Touma Plans Survey on Dyster, Council Performance, Safeguards for Politicizing, Survey 'Stuffing' NeededFebruary 03, 2015 |
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Council Chairman Andrew Touma devised a survey he apparently plans to distribute which asks residents to rate the job the mayor and council are doing. Council Secretary Ryan Undercoffer explains in an email sent to members of the council on Jan 21. "Chairman Touma has asked me to send the survey below to all Council members. He would like to distribute this survey in the library, the billing office, and the City Clerk's office, and electronically via the Council's facebook page in the coming months. The data collected could be used to inform decision-making in the coming year. If you have any feedback, questions, or concerns, please let Chairman Touma know ASAP." 1. How do you rate the city's snow plowing services? 0 Strongly Disapprove 0 Disapprove O Neutral O Approve O Strongly Approve
2. How do you rate the city's trash and recycling collection services? 0 Strongly Disapprove 0 Disapprove O Neutral O Approve O Strongly Approve
3. How do you rate the city's street paving services? 0 Strongly Disapprove 0 Disapprove O Neutral O Approve O Strongly Approve
4. In general, do you feel safe from crime in Niagara Falls? O In general, I feel safe from crime in Niagara Falls. O In general, I do not feel safe from crime in Niagara Falls.
5. What impact do you believe our city's use of Casino dollars have had on economic development in Niagara Falls? O Our city's use of Casino dollars has had a positive impact on economic development in Niagara Falls. O Our city's use of Casino dollars has had no impact on economic development in Niagara Falls. O Our city's use of Casino dollars has had a negative impact on economic development in Niagara Falls.
6. Do you believe the Mayor and City Council have been fiscally responsible in the past year? O I believe the Mayor and City Council have NOT been fiscally responsible in the past year. O I'm not sure, or I don't have an opinion on this issue. O I believe the Mayor and City Council have been fiscally responsible in the past year.
7. Please use this space to share any other comments you have for the City Council: (the survey provides ample space for people to make a written comment.)
The Reporter commends Councilman Touma for his idea of canvassing public opinion on matters of governance, and believe the questions he asks are fair ones. If it was a true survey, in order to be accurate, it would necessarily go out to every resident in the city and be carefully tabulated. As planned, it raises some troubling questions: Will the survey require someone to sign his or her name? Or will it be anonymous? What checks will be put in place to ensure that people who fill out surveys are actually residents of Niagara Falls? What safeguards will be in place to make sure there isn't "survey stuffing" where one person fills out multiple surveys in order to skew the results? The Reporter believes that "surveys" like this can be indicators of general public opinion if safeguards are in place. They can also be used as tools by politicians to mislead the public, if insufficient safeguards are not utilized. Will this wind up being a voter satisfaction political survey in disguise? What will the survey cost in city man hours? This is a mayoral election year. What would stop Dyster supporters from filling out hundreds of surveys saying they "strongly agree" Dyster is doing a great job? What would stop his opponent(s) from organizing to do the opposite? Who will tabulate the results and attest to its honesty?
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