Detroiters’ optimism about city tied to likelihood of voting in mayoral election, U-M survey finds - Detroit Metro Times

Detroiters' optimism about the city's future is closely tied to their likelihood of voting in the upcoming mayoral election, according to a recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan. The study, which polled Detroit residents between August and October, found that nearly 70% of those who believe the city is moving in the right direction said they will definitely vote on November 4.

In contrast, only about 41% of those who think the city is on the wrong track said they would participate in the election. The disparity highlights the importance of voter enthusiasm and motivation in shaping outcomes for Detroit's elected officials.

Demographically, younger and more affluent residents are far more likely to be optimistic about the city's future. For instance, 80% of those with household incomes above $100,000 say that the city is on the right track, compared to just 35% of those earning under $10,000. Similarly, men and white residents are also more optimistic than women and Black or Latino residents.

Education levels also play a significant role in determining optimism about Detroit's future. College graduates and those with higher incomes are significantly more likely to believe that the city is improving.

The survey results suggest that issues like education, public safety, affordable housing, and jobs are top priorities for many Detroiters. In fact, 81% of respondents said that improving K-12 schools is a high priority, followed by crime and safety (80%), affordable housing (77%), and access to good-paying jobs (75%).

Interestingly, the level of optimism about the city's future varies significantly depending on geographic location. Residents in downtown and Midtown areas are far more optimistic than those living on the east side.

While these findings provide valuable insights into Detroiters' attitudes towards the mayoral election, they also highlight the need to address persistent divides across the city. "We see notable differences by age, race, and city council district, which underscore the importance of capturing the diversity of Detroiters' views," noted Jeffrey Morenoff, a University of Michigan sociology professor who co-leads the DMACS study.

The full report is available online at detroitsurvey.umich.edu, offering a detailed analysis of Detroiters' attitudes towards the city and their priorities for the next mayor.

I'm loving the fact that all these young bucks think Detroit's on the right track . I mean, can you blame 'em? The city's got potential! But what really gets me is how it varies by area - downtown and Midtown are straight fire ! Those areas are where all the magic happens, you know? On the other hand, the east side feels like it's been left behind . It's like, we gotta catch up, fam! And education is key . Improving those schools would be a game-changer for this city. Let's get the next mayor to focus on making K-12 better and crime rates lower . We need more affordable housing options too . It's all about creating opportunities for everyone, regardless of where they live or how much cash they've got . Can't wait to see what happens in this election!

I think it's pretty wild that people's optimism about Detroit's future is so closely tied to whether they're gonna vote or not . Like, if you don't believe in the city's direction, why even bother casting a ballot? And at the same time, if you do think things are on the right track, you should totally make your voice heard!

But what I find really interesting is how demographics play into all this. Income and education levels seem to have a huge impact on where people fall on optimism. Like, if you're making six figures or more, you're way more likely to be thinking positively about the city's future . And it's not just that - there are some pretty stark differences in how optimistic people are based on their socioeconomic status and education level.

It's also worth noting that geographic location seems to matter a lot too. Downtown and Midtown folks are, like, totally stoked about the city's future, while those on the east side seem more skeptical . I'm not sure what's driving those differences, but it's definitely something to explore further.

Overall, I think this survey is a great reminder that civic engagement matters . By getting out and voting, we can help shape the direction of our city and create positive change. So let's all make sure to get to the polls on November 4th and have our voices heard!

Detroit's optimism levels are like my expectations for getting tickets to sold-out concerts ! Like, who doesn't want the city to be on the right track? But seriously, this survey is pretty interesting... younger folks seem way more stoked about the future, probably 'cause they're all about that avocado toast life . And education levels play a big role, huh? I mean, it's not like you can just Google "how to make Detroit better" or anything . But for real, affordable housing and good-paying jobs are top priorities... sounds like the city needs to step up its game! On the flip side, if you're on the east side, you're probably over here feeling pretty meh about it . Maybe the new mayor can work some magic?

I'm loving this survey from the University of Michigan about Detroit's mayoral election! It's like they've broken down all these complex issues into clear sections with headings , making it super easy to scan and understand. The data on demographics is also pretty eye-opening - I mean, who knew that household income had such a big impact on optimism? But what really gets me excited is how the survey highlights the importance of addressing specific issues like education and public safety. It's all about finding common ground and making sure everyone has access to good-paying jobs . The fact that residents in different parts of the city have varying levels of optimism also makes sense - maybe we need more initiatives focused on connecting urban and rural areas?

Man, I'm glad to see that Detroiters are feeling optimistic about the city's future ! It's like they know they gotta take care of themselves first and then the rest will follow . But what's crazy is how much it depends on your income and education level – 80% of high-income earners think everything is going right, but only 35% of those making under $10k share that optimism . It's like, you gotta have some hope to make a change, you know?

I think it's crazy how much of a difference optimism makes when it comes to voting. If you're genuinely stoked about where your city is headed, you're way more likely to show up at the polls. On the other hand, if people are feeling meh or even negative about their city, that negativity can definitely translate to apathy.

It's also wild how demographics play a huge role in shaping optimism. I'm no expert, but it feels like we're gonna need some serious bridges built across those divides if we wanna create real change. Like, what happens when someone from the east side and someone from Midtown don't agree on something? How do you even have that conversation?

Anyway, at least Detroiters are making their voices heard - 70% showing up to vote is no joke! Maybe we can learn a thing or two about community engagement from them.

so like i was thinking about this survey on detroiters and their optimism about the city's future... it seems like whoever is gonna vote (especially those who think the city is moving in the right direction) are more optimistic than those who think its all wrong . also, it looks like demographics play a big role - younger folks and those with higher incomes are way more optimistic . education levels matter too... college grads and high-income earners are super optimistic about detroit's future .

it's interesting to see that issues like public safety, affordable housing, and jobs are major concerns for many detroiters . but what's even more eye-opening is how optimism varies depending on where you live in the city - downtown and midtown folks are way more optimistic than those on the east side .

overall, i think this survey gives us some valuable insights into what detroiters want from their next mayor... and also highlights the need to address these divides across the city .

I mean, come on, 70% of people who think the city is moving in the right direction are gonna vote? That's kinda low, if you ask me. I think more people should be optimistic about Detroit's future. I mean, have you seen the revitalized areas downtown and Midtown? It's amazing what can happen when people invest in their community.

And yeah, demographics matter, but shouldn't everyone have an equal say in what happens to the city? I don't think it's fair that only 41% of people who think the city is on the wrong track are gonna vote. We need more diverse perspectives and voices at the table.

It's interesting that education levels play a role, but shouldn't we be focusing on making quality education accessible to everyone, regardless of income or zip code? I mean, those K-12 schools are only one part of the solution.

the numbers are pretty telling . it's clear that when people feel good about where they live, they're more likely to show up to vote. but at the same time, there's some interesting disparities in the results - like how affluent residents are way more optimistic than those living on a fixed income. and education level seems to play a big role too... it's almost like the city's future is being sold to people who already have the means to make a difference. meanwhile, east side residents just aren't feeling as hopeful. can we do better than that?

Just read that 41% of people who think Detroit's on the wrong track aren't even gonna vote... that's like half the city not showing up to decide who's gonna fix all these problems...

I'm tellin' ya, it's like, when I was growin' up in '92 , we didn't have all these fancy surveys to figure out how people feel about the city. We just knew if the streets were clean and there were jobs around, we'd be good to go! Nowadays, it's all about education, public safety, and affordable housing... I mean, that's like, super important stuff, but what happened to just tryin' to make a difference in your own community?

It's crazy how much optimism varies depending on where you live. Downtown's all peppy and optimistic (like me!), but the east side's got its own vibe. It's like they're speakin' different languages or somethin'! And those numbers about education levels? That's just wild. I mean, I knew some smart folks back in my day, but I had no idea it'd be that big of a deal.

I guess what I'm sayin' is, we need to find a way to bridge those gaps and get everyone on the same page. We can't let our differences tear us apart . But at the same time, it's cool to see folks passionate about makin' a change. Maybe this mayor's election'll be the catalyst for some real progress... fingers crossed!

Aww man, I can feel how frustrated and divided people in Detroit must be feeling right now It's like they're not sure if things are gonna get better or worse, you know? And it's really affecting how they show up to vote - it's a shame that only 41% of those who think the city is on the wrong track are even planning to vote, that's just sad

It's crazy that people with higher incomes and education levels are so much more optimistic about Detroit's future, but at the same time, some folks are struggling so hard just to get by It's like, we need to make sure everyone has a seat at the table and a chance to make their voice heard

I don't know what the solution is, but it feels like Detroit needs a lot of love and care right now We need people who understand that everyone's concerns matter and that we can work together to make things better

Dont think this survey means squat lol. People only care about voting if they wanna feel good about themselves. Its all about showin up to the polls and checkin boxes, not really care about what's goin on in da city . And dont even get me started on dis whole "optimism" thing... people are just hyped 'cause they got a new mayor comin in and wanna think its gonna be all sunshine and rainbows . We need to see real change, not just empty promises from politicians .

meh, sounds like optimism is all about who's got the cash and the education, you know? I mean, 80% of rich folks think the city is on the right track while only 35% of those scraping by are optimistic... it's like, doesn't everyone deserve a chance to be hopeful about their city's future? downtown Detroiters seem pretty happy with things, but what about the east side? don't they deserve some love too?

omg did u see this stat 80% of college grads think detroit is on the right track compared to only 35% of those earning under $10k like what's going on here?! demographics are everything! but it's also crazy that 77% of respondents prioritize affordable housing lol can we please get more affordable housing options in detroit ASAP? and btw, downtown/midtown residents are way more optimistic than east side folks maybe we need to focus on community development or something

I'm thinkin' it's pretty interesting that people are more likely to vote if they're optimistic about the future of the city... like, what if we got all the areas with low income and education levels involved in this election? I feel like our leaders should be makin' sure everyone's voice is heard, not just the ones who already agree.

People don't change, governments just do.

I feel like voting is super important in deciding the future of our city . If most people who think the city is going in the right direction are more likely to vote, it shows that our voices matter . But at the same time, if there's a big gap between those who think the city is moving forward and those who don't, it means we need to work on some issues like education, public safety, and affordable housing . It's interesting to see how optimism about the city's future varies depending on where you live - downtown, Midtown, or even on different sides of town . Maybe that's why they call Detroit "Motown" because everyone seems to have a unique perspective !

I'm not surprised to see that optimism about Detroit's future is closely tied to voting intentions. It makes sense that people who believe the city is moving in the right direction would be more motivated to participate in the election. However, it's also concerning to see how much of a gap there is between optimistic and pessimistic views. The fact that issues like education, public safety, and affordable housing are top priorities for many Detroiters is great, but it's also worrying that some people feel hopeless about their city's future.

I think the differences in optimism depending on geographic location are really telling. Downtown and Midtown residents seem to have a more positive view of the city than those living elsewhere. But what does this say about systemic issues like gentrification and inequality? We need to make sure that all Detroiters feel invested in their city's future, not just the ones who live in areas with more resources.

Overall, I'm cautiously optimistic about Detroit's potential for growth and change, but we also need to acknowledge the challenges ahead.