Report finds downturn affecting volunteerism and trust
November 24, 2009
SACRAMENTO— A new report, released today by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) and California Forward, shows that just under three in four Californians have cut back on the time they spent volunteering, participating in groups, and doing the other civic activities. As the recession lingers, Californians have joined a broad national trend by turning inward and cutting back on civic engagement. Of California respondents, 61 percent said people in their community are reacting to the economic downturn by looking out for themselves, compared to only 18 percent who said people around them are responding to the recession by helping each other more. The 2009 California Civic Health Index report not only showed dramatic cutbacks in civic engagement, but also declines in trust in public institutions, especially state government. Californians regard their state government with greater suspicion than most Americans. Of all respondents, only 22 percent say they had a great deal of confidence in their state government. “This Civic Health Index is yet another wake-up call for Sacramento. It’s time to make restoring the confidence of Californians a top priority, starting with practical, common-sense reform,” said Robert M. Hertzberg, Co-Chair of California Forward. Even with difficult economic times complicating Californians’ efforts to stay engaged with the state’s civic life, and confidence in government and non-government institutions alike shrinking, Californians are still holding firmly to their sense of self. Many respondents said they feel the same attachment to the state that they do with people in their own neighborhood. Just under 40 percent of respondents say they have a moderate or very strong personal connection to the people on their block. Roughly the same number said they feel the same way about people in the state as a whole, as well. “It’s this citizenship and patriotism in California that makes it unique, and it says a lot about the civic health in the Golden State,” said NCoC Executive Director David B. Smith. “The purpose of the index is to promote public deliberation about the nation’s (and California’s) civic health and to examine new ways of improving it.” “The depth of the economic downturn, and the unprecedented depth and breadth of cuts to state and local services, has raised the stakes for everyone involved,” said Thomas V. McKernan, Co-Chair of California Forward and CEO of the Auto Club of Southern California. “This civic index report mirrors what we’ve seen across the state; namely, that Californians love this state and want it to lead again.”