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"Phillyneighborhoods Online" Czar Asks
"Why ask Why?
"Why ask Why?
RE: "If You Build It..." [Philadelphia; the incredible shrinking city?"]
Ed Schwartz, long time executive director of the Institute for the Study of Civic Values and the 'moderator' of the wildly popular "Phillyblocks" on Yahoo! Groups http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phillyblocks wrote back to
me to say "Good commentary, but why not ask how to improve, instead of
'pet-peeves'" I like and respect Ed, his organization www.iscv.org has
been involved in improving Philly's 'social climate' for decades. But,
he didn't post the item to 'phillyblocks' even though he commented on
it. My thoughts were that if people identify what bugs them, then
there's a stepping off point to work from to address the issues.
Also, asking people in that same instance what makes them happy; and
what they would say to promote our great city--I felt were ways to ask
for solutions.
Another fine example of 'kill the messenger'. I praised the city for
its attempts to change; I am not envious of Mayor Nutter or our new
police commissioner for the monumental tasks that face them. But,
apparently, as usual my diatribe was 'too controversial' and didn't
sound enough like a publicity rant or an ad for Philly's tourism
business.
At the end of the day the problem remains: they come--but, they damn
sure leave again--and now, long-time Philadelphians are leaving. What
do we do to stop the exodus? Oh, and so Ed's happy..."How do we
Improve [our city]?"
I'll attempt to have Ed on Gtownradio at some point soon, until then
you can check out "Phillyblocks and all the fine sites that Ed
personally maintains on Philadelphia and our neighborhoods, including
http://www.phila.gov/neighborhoods
D M B
On Jul 10, 7:38 pm, "DMB COMMUNICATIONS~Philadelphia"
<D. Michael Blackie> wrote:
> *Philadelphia: The Incredible Shrinking City
> *City Sees Exodus of Citizens as Other Cities Grow
>
> *COMMENTARY* "If you build it, they will come." Yea, but will they stay?
> According to the latest Census Bureau figures--apparently not. Philadelphia
> made the national news and headlines today--and for once, not for our
> increasing crime rate, but for our decreasing population statistics. While
> cities like Boston and New York are experiencing a growth spurt Philadelphia
> seems to be the incredible shrinking city.
>
> Great strides are being made by the Nutter administration to 'clean up' city
> government, and even to physically clean up the streets. The mayor sponsored
> and participated in a Spring city-wide clean up program in all neighborhoods
> that took literally tons of debris from the streets. His newest effort
> "Communities Working Together" in parts of North Philadelphia and
> Nicetown-Tioga is a concentrated program somewhat akin to the controversial
> NTI (Neighborhood Transformation Initiative) of the John Street
> administration. Nutter teamed up with neighbors to clean streets, identify
> vacant, dangerous and drug den properties to be targeted by his plan. Much
> has been accomplished. Yet, and still many are leaving, many are skeptical
> of the city's future.
>
> A few years ago the city was called "The Next Great City" by National
> Geographic Traveler Magazine. The casinos are coming;even if they are
> re-sited. There's a great plan for the riverfront. Citizens had input to the
> city's plan for the future of all our neighborhoods. There are more cops on
> the streets--some areas are much safer. The new Comcast Center opened, and
> looms large in the city's ever changing skyline--still, they're bailing...by
> the boatload, evidently. My own landlord was online today looking at
> properties in Colorado--and Hawaii. He's considering 'disinvesting' in our
> city, selling his properties and pulling up stakes and packing his tent and
> following the advice of Aldous Huxley. ("Go west, young man").
>
> At next Tuesday's City Planning Commission a newly re-worked plan for the
> American Commerce Center, 'the building with a 'twist' will be reconsidered.
> Governor Rendell comes to town Friday to sign HB-2167 which will benefit the
> city's tourism. Mayor Nutter will even give his blood for the
> city--seriously; the mayor will donate to the American Red Cross "Blood
> Drive" at the Municipal Services Building. But, apparently even a mayor
> willing bleed, sweat and toil...is cnot enough. Philadelphia is shrinking.
>
> We can build taller buildings; promote tourism; work harder to decrease
> crime--in all the city--not just 'downtown'; give blood, sweat and tears for
> our city. But, until we change not only the skyline, but the attitude of the
> city, we will continue to see an exodus of our best and brightest.
>
> Tourists come and spend some money. College-age young people come and get
> educated at our Univerities and leave to use their education and talents
> elsewhere. We can build casinos, race tracks and stadiums, while our kids go
> to crumbling schools in some of the city's worst neighborhoods. We can
> landscape beautiful scenic river trails from the Delaware to the Schuylkill
> Banks, we can build the world's tallest building--and call it the 'Commerce
> Center' but our local commerce will fail because even if we 'build it'
> and...they come--rest assured--they will leave again. And, with what
> impression?
>
> I offer no simple cure. I have no panacaea, I'm doing my best to be
> optimistic about our great city. I'm impressed with our new Mayor--although
> not with everything he does. I am happy to see our new police commisioner
> actually patrol the streets and respond--in a very personal way--to
> citizen's complaints. I think a great deal of work has been done--and there
> are many more problems to be addressed. Real Estate taxes, values and
> business privilege taxes and GUNS still haunt our city. While we fight those
> poltergeists, how do we stop the flow of would-be taxpayers and citizens
> from our city?
>
> I don't have the answer. Do you? THINK ABOUT IT! What's your 'pet-peeve'?
> What are you really steamed about? What, you're happy here? Tell us about
> that. What do you love about Philadelphia? If you could promote our
> city--what would you say?
>
> If we build it, they will come. How can we get them to stay?
>
> D M B
> South Philadelphia, 19145
>
> *COMMENTARY* "If you build it, they will come." Yea, but will they stay?
> According to the latest Census Bureau figures--apparently not. Philadelphia
> made the national news and headlines today--and for once, not for our
> increasing crime rate, but for our decreasing population statistics. While
> cities like Boston and New York are experiencing a growth spurt Philadelphia
> seems to be the incredible shrinking city.
>
> Great strides are being made by the Nutter administration to 'clean up' city
> government, and even to physically clean up the streets. The mayor sponsored
> and participated in a Spring city-wide clean up program in all neighborhoods
> that took literally tons of debris from the streets. His newest effort
> "Communities Working Together" in parts of North Philadelphia and
> Nicetown-Tioga is a concentrated program somewhat akin to the controversial
> NTI (Neighborhood Transformation Initiative) of the John Street
> administration. Nutter teamed up with neighbors to clean streets, identify
> vacant, dangerous and drug den properties to be targeted by his plan. Much
> has been accomplished. Yet, and still many are leaving, many are skeptical
> of the city's future.
>
> A few years ago the city was called "The Next Great City" by National
> Geographic Traveler Magazine. The casinos are coming;even if they are
> re-sited. There's a great plan for the riverfront. Citizens had input to the
> city's plan for the future of all our neighborhoods. There are more cops on
> the streets--some areas are much safer. The new Comcast Center opened, and
> looms large in the city's ever changing skyline--still, they're bailing...by
> the boatload, evidently. My own landlord was online today looking at
> properties in Colorado--and Hawaii. He's considering 'disinvesting' in our
> city, selling his properties and pulling up stakes and packing his tent and
> following the advice of Aldous Huxley. ("Go west, young man").
>
> At next Tuesday's City Planning Commission a newly re-worked plan for the
> American Commerce Center, 'the building with a 'twist' will be reconsidered.
> Governor Rendell comes to town Friday to sign HB-2167 which will benefit the
> city's tourism. Mayor Nutter will even give his blood for the
> city--seriously; the mayor will donate to the American Red Cross "Blood
> Drive" at the Municipal Services Building. But, apparently even a mayor
> willing bleed, sweat and toil...is cnot enough. Philadelphia is shrinking.
>
> We can build taller buildings; promote tourism; work harder to decrease
> crime--in all the city--not just 'downtown'; give blood, sweat and tears for
> our city. But, until we change not only the skyline, but the attitude of the
> city, we will continue to see an exodus of our best and brightest.
>
> Tourists come and spend some money. College-age young people come and get
> educated at our Univerities and leave to use their education and talents
> elsewhere. We can build casinos, race tracks and stadiums, while our kids go
> to crumbling schools in some of the city's worst neighborhoods. We can
> landscape beautiful scenic river trails from the Delaware to the Schuylkill
> Banks, we can build the world's tallest building--and call it the 'Commerce
> Center' but our local commerce will fail because even if we 'build it'
> and...they come--rest assured--they will leave again. And, with what
> impression?
>
> I offer no simple cure. I have no panacaea, I'm doing my best to be
> optimistic about our great city. I'm impressed with our new Mayor--although
> not with everything he does. I am happy to see our new police commisioner
> actually patrol the streets and respond--in a very personal way--to
> citizen's complaints. I think a great deal of work has been done--and there
> are many more problems to be addressed. Real Estate taxes, values and
> business privilege taxes and GUNS still haunt our city. While we fight those
> poltergeists, how do we stop the flow of would-be taxpayers and citizens
> from our city?
>
> I don't have the answer. Do you? THINK ABOUT IT! What's your 'pet-peeve'?
> What are you really steamed about? What, you're happy here? Tell us about
> that. What do you love about Philadelphia? If you could promote our
> city--what would you say?
>
> If we build it, they will come. How can we get them to stay?
>
> D M B
> South Philadelphia, 19145
Hear controversial and hard hitting social and political commentary each Friday from 12 Noon until 2PM as D. Michael Blackie co-hosts "Black & Blue" with Leslie Robinson on www.gtownradio.com The Sound From Germantown. Stay in touch. Be in touch.
> --
> *DMB COMMUNICATIONS~Philadelphia*
> --
> *DMB COMMUNICATIONS~Philadelphia*
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