| Name
at least 5 of Bakersfield's strengths/pluses. |
|
| World's friendliest
people/good people |
9 |
| Concerned citizens/community
action/help each other |
7 |
| Small town atmosphere, but
big |
5 |
| Location in state/proximity
to LA, Coast, Las Vegas |
5 |
| Cost of living |
4 |
| Weather-no winter weather |
3 |
| Good schools at all levels |
3 |
| City beautification
project/trees & lights downtown |
3 |
| Business climate/easy to do
business |
2 |
| Affordable housing |
2 |
| Lots of opportunity for all
sports |
2 |
| Open space |
1 |
| Bike path |
1 |
| Best tennis facilities in the
world |
1 |
| Lack of concrete everywhere
(came from L.A.) |
1 |
| Good govt. services generally |
1 |
| Good utilities |
1 |
| Growing community |
1 |
| Good parks |
1 |
| Low cost, plentiful labor
supply |
1 |
| Good law enforcement,
particularly sheriff |
1 |
| Not a big city like L.A. |
1 |
| Bakersfield Symphony
Orchestra |
1 |
| Centennial Gardens &
Convention Center |
1 |
| Support of youth athletic
teams |
1 |
| Bakersfield College &
CSUB |
1 |
| Commitment of local political
leaders |
1 |
| Golf courses |
1 |
| Resources available: sports,
cultural, political, educ. |
1 |
| Hockey |
1 |
| Facilities: stadiums, etc |
1 |
| Underplanned development -
lacking infrastructure |
1 |
| Cultural activities |
1 |
| Community pride |
1 |
| Easy to navigate city |
1 |
| Centrally laid out |
1 |
| Wide streets |
1 |
| Economy |
1 |
| Forward thinking vision |
1 |
| Police and fire depts. |
1 |
|
|
| Name at least
5 of Bakersfield's weaknesses/minuses. |
|
| Bad air quality |
6 |
| Need bigger airport-airport
substandard |
5 |
| Need more airline connections |
4 |
| No crosstown freeway |
4 |
| Weather extreme hot & fog |
3 |
| Illegals |
3 |
| Crime & gangs |
3 |
| Good baseball stadium |
3 |
| Traffic to the Northwest |
2 |
| Large # at poverty level |
2 |
| Bus system (although
improving) |
2 |
| Poor parking around
Centennial Gardens |
2 |
| No neighborhood youth
activities |
2 |
| Children without proper
parenting |
2 |
| Bike path too rough |
1 |
| Low level of higher education
attainment |
1 |
| Too many pickup trucks |
1 |
| Welfare program |
1 |
| Dangerous foot traffic across
Truxtun |
1 |
| Persistent unemployment |
1 |
| Lack of opportunity for young
people |
1 |
| Schools - tolerance |
1 |
| Media |
1 |
| Roads need fixing |
1 |
| Influx of big city (L.A.)
people |
1 |
| Poor access to the central
coast |
1 |
| Too much growth in shopping
malls-need infill |
1 |
| Traffic on Rosedale |
1 |
| Too many regulations |
1 |
| Graffiti |
1 |
| Not enough Democrats |
1 |
| Annexation procedure |
1 |
| City Council-special
interests |
1 |
| Terrible planning |
1 |
| Leapfrog building |
1 |
| Lack of booming downtown |
1 |
| Ugliness of freeways leading
into our city |
1 |
| Reputation |
1 |
| Safety issues |
1 |
| Limited economic base |
1 |
| Limitation of some businesses
and social events |
1 |
| Moving Southwest for business |
1 |
| Freeways too crowded |
1 |
| Ineffective traffic control |
1 |
| Lack of police patrol for
traffic problems |
1 |
| Fighting between supervisors
and city council |
1 |
| Poorly marked streets |
1 |
| A little too conservative |
1 |
| Needless traffic lights |
1 |
