Public Interest February 2023

Idaho Public Policy Survey shows increased pessimism about direction of state, economy

Idahoans continue to grow more pessimistic about the direction of the state and the economy, in general. That’s according to the Eighth Annual Idaho Public Policy Survey, released by researchers with Boise State University’s Idaho Policy Institute.

The gap between the number of Idahoans who believe the state is heading in the right direction (44%) versus those who believe it is off on the wrong track (41%) fell within the margin of error for the first time in this survey’s eight-year history. This pessimism extends to the economy, as most Idahoans expect the state’s economic condition to either worsen (37%) over the next two years or stay the same (36%). Additionally, 43% of Idahoans worry about paying their bills “always” or “frequently.”

The Eighth Annual Idaho Public Policy Survey was conducted November 10-17, 2022, and surveyed 1,000 adults who currently live in Idaho. The sample is representative of the state’s population, both geographically and demographically, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%. The survey covered a wide variety of topics, including the economy, state budgeting, taxes, education, growth, housing, the environment, and crime.

Photo: Vanessa Fry and Michael Jacobs of the Mitchells Plain United Residents Association look out over Mitchell’s Plain, a district created when communities of color were relocated from central Cape Town as part of the apartheid-era Group Areas Act. The district is now home to over one million people, and community leaders like Michael are working to address issues including economic development, crime, and transportation access.

Krista Paulsen, program lead for Urban Studies and Community Development, and Vanessa Fry, director of the Idaho Policy Institute, visited South Africa this past September on behalf of Boise State. Their trip was a step towards creating connections between Boise, Boise State and the and non-government organizations, community groups, academics and students in Cape Town and surrounding regions.

Paulsen and Fry spent most of their time in the large and diverse city of Cape Town and surrounding areas. They also traveled to Knysna, a small city in the Western Cape where Boise State’s community partner Development Action Group has projects.

Much of their time was spent learning about the housing context of Cape Town through tours and meeting with community partners. They saw first hand single family home neighborhoods where “backyarding” (the construction of additional units) is creating density, informal settlements where residents have created structures on public or private lands, an informal settlement created by squatters in a decommissioned hospital, and new multi-family housing constructed that replace housing destroyed as communities were displaced during apartheid. They also presented at the University of Cape Town’s African Center for Cities, and to community groups, on the housing crisis in Boise and the challenges shared by Boise and Cape Town.

While in Cape Town, they held a session of Boise State’s VIP (Vertically Integrated Project) course “Housing Opportunities for All” that included Development Action Group staff and University of Cape Town Students, as well as Boise State students participating via Zoom.

It is hoped that this trip will foster connections leading to student exchanges or international internship opportunities.

NEW Leadership will relaunch with an in-person session this May 22-26. NEW Leadership is a national bi-partisan program developed by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) to address the under-representation of women in American politics.

Students from colleges across Idaho are invited to spend a week in Boise learning about the important role that politics plays in their lives, studying leadership skills applicable in both public and private sector positions, addressing diversity matters and mingling with other students dedicated to making a difference in their communities.

This semester several Boise State students are working in internships created through a partnership between Clearwater Financials and the Association of Idaho Cities. The students are helping small Idaho cities pursue federal grant monies that they might not otherwise have capacity to apply for.  

The project consists of a comprehensive survey of Idaho cities to identify their needs as well as help in identifying grants that match the cities’ needs and assisting with grant applications. 

The internships are created and funded by School of Public Service alumnus Dr. Cameron Arial.