What was the point of Think BIG’s last minute poll?

Over the past weekend, a telephone poll was conducted to gauge the willingness of Sacramento residents to contribute to a new Downtown arena for the Kings, or was it? The last minute poll (the March 1st deadline is now less than 10 days away) bought up new sources of construction funding; namely a parking surcharge for visiting out-of-towners. But officials close to the arena funding plans admit that such a surcharge isn’t even on the table. So, what gives? Why would Think BIG interject such an idea if it wasn’t a viable option?

Answer: Think BIG is attempting to muddle the conversation of how the city can afford to help build a new arena in the run up to a key City Council meeting next Tuesday.

One of ranSACkedmedia’s readers was called over the weekend by the “robo-survey” (no real person actually asked the questions, a recording spoke and the respondent pushed a button to give their answer) and gave this description of the incident.

Hi Isaac. I got called on this poll.

The voice at the other end of the line asked to speak to the “youngest male in the household over the age of 18.” 

I put on the speakerphone and handed the receiver to my husband. 

Here are the kinds of questions asked: 

• Do you know that the City of Sacramento already leases out parking to the private sector?
• Is the City of Sacramento doing a good job of running the parking garages, or would the private sector do a better job?
• Shall we fight to keep the Kings or let them go?
• Should we establish a public private partnership to build an arena?
• Should the City move ahead with formal bids to lease the parking?
• If we lease the parking, do you think it is fair to ask out-of-towners to pay a $3 parking surcharge for arena events?
• Should we impose a ticket surcharge to pay for the arena?
• If we lease the parking with no impact on the general fund, sell city-owned land, and create four thousand jobs, should we lease the parking for the arena? 

That, dear reader, is called Push Polling 101.

“A push poll is a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll. In a push poll, large numbers of respondents are contacted, and little or no effort is made to collect and analyze response data. Instead, the push poll is a form of telemarketing-based propaganda and rumor mongering, masquerading as a poll. Push polls may rely on innuendo or knowledge gleaned from opposition research on an opponent.”

Sounds about right. Maybe this is what Aaron McLear and the “Purple SWAT team” consider to be their “strategic advice.”

Related posts:

1. New poll says 71% of residents want arena vote
2. EXCLUSIVE: Poll shows strong opposition to Mayor Johnson, parking plan, arena
3. Strangeness abounds in complaint filed against arena poll