UNDERSTANDING THE RIOTS--SIX MONTHS LATER : Money and Power/Making It in the Inner City : THE TIMES POLL: The Economy and Our Lives

The Southland’s downward economic spiral is strongly coloring the perceptions and expectations of Los Angeles residents in the aftermath of the riots, a Times Poll of 1,383 city residents suggests. Even more than just after the riots, people in Los Angeles--especially blacks and Latinos--list economic troubles among the city’s gravest concerns. And residents are far more likely to identify economic gains as the best antidote to further rioting than they were last spring. What do you think are the most important problems facing the city of Los Angeles today?*

Anglos Crime/gangs: 38% Unemployment: 24% Economy: 17% Education: 14% Homelessness: 11% Race relations: 11%

Blacks Unemployment: 42% Crime/gangs: 37% Economy: 19% Education: 13% Drugs: 10% Race relations: 9%

Latinos Crime/gangs: 51% Unemployment: 36% Economy: 15% Drugs: 15% Education: 13% Homelessness: 8%

Asians Crime/gangs: 52% Unemployment: 26% Economy: 13% Education: 11% Homelessness: 10% Drugs: 9% * Top six responses. Respondents could give up to two replies. Have you or anyone in your household lost your job or had your work cut back within the last 12 months? If so, what happened?*

Anglos Blacks Latinos Asians No 57% 46% 39% 61% Yes 43% 54% 61% 39% Fired or laid off 18% 29% 26% 21% Lost part time work 3% 2% 5% 3% Temporarily laid off 4% 5% 7% 2% Took lower-paid job 9% 8% 9% 2% Work hours cut 11% 9% 15% 14% Overtime cut 4% 7% 9% 5%

* Responses do not add to 100% because respondents could give up to two replies. How would you describe the state of your personal finances these days?

Anglos Blacks Latinos Asians Very secure 13% 7% 9% 15% Fairly secure 57% 44% 46% 47% Fairly shaky 20% 27% 30% 24% Very shaky 9% 22% 14% 14% Don’t know 1% -- 1% --

How would you describe the condition of the Los Angeles city economy?

Anglos Blacks Latinos Asians Very robust 0% 1% 1% 2% Fairly robust 6% 5% 5% 8% Fairly shaky 50% 29% 40% 53% Very shaky 42% 64% 51% 36% Don’t know 2% 1% 3% 1%

The Times Poll was conducted Oct. 9 to 14 in the city of Los Angeles. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points; the margin may be greater in the responses of sub groups.