DFP’s newsletter of our latest polls, memos, and memes. 

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By Sabrina Jacobs (@bri_jacobs ([link removed]) )

No city like a cop city because a cop city is a terrible time for everyone.

In this week’s edition of extremely questionable ideas, the City of Atlanta passed an ordinance authorizing the lease of 381 acres of forested land to the Atlanta Police Foundation for the construction of a $90 million training facility. The land for Cop City was allocated without a vote, and Atlanta residents have expressed strong opposition for the project, with many residents peacefully protesting and signing a petition to get Cop City on the ballot.

In a new survey of Atlanta voters, Data for Progress finds ([link removed]) that 59% of Atlanta voters believe a vote should be held to determine how the land is used. This includes 73% of Democrats and 51% of Independents.

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We also find that a majority of Atlanta voters (52%), including 55% of Democrats and Independents, oppose construction of a new Fulton County Jail facility. Rather than build a new jail, Atlanta voters would rather see the root cause of overcrowding at the existing jail addressed.

Building new jails and creating training centers like Cop City won’t solve the existing problems. And if Atlanta lawmakers are too scared to put Cop City on the ballot, that tells us all we need to know about the proposal.

Read the full polling here ([link removed]) .

Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:

Okay, ladies, now let's get more defense regulations.

While other government agencies have managed to pass independent audits, the Department of Defense has been unable to pass a single audit since the early 1990s (that's almost 1989! Taylor's version!). Typical Defense, always thinking it’s better than other agencies. Smh. The Department of Defense audit procedure has been so ludicrous that Republicans and Democrats have come together to introduce legislation like the Audit the Pentagon Act of 2023.

New polling from Data for Progress finds ([link removed]) that 80% of voters believe the DoD should be required to pass an audit before its budget is increased. This includes 80% of Democrats, 82% of Independents, and 79% of Republicans. Seems fair to ask the DoD to pass an audit before we just hand over more money for machine guns and tanks. The bar is so low.

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Back in the day, the chief management officer was in charge of preventing wasteful government spending and fraud at the Department of Defense. However, the DoD abolished the position in 2021. That feels weird, right? It’s not just us? Might be an important position to keep around in a massive government agency with lots of spending. We find that 83% of voters, including 83% of Democrats, 85% of Independents, and 81% of Republicans, support bringing back this position.

We’re sorry, DoD. You don’t get special treatment just because you’re chilling in the Pentagon. Get your papers in order and pass an audit, like every other agency.

Read the full polling here ([link removed]) .

The salmon are not alright.

If there’s one thing about Sarah Palin, it’s that she doesn’t know how to pitch Alaska. It’s so much more than Russia’s neighbor! And while the Alaskan hockey moms are great, have you heard about Alaskan fish? Fish are crucial to the Alaska economy – so crucial in fact that Alaska harvests more seafood than all other U.S. states combined (take that Michigan). Salmon is a particularly popular fish in Alaska, but it’s becoming scarce as salmon runs in western Alaska collapse. Bad time to be a fish swimming upstream.

In a new poll ([link removed]) , Data for Progress finds that 59% of voters agree there should be a rural subsistence priority in Alaskan rivers where salmon is scarce, meaning fishing would be limited to rural residents. This includes 63% of Democrats, 57% of Independents, and 56% of Republicans.

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Lawmakers in Alaska also hope to expand the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to include two designated seats for Alaska Native tribes. Seems kinda fishy to us that seats aren’t already made available to the Alaska Native tribes, but sure, progress! We found 62% of voters support adding two seats for Alaska Native tribes, compared with 24% who think the council should remain largely appointed by the governors of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.

Salmon is easily a top five fish, and it’s crucial that we ensure they aren’t overfished while supply is scarce. Fish are friends! And food! Now, please enjoy this bear who also supports the rural subsistence priority.

Read the full polling here ([link removed]) .

DFP In The News

Politico E&E: The carbon removal project that puts communities in the driver’s seat ([link removed])

The Nation: Blessed Be the Peacemakers, Unless They Raise Their Voices in Washington ([link removed])

Vox: What unites the global protests for Palestinian rights ([link removed])

Lansing City Pulse: Lansing’s extreme weather last summer underscores need for climate action ([link removed])


On Social
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Meme of the Week
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