2013 UNO Poll: Mayor Landrieu's Approval Dips Slightly, Remains High

While New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu continues to enjoy a high level of approval—although it declined slightly in the past year—less than a majority of New Orleans residents approve of the New Orleans City Council, according to the 2013 University of New Orleans Quality of Life Survey. The survey, also known as the "UNO Poll," is conducted by the UNO Survey Research Center under the direction of Edward Chervenak, assistant professor of political science.

Sixty-five percent of Orleans Parish respondents either strongly approve or approve of Mayor Landrieu, down from 68 percent in 2012.  Forty-seven percent of those surveyed either strongly approve or approve of the New Orleans City Council, down from 49 percent a year ago.

The poll surveyed 301 registered voters in Orleans Parish and 304 in Jefferson Parish from Oct. 19-30. The sampling error is plus or minus 5.7 percent.

Here are some of the highlights of the 2013 survey:

There are higher levels of life satisfaction in Orleans than a year ago, while Jefferson remains stable.

• Over twice as many New Orleans residents said the city has become a better place than a worse place to live.
• One-third of New Orleans voters do not feel safe around their home during the night.
• One-quarter of African-Americans in the city heard gunfire at least a few times a month.
• A majority of New Orleans residents approve of the job District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas are doing.
• A large majority of New Orleans residents disapprove of the job the criminal courts are doing.
• Jefferson Parish residents rate Sheriff Newell Normand, Parish President John Young and the parish council very positively.

The UNO Survey Research Center began its Quality of Life series in 1986. Since then the quality of life and government services in Jefferson and Orleans parishes have been assessed at least every other year, and every year since Hurricane Katrina. The 2013 survey is the 17th in the series.