Deep down, I'm an unrepentant policy wonk. I'd love to sit on this blog all day and talk about best practices, innovative policies, outcome-based budgeting and anything that has to do with how governments - especially municipal governments - would be run in a vacuum in which political considerations can be set aside.
As such, I'm a huge fan of the work being done at Philadelphia's own Brookings, The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. Note the name change. They used to be the Pennsylvania Economy League, Eastern Division (or something). Way to bring it home!
They've got a new name, a new website and a new attitude. Wait... the attitude thing might be part of the Phillies slogan.
Most importantly, they've got a new initiative to complement the fine work that they've done on the state level with IssuesPA. It's called IssuesPhiladelphia, which I'll call the work I'd be doing on this site if I were a whole lot smarter. Here's their mission:
IssuesPhiladelphia seeks to focus government on efficiently and effectively providing the results that matter to city residents. We help people connect major policy decisions (primarily those articulated in the annual budget) with tangible outcomes, such as the health and wealth of Philadelphians. Over the coming weeks and months, IssuesPhiladelphia will recommend policies that will better equip local government to achieve the results that citizens demand.
Check out the site and the first thing you'll see... Holy regionalism, Batman! Comparisons with the surrounding counties!
The question is, will local government listen to these recommendations? We'll definitely be listening and quizzing the candidates when we get the chance.
Take an hour or so and browse through the site. You just might learn something.
Comments (1)
I can't say enuf about issues phila, the survey results really don't match up with the next great city maybe there are another 800 folks who know who the candidates are and everyone of them wouldn't move out, we can't be the only ones?
Posted by denise goren | March 3, 2007 5:40 PM