SURVEY ASKS LA MESA RESIDENTS TO WEIGH IN ON NEEDS

City wants to know how they feel about services, resources

As many as 1,000 households in La Mesa can expect to be contacted in the coming weeks by an outside group asking them to weigh in on a variety of subjects related to La Mesa.

Some residents have already been contacted by True North Research, an independent survey research firm, looking to find out how they think the city is doing in providing vital services, share how they feel La Mesa should spend its resources, and give their opinions on topics including public safety, traffic and city business.

The city in 2006 hired True North to reach out to residents every two years to get a feel for people’s satisfaction with city services. The city uses True North’s findings to assess the needs for different neighborhoods and the city as a whole. The City Council also uses the data to help shape La Mesa’s budget priorities.

So that the survey is statistically valid, with data representative of all of its residents, the city said 800 to 1,000 La Mesa households from all quadrants of the city are being randomly sampled to participate in the survey.

In 2019, True North reported that about 90 percent of more than 1,200 households surveyed rate the quality of life in the city as either excellent or good. Ninety-six percent said they feel safe walking alone by day in their neighborhoods, with 70 percent feeling safe walking in La Mesa at night.

Most of the questions asked in the 2019 survey were tracked directly from the 2017, 2015, 2013, and 2011 surveys to allow the city to analyze its performance over time.

Once the data is complied, results of the 2021 community survey will be posted on the City’s website at https://www.cityoflamesa.us/531/PublicOpinion-Survey, where results from past surveys can also be found.