The Manhattan Institute, a conservative New York-based think tank, has released the results of public safety polling it conducted last month in Chattanooga.
The group asked 550 Chattanooga residents between Feb. 10-13 their feelings about public safety and policing. Here are eight notable questions and the responses:
Do you agree or disagree that people in your community are generally trustworthy?
— Strongly agree: 12%.
— Somewhat agree: 58%.
— Not sure: 9%.
— Somewhat disagree: 15%.
— Strongly disagree: 6%.
How concerned are you, if at all, about public safety in Chattanooga?
— Not at all: 3%.
— Not very concerned: 21%.
— Not sure: 0%.
— Somewhat concerned: 44%.
— Very concerned: 32%.
In which of these environments, if any, would you say that you often feel unsafe during the daytime? Please select all that apply.
— Downtown: 44%.
— Where you go shopping: 32%.
— Your local park: 21%.
— Your neighborhood: 15%.
— Your place of work: 13%.
— Somewhere else: 12%.
— Your home: 7%.
— None of the above: 35%.
In which of these environments, if any, you would say that you often feel unsafe late at night? Please select all that apply.
— Downtown: 60%.
— Your local park: 35%.
— Where you go shopping: 32%.
— Your neighborhood: 20%.
— Your place of work: 13%.
— Somewhere else: 11%.
— Your home: 8%.
— None of the above: 22%.
In Chattanooga, do you think we need more or fewer police officers?
— More: 52%.
— The same: 26%.
— Not sure: 11%.
— Fewer: 11%.
In Tennessee, do you think we need more or fewer police officers?
— More: 53%.
— The same: 23%.
— Not sure: 12%.
— Fewer: 12%.
Do you think that homeless people in Chattanooga should or should not be allowed to sleep on sidewalks, in parks or in other public places instead of in homeless shelters?
— Should be allowed: 28%.
— Not sure: 18%.
— Should not be allowed: 54%.
Do you agree or disagree that Tennessee needs tougher laws on the books with respect to how the state deals with offenders convicted of violent crimes?
— Strongly agree: 38%.
— Somewhat agree: 30%.
— Not sure: 17%.
— Somewhat disagree: 11%.
— Strongly disagree: 5%.
(READ MORE: Voters think crime is getting worse in Chattanooga, but data says otherwise)
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.