Survey respondents tell us what they think of reporting and the state of all things in general

Here’s part two of a three-parter about an informal, online survey we conducted about what things people think are most important for us to cover (the answer, in a nutshell: everything).

The survey was open over several weeks as reporters asked their sources about top priorities. Officials read their constituencies pretty well, it seems, though there were some differences.

We were asking about topics for news coverage, by the way, but commenters not only told us what we should do more (or less) reporting on, but also remarked on the state of things here in our region.

Business and economics: Mostoft repeated comment was that there should be more features on local businesses, old and new. There were also several who wanted more information about jobs; and also several who wished there were more coverage of businesses in the foothills and rural areas. Some of the other comments:

Both my husband and I commute to Sacramento for work. Managing life with kids when we are both out of town during the day is extremely difficult. I want more job opportunities, and more services for working families.

Why do so many small businesses fail in Yuba City?

What would it take to get more industry in Yuba-Sutter?

Affordable housing.

Yuba City: As in county government beats, respondents are very concerned about homelessness issues. And as in law enforcement, they express concern over gangs and crime. And there were several who wanted more information about Yuba City businesses. Also:

Neighborhood Watch programs.

Quit tearing down historical buildings.

Why are housing prices so high?

Why won’t the city do something permanent about speeders through residential neighborhoods (i.e.: Queens Ave.). A very simple and beautiful solution is one Sacramento put in downtown years ago – roundabouts with greenery. This has made traffic slow down and has made the area better.

Are they going to ram the annexation through? They should.

Health: The coverage of health and lifestyles issues has really taken off in the last several years ... and people here seem just as interested in the topic as anywhere else. This topic received a lot of comments. Many respondents expressed great interest in news of Rideout Hospital. Many asked why so many people are still smoking. Others:

We have a serious lack of primary care physicians in our community. My family is lucky to have good insurance (that we pay a lot for!) and we couldn’t even find primary care physicians for months on end. ... We are subject to West Nile and valley fever, allergies and agricultural pesticides and herbicides, smoke from field burns and mountain fires. For those of us with health issues, a daily briefing would be nice. At least a pollen count for the allergy-sufferers among us.

It would be nice to hear from our local medical professionals what they might suggest for improving our health. Several years ago I recall a study was being conducted pertaining to the high rate of cancer patients in our area. I don’t recall though hearing of any outcome of the study. Staying healthy after 50. Health care access for seniors and youth.

Politics: There were a lot of comments concerning national politics: the Trump presidency, bickering parties, the state of the country. Another common comment is how tired people are of it. Still, there’s interest in some local political information. I think the paper does a good job currently of covering political issues, but perhaps a little more coverage of the smaller cities would be appreciated, especially Live Oak and Sutter.

I appreciate the transparency at the local level. More could be made of the annual Grand Jury reports; they are issued and then mostly forgotten. How about a follow-up every few months? I also wish Sutter County would get over its ‘Reefer Madness’ approach to marijuana.

... What is being done with the money from the gas tax and other possible misuse of taxpayer dollars and how to fight the misuse. Why wasn’t the gas tax voted on by the state?

How state laws affect our local area; like sanctuary cities, increased tax burden, politics about water and power sales; delta tunnels, bullet train. Just because the visible focus is outside YS doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect us in some way.

How do our republican legislators do in a sea of Democrats?

Education: Most common comment in this category is that people just want to see more news about kids. But respondents also commented often that they’d like more information about the performance of area schools. Some other comments:

Tutors, after school study groups for kids. If they can play soccer they can also study.

Our schools seem to operate on the assumption that there are not two working parents in families. So many school activities assume a parent can be there at any time of the day, it feels like our whole community is designed around people not being employed. ...

Last year’s strike info was important as I worked at a YCUSD school. I’d like to know how we’re spending tax dollars on education, what is going on at our schools and colleges.

Are the arts being brought back to our schools? Which ones and what types?

Consolidating school districts to reduce costs; Sutter has 14 districts. Yuba has 5 or 6. ...