Is it an Airport Survey or a Ploy to Affect Public Opinion?

Last week I received a phone call from Los Angeles resident Virginia Ernst. She asked me if I heard anything about a phone-survey pertaining to Santa Monica Airport (SMO), saying that a friend of hers, who lives in Santa Monica, contacted her telling her that there was a phone-survey in progress with lots of questions about SMO. I had not heard anything, but I said I would keep my ears open and try to find out more. We wondered who was behind the survey.

It is interesting how Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP) contacts interact, sometimes like an investigative news team. Not long after Virginia’s call, I received another call and then a few emails regarding the survey. It was becoming clearer that only Santa Monica residents were being called to answer the 30 survey questions.

One Santa Monica Sunset Park resident who was notified by another Sunset Park resident in advance was then able to, pen in hand, jot down the questions. Questions 15 through 24 are focused entirely on Santa Monica Airport. She was told the survey was being conducted by Insight Research. Here is what she sent to me.

Insight Research telephone survey - August 19, 2011

 1. Are you a county or city employee?
 2. Are you registered to vote?
 3. Do you vote every time, sometimes, not often, etc.?
 4. Do you vote early by mail or in person?
 5. Are you certain to vote in the next election, or unlikely?
 6. Media -- from "every day" to "never"
   a. newspapers
   b. magazines/journals
   c. Internet
   d. TV
   e. radio
 7. How do you get local Santa Monica news?
 8. Zip code?
 9. Is Santa Monica going in the right direction or the wrong direction?
10. Which issue in Santa Monica is most important to you?
11. What is the most important issue now for Santa Monica government?
12. People and organizations -- How well do you know them? Is your impression favorable or unfavorable?
   a. Pam O'Connor
   b. Santa Monica Rent Control Board
   c. Santa Monica Planning Commission
   d. City Council
   e. Bobby Shriver
    f. Mayor Richard Bloom
   g. Bob Holbrook
   h. Governor Jerry Brown
    i. Terry O'Day
    j. Chamber of Commerce
   k. Airport Commission
    l. Kevin McKeown
  m. Rep. Henry Waxman
   n. Gleam Davis
 13. City government - rate it as excellent to poor in these areas:
   a. Maintaining streets and sidewalks
   b. Ensuring adequate housing opportunities
   c. Attracting employers and small businesses?
   d. Providing for public safety?
   e. Easing the flow of traffic?
    f. Planning for growth and development?
   g. Keeping taxes reasonable
   h. Managing Santa Monica Airport
    i. Managing city spending and budgets
    j. Providing open space
14. If the current City Council members were up for re-election, would you vote for them   or someone new?
15. What Santa Monica Airport (SMO) issues have been in the news lately?
16. SMO has its supporters and its critics. Do the positives outweigh the negatives, or do the negatives outweigh the positives?
 17. Do you want SMO to close or stay open?
 18. Have there been any changes in policies at SMO lately regarding noise, operations, types of aircraft, etc.?
 19. What is your opinion (favorable, unfavorable) regarding changes at SMO over the years?
   a. noise barriers
   b. flight path changes to avoid sensitive areas
   c. facilities
   d. departure curfew from 11 PM to 7 AM
   e. providing land for Airport Park
   f. being financially self-sufficient
   g. providing facilities for businesses, restaurants, etc.
   h. prohibiting aircraft that don't meet new noise and other standards
20. Here are some statements by SMO opponents. Are they persuasive or not?
   a. The noise is unacceptable.
   b. Planes can land elsewhere.
   c. Businesses can locate elsewhere.
   d. Safety of landings and departures is a problem. 
   e. The airport land can be redeveloped. 
   f. Pollution from the airport is affecting air quality.
 21. Here are some statements by SMO supporters. Are they persuasive or not? 
   a. Most flights in and out of SMO are business-related.
   b. Noise has been restricted.
   c. The city has accepted millions of dollars from the federal government.
   d. Major employers have moved to Santa Monica because of SMO.
   e. Most people approve of the airport; only a few people oppose it.
   f. SMO is an important part of the air traffic system.
   g. The city is obligated by law to keep SMO open and will be sued if it closes the airport.
   h. SMO provides significant revenue for the city.
   i. Closing SMO would cost the city jobs.
   j. The FAA says that SMO is safe.
   k. Redeveloping the airport land would lead to more buildings and traffic.
22. Now you've heard both sides. Should SMO be kept open or closed?
23. Which of the following is true?
   a. The city is interested in open space and would build more parks if SMO were closed.
   b. The city would develop the land if SMO were closed.
 24. Which of the following do you agree with?
   a. The city should definitely close the airport.
   b. The city should keep the airport open.
 25. How long have you lived in Santa Monica?
 26. Do you own or rent your home?
 27. What is your ethnic background?
 28. What is your work status?
 29. Politically speaking, are you a Republican or a Democrat?
 30. What's your zipcode?

Santa Monica Daily Press columnist, Bill Bauer wrote about it in his September 5th column: Airport interests behind secret poll? He presents some interesting political theories regarding what lies beneath the survey.

I think it is important that we know who is paying for this survey, and I can’t help but feel a bit confident that the CRAAP network of investigative reporters may unravel the mystery. Here is another possible clue. From another Sunset Park resident: Our caller ID device says the company was Luce Research (http://www.luceresearch.com/) 
Luce Research · 5086 List Dr · Colorado Springs, CO 80919 · P (719)272-7200 · F (719)272-3902

If they call you, begin by asking them to let you know who it is that is funding their survey. If they refuse, respond in kind. Personally, I never participate in phone surveys. It’s not like the real thing.