April 18, 2007
We're Only Average
If you saw a bunch of officials rushing home to check their mailboxes yesterday, it's because yesterday was the day the results of a city survey was released. And the verdict? In most cases, San Francisco is just pretty much average, averaging a C. That's not going to get us into an Ivy League school .
The survey, conducted by the City Services Auditor found that while the city's grades seem to be improving from the last survey in 2005, they still aren't that great. In fact, in the larger issue of city services, the city only gets a C+. Experts say they would have gotten a C if it weren't for the fact officials stayed late after class and helped clean the erasers.
Not surprisingly, the survey said that most people weren't very happy with Muni, getting just a plain ole C. That's down from the C+ Muni got last time. The C breaks down as a B- for conveyance of routes, C- for timeliness, C for cleanliness, C for courtesy of the drivers, C for communication, and a C for safety.
It should be noted too that the survey wasn't quite in line with the population of the city as it was older and more educated. It was also made up mainly of people who've lived here for a while and skewed towards white than the full rainbow of San Franciscans. Pollsters also noted that the web site Vote for the Worst had nothing to do with this poll.
Here's the full grades:
Safety: C+
Public transit: C
Cleanliness: C
Penmanship: B
Pavement: C-
Parks: C+
Libraries: B-
|
Until the t line came into being, Muni was not that bad. Of course it sucks, but public transport everywhere does, and compared to Boston and New York (I have lived in both without a car), Muni rocks. I also spend a lot of time in Chicago and Muni is way better. I would give Muni a B+. It is public transportation, I just think realistic expectations are in order.....
Penmenship B - darn funny there
What about Math - considering we have a surplus it looks like we need to go back and do alegbra over
Science would have to be an A+ because of biodisel fuels being used and stem cell research.
Sportsmanship a C - because of those Yorks not playing fair.
Muni should get an F-. I disagree with Sammy Beckett. Sammy has obviously never ridden the N-Judah during morning rush hour. That's one of the most undignified experiences any city dweller should be forced to endure and it sucked long before the T-Third came into being. Hell, buses in Cold War Romania ran better than the Muni mess! Nine out of ten drivers appear to resent having jobs, the buses don't seem to run on any kind of schedule, and for many lines, particularly the ones headed out to the Haight, there just aren't enough. Muni is out of control. I've given up on it almost entirely and now ride my bike everywhere. It's faster, I don't have to endure lap dances from total strangers, and it's good exercise.
So can people explain to me how Newsom still gets a 70+% approval rating?? Are SFiscans so dazzled by looks and persona?
Sammy Beckett you haven't been here long have you
Were we graded on a curve?
QandA, well, it all depends on who you ask, right? 70% is probably not reflective of, say, people who don't fluently speak english, or work during the day when the survey is conducted, etc.
@Kay: Nice one.
Unfortunately I did open the dang survey and looked at the process...it seems they surveyed less than 15k people in a city of over 750k(?) by mail and phone. Would be nice to know how they picked the audience. Maybe the ones most likely to vote for Gav?