The Block Island Land Trust unveiled the results of its Public Priorities Poll at its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14. The poll showed that there is strong support for continuing land conservation on the island, with 70 percent strongly in favor and 18 percent “somewhat” favoring protecting additional open space.
The poll, which was conducted between Oct. 10 and 14, by the Kitchens Group utilized random sampling by telephone. Others responded via an internet survey site. All were screened for residency on Block Island. In total, 137 residents were interviewed.
That conservation ethos was echoed in the responses to questions gauging concern for the effects of climate change on the island, support for changing state laws so that pesticide use could be restricted, and support for ordinances banning plastic bags and balloons. There was also support for expanding town regulations to ban “other single-use plastics such as straws, Styrofoam, water bottles and non-recyclable food containers.”
When it came to concerns about exposure to tick-borne diseases, a whopping 94 percent were either very or somewhat concerned. Land Trust member Keith Lang noted that the poll took place before a well-attended talk on
