Survey says these are the issues Modesto cares about. Find out what they are
A survey issued by Modesto in late September revealed that homelessness, public safety and transportation are the most important issues for residents. Housing affordability and the economy also ranked high.
The survey — which interviewed 400 residents from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7 — also detailed how people feel the city is handling these issues and provided some insight into how they feel about Modesto in general.
There were several issues of high importance that Modestans felt unsatisfied with how they are being handled. Residents also disagree with how the city should expand and grow.
Nearly a third (31%) of respondents rated their trust in the city’s government as low, while 22.8% rated their trust as high. A large majority (59%) felt they aren’t getting their money’s worth for the amount they pay in local tax dollars. Additionally, about half (50.5%) disagree that the city is responsive to the priorities of its residents, while 42% agree.
Overall, however, an overwhelming number of residents (84%) believe that quality of life is either good or fair. The same goes for whether people believe Modesto is a good place to live. And about half (51%) were satisfied with the services provided by the city
Homelessness
The issue held the largest percentage of any issue. A point in time count done in January showed the number of homeless people in Stanislaus County generally didn’t change in the past year.
In 2024, the count showed there were 2,052 homeless people in the county. In 2025, that number increased slightly to 2,086. The number of homeless people in the county has generally hovered around 2,000 people since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most homeless people counted were in Modesto.
These numbers have fluctuated over the years. Following the Great Recession, they peaked at around 1,800 but dipped in the middle of the 2010s. By 2019, however, they started to rise again to current levels .
County officials were encouraged by the 2025 results. It was the third year that showed an increase in sheltered people and the county had more sheltered than unsheltered homeless people, The Bee previously reported.
But budgets and other issues have not been kind to the plight. In September, Stanislaus County sent a six-month notice to end an agreement with The Salvation Army for operation of the low-barrier homeless shelter on D Street in Modesto.
County officials remain hopeful it could fund the shelter through June, but its future remains uncertain.
On Oct. 31, Downtown Streets Teams shuttered — ending its services everywhere, including Modesto. The organization helped homeless people connect to housing resources and secure employment. DST was highly praised by advocates, elected officials and the people it served. But financial struggles, internal and external, plagued the organization.
City officials were caught off guard by the announcement and scrambled to find a replacement. On Oct. 14, the city announced its own program called Hope Works. While it aims to be a clone of DST, it has some key differences.
Public Safety/Drugs/Crime
Public safety, drugs and crime continue to keep Modestans up at night. While some crime statistics have persisted, others are trending downwards.
On Tuesday, Modesto Police Department reported that almost all of its crime categories were down compared to last year including aggravated assault (-14.6%), domestic violence (-0.2%), rape (-30.9%), robbery (-26.13%), auto theft (-44.6%), commercial burglary (-36.3%), residential burglary (-12.1%) and vehicle larceny (-9.4%) .
Murders have declined to zero, according to MPD. The department credited new technology and community engagement for the decline, CBS 13 Sacramento reported. In 2024, MPD said there were seven homicides within the city.
Transportation /Traffic/Roads
Maintaining streets and traffic were rated as among the most important (77%) among city services that had the lowest satisfaction (26.5%).
Roadway pavement quality (84.4%), traffic control (69%) and sidewalk conditions (68%) were rated as the top three specific services the city provided most important to Modestans that also had the lowest overall satisfaction (19%, 23% and 15.8% respectively).
Recently, the city has made heavy investments into infrastructure, but many areas still need work .
In February, the Modesto City Council voted unanimously to approve $13 million in infrastructure projects which included an overhaul of Scenic Drive and Coffee Road. Both projects have an expected completion date of December.
Scenic Drive’s “pinch point” near Bodem Street is now sloped and has a center concrete median. The rest of the road, towards Oakdale Drive, still has potholes and is largely incomplete.
Coffee Road, like Scenic Drive, south of Orangeburg Avenue has seen construction and lane closures for months. Potholes and uneven roadway still plague the stretch. The city’s latest project update shows an estimated completion of December .
Investments to the Virginia Corridor Trail to a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly downtown are also underway.
As for sidewalks, Modesto is plagued with a patchwork of jurisdiction lines between the city and Stanislaus County. Some areas sit on “islands” of city responsibility surrounded by areas under county control.
The problem is being addressed in chunks, but it needs collaboration between city, county and sometimes the state to get it done. In October, elected officials and community members celebrated the groundbreaking of the Parklawn Pedestrian Sidewalk Project, a massive endeavor that will get the south Modesto community up to city standards in preparation for annexation.
Generally, a little over half (51%) felt satisfied with the services the city offered.
To see the full results and methodology of the survey, visit: https://tinyurl.com/59urasmr
This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM.
