YourArlington poll results: Your views

The following are the results of all polls conducted on this Web site -- 63 -- beginning with the ones most recently concluded. All are unscientific and are limited by the options available. Despite this, they provide a snapshot of community opinion in this way: They aim to show how those responding feel about the question. If you have ideas for future polls, please let the publisher of this site know.

From 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, to 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, YourArlington published a poll asking whether you think parents who owe for all-day kindergarten should pay up -- or provide proof why they cannot pay -- or face having a child dismissed at 11 a.m.? The results among 86 votes among three options:

Yes: 71 (82.6%)

No: 15 (17.4%)

No opinion: 0

11 respond to debt survey; responses to solutions are all over the map

From 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, to 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking whether you feel the federal debt. A second poll asked you to choose solutions to the issue of U.S. debt. The results:

Ten voted yes on the question: Do you think that Arlington residents should discuss what has been described as a "debt crisis" in the United States? One voted no.

As to which solutions you favored, you could make multiples choices among 10 options. The 36 votes went this way:

Raise taxes on those making more than $250,000 a year, 7 (19.4%)

Enact a high-cost public-works program that provides jobs, 6 (16.7%)

Vote for Republicans, 5 (13.9%)

Cut military spending, 5 (13.9%)

Raise eligibility age for Medicare, Social Security, 4 (11.1%)

Lower taxes for everyone, 2 (5.6%)

Vote for Democrats, 2 (5.6%)

Cut Social Security, Medicare, 2 (5.6%)

Increase military spending, cut elsewhere, 2 (5.6%)

Enact a 9-9-9 flat tax, 1 (2.8%)

65% vote to retain overnight parking ban

From 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking about your view of the town's overnight on-street parking ban. It also asked you to choose solutions if you wanted to repeal the bylaw. Here are the results among 131 voting:

On-street parking in Arlington is banned from 1 to 7 a.m. Should the ban be (choose one):

Retained: 85 (64.9%)

Repealed: 46 (35.1%)

No opinion: 0

Sixty-two voted in the second poll (more than the number seeking repeal).

If you favor repeal, what should happen next for on-street parking overnight (choose just one)?

Parking on one side of the street only with a low-cost permit (to cover costs): 18 (29%)

Parking anytime, anywhere without a permit: 15 (24.2%)

Parking on one side of the street only with a higher-cost permit (to raise revenue): 13 (21%)

Parking anytime, anywhere with a low-cost permit (to cover costs): 12 (19.4%)

Parking anytime, anywhere with a higher-cost permit (to raise revenue): 4 (6.5%)

NOTE: The fees are to be determined and could be the subject of a further poll.

49% favor police issuing tickets via camera

From 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking: What would your response be if Arlington police set up cameras at key intersections (e.g., Mass. Ave. and Pleasant or Mill Street) to photograph cars running red lights? Of the choices below, you may pick
just one.

Of the 88 who voted, the results were:

Favor without question, 43 (48.9%)

Object without question, 28 (31.8%)

Favor with reservations, 13 (14.8%)

Object but might consider favoring, 4 (4.5%)

No opinion, 0 (0%)

Top 3 GOP picks: Romney, Paul, Perry

From 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, to 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking who you prefer among those Republicans who may seek the nomination to be president in 2012. Among those listed, who are your top three picks?

Among 36 who voted on this poll, 78 votes were cast. Here are the results:

Mitt Romney, 17 (21.8%)

Ron Paul, 12 (15.4%)

Rick Perry, 11 (14.1%)

Michele Bachmann, 10 (12.8%)

Jon Huntsman, 7 (9%)

Sarah Palin, 6 (7.7%)

None of these, 5 (6.4%)

Rick Santorum, 4 (5.1%)

Herman Cain, 4 (5.1%)

Another not listed, 2 (2.6%)

Those who decline to swim at Res cite number of factors

For three weeks, from 9 a.m. Friday, July 1, to 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2011, YourArlington published two polls asking about swimming at the Arlington Reservoir. The first asked whether you swim at the Res. Using new software, the second poll permitted multiple answers.

Choose only one of the following. If you vote no, see poll below.

Of the 26 who voted, here are the results:

Yes: 14 (53.8%)

No: 12 (46.2%)

WHY DO YOU THINK THE QUALITY OF RES WATER IS UNSAFE FOR SWIMMING?

Of the 27 votes, respondents cited these factors (respondents were asked to read this story providing background:

goose poop: 8 (29.6%)

high bacterial counts: 6 (22.2%)

water used as a restroom: 4 (14.8%)

don't trust test results: 3 (11.1%)

duck feathers: 3 (11.1%)

algae: 3 (11.1%)

Yes (58%) tops No in 7-week preelection poll

For 48 days, from 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, to 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2011, YourArlington published two polls asking about your views about the $6.49 million tax override vote. Using new software, the two polls permitted respondents to answer as many as six questions for each poll.
There were 777 total votes, and 218 people voted. Yes votes outnumbered No votes, 127 to 91, or 58 percent to 42 percent. Here are the results:

WHY I EXPECT TO VOTE YES (127 provided 507 votes)

Town services will suffer if we don't pass it: 106 (20.9%)

We need to support quality education: 113 (22.3%)

Public safety will be negatively affected: 90 (17.8%)

We need to save teaching jobs: 84 (16.6%)

Our real estate values will begin to fall: 78 (15.4%)

Town and school unions are bargaining in good faith: 36 (7.1%)

WHY I EXPECT TO VOTE NO (91 provided 267 votes)

The $1.5 million fiscal 2010 budget problem means the schools can't manage their money: 56 (21%)

Unions need to join GIC: 56 (21%)

Those on fixed incomes need relief: 44 (16.5%)

The schools spend too much to fight legal cases: 40 (15%)  More costs need to be cut: 40 (15%)

Town, school administrators make too much money: 31 (11.6%)

Slight majority oppose Mass. Ave. protest

From 9 p.m. Sunday, March 27, to 9 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking about your view about a planned three-hour protest April 9 that would block one lane of Mass. Ave. The poll was brief because the proponens withdrew their request for a permit March 28. Here are the results among 58 votes cast:

No, it would simply disrupt traffic flow and prove little: 27 (50.9%)

Yes, we might learn how the plan would affect us: 25 (47.2%)

No opinion: 1 (1.9%)

From 9 p.m. Sunday, March 6, to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking about your vote in the town clerk race. Here are the results among 308 votes cast:

Lucarelli over Hurd by 41 in online "test"

From 9 p.m. Sunday, March 6, to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking about your vote in the town clerk race. Here are the results among 308 votes cast:

Stephanie L. Lucarelli: 172 (55.8%)

John W. Hurd: 131 (42.5%)

None of these: 5 (1.6%)

Write-in: 0 (0%)

Curran tops LaCourt, 72-63, in election "snapshot"

From 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2011, YourArlington published a poll asking about your vote in the one-year race for selectman. Here are the results among 158 votes cast:

Joseph E. Curran: 72 (45.6%)

Annie LaCourt: 63 (39.9%)

Won't vote for either: 20 (12.7%)

Write-in: 3 (1.9%)

3 override polls reflect close votes

From 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, YourArlington published three unscientific polls asking you to choose what amount the town might rais in an override. Here are the results of each:

-- If the override were for $2 million:

No: 53 (51%)

Yes: 50 (49%)

-- If the override were for $4 million:

No: 53 (51%)

Yes: 50 (49%)

-- If the override amount did not matter:

Yes: 55 (51%)

No: 54 (49%)

50% of votes for cuts target administrators

From 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking you to choose among 10 options with respect to this question:

As town and school administrators weigh cuts of much as $1.5 million to be made in the new year, which department or area do you think should take the biggest hit?

Of the 295 votes cast, here are the results:

Town administrators: 87 (29.5%)

No one department or area should take the greatest hit: 76 (25.8%)

School administrators: 62 (21%)

Teachers: 18 (6.1%)

Public Works: 13 (4.4%)

Fire: 9 (3.1%)

Recreation: 9 (3.1%)

Library: 9 (3.1%)

Police: 7 (2.4%)

No opinion: 5 (1.7%)

47% favor rebuilding Thompson on swapped land

From 7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, to 11 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking your opinion about six options for the future of the Thompson School.

Of the 145 votes cast, here are the results:

Rebuild on swapped land: 69  (47.6%)

Rebuild on current site: 27  (18.6%)

Renovate on current site: 22  (15.2%)

Leave the school as is: 22  (15.2%)

Consider another renovate/rebuild option: 2  (1.4%)

No opinion: 2  (1.4%)

Renovate on swapped land: 1  (0.7%)

59% want to keep overnight-parking restriction; 46.5% would pay for a permit

From 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, YourArlington published two unscientific polls asking your opinion about issues related to overnight parking.

The first poll asked: Should town keep 1-7 a.m. on-street restrictions?

Of the 258 votes cast, the results were:

Yes: 153 (59.3%)

No: 103 (39.9%)

No opinion: 2 (0.8%)

The second poll asked: Would you pay for a permit?

Of 185 votes cast, the results were:

No: 93 (50.3%)

Yes (amount to be determined): 66 (35.7%)

Yes ($365 a year): 20 (10.8%)

No opinion: 6 (3.2%)

Yes votes edge out no on Question 2

From 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 22, to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking your opinion about how you expect vote on Question 3 which would repeal 40B.

Of the 179 votes cast, the results were:

Yes (to repeal the law): 89 (49.7%)

No (to leave it in place): 87 (48.6%)

Leave the ballot blank: 3 (1.7%)

Menotomy Rocks tops Robbins for park favorite

From 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking your opinion about which Arlington spot you love most among eight places named, with an option to choose a park not listed.

Of the 93 votes cast, the results were:

Menotomy Rocks Park: 28 (30.1%)

Robbins Farm: 21 (22.6%)

Spy Pond Park: 16 (17.2%)

Parallel Park: 10 (10.8%)

McClennen Park: 8 (8.6%)

A park not listed here: 6 (6.5%)

Magnolia Playground: 3 (3.2%)

Cutter Park: 1 (1.1%)

Reservoir Playground: 0

72% say Arlington teachers paid too little

From 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, to 9 p.m. noon Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking your opinion about the pay of Arlington public school teachers. For data about this issue, see www.yourarlington.com/school-news/3200-school-pay-sept10.

Of the 171 votes cast, the results were:

Too little: 123 (71.9%)

About rights: 20 (11.7%)

Too much: 19 (11.1%)

I don't know enough to say: 9 (5.3%)

No opinion: 0 (0%)

60% oppose reducing sales tax

From 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, to noon Monday, Sept. 20, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll addressing Question 3. Voters will be asked in November: Should sales and use taxes be reduced to 3%, from 6.25? What do you think?

Of the 215 votes cast, the results were:

Yes: 85 (39%)

No: 129 (60%)

No opinon: 1 (1%)

Spend US funds now on schools, 55% say

From 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Should Arlington spend its share of education job funds -- however much they turn out to be -- this year or next?

Because a $1.5 million shortfall from fiscal 2010 was discovered and federal money had to be used immediately, the poll ended. Of the 74 votes cast, the results were:

We need to spend them now: 41 (55.4%)

We should wait until next year: 32 (43.2%)

No opinion: 1 (1.4%)

Patrick tops Baker in informal poll, 44%-36%

From Friday, July 23, 2010, at 7 a.m. to Monday, Aug. 9, 2010, at 7 a.m. YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: If the state general election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Aug. 2: Rise in unenrolled dog Democrats

Of the 295 votes cast, here are the results:

Deval Patrick: 129 (43.7%)

Charles Baker: 105 (35.6%)

Timothy Cahill: 23 (7.8%)

None of the above: 23 (7.8%)

Jill Stein: 15 (5.1%)

56% would contribute to Gap campaign

From Sunday, May 9, 2010, at 7 p.m. to Monday, June 7, 2010, at 7 p.m. YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking how much you would contribute to the effort to seek $1 million to close a $3.9 million school budget gap.

Of 315 votes, here are the results:

Nothing: 140 (44.4%)

$500: 69 (21.9%)

$100: 39 (12.4%)

$1,000: 27 (8.6%)

$50: 25 (7.9%)

$25: 9 (2.9%)

$10: 6 (1.9%)

Based on these numbers, the total contributed from these respondents would be $78,185.

51% would vote yes on Pay As You Throw trash collection

From Friday, Saturday, May 1, 2010, at 8 a.m. to Sunday, May 9, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: How should Town Meeting vote on the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) trash-collection measure?

Of 179 votes, here are the results: 

Yes: 92 (51.4%)

No: 87 (48.6%)

Slim majority thinks Donnelly should vote no on casino gambling

From Friday, April 16, 2010, at 11 a.m. to Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m., YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question:

How should Sen. Ken Donnelly vote on casino gambling? It noted that three Arlington House members had voted no.

Of 130 votes, here are the results: 

No: 66 (50.8%)

Yes: 62 (47.7%)

Abstain: 2 (1.5%)

Bosdet, Pierce, Fusaris top online choices

From Friday, March 26, 2010, at 11 a.m. to Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 7 a.m., YourArlington published two unscientific polls asking for whom you expect to vote in the races for the Board of Selectmen as well as the School Committee.

Of 371 votes for the candidates for selectman, here are the results:

Nathan Bosdet: 153 (41.2%)

Kevin F. Greeley: 123 (33.2%)

Maria A. Romano: 95 (25.6%) 

Of 240 votes for the candidates for School Committee, here are the results (two seats were open, but you could vote only for one):

Judson L. Pierce: 84 (35%)

Kurt Fusaris: 58 (24.2%)

Kirsi C. Allison-Ampe: 56 (23.3%)

Teresa Bottoni: 42 (17.5%)

On super finalists, majority chose: 'Start over'

From Thursday, March 18, at 7 a.m. to Wednesday, March 24, at 6:30 a.m., YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Which of the two finalists for Arlington school superintendent would you choose to lead our public schools, or should the process begin anew?

Of 91 votes, here are the results:

Kelly Clenchy: 19 (20.9%)

Eric Ely: 7 (7.7%)

 Neither -- start the process over: 56 (61.5%)

No opinion: 9 (9.9%)

53% support 3-1 vote on clerk appointment

From Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. to  Thursday, March 4, at noon, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Do you agree with the three selectmen who voted in favor of naming Selectman John A. Hurd as interim town clerk? Of 317 votes, here are the results:

Yes: 169 (53.3%)

No: 141 (44.5%)

No opinion: 7 (2.2%)

Apart from the number of votes, Google Analytics recorded 1,045 hits on the results link -- by far, the highest number among the 35 polls to date.

For the first few days that the poll was published, opinuion ran 98% against the vote. As the week proceede, the tide turned.

2/3rds would cut recreation, libraries

From 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking what one town service you would cut among six options. Here are the results among 148 voters:

Recreation: 65 (43.9%)

Libraries: 33 (22.3%)

Health Dept.: 19 (12.8%)

Fire Dept.: 13 (8.8%)

Police Dept.: 10 (6.8%)

Dept. of Public Works: 8 (5.4%)

NOTE: The town's Recreation Department is paid for via a self-supporting enterprise fund and is not budgeted out of the general fund or tax base.

49.7% would welcome charter school 

From 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking residents their views should a charter school plan to be established in Arlington. Here are the results among 157 voters:

Welcome the school: 78 (49.7%)

Oppose the school: 63 (40.1%)

No opinion: 15 (9.6%)

Brown beats Coakley by 21 in 3-day poll

In a three-day unscientific poll from 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, to 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, YourArlington asked anyone with an Internet connection who they expected to vote for in special election to fill the site left when Sen. Edward Kennedy died last August. Here are the results among 123 voters in Arlington and beyond:

Scott Brown: 70 56.9%

Martha Coakley: 49 39.8%

Joseph L. Kennedy: 4 3.3%

Experience tops poll for new superintendent

From 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking residents to answer this question among seven options: What is the top attribute you want to see in a new school superintendent? Here are the results among 146 voters:

Educational experience (classroom and administration): 46 31.5%

Leadership: 39 26.7%

Skill in working with people: 23 15.8%

Skillfulness in handling finances: 22 15.1%

Creativity: 10 6.8%

Ability to handle controversy: 5 3.4%

Decisiveness: 1 0.7%

Most aim to lose weight

From 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking residents to choose one resolution among seven options. Here are the results among 75 voters:

Lose weight: 33 (44%)

Slow down ("smell the roses"): 11 (14.7%)

Read more; watch TV less: 9 (12%)

Reduce alcohol consumption: 7 (9.3%)

Stop smoking: 5 (6.7%)

Volunteer: 5 (6.7%)

Focus on my family more than my job: 5 (6.7%)

To aid education, back override, cut Metco

From 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, YourArlington published an unscientific poll headlined "Aiding education" and asking this question: How would you save teaching jobs (top choice only)? Of 105 votes for 10 options (top choice only), here are the results:

Support holding an override: 29 (27.6%)

Withdraw from Metco: 28 (26.7%)

Institute block scheduling at the high school: 15 (14.3%)

Close a school: 8 (7.6%)

Increase class sizes: 7 (6.7%)

Continue to discuss issues related to the former superintendent: 6 (5.7%)

Raise fees (incl. kindergarten, sports, music): 5 (4.8%)

Eliminate program for gifted: 5 (4.8%)

Eliminate world languages: 1 (1%)

Reduce programs but don't eliminate them: 1 (1%)

Pub, deli top new-restaurant query

From 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, YourArlington published an unscientific polls asking this question: What kind of new restaurant would you like to see in Arlington?

Of 149 votes for 11 options (top choice only), here are the results:

Full-service pub: 44 (29.5%)

Jewish deli: 33 (22.1%)

Burrito: 28 (18.8%)

Fast-food (e.g., McDonald's): 20 (13.4%)

Portuguese: 7 (4.7%)

African: 5 (3.4%)

German: 4 (2.7%)

Expensive (on a par with Flora): 4 (2.7%)

Caribbean: 3 (2%)

Specialty burger: 1 (0.7%)

Polynesian: 0 (0%)

Majority says no to override

From 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 to midnight Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, YourArlington published an unscientific polls asking this question: With Arlington facing a shortfall predicted in the millions of dollars, should town and school leaders pursue an override next spring? Of 175 votes for three options (top choice only), here are the results:

No: 107 (61.1%)

Yes: 50 (28.6%)

Yes, but it depends how much: 18 (10.3%)

Leave parking ban as is, majority says

From 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 06:21 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, YourArlington published an unscientific polls asking about the town's overnight parking ban.

Of 208 votes for five options (top choice only), here are the results:

Leave things the way they are: 114 (54.8%)

End the 1-7 a.m. parking ban: 41 (19.7%)

Allow alternate-side parking first as a trial: 32 (15.4%)

Establish townwide on-street permit parking: 21 (10.1%)

No opinion: 0

59.8% favor tax on restaurant meals

From Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 8 a.m. until Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m., YourArlington published two unscientific polls asking about local-option taxes.

The first poll asked about an excise tax restaurant meals, which could be raised 0.75%. The results among 92 who voted:

Favor an increase (55) 59.8%

Favor no tax (35) 38%

No opinion (2) 2.2%

The second poll asked about a tax on hotel stays, which could be raised 1% or 2%. The results among 78 who voted:

Favor 2% (41) 52.6%

Favor 1% (13) 16.7%Favor no tax (20) 25.6%

No opinion (4) 5.1%

Town Meeting voted in favor of both issues at a Special Town Meeting on Nov. 16.