2/3 of Philadelphia Residents Fear They Will Be a Victim of Violent Crime

New poll from A Greater Philadelphia shows respondents with children living at home are the most worried about raging gun violence rates

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) — A new poll conducted among registered Democrats across the city of Philadelphia shows that two thirds of respondents are more worried about being the victim of a crime in the past six months. Concern over crime is widespread regardless of age, race, gender or neighborhood. Non-white respondents are more worried than white respondents, and people with children living in the household are the most worried of all.

Notably, among respondents who approve of the job Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and District Attorney Larry Krasner are doing, 67 percent and 63 percent, respectively, say they are more worried about being the victim of a crime.

The poll was conducted on behalf of A Greater Philadelphia (“AGP”) from Feb. 14-17, 2022. It was captured through questions answered by 800 registered Democrats in the city. The margin of error is +/- 3.4% at a 95 percent confidence interval.  

In alignment with the widespread concern, 41 percent of respondents identify “police and public safety” as the No. 1 issue they want city government focused on. Safe and affordable housing comes in second at 18 percent. Respondents identify poverty (27 percent) and “reduced enforcement and prosecution of gangs and gun traffickers” (21 percent) as the top reasons gun violence in the city has increased since 2019.

As of today, there have been 107 homicides in Philadelphia thus far in 2022, a 1 percent increase above this same time last year. There have also been 403 non-fatal shooting victims in 2022, a nearly 2 percent increase from the previous year. Philadelphia has the highest per capita murder rate among the nation’s largest cities.

“People are afraid for themselves and for their loved ones,” said Mark Gleason, founder of AGP. “As Philadelphians, we love our city. At the same time, we are angry and heartbroken from the violence as we try to live and grow here. We need bolder and more focused leadership on this.”

About A Greater Philadelphia …

AGP is a group of Philadelphians from diverse neighborhoods, backgrounds, professions and political persuasions. Called “A Greater Philadelphia” in recognition of the city’s potential, the new non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group launched in March 2022 to build a citywide movement in support of higher expectations, more effective leadership and better governance.

AGP aims to build a movement that numbers in the tens of thousands of Philadelphians and demands better outcomes in the realms of transparent and accountable governance, public safety, education, economic growth and quality of life. Above all, it will advocate for the city to adopt a clear vision and measurable goals in each of these categories, because “… without a ‘North star’ vision, decision-making within any of these categories becomes too easily politicized or even arbitrary,” Gleason said.

The founding board of AGP includes a diverse group of residents and organizational leaders, including:

Charles Ellison
WURD radio host and Principal, B|E Strategy, a strategic communications firm

Ted Hershberg
Retired public-policy and education professor, University of Pennsylvania

Farah Jimenez
CEO, Philadelphia Education Fund; former School Reform Commission member  

Jabari Jones
CEO, West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative, representing small-business owners

Jason Tucker
VP, The Goldenberg Group; formerly a leader of Young Involved Philadelphia

AGP is nonprofit and not aligned with any political party.

About the Poll …

The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates and Frederick Polls. Interviews took place during Feb. 14 - 17, 2022, by telephone, cell phone and text message. Respondents were 800 registered Democratic voters living in Philadelphia and were geographically representative of registered Democrats overall. The margin of error is +/- 3.4% at a 95% confidence interval.

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Mark Gleason

908.612.9108

mark@greaterphila.org

                       

Charles Ellison

301.526.2239

charles@strategybe.com