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Date:                   Jan. 31, 2007

Location:             Temple University 

Inquirer observer: Tom Ferrick Jr., Inquirer columnist

 

Participants in each group were first asked to describe one hope or one fear as the city enters its election year.  Then each group did an exercise that asked participants to imagine they were giving a good friend’s family advice on whether to move to Philadelphia.

  • What would be the pros and cons of that move?
  • What forces and factors underlie those pros and cons?
  • What steps could the city and region take to strengthen those pros or weaken those cons?

For a full description of the exercise, see http://go.philly.com/friendsdilemma

Moderators' Report:

By Fatima Hafiz and Erika Kitzmiller

 

What were the group's most striking hopes/fears?

 

HOPES:

  • The mayor can clean-up the city.
  • The prison system could be changed.
  • We will have a mayor who is seen as a player.
  • Community building
  • Ending violence
  • Do something about abandoned lots.
  • Focus on causes, not simply "tough on crime."
  • Provide more funding for schools.
  • Increase welfare programs.

FEARS:

  • Leaders will be unable to address problems.
  • Innercity school system
  • Gun laws: city vs. state and how to address them.
  • People will be discouraged and lose hope.
  • New mayor will keep things the same.
  • Lack of civic pride will continue. 

What "pros" emerged as most important?

1. Public transportation 

2. Education

3. Affordability 

4. Diversity / Potential to improve  

5. History of the city 

 

What "cons" emerged as most important?

1. Education 

2. Affordability 

3. Media

4. Transportation

5. Poverty

 

Let's look at the pros and cons in detail:

1. Pro: Potential to improve   

Why is this pro important?

     Because it looks to the future.

 

Why forces or factors support it?

  • History
  • Culture
  • Higher education
  • Sports
  • Media,
  • Waterfront property / location
  • I-95 taking up great property
  • Music
  • Bright, young minds

What action steps could strengthen it? What actors should do them?

  • Develop empty spaces properly: parks, gardens, community centers, community best use

  • Use museums, culture, to strengthen within, make culture affordable.

  • Make first-time home ownership more affordable.

  • Support local businesses.

  • Redevelopment authority needs to develop land appropriately to strengthen and beautify communities.

  • Government should help educate and make Philadelphians aware of programs.

  • Make cultural programs and arts affordable to all citizens.

  • Keep government contract in community.

  • Allocate more funding to education.

  • Contract to local nonprofits.

2. Pro: Diversity and history    

Why is this pro important?

  • It brings people in from other states, and it has everything you want for everyone.
  • A lot of American history started in Philadelphia. 

What forces or factors support it?

  • The universities

  • Creative people

  • Job environment (attractive investors)

  • The murals (different arts)

  • Creative restaurants

What action steps could strengthen it? What actors should do them?

  • Give Philadelphia a more positive media.

  • More events showcasing different cultures.

  • More community voices heard in city politics.

  • Have more cultural events that are accessible to communities not only at expensive venues

  • Actors: the media and City Council

Now, the cons ...

1. Con: Violence     

Why is this con important?

     Life is valuable.

 

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Poverty

  • Frustration

  • Music/Media/Entertainment

  • Immaturity

  • Parents

  • Easy access to guns

  • Poor social skills

  • Anger/Jealousy/Attitude

  • Wrong focus

What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?

  • Civic classes; schools

  • Respect for oneself; community, schools

  • Female outreach

  • Employment for ex-offenders

  • The most important actor is the state. 

2. Con: Poverty and affordable housing    

Why is this con important?

  • Poverty determines your options and desirability of housing.

  • It greatly influences subsequent funds and quality of life.

  • Because of poverty, renters rarely have chances to own homes and have security of home ownership.

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • The education that one receives

  • Available jobs

  • Exclusionary zone (red-lining; racialized segregation)

What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?

  • Raise minimum wage.

  • Provide better education so that citizens can have a better and more secure opportunity to improve socioeconomic status and resources.

  • Actors: Government officials of Philly