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SYNDICATE CONTENTThe Challenges Ahead
Great Expectations: The Challenges Ahead
Between now and the November election, the Great Expectations project will present a multipart series on the challenges facing Philadelphia and its new mayor. The series begins today with a package on leadership. Future installments will appear on Sundays in the Currents section and weekdays on the Commentary page. Topics to be covered include education, crime, taxes and budget, planning and zoning, environment, ethics reform, arts and culture, poverty, the brain drain, transportation and city services. Each installment will include a look at good ideas and practices from elsewhere that the city could borrow. The entire series will be archived on this site, along with extra material and online dialogues between the series’ writers and readers.
Chapter 1: Leadership
Chris Satullo launches the series with "Reaching beyond the boundaries." He writes: "Some joke about it as Philadelphia's 'foreign policy.' Inside that quip about the city's relations with its suburbs and the state capitol lurks a long history of woe. Not to mention an array of challenges for Philadelphia's next mayor."
In "Moving Philadelphia Forward," Tom Ferrick Jr. writes: "Whatever difficulties he faces, Michael Nutter will have a huge advantage in when he takes office as mayor next January. He is not John Street."
Other cities are setting a good example, while here at home, Leadership Philadelphia offers a look at key connectors in the city.
From the blog: Read the online dialogue with between readers and Chris.
From the archives: Here's what Great Expectations had to say earlier this year about leadership.
Chris Satullo: "High Standards for a Better City"
Tom Ferrick Jr.: "What we need, and don't need, in the city's next mayor"
(All illustrations by Tim Ogline)
Chapter 2: Education
Carolyn Davis from The Inquirer's Editorial Board writes about the future of education in the city, saying that "Philadelphia will not realize its potential if it does not give its citizens a strong and relevant education."
She also highlights the Small Schools Residency in Oakland, Calif., as model for what could be adopted in Philadelphia.
In his Center Square column, Chris Satullo argues that parents are customers who should be given options - via the Web. He writes that there are "sites designed with one question in mind: When I buy a car, what do I need to know? ... But what if you're looking not for a new Altima, but the best public school for your kid? Well, you can long wander the Web in vain, seeking anything like an Edmunds.com for public school education."
Graphic: "Philadelphia's State Test Results"
Chapter 3: City Services
Tom Ferrick Jr. takes on a topic that really rubs city residents the wrong way: city services.
In this week's look at the challenges ahead for the next mayor, Ferrick writes that in a recent Temple poll questioning residents about which services were most important, "public safety and public schools topped the list. Those are the two areas hardest to fix - witness the murder rate - and hard areas in which to turn around perception. To quote an old public relations man: Perception is everything; the rest is only reality."
Find out what Ferrick thinks the next mayor can do to address the way the city delivers services and take a look at what other cities are doing right.
Chapter 4: Ethics and campaign contributions
Inquirer Editorial Board writer Dave Boyer says the next mayor needs to focus on ethics and be on the look out for new forms of pay-to-play.
In "Ethics must be emphasized," he writes: "New York's effort bespeaks an attitude that has been sorely missing among elected leaders in Philadelphia until very recently.
"More than 30 people connected to City Hall were indicted in pay-to-play scandals in the last four years. On the city's Web site, despite the efforts of a new and improved Board of Ethics, it is still easier to find out how to submit a bid to provide a city agency with 'cherries, maraschino, no stems, not less than 12 per ounce' than it is to find all the ethics guidelines governing city contracts."
Graphic: "Campaign Finance Law, Selected Cities"
Online Extra: Satullo answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
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Chapter 5: Zoning
Guest writer Matt Blanchard looks at how zoning can shape the city: "Philadelphia’s new Zoning Code Commission is hard at work on an overhaul of the city’s 1962 zoning code.
As a political spectacle, it rivals the excitement of C-Span on a Sunday. But make no mistake: While most Philadelphians will never read the new code, they will feel its impact for generations."
He says Miami, Denver, Boston and Pittsburg set examples of how to do zoning right.
Graphic: "Housing Units: Philadelphia vs. Suburban Counties"
Online Extra: Blanchard answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
Chapter 6: Fiscal future
In "Tax reductions can work" and "City is sinking under weight of benefits," Chris Satullo and Tom Ferrick Jr. offer their perspectives on Philadelphia's fiscal future.
They also share "Ideas from Elsewhere" that Philly leaders could consider.
Chapter 7: Poverty
Guest contributor Douglas Pike writes that poverty had to be an election-year issue in Philadelphia, as one-fourth the city's residents live in that state.
That's the worst rate among the 10 largest cities in the United States.
Read his piece, "Ideas on easing poverty reflect a sense of it's burden on Phila."
On the Great Expectations blog, he offers a reading list for people who want to learn more.
Chapter 8: Fighting crime
With crime again on the rise, Tom Ferrick Jr. writes that a mandate for the next mayor is to "stop the killings - now." But the question is, "How?"
Read his Oct. 21 column, "Analysis of violence light on whys."
He also offers ideas from elsewhere.
Online Extra: Ferrick answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
Chapter 9: The environment
The candidates' favorite color in the mayoral race: green.
But, Inquirer columnist Chris Satullo writes, the difference this year is that we're not just talking about money.
Read his column, "Philadelphia's future looking 'greener,' but battle's not over" along with "Ideas from Elsewhere" on the topic.
Online Extra: Satullo answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
Chapter 10: Arts and culture
When it comes to the region's arts and culture attractions, the show must go on, says Inquirer editorial writer Russell Cooke. The next mayor should secure funding to ensure that happens.
Get the details is Cooke's piece "Protect region's rich culture" along with "Ideas from Elsewhere" on the topic.
Graphic: "Cultural Attendance"
Online Extra: Cooke answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
Chapter 11: Gentrification
Many city residents fear rising property values. Chris Satullo takes a look at why in "Helping residents in area's of flux."
He also offers "Ideas from elsewhere," providing a look at cities that set an example Philadelphia could follow.
Graphic: "Number of Mortgage Foreclosures in Philadelphia, 2000-06"
Online Extra: Satullo answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
Chapter 12: Mass transit
Thanks to Gov. Rendell, transit agencies can anticipate a somewhat stable amount of funding. But will they know what to do with it once they have it? Tom Ferrick Jr. takes a look in "A lot is riding on SEPTA cash."
Ferrick also offers "Ideas from Elsewhere," among which is a favorite among community forum participants: the smart card.
Online Extra: Ferrick answers reader questions and shares e-mail feedback he received to the article.
Chapter 13: Eds and Meds
Philadelphia faces a huge problem: Too few residents attend college. And not enough of the bright kids from elsewhere choose to stick around after graduation, writes Inquirer columnist Chris Satullo.
Read about the impact this has on the region's economy in "More college grads needed to spur 'eds and meds' economy" along with "Ideas from elseswhere."
Graphic: "Top 10 Private Employers in Phila. and its Pa. suburbs" and "Percentage of workforce in healthcare and education"
Online Extra: Satullo answers reader questions on the blog. Check out what others had to say or add your own ideas.
Series wrap-up:
Chris Satullo looks back at the 13 issues covered in the Challenges Ahead series, offering "Talking points for Philadelphia's Future."
