Survey finds crime is top issue in mayoral race

Nearly half of the Houston electorate identified crime as the single most important issue facing the city today, according to a new survey by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs.

The survey, released Wednesday, polled 800 likely voters in Houston’s upcoming mayoral election. From a list of 10 citywide issues, 46% identified crime as the top issue, followed by economic inequality (11%), rising property taxes (10%) and poor roads and streets (8%).

Voters’ overwhelming emphasis on crime holds true across all demographic groups, except for white Democrats. Only 16% chose crime as their top issue, according to Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University and co-author of the poll.

“There can be a natural knee-jerk reaction not to say crime because (white Democrats) associate crime with Republican

talking points,” Jones said. “The problem of crime is perhaps also less severe in their neighborhoods than for the average African American or Latino Democrat.”

Earlier this year, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner reported that violent crime had continued to drop from its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw a near double-digit percentage drop in 2022. However, based on the survey results, Jones said, it is clear this downward trend is not resonating with many voters.

“Individuals have their own social networks, and they hear about crimes perpetrated against people within those networks,” Jones said. “And for them, that’s sufficient information that crime remains a problem.”

Nearly all mayoral candidates have vowed to focus on improving public safety. The Wednesday poll shows voters are on board with several dif

ferent anti-crime policies.

A majority of voters strongly support hiring 600 new police officers (62%), bettering police relationships with minority communities (57%) and allocating $25 million for additional mental health resources (56%).

State Sen. John Whitmire’s plan to deploy 200 Department of Public Safety troopers to street patrols also garnered support from 42% of the respondents.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticisms from his opponents, who cited other Texas cities’ negative experiences.

Although all racial groups pointed to safety as their top concern, their preferences for solutions varied.

Black voters, when compared with white and Latino voters, showed stronger support for more mental health resources and better relationships between police and residents.

They expressed less enthusiasm for added police or state troopers.

Travis McGee, a Black community leader from

Sunnyside, said police need to more proactively try to get to know residents, especially in minority neighborhoods. Otherwise, he said, an increased police presence may only add to some neighbors’ anxiety.

“It’s a trust issue with the police,” said McGee, who is running for a City Council seat in District D. “Throwing more money at the problem is not going to solve the problem.”

Enhancing public safety was not the only priority to garner likely voter support.

Half or more survey respondents said they want the new administration to prioritize improving street conditions, the local economy, anti-flooding measures and affordable housing.

Over a third said improvements to trash collection and recycling were also needed.

Houston is the only major Texas city that doesn’t charge a garbage collection fee to residents, and the city’s Solid Waste Management Department has struggled for years to collect heavy trash on time amid resource and staffing challenges.

Despite repeated pushes by local leaders to introduce

a garbage fee, the latest survey shows there may not be a strong appetite for it among likely voters.

Fifty-eight percent prefer no garbage fee, with the remainder split between a flat $25 monthly fee and a varying $20 to $30 monthly fee depending on bin size.

Houston’s likely voters remained divided on whether they believe the city is on the right track, with 49% saying yes and 51% saying no. The differences in perception, however, are stark across demographic and political lines.

About two-thirds of white voters and half of Latino voters said the city is heading in the wrong direction, while only a third of Black voters share this view.

The contrast is even sharper politically, with 91% of Republicans, 66% of independents and 23% of Democrats expressing pessimism about the city’s trajectory.

“People’s view of the city and the direction it’s headed is heavily influenced by the ethnic and partisan lens that they view it through,” Jones said. “We are seeing two different cities here.”