Voice of the People II

Day Two of results from our unscientific questionnaire. Today, we look at issues and what respondents consider priorities.

What’s the most important job for the new state representative?

Work to bring in more local and education aid for Fitchburg 17 votes/68 percent
Win funding for, and move forward, projects like the expansion of Route 12 and faster commuter rail service 8 votes/32 percent

Analysis: The message appears to be, fix the wide-ranging problems on multiple fronts before going all in on adding new things to the city. State aid would help cure a lot of ills, while Route 12 and commuter rail focus on downtown and access only.

What’s the most important issue facing Fitchburg?

Crime 13 votes/46 percent
Fiscal stability 10 votes/36 percent
Education 2 votes/7 percent
Infrastructure improvements 2 votes/7 percent
Lower taxes 1 vote/4 percent
Affordable housing 0 votes/0 percent

Analysis: No surprise here, especially with the shooting at The Compound late last week. A lot of the city’s ills seem to begin with crime, whether it’s criminals in lousy apartments, the unsafe feeling downtown, and well, shootings. The voices on this blog have repeatedly called for better public safety, and it’s a consistency in this vote.

What’s the most important area of development the city should pursue?

Continuing the business and residential redevelopment of downtown 19 votes/73 percent
Creating new housing opportunities throughout the city 7 votes/27 percent

Analysis: For years, city officials and residents have thought the return of Fitchburg will rise and fall with rehabbing downtown. That comes through overwhelmingly in this vote. It’s a tall, tall order, but apparently one that most people feel is a vital one to make a reality.

For state rep and mayor, would you rather have in office someone:

With little or no political experience (less than four years) and has no political favors or ties in his or her past 10 votes/40 percent
Has at least four years of experience in government along with political alliances and ties 15 votes/60 percent

Analysis: If anything surprised us, it was this one. Scroll through the hundreds of comments on this site, and time after time you hear a call for new blood, new management. “How much worse could something new be?” At the end of the day, however, people like a little experience. We wonder what people would feel if we asked about city councilors. We think the less experience numbers would increase.

Fitchburg should:

Maintain its current Mayor-Council form of government 12 votes/46 percent
Switch to a Manager-Council form of government 14 votes/56 percent

Analysis: Super-close from beginning to end. Clearly this is a controversial issue that people aren’t convinced on. History says that making government structure changes only happens when there’s a clear mandate for change. This is no mandate. Not that a lot of public officials have been talking change, but it seems like you can shelve that city manager idea.