But so has the widely held belief that the District is turning itself around. Life here hasn't been better in years, residents say. There's less waste and less corruption in city government. Washingtonians say they're once again proud to live here. Crime remains a problem, but most residents agree that D.C. streets are safer today than they were a few years ago.
Public schools remain a shambles, but they're better than they have been, according to the poll.
Blacks and whites remain divided on many key issues, but those differences seem not so great or quite so sharply personal as in the recent past. Residents believe city services have improved, virtually across the board. Even the much-maligned Department of Motor Vehicles is getting better reviews. Three years ago, only 38 percent of residents expressed such a favorable view. Everyone's talking about it.