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Date:                   Jan. 25, 2007

Location:             Intercultural Family Services  

Inquirer observer: Tom Ferrick Jr., Inquirer columnist

Moderator: Ilene Wasserman

 

Check out the report from the dialogue:

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

Moderator's Report:

By Ilene Wasserman

 

What "pros" emerged as most important?

1. Cost of living (compared to other cities)

2. Diversity / Race relations

3. Schools

4. Neighborhoods (Families moving to Center City.)

5. Public transportation / Accessibility

6. Proximity to other cities and places

7. Lower property taxes

8. Diverse economy and work opportunities

9. Places to go; things to do for all ages

10. Hospitals and colleges/universities

 

What "cons" emerged as most important?

1. High taxes: business and wage

2. Quality of schools/education

3. Crime and safety (location; murder rate)

4. Traffic

5. Public transportation (cost, appearance, reliability and schedules)

6. Affordable housing; housing stock

7. Parking availability and expense

8. Public services (trash, recycling, etc.)

9. Poverty and homelessness

10. Political culture: pay-to-play, cronyism and corrupt atmosphere

 

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

 

1. Pro: Livable city

Why is this pro important?

  • Affordable housing and parking
  • Community/neighborhood
  • Educational opportunities
  • Employment opportunities

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Wide range of cultural institutions
  • Public transportation
  • Accessibility: walk, bike, ride, car-share program
  • Retail/shopping
  • Parks and open space
  • Property taxes (as compared to other major cities)

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

  • Housing opportunities for seniors, low income, disable, mixed-income, etc.
  • Architectural diversity/development
  • Mixed-use and density: rowhomes, apartments, yards, etc.
  • Housing stock (funding, inclusionary)
  • Public transportation: provide more information and  expand network (rail and subway)
  • Recreation: bike paths, walking trails, etc.
  • Retail: availability (ethnic, healthy, etc.)
  • Business Improvement Districts (as opposed to City Services)
  • Citywide Master Plan: Distinct neighborhoods with community organizations that meet monthly with city government.
  • Public transportation: free in given districts and allow timed transfers.
  • Actors: PHA, Zoning Board, L&I, City Council, PCPC, developers and real estate agents

2. Pro: Diversity

Why is this pro important?

  • Opportunity to meet, live and work with different people.
  • Diverse activities, restaurants, shows, etc.
  • Mixed neighborhoods (economic, racial, etc.)
  • Diversity – choice of schools, college, universities
  • Better ideas

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

  • Different community groups should work on a project together.
  • Give people a forum to present their successes and failures.
  • Preserve neighborhood cultures.
  • Encourage successful schools to adopt/help less successful schools.

3. Pro: Recreation, arts and culture

Why is this pro important?

  • Parks (natural beauty)

  • Activities (encourage fitness)

  • Diversity, history and heritage

  • Resources

  • Affordability

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

  • Accessibility (to/from; walk/bike trials/paths; etc.)
  • Cultural/ethnic diversity
  • Restaurants, retail, theaters, parks, sports, museums, etc.
  • Architecture
  • Greenways
  • Access to rivers

Now, the cons ...

 

1. Con: Political culture

What forces or factors underlie it?

     Campaign financing

 

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

  • Education: importance of voting, voting eligibility, voting process (HallWatch.org)
  • Have more elected positions as opposed to appointed.
  • Motivate involvement.
  • Train poll workers.
  • Use term limits.
  • Need election laws (like Arizona). 

2. Con: Schools

Why is this con important?

  • Improving public school system is a priority for next administration.
  • Closing of parochial schools.
  • Constraints on innovation.
  • Impact of poverty on education.
  • Aside from the elite schools (e.g., Masterman and Central) most experiences are poor.

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Quality of schools: disparity between city and suburbs
  • Lack of quality teachers (Recruitment and retention is a problem.)
  • Drop-out rate
  • Facilities are outdated (underutilized and unattractive).
  • Inequitable funding
  • Disruptive/problem schools and students
  • Lack of vision on curriculum and programs (NCLB inhibits any creativity.)
  • Oversized classrooms.
  • Loss of tax base (Suburban schools draw residents out of the city.)
  • Quality of school is based on location (better schools in Center City, Roxborough).
  • No neighborhood high school system

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

  • Involvement of parents
  • Involvement of business community
  • School choice – children from other communities
  • Social courses/programs
  • Skills/technical courses and programs (co-op)
  • More money (make it a funding priority for state and city)
  • Visionary administration
  • Return control back to Philadelphia
  • Involve local universities

3. Con: Crime and safety

Why is this con important?

  • Quality of living in city
  • Prevention instead of punishment
  • Gun control
  • Nuisance crimes seen as "not a big deal"
  • Violence / personal safety

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Current crime rate; murder rate.
  • Police: "image"; responsiveness; racial bias; poor leadership/management
  • Prison system (overcrowded, management)
  • Poverty and education (Need skills and apprenticeship programs)
  • Publicity (murder rate, etc.)
  • Worsening economic divide and racial divide

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

  • Education
  • Infill development (presence of people)
  • "Top notch" chief and police force with a plan and authority.
  • Afterschool activities

4. Con: Political Culture

Why is this con important?

  • Desire to protect neighborhoods and communities.
  • "Run by 500 for 500."
  • City Council to be a "watch dog" of mayor.
  • Accountability
  • Use a "search" to fill positions rather than an appointment.
  • Lack of effective policy planning.
  • Corruption negatively influences planning.
  • More citizen participation
  • Develop a process that enables city to balance concerns of neighborhoods and larger community.

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Undue influence of developers: tax free, tax abatements, etc.
  • State-owned or state-run agencies: parking, schools, SEPTA
  • "One-party" system
  • Decisions made without citizen input.
  • Appointed vs. elected [L&I, Board of Education, police administration]

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

     Actors: Zoning and planning commissions

 

5. Con: Defeatist mentality / "Philly attitude"

Why is this con important?

  • Citizen apathy; mindset of citizens
  • Tolerance of corruption, crime, etc.
  • Lack of motivation

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • "Always done it this way."
  • Government, sports teams, etc.
  • Standard of living has declined over last 30 years.
  • Wages have not kept up with inflation.
  • Lack of employment opportunities
  • Affordable housing
  • New administration has new plans, but "things stay the same."
  • Aspects of life have deteriorated: schools, public transportation, taxes, public services, crime, etc.