation in their city against just 32% opposed and another 14% remaining uncertain.

Half samples were used when asking Philadelphians about specific features and services within their city. 58% of responders give good or excellent grades to the quality of library services in their area but only 28% said the same about programs for teenagers and the quality of street repair and maintenance – the latter issue a much talked about concern through what has been a particularly rough winter season.

By a 45-32% margin a plurality of polled residents approve of senior citizen programs and facilities. With Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey winning the approval of nearly seven in ten Philadelphians (69%), more consider the city’s overall police protection to be good or excellent (52%) than fair or poor (45%). An additional 59% like the general appearance of their neighborhood but an even number give low and high marks (48%) regarding park, playgrounds and recreational facilities. Better than two-thirds of the city (68%) approves of their trash collection and 58% rate the availability of health care services as good or excellent.

In spite of constant internal struggles within SEPTA 65% of Philadelphians think the city’s public transportation system is running efficiently as a whole. Fire protection, lastly, is the most approved of service in the city with 78% of residents giving it high marks.

PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS / Charles Dharapak