Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) is proud to announce the release of The Pulse, a comprehensive, scientific survey designed to measure Spokane County residents’ opinions on key issues including public safety, homelessness, economic growth, and workforce development. This is the first poll of its kind in the region, providing a reliable snapshot of voter sentiment at critical political junctures to guide decision-making and policy development across Spokane.
The Pulse gives Spokane a new way to measure community outlook, using both a Quality of Life Index and insights into Policy Sentiment. The poll reflects the views of over 600 registered voters, offering transparent, data-driven results that provide policymakers with the insights they need to address the challenges facing Spokane’s businesses and residents.
“The Pulse represents our commitment to bringing the voices of Spokane’s residents to the table on critical policy issues,” said Alisha Benson, CEO of Greater Spokane Inc. “This poll provides a benchmark for understanding how Spokane’s citizens feel and what they see as the most important issues they’re faced with day-to-day.”
Key Findings from The Pulse:
- Public Safety is a Top Priority: 93% of voters believe that downtown Spokane cannot fully recover until homelessness and public safety issues are addressed. Without prompting, half of voters cited homelessness and 2 in 5 cited crime or public safety as the top issue facing Spokane.
- Support for Local Businesses: Spokane voters are concerned about the impact of public safety on businesses with 86% agreeing that helping local businesses deal with public safety concerns would be impactful to their quality of life.
- Community Concerns on Quality of Life: The Quality of Life Index revealed that 63% of respondents feel the Spokane region is on the wrong track, and 56% have considered moving out of the area. This highlights the urgent need for policies that focus on improving residents’ overall satisfaction with their community.
- Economic Growth and Infrastructure: 90% of voters agree that a thriving downtown is critical for Spokane’s economic future. Voters also want to see the city prioritize basic services like road maintenance, park upkeep, and public safety, with 93% supporting greater investment in these areas.
Why The Pulse Matters:
The Pulse is designed to go beyond the typical “who’s up, who’s down” polling often seen during election cycles. It focuses on the critical issues that affect Spokane’s daily life and long-term growth, offering data that will help shape public policy in a way that reflects the broad concerns of the community. GSI is committed to using this data to advance solutions that improve the region’s quality of life and economic vitality.
“We don’t often get a chance to come together as a community and really look at what voters are thinking,” said Jake Mayson, Director of Public Policy for GSI. “The Pulse is an incredible opportunity to dig into the data, with full transparency, and see what’s really going on instead of cherry-picking results or just using polls simply to hit messaging points.”
Next Steps:
GSI is sharing the full results of The Pulse with the public, including detailed crosstabs and a full presentation of the findings. The next installment of The Pulse is expected to be conducted in Spring 2025, allowing GSI and regional leaders to track changes in voter sentiment over time.
For more information on the results of The Pulse and what they mean for Spokane, join GSI for an all-member briefing on November 1st.
To view the full polling results, visit GreaterVotes.org.
