| What
do you like about Greater Bakersfield?
What are our strengths? |
|
|
|
| Friendly, caring
people, community volunteers, easy to get involved in |
21 |
| Location: close to oceans, mountains, urban, easy access to world,
unique geography |
19 |
| Low cost of living;
economically feasible to live |
18 |
| Small city-small town
character/atmosphere with big city flavor |
17 |
| Cultural activities –
theatre, performing arts |
16 |
| Affordable housing |
15 |
| Community pride |
14 |
| Family oriented-Good place to
raise family |
11 |
| Good educ. Programs (Elem.-CSUB) |
8 |
| Sports facilities: soccer
park; bike trail, hockey, CSUB |
6 |
| Cultural diversity (melting
pot)-ethnic & religious |
6 |
| World leader in agriculture
and oil-Greatest Ag area in world |
5 |
| Job opportunities |
5 |
| Labor Market |
5 |
| Parks & recreational
opportunities |
4 |
| Mild/good climate; conducive
to outdoor sports & other activities |
4 |
| Recreation-children |
4 |
| Community minded
people-charitable giving (compassionate community) |
3 |
| Educational opportunities:
CSUB and Bakersfield College |
3 |
| Sporting events |
3 |
| Media positive-radio & TV |
3 |
| Good restaurants |
2 |
| Some of the best medical
facilities in the state/easy access |
2 |
| Bike and horse trails |
2 |
| Good transportation system -
roads |
2 |
| Strong work ethic |
2 |
| Common values |
2 |
| Master Plan-growth |
2 |
| Church choices |
2 |
| Centennial Gardens |
1 |
| Crystal Palace, Buck Owens,
& “Bakersfield“sign |
1 |
| Well-educated people |
1 |
| Senior activities |
1 |
| Gyms |
1 |
| Social Interaction Places- |
1 |
| Community support for schools |
1 |
| Strong business community,
easy to do business here, trust |
0 |
| Overall clean city |
0 |
| What are
Greater Bakersfield’s key weaknesses?
What don’t you like? |
|
|
|
| Poor air quality, air
pollution |
23 |
| Urban sprawl/uncontrolled
development/residential encroachment on ag land; |
21 |
| City-county cooperation |
20 |
| Some congested roads; traffic
flow; lack of freeway |
15 |
| Lack of diversity in economy |
12 |
| Increasing gang activity |
12 |
| Number of blighted
neighborhoods/revitalization incomplete |
12 |
| Lack of affordable
activities for youth/no "hang out" places for
after school |
12 |
| Little opportunity for
citizen involvement-city/county arrogant leadership |
8 |
| Drug traffic/ "Meth"
Capital |
8 |
| Low educational levels-high
school dropouts |
8 |
| High unemployment rate |
7 |
| Air Service |
7 |
| Poor image/Negative
perception by outsiders/"Hick" town, Truck stop |
7 |
| High rate teen pregnancy |
7 |
| Crime |
6 |
| Potential for limited water
supply/water bank/lack of reliable water source |
5 |
| No long range plan/lack of
adequate planning for growth |
5 |
| Forced annexation |
5 |
| No incentive to get off
public assistance |
5 |
| Road maintenance-potholes |
4 |
| Lack of trees in parking
lots/shade |
4 |
| Declining family values |
4 |
| Inconvenient public
transportation |
4 |
| Poor
planning-Hwy 58/Freeways to nowhere; Poor downtown (East-West)
freeway |
3 |
| Government responsiveness to
people |
3 |
| Lack of insurance for the
working poor |
3 |
| Lack of trade
schools/vocational schools |
3 |
| Social/class divisions |
3 |
| No motivation for educational
attainment |
3 |
| D.A. corruption |
3 |
| Apathetic people |
3 |
| Lack of high paying jobs |
3 |
| Areas of High poverty |
2 |
| Public
hiring policies |
2 |
| Polarized community/lack of
communication |
2 |
| Too many power lines |
2 |
| Minimal senior services |
2 |
| Little support for the arts |
2 |
| Price of Gasoline |
2 |
| Non-local construction/shoddy
workmanship |
2 |
| River Dry |
2 |
| More services for small
children |
1 |
| Homelessness |
1 |
| Positive self talk |
1 |
| Administration of public
funds |
1 |
| School discipline policies |
1 |
| Inequitable school system |
1 |
| The Bakersfield Californian |
1 |
