Not much going on in the world of mayoral news today so I figured I'd share this interesting little tidbit.
Like any true Philadelphian, I am particularly adept at voicing my displeasure with the performance of my local sports team, my local government, my local supermarket checkout person... But I'm also willing to give credit where credit is due. So, first of all, Charlie Manuel, you're a genius. The way you've guided the Phillies to 8 straight wins with your timely use of the home run... absolute genius.
Second, way to go City of Philadelphia! I know I'm a little behind in acknowledging this but the City of Philadelphia was recently named one of 18 finalists for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award.
According to the press release from the Government Innovators Network at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, the city's Municipal Automated Vehicle Sharing Program was picked from among a thousand applicants to be one of the finalists.
According to Gowher Rizvi, Director of Harvard's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation:
"Each of the eighteen finalists are the best and brightest, and represent government's great capacity for creating positive change and achieving results... Each takes a creative approach to a significant problem and demonstrates that their solution works."
(snip)
[This program] makes Philadelphia the first government in North America to reduce its fleet by partnering with a local car-sharing provider that serves residents and businesses with hourly vehicle rentals. Employees on City business can now use vehicles that are more accessible, more fuel efficient, and more cost-effective, eliminating the need for hundreds of city-owned vehicles and facilitating savings of approximately $1.7 million annually.
Just so I continue to dish the credit, the "local car-sharing provider" referred to above is Philly Car Share. You know them as those ubiquitous maroon Toyota Priuses (Prii?) with a graphic on the door of two long-legged gents carrying a giant backwards jagged flashlight (or possibly a plunger).
So there you have it. City government did a good thing. Innovated. Had a good idea. Such a thing can and does happen here on a fairly regular basis in the public, private and non-profit sectors. This one happened to be a case where the public sector had the good idea to use another good idea by a non-profit. Now as we look towards the future and the next mayor, what kinds of good ideas can we expect to hear from The Six Suited Suitors.
Comments (2)
The two long legged guys are carrying a KEY not a backwards flashlight.
Posted by Susan | May 16, 2006 4:48 PM
Thanks, mom. You'll be getting a smaller pot of flowers for Mother's Day next year for pointing out my stupidity.
Posted by Dan | May 16, 2006 6:58 PM