 |
 April 6, 2002 |
|
General Dissatisfaction with Island's Public Safety Situation by Dick Lutz A significant number of Roosevelt Islanders see drugs as a serious problem here, according to a survey of resident feelings about public safety and the Island’s Public Safety Department.
Results of the survey, conducted by a committee of the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), also shows that about 60 percent of Islanders who expressed an opinion in responding to the survey feel the “quality of safety on Roosevelt Island” is a “very serious problem” or a “somewhat serious problem.” Over 70% give the same “serious problem” rating to “the quality of service provided by the Public Safety Department.”
The WIRE requested raw figures from RIOC after a report was issued with the approval of Dr. Joan Dawson, the Board Member who chairs the committee concerned with Public Safety matters. Her report concluded, “Except for Rivercross, there is an overall rating of satisfaction with that the (sic) effectiveness of the Public Safety Department.” The WIRE carried a report last issue (March 23) based on the Dawson summary, which was apparently drafted by RIOC staff. Analysis shows that in five out of eight potential concerns surveyed, 60% or more of residents see a “very serious problem” or “somewhat serious problem.” Those concerns include:
Only respondents from 10, 20, and 30 River Road deviated from the “serious problem” rating on those five issues. (Figures for 40 River Road were not available during The WIRE’s analysis.) Only three concerns surveyed failed to score above about 60% both Island-wide and in all buildings except 10-20-30 River Road:
The survey, distributed last year, was the committee’s attempt to gauge resident perceptions regarding the Public Safety Department. The survey was distributed to 3,026 apartments; 447 (14.8%) responded. Response rate was highest in Rivercross (27.2%), but below 20% in all other buildings, and lowest in 2-4 River Road (9.4%), where only 21 responses were received (out of 223 questionnaires distributed). Residents were asked not to complete the survey if they had lived on the Island less than three months or were under age 18. Only one form was provided to each household.
(Figures are percentages)  The survey asked some questions more than one way. By comparing responses to two different phrasings of questions on the same issue, analysts can rate the validity of the survey. For example, when asked to “rate the performance of the Public Safety Department” with the choices “excellent,” “good,” “only fair,” “poor,” and “not sure,” survey responses break down this way:
Grouping “only fair” and “poor” responses (56.8%) tends to confirm the reaction to the first question on the survey, which asked residents their evaluation of the “quality of safety of Roosevelt Island.” Residents were also asked, “In general, do you think that services provided by the Public Safety Department have gotten better in the past two or three years, gotten worse, or have they stayed about the same?” Another question asked about the future: “What about in the next year or so – do you expect these services... will get better, get worse, or remain about the same?” Of those responding, the percentages on these two questions broke down this way:
On a question about “enforcement of parking rules,” Rivercross respondents diverged from those in other buildings, with 58% calling PSD performance “poor” and another 22% rating it “only fair.” From other buildings, 57% or more rated parking enforcement “good or ”excellent.”
Survey respondents living in 10, 20, and 30 River Road diverged from other Islanders on a question asking them to “rate the performance of the Public Safety Department” in “providing a safe and secure environment.” While more than 50% in every other building gave PSD a rating of “only fair” or “poor,” 67% of the Manhattan Park respondents said rated PSD “excellent” or “good.”
|
