Emanuel Takes City Temperature With Phone Survey

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Aug 19, 2011 4:00PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office has started surveying voter opinions with a phone poll, using the same Washington, D.C.-based research firm that Mayor Richard Daley used. The Sun-Times has a comprehensive list of the questions asked, with topics ranging from Emanuel's personality to Tea Party politics. The poll is not paid for with city tax dollars.

The poll gives a hint to where Emanuel plans to cut fat in the budget, asking about outsourcing garbage collection, closing libraries, raising taxes and forbidding aldermen from cutting fees for businesses. It also asks about budget cuts for police and fire departments and for social services for seniors and low-income housing, and asks voters' opinions on Emanuel's political rivals, 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke and Chicago Teachers' Union President Karen Lewis.

From the survey questions, would you agree with these statements?

• “Rahm Emanuel has been a disappointment as mayor so far and is no better than Mayor Daley”
• “Cuts are unfortunately needed because ‘Tea Party’ politicians in Washington are cutting state and federal funds.”
• “This school budget represents a balanced approach that includes $3 in cuts for every $1 in new revenue and would add only $84 in taxes every year for owners of a $250,000 home.”
• “Emanuel represents all the neighborhoods in Chicago”
• “This budget gives big tax breaks to downtown businesses and doesn’t spend $800 million in Tax Increment Financing funds to help schools instead of raising property taxes.”