The results of CAN’S survey on “PRIORITIES FOR CAMBRIDGE” are in!!
The first attachment below summarizes the numerical results of the survey. A total of 144 individuals completed the survey, representing a response rate of almost 25% of our distribution list.
Overall, Economic Development was rated as respondents’ top priority, with Public Safety and Safe/Livable Housing sharing second place.
The second attachment provides the narrative comments received from respondents. These comments are particularly useful in demonstrating the intensity of feeling underlying the numerical data.
In light of the survey results, one of CAN’s top priorities going forward will be to encourage the City to strengthen its economic development efforts.
Although we elicited an excellent response rate for a survey of this type, CAN is working hard to expand its email list so we can reach a broader cross section of Cambridge residents in future surveys.
Note from CAN Board Member Frank Cooke: As a former statistician, I would disagree with part of your conclusion [above]. While jobs and economic development is clearly number 1, you should not declare public safety and safe/livable housing are second implying that everything else is third or less. Given your sample size, improved city facilities and strong finance are statistically indistinguishable from the the two second place finishers that you cite. All one can really say is that jobs and economic growth seem to be the most important factor and that environmental and health issues are lower priorities. The other four concerns fall somewhere in between and are in a statistical tie. The results indicate to me that CAN’s focus on housing is not in line with the citizens who responded. I think it should be instructive to CAN’s board of directors and hopefully will be a topic for further discussion of CAN’s emphasis. I would appreciate it if you would post my response to the general membership. Thanks for conducting the survey. Respectfully, Frank Cooke