Quality of life in LA County at lowest level in 7 years, residents in UCLA survey find

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — High prices, homelessness, rising crime and health issues are weighing on the quality of life in Los Angeles County, with a UCLA survey released Friday revealing the lowest level of overall resident satisfaction in seven-year history.

The Quality of Life Index, measured in a survey conducted by the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, dropped to an overall score of 53 — on a scale of 10 to 100. The score this year was down from the last 58 year, and it was the first time the rating had fallen below the survey median of 55 since the measure began in 2016.

“For the first time since this survey began, respondents’ ratings dropped in each of the nine categories, and eight of the nine fell to their lowest rating ever,” said Los Angeles director Zev Yaroslavsky. Initiative, in a press release. statement.

The report’s authors noted that overall satisfaction has remained relatively stable over the life of the survey, even in the last two years of the pandemic. But things kind of got out of hand.

“What the pandemic hasn’t been able to do over the past two years, inflation and rising violent and property crime have managed to do,” Yaroslavsky said. It looks like the dam burst this year.”

The survey of 1,400 county residents covers nine categories, with the biggest drops this year occurring in the areas of cost of living, education and public safety.

The cost of living rating fell from 45 last year to 39 this year, while the public safety rating fell from 60 last year to 56 this year. Education score increased from 48 to 46.

Decreases were also recorded in the transport/traffic category and in the employment/economy category.

In other key findings, 69% of those surveyed said they believe life has been fundamentally altered by COVID-19, with only 28% expressing confidence that life will eventually return to “the way it was. “.

Participants also weighed in on their satisfaction with local elected officials, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti viewed favorably by 45% of respondents — a sharp drop from 62% in 2020. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said received very or somewhat favorable ratings from 37% of respondents, while District Attorney George Gascón saw his support drop to 23% from 31% a year earlier.

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