Majority of Valley voters support more restrictions on residents and businesses to improve air quality

According to a new survey of the San Joaquin Valley conducted by the Institute for Leadership and Public Policy at Fresno State, slightly more than half of registered voters, or 53 percent, said they would support more restrictions on residents and businesses to improve air quality in the region. Forty percent of respondents indicated that they would not support more restrictions.

The findings in the report are based on a random sample of registered voters from the San Joaquin Valley. The survey was conducted Feb. 5 through Feb. 15, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.

The survey also found that about three out of four registered voters pay very close or fairly close attention to the air quality in their region. Female registered voters are more concerned with air quality than male voters. Nearly 80 percent of female voters pay very close or fairly close attention to air quality, while 70 percent of male voters do.

The new survey also reveals that more than half of registered voters (62 percent) in the Valley restrict their activities, or those of their children, when the air quality in their area is poor. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they do not restrict their activities or their children’s.

“The purpose of the survey is to give voice to residents of the San Joaquin Valley so that our elected officials can make informed policy decisions,” said Dr. Jeff Cummins, a professor of political science and the co-director of the Institute. “Air-quality issues have plagued our region for decades, so the survey illustrates how it remains a significant problem and points to some possible further solutions to address it.”

Among those respondents that support more restrictions on residents and businesses, a majority said they would support reducing commercial vehicle emissions.

The full report of the findings on this topic can be found on the Institute for Leadership and Public Policy website.

For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Cummins at 559.278.6693 or Dr. Lisa Bryant at 559.278.7612 or 559.512.0124.