Last in Line for District Three

In April, Councilwoman Toni Atkins's office surveyed the communities in her district. She asked 132 residents of District 3 — an area including Hillcrest, South Park, North Park, Golden Hill, Kensington, and City Heights — to rank city services in order of importance. Residents were asked to rate (from one to five, five being most important) those particular city services they felt were most beneficial to them and their community.

The councilwoman's office displayed the results in the district's June/July newsletter.

At the top of the list were public safety items such as police and fire services. Parks and recreation upkeep was near the top along with street and sidewalk maintenance. At the bottom; homeless services and affordable housing.

Police functions came in with the highest average of importance, with 4.81 out of a possible 5. Fire services were next on the list, averaging 4.75.

And lying at the very bottom, below traffic control and library services and tap-water quality, with a 3.23 average, were services provided for San Diego's homeless.

It wasn't just the homeless; city services providing affordable housing for low-income individuals and families finished second to last in the survey with a 3.52 rating.

According to Pam Ison, policy analyst for Councilwoman Tony Atkins, this was the first time the councilwoman's office used this type of survey.

To get a copy of Councilwoman Atkins's monthly newsletter, go to sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd3/.