Public Affairs Commons^™

What If Hewlett And Packard Had Started A Band Instead?... Denton Texas' Music Scene As Economic Cluster And Its Broader Implications For The City's Economy, Michael Seman

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

A growing body of research examines the production processes, economic activity, and symbolic value of the arts in the urban economy. This research often broadly considers all arts disciplines together, masking structural and operational differences amongst them. Research detailing popular music and its relationship with the urban economy is minimal. Prior research tangentially acknowledges that local music scenes function as economic clusters, but little detailing of their dynamics as such exists. The bulk of attention is paid to how these clusters operate in the framework of the broader music industry and not how they develop or impact their surrounding urban …

Individual Motivational Factors Impacting United States Air Force Reserve Recruiting, Brian E. Wish

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

This research seeks to discern the latent motivational factors that prompt individuals to join the Air Force Reserve. It is hypothesized that the decision to affiliate has a large non-economic component; this study also seeks to determine whether enlistment motivations have been stable over the last decades or whether motivations have recently evolved in light of over a decade of constant armed conflict.The project utilizes a questionnaire given at selected reserve units to members who are in their first few months of service. These surveys consisted of both motivational and discouragement panels of questions; returned questionnaires were analyzed using factor …

Perceptions Of Crime And Personal Safety In Metropolitan Nebraska 2014 Nebraska Metro Poll Results, Abby Heitoff

Past Publications

The 2014 Nebraska Metro Poll represents a critical effort to understand the perceptions and concerns of metropolitan Nebraskans. This survey expanded the work of the Omaha Conditions Survey, conducted by the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) periodically since 1990. The Metro Poll builds on this foundation by including survey responses from the seven Nebraska counties that comprise the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. Insights into the concerns faced by local residents are valuable for leaders and decision-makers seeking to understand the priorities and the views of the public.

Nebraska Metro And Rural Residents’ Views Of The Problems That Metro And Rural Areas Should Be Trying To Address, Abby Heitoff

Past Publications

Researchers and policymakers across the state of Nebraska have often discussed the need for a statewide poll to understand residents’ perceptions of their communities, personal well‐being and community issues. Separate initiatives have periodically surveyed metropolitan and rural Nebraskans on these issues. However, to date, no single effort has obtained statewide coverage at the level necessary to report attitudinal differences across metropolitan and rural Nebraska. The Nebraska Metro and Nebraska Rural Polls represent a unique effort in the state of Nebraska to obtain directly comparable data on statewide residents. This report provides a detailed analysis of a subset of responses to …

Perceptions Of Personal And Community Satisfaction, With Views On What Makes Communities Successful 2014 Nebraska Metro Poll Results, David Drozd

Past Publications

The 2014 Nebraska Metro Poll continues an on-going effort to understand the perceptions and concerns of urban residents. The Metro Poll expands upon the efforts of the Omaha Conditions Survey conducted by the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) periodically since 1990 to now include survey responses from the seven counties that comprise both the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. With the knowledge and insights gained from surveying local residents, leaders and decision-makers can be better informed on the views and priorities that the public shares.

State Fertility Rates By Race/Ethnicity: 2011‐2013 Averages, United States Census Bureau

Past Publications

Sources: Table 11, Births: Final Data for 2011, CDC (and 2012 and 2013); 2013 Vintage Population Estimates by Age, Gender, and Race (AFF table PEPASR6H)

Nebraska Rural Poll And Metro Poll Research Brief: Well-Being Among Metropolitan And Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans, Rebecca Vogt, David J. Drozd, Randolph Cantrell, Jerry Deichert, Brad Lubben, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Lj Mcelravy

Past Publications

Better or Worse Off Compared to Five Years Ago and Ten Years From Now.

Both the Nebraska Metro and Rural Polls asked residents if they are better or worse off than they were five years ago and if they expect to be better or worse off ten years from now.

Cpar Research Brief: Comparing Results Of The 2014 Nebraska Metro And Rural Polls On Resident Views Of Community Change And Outlook, Abby Heithoff, David J. Drozd

Past Publications

Nebraskans’ views of their community’s future in the next 10 years: How viewpoints differ by personal and community factors.

Nebraska Rural Poll And Metro Poll Research Brief: Attributes Of Successful Communities For Metropolitan And Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans, Rebecca Vogt, David J. Drozd, Randolph Cantrell, Jerry Deichert, Brad Lubben, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Lj Mcelravy

Past Publications

Both the Nebraska Metro and Rural Polls asked residents how essential or necessary various characteristics are in order for them to have a high quality of life.

Nebraska Metro And Rural Residents’ Views Of The Problems That Metro And Rural Areas Should Be Trying To Address: An Analysis Of Open‐Ended Survey Questions In The 2014 Nebraska Metro And Rural Polls, Abby Heithoff, David J. Drozd, Jerry Deichert

Past Publications

Researchers and policymakers across the state of Nebraska have often discussed the need for a statewide poll to understand residents’ perceptions of their communities, personal well‐being and community issues. Separate initiatives have periodically surveyed metropolitan and rural Nebraskans on these issues. However, to date, no single effort has obtained statewide coverage at the level necessary to report attitudinal differences across metropolitan and rural Nebraska. The Nebraska Metro and Nebraska Rural Polls represent a unique effort in the state of Nebraska to obtain directly comparable data on statewide residents. This report provides a detailed analysis of a subset of responses to …

Increasing Food Accessibility Among Urban Poor: Providing An Alternative Solution Through A City-Wide Community Garden Plan, Nabila Nur

Public Affairs Theses - Archive

Community Gardens have been entitled as an emerging solution to food security and injustice issues especially among socially disempowered communities. US Department of Agriculture has designated more than half of the census tracts in City of Dallas as food deserts, representing inadequate access to fresh food in these areas. As an alternative solution, this study proposes a methodology to identify suitable locations for community gardens to increase access to fresh food for disadvantaged population. The suitability analysis was used by primarily taking the relevant socio-economic factors into consideration. The reclassification and weightings are derived through a combination of qualitative and …

Analyzing The Value Of Mixed Use Urban Infill: An Exploratory Analysis On Changes In Property Values And Demographics In Local Initiatives Of Dallas And Fort Worth Texas, Matthew A. Ables

Public Affairs Theses - Archive

Mixed-use infill development has gained national attention as a strategy for revitalization and redevelopment for cities. The strategy is viewed by "Smart Growth" proponents and New Urbanists as a potential solution to sprawling urban forms and a potential cure for many problems associated with auto-dependence. However, this strategy is not new, and it has been debated through different disciplines in relation to its true impacts on communities and cities. Yet, the discussion on infill has centered upon measuring the amount of infill occuring, and the economic impacts of residential infill. This thesis utilizes a descriptive analysis to observe property value …

For Whom The Tunnel Be Tolled: A Four-Factor Model For Explaining Willingness-To-Pay Tolls, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, Lenahan O'Connell, Khairul A. Anuar

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

This research examines citizen acceptance of tolls and road pricing, and specifically focuses on determinants of the individual’s expressed willingness-to-pay tolls to use a tunnel express lane that would be free of traffic delays. We answer the research question “What factors influence citizens’ willingness-to-pay tolls” by empirically estimating a four factor model of willingness-to-pay: (a) direct benefit to the respondent; (b) relative cost over time; (c) community concern; and (d) political and environmental liberalism. We use data about citizen perceptions from the Life in Hampton Roads Survey, a survey of residents of Hampton Roads, Virginia. We find that willingness-to-pay is …

Family Support Caseloads--Determinants Of Kentucky's Division Of Family Support Personnel Allocation, David Bachert

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This paper is an examination of the determinants of Family Support employee allocation. Specifically, related to Kentucky, the goal of this research is to determine if public assistance caseloads are equitable across nine geographic regions. A review of relevant literature provides a larger context to this topic. Literature primarily suggests three mechanisms by which Family Support resources might be allocated: legal regulations, postcode lottery, and Tiebout migration.

Supported by literature the larger context for this paper leads to the examination of five independent variables: (1) percent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients \, (2) total population, (3) percent of the …

Analyzing Perceptions Of Barriers To Self-Sufficiency Of Local Social Service Officials And Their Priorities For Local Government Funding, Zheng Li

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Self-sufficiency means a family can adequately meet their basic needs without repeated assistance from public or private social service organizations. However, there are many barriers preventing Fayette County residents from becoming self-sufficient. Because Lexington Fayette Urban County officials wanted to consider a new way to allocate local government resources, a needs assessment was conducted to assess the barriers to self-sufficiency for residents in Fayette County. As one part of the needs assessment, my research was to design and analyze a survey instrument to assess the perceptions of barriers to self-sufficiency of local social service providers and their priorities for local …

Evaluation Of The Jewish Community Housing For The Elderly Memory Support Initiative, Joan Hyde

Gerontology Institute Publications

Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) is a large, multi-campus organization that houses and serves 1,500 residents (80 market rate and 1,420 low income). The average age is 80 years old, with one-third of residents 85 and older. Three quarters of the residents are not native English speakers. Through HUD and other funding, JCHE offers a range of supports to these residents, including translators, interpreters and staff with language and cultural competence, meals, transportation and, through their Service Coordinators, facilitation of resident access to government benefits, home care and other services.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2012 special report …

Do Municipal Stat Programs Improve Services And Reallocate Resources? Evidence From Louiestat, Jamie Giles

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Performance metrics and municipal stat programs are becoming increasingly popular to measure performance of city departments in order to improve services and save taxpayers’ dollars. The intent of this research is to give decision makers a better understanding to what extent municipal stat programs make an impact on the departments being measured, using an analysis of Metro Louisville’s LouieStat as evidence. Understanding the effect of PerfomanceStat tools will provide insight for the Louisville Administration and for other cities considering using a similar tool.

The literature finds performance management tools to be more widely used as a management tool to influence …

Law Enforcement And Training, Erika Tremblay

Master in Public Administration Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigators' Perceptions Of Inter-Jurisdictional Law Enforcement Information Sharing On Criminal Investigative Success: An Exploratory Analysis, Jennifer Freeman-Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information sharing among law enforcement entities became a national priority after the 9/11 attack (Carter, 2005). Various information systems utilized by law enforcement agencies may be promising; however, there is little extant empirical research to validate the system's effectiveness related to increasing investigative success (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2010). One information system that has tied together numerous Florida law enforcement agencies is the FINDER system. FINDER, the Florida Integrated Network for Data Exchange and Retrieval system, provides agency investigators a wide range of information not previously available (Reynolds, Griset, and Scott, 2006; Scott, 2006). This study's foundation was primarily based …

2014 January, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for January of 2014.

2014 Web Features, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Web features for 2014.

An Analysis Of Capacity Issues Within The Division Of Mental And Behavioral Health For The State Of Nevada, Jeffrey Buchwald, Tara Cooley, Enrique Mazon Jr., Jessica Sifuentes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background

Nevada’s competitiveness in receiving federal funding has been a serious and contentious topic that has steered recent efforts to ascertain ways the state can increase and utilize federal dollars efficiently. Nevada is positioned 53rd out of 53 U.S. states and territories in bringing federal dollars to the state, missing out on $1.5 billion annually (Gustafson, 2012). Nevada spends far less on Medicaid (per capita) than any other state. Medicaid is a key factor in improving Nevada’s position; however, there are additional non-formula funding opportunities that are missed every year.

Purpose

The purpose of this evaluation project is to identify …

Winning Hearts And Minds: Using "Ag-Gag" Outrage And Corporate Rebranding To Achieve A Public Image Makeover For The Animal Rights Movement, Alison J. Spasser

Master's Projects and Capstones

Despite limited legal victories—particularly in the realm of companion animal protections—the animal rights movement has failed to make substantial progress in other focal areas, including the acquisition of increased rights for food animals on factory farms. The public image of the movement has taken a hit in recent years, due in part to effective campaigning by opposing lobbies and corporate entities and in part to self-inflicted damage from failed messaging and tactics. The perceived alignment of animal rights advocacy organizations with extremism and the public distrust of activists leaves the movement in need of a critical public image makeover. However, …

Challenges For Good Government Reformers In California: Shadow Lobbying & Astroturfing, Scott Alonso

Master's Projects and Capstones

Lobbying reform in California’s capital presents a complex policy problem for good government advocates and policymakers. Lobbyists have a large influence on political and policy matters in the state legislature and executive branch. Reform proponents naturally see the oversized influence of lobbyists as a problem. However, how big of a problem is lobbying? Further, what efforts underway now address lobbying? Lobbyists are defined in California law with a monetary and time limit requirement. We can look at current law to understand the failings of regulatory bodies and how the law fails to properly oversee lobbying activity. While there is not …

Partisanship And Opportunities For Additional Bipartisanship In Tech Immigration And Privacy Reform, Arielle E. Segal

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper explores the history of technology and government by analyzing the longstanding partisan advantage Democrats have had in the Silicon Valley and other tech hubs. Additionally, this paper seeks out opportunities for bipartisanship, specifically in the legislative realms of tech privacy and immigration reform. Constituencies, committee assignments, fundraising and other environmental factors can help determine a politician's level of interest in tech issues. Specifically, upon analyzing these factors, bipartisanship appears to be more likely in privacy reform than in immigration reform.

Policy Briefs: Nebraska Legislative Planning Committee 2013 Report, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

The Nebraska Legislature's Planning Committee was created in 2009 with the passage of LB 653 in order to help establish a process of long-term state planning with the Nebraska Legislature. The committee was created to assist state government in identifying emerging trends, assets and challenges of the state and the long-term implications of the decisions made by the Nebraska Legislature.

Selected Characteristics For Nebraska Legislative Districts From The 2008-2012 American Community Survey, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

On December 17, 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau released five‐year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates for the combined years of 2008 through 2012, making available social, economic, housing and demographic statistics for Nebraska’s Legislative Districts. Also available are estimates for every community and county in Nebraska and the nation.

The charts and tables in this report are based on the Legislative District boundaries for the 103rd Legislature that were approved by the Legislature in 2011 and were based on data from the 2010 Census. Because of changes in Legislative District boundaries, the charts and tables in this report are not …

Nebraska Legislative Planning Committee 2013 Report: Policy Briefs, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

The Nebraska Legislature's Planning Committee was created in 2009 with the passage of LB 653 in order to help establish a process of long-term state planning with the Nebraska Legislature. The committee was created to assist state government in identifying emerging trends, assets and challenges of the state and the long-term implications of the decisions made by the Nebraska Legislature.

Efforts during the first two years of the committee focused on the development of a database. The goals and benchmarks included in the database were developed and approved by the Legislature's Planning Committee to present a common-sense and data-driven assessment …

The Evolving Executive: Provisional Decrees And Their Impact On Brazil's Executive-Legislative Relationship, Lance L. Arberry

Honors College Theses

Comparatively, the lawmaking process in presidential systems is often comprised of negotiations between a legislative body, tasked with authoring and legislating laws, and an executive, who must authorize and administer the enactment of the law. While executives are often empowered with certain constitutional powers to help influence the lawmaking process, these powers are typically constrained and supervisory in nature. Presidents are rarely given broad-and-discretionary legislative powers, since lawmaking is ultimately the responsibility of the legislative body; however, this does not hold true for the case of Brazil. Following the adoption of Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, Presidents were empowered with the power …

2013 December, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for December of 2013.