May 3, 2003
Contact: Wendy Godfrey,
Senior Analyst
WestGroup Research
(602) 707-0050 Office Phone
(602) 707-0055 Office Fax
wendy@westgroupresearch.com
Arizonans Support Name "Piestewa Peak" but Not Parkway Renaming
PHOENIX - More than half of Arizona residents (57%) agree with the decision to rename Squaw Peak after Pfc. Lori Piestewa, who was killed in the Iraq war; however, they are against renaming the Squaw Peak Parkway. Those are the findings of an April 30th telephone survey of 348 Arizona adults by WestGroup Research of Phoenix. The overall study has a margin of error at a 95% confidence level of + 5%.
Just one-third (33%) of those surveyed think the Squaw Peak Parkway should be renamed (survey was prior to Thursday's State Transportation Board decision). About half of Arizonans (47%) think it should stay as it is (was), 20% had no opinion. Most respondents said it would have been about the same or better to rename a land formation nearer where Piestewa lived - 32% better and 31% about the same. Only 19% thought it would not be as good.
Some 30% disagree or strongly disagree with the action to rename Squaw Peak. Among those who disagree, the main reason given was that many casualties of war have gone without honor.
The population is split down the middle over whether the state was justified or not in waiving the 5-year waiting period. There is a significant difference between respondents in the Phoenix area who are more likely to say "not justified" (48%), and respondents in Tucson who are more likely to say "justified" (50%). Tucson citizens were more likely to agree with the Squaw Peak name-change than were Phoenicians (72% vs. 51%).
Most people think businesses should keep "Squaw Peak" in their business names (63%).
