New Poll: Majority Say Philly ‘on Wrong Track’

A majority of Democratic voters in Philadelphia (55%) say the city is on the wrong track, according to a poll commissioned by A Greater Philadelphia. Just 27% say the city is headed in the right direction.  

Respondents emphatically named “police and public safety” as the top priority for the city, followed by safe and affordable housing and schools.

Philadelphia recently posted its 100th murder of 2022, outpacing the comparable period a year ago. That’s on pace with Chicago, a city with 1 million more residents than Philadelphia. It’s more homicides than have occurred in any of America’s other largest cities: New York, Los Angeles, Houston or Phoenix. 

Even so, 55% of respondents say they approve of Mayor Jim Kenney’s performance, while 32% disapprove. Those saying they strongly approve (16%) are slightly outnumbered by those who strongly disapprove (17%).

Approval ratings for other city officials were lower:

            District Attorney Larry Krasner           51% approve   30% disapprove

            Police Chief Danielle Outlaw                46% approve   37% disapprove

            City Council                                          44% approve   38% disapprove

The poll was conducted among 800 registered Democratic voters by McLaughlin & Associates and Frederick Polls in February 2022. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.4% at a 95% confidence interval.

A Greater Philadelphia will release other results from the poll over the next several weeks.