How about a city where the schools not only prepare students for real jobs in today's tech-driven economy, but also teach manners and life skills to children who aren't getting such lessons at home?
How about a city with a zoning board of professionals who believe deeply in listening to both builders and citizens?
How about a city that runs WITHOUT sweetheart, no-bid contracts?
For the past year, the Great Expectations project -- our sister project at the Philadelphia Inquirer -- has challenged citizens to dream of what Philadelphia could be. They have created an impressive Citizens Agenda of ideas like those above, on issues from crime to poverty to planning and zoning to taxes.
What's interesting about many of these ideas is not that they are bold, but that they are basic. They are what sensible citizens of any city would want: Government that pro-actively works to give the city what its residents need.
It's really not enough to be a city known for its absence of corruption or for keeping most of its citizens from being killed. That's the least we can do.
Hence the name of the project -- even Philadelphia could have Great Expectations.
And what's interesting about the project is that it is built on the input of citizens. Citizens created the agenda -- in person in forums and online, in blog posts, essays and even movies -- and then commented on the final set of ideas.
Citizens will get one more big chance to weigh in on the agenda this Sunday, when Great Expectations hosts its Citizens Convention at the Convention Center. You should join them; registration information is here.
Our city is ushering in a new administration with high goals, and our citizens have pinned our high expectations on those new leaders. At a time like this, citizens have a responsibility to help shape the city's agenda.
Sunday's a great time to do just that.