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Are We Better Yet?

Quality of Life survey shows more citizens see improvement but still doubt leadership

The Better Pensacola Forum has released its second Quality of Life survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of Washington, D.C. For Jerry Maygarden, the managing trustee of the non-profit, the results are still worrisome, but the numbers do show more people believe the community is on the right track.

"The silver lining is that the numbers show improvement," says Maygarden. "Not a lot, but we have taken a step in the right direction."

While people are still disappointed with the direction in which the community is moving, more believe Escambia County and the City of Pensacola are on the right tracka jump from 20 to 35 percent in the county and to 30 percent in the city. The study also shows that 6 percent more people believe that the overall quality of life has improved.

NOT SO GOOD FOR THE YOUNG

However, many believe that the area is not a good place for families with children or young, single people. In fact, most believed that Escambia County is a better place for retirees to live than any other demographic group.

The survey showed a significant increase in concern over jobsup 8 percent from 71 to 79 percent. More people are worried about holding on to their jobs, particularly those earning more than $40,000 annually, which jumped 18 percent.

"People are concerned about their jobs and jobs for their children," says Maygarden. "Some are even to the point of saying this may not be a good place to raise my kids."

CREATING A SCORECARD

The Better Pensacola Forum is a non-profit, non-partisan organization headed by former Pensacola mayor and Florida House majority leader Jerry Maygarden. Its board includes Carol Carlan, president of the Pensacola market of GulfSouth Private Bank, John Hosman, first PYP president, and Quint Studer, CEO of Studer Group. The organization is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation.

The group's goal for the annual survey is to create an unbiased scorecard on the quality of life of this community.

"This first survey created a baseline to measure how the citizens feel about our progress," says Maygarden. "We want to help local policy makers to choose wisely. We also want them to know that someone is going to set a new standard for accountability."

IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF 2008 SURVEY

The 2008 survey did just that, and its impact on the community leaders was almost immediate. Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce chairman Mort O'Sullivan made restructuring the county's economic development the focus of his last year in office. At the chamber's annual meeting that was held days after the 2008 Quality of Life survey was released, O'Sullivan proposed that the chamber take the lead in a "comprehensive, non-political, objective look at our Economic Development program, its structure and its funding -- What we're doing well, and where we can improve."

In the Pensacola City Council races, three incumbents, Jack Nobles, Mike DeSorbo and Marty Donovan, were defeated. Each had challenged the validity of the study results. Those candidates that incorporated them in their campaign messages fared much better, such as Mike Wiggins, Megan Pratt, Diane Mack and Maren DeWeese.

"I don't think we've ever seen three council seats turn over in a city election," says Maygarden, who served on the Pensacola City Council from 1985 to 1992 and as mayor from 1991 to 1994.

IMPORTANCE OF WATERFRONT

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research surveyed 800 registered Escambia County voters during the week of July 22-27, 2009. Many of the questions are identical to the ones asked last year. The two exceptions focus on master planning the Pensacola Bay waterfront and the consolidation of local governments. In 2008, Mason-Dixon asked about the importance of the Community Maritime Park and focused on the consolidation of services, not governmental entities.

According to the 2009 survey, there is clear support for the adoption of a master plan for the development of the downtown waterfront. Only one of five citizens believes such a plan is not important.

 "The survey shows people see our natural resources, like the beach and the bay, as positive assets," says Maygarden. "It's one reason why we wanted to include a question on the waterfront in the survey. I believe it's a real strength that we should focus on."

CONSOLIDATE TO SAVE MONEY

Escambia County is nearly evenly split on the question of consolidating Century, Pensacola and the county into a single local government, 42-40 percent with 18 percent not sure. Support for consolidation jumps to 64 percent if it will lead to more cost-efficient services, a greater chance for economic development and a better quality of life.

"I think the whole consolidation issue is one that people can get lost in the weeds with," says Maygarden, "but it is clear that our governments work together. I think it's clear in all our numbers.

"There really hasn't ever been an attempt to make our government more efficient and more effective. I think it has become smaller out of necessity, but people clearly expect more to be done."

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