Take a quick look at some of the major stories in the news today. Do you see what I see?
Not one. Not two. Not three. But at least four pieces of good news related to local, government-influenced issues. (By that I mean I'm not counting the Sixers' fourth win in a row.)
First, and most important from this blogs perspective, is the mayor-elect's choice for a new Managing Director. (DN, WHYY, Next Mayor video, Inky, Metro, Bulletin)
By all accounts, she's a smart, capable and successful city manager who can claim that she was part of the transformation of Austin, TX into the coolness mecca that it is today. Although, I'd have to give this movie just as much credit. At the press conference yesterday she came across as outgoing, charismatic and focused. Hopefully she can use that to create the kinds of wide-ranging, cultural transformations that it will take to shape up a city government that can be a little resistant to change. Immediately after her hiring, the questions arose about her performance in Washington D.C. and the fact that she left early from her 5-year contract. From the Inky:
It was harder going in Washington, Barnett said. She arrived in late 1997 to become chief management officer, a position newly created by the federal panel then overseeing the city's finances and much of its administration.
Barnett had to contend not only with the federal panel, but with Mayor Marion Barry, whose office had been stripped of much of its power by Congress.
It seems that any time she's left a city, it's been because of the typical friction that would occur between a new administration and holdovers from a previous administration. Hey, if pissing off Marion Barry is the worst thing she's done (oh and there was that contract to a friend from Texas), I'll take that in the deal. It'll be interesting to see how her experience with the civil service systems in other cities, and the municipal unions in those cities, has prepared Dr. Barnett for dealing with this city. Ultimately, any transformational changes that she wants to make will depend on her ability to make changes in personnel, job descriptions, work rules and expectations. Let's check back in a year. (Ok, 18 months since it'll take 6 months for her to get an email address. I keed. I keed.)
At the top of my list of headlines, however, is this one: "Violent crime dips in Phila." Yes, we're still on our way to about 400 murders for the year, which is way above the most recent low of 288. But overall, we have a chance to have fewer total violent crimes this year than in 2000 - Street's first year in office. At least the numbers are trending downward. Of course, this shouldn't be a sign that the PPD or the next mayor can take it easy and it appears that Nutter realizes this (or else he's still in campaign mode):
Nutter said that the numbers were encouraging, and that his new police commissioner, Charles H. Ramsey, would analyze the trends and respond accordingly.
"I'm glad to hear things are moving in the right direction," he said last night. "But there's still too much crime."
He suggested that the intense public debate about crime during the political campaign had something to do with the drop. "By bringing attention to it, it has helped to sharpen the focus of the police and the administration," he said.
Let's aim for New York's murder rate, about 7 murders per 100,000 people, which has that city on pace for it's lowest murder total since the 1960s. Actually, let me put that in a more positive way. Let's aim for New York's survival rate which is a pretty cool 99,993 non-murdered per 100,000 people.
The School District, after years of taking heat from parent groups and other concerned citizens, is going to practice a little "Community Engagement" in their budget process for next year:
...starting Tuesday, key community groups will meet with district officials to discuss the fiscal 2009 budget.
Then on Jan. 2, interim chief executive Tom Brady will start hosting a blog so people may keep up with the budget process and ask him questions directly.
Could the city government be far behind in involving citizens in its budget process? I can't wait to see Brady's blog. Jasper, I know you'll be a regular contributor there. Right?
Finally, and most shocking of all, PGW doesn't suck as much any more! This is the story which helped to shore up my faith in miracles. I've been a little depressed and stressed lately about the state of local and world affairs but if PGW can begin to get itself out of debt, then that means anything is possible. We should expect soon to see a beautifully developed and well-planned Delaware Waterfront, an end to the war in Iraq, a balanced federal budget, cars that run on hydrogen, and possibly a Phillies World Series championship. Good work PGW! (Now, when I get my gas bill for the past month, am I going to see that I owe $20.5 million?)
Comments (10)
good post...
on the MDO front, don't forget Gene Cliett ~ all the best credentials turned into a trivia question. Why? Rendell and Cohen: Charter? We don't need no stinkin' charter... the new mayor will write his own management flowchart, and we'll surely see that in less than a year with the labor negotiations.
Good to see at least some sign of backing-down from the emergency crap. You realize the only power of declaring an 'emergency' is the power to spend outside the budget?
Posted by Anonymous | December 13, 2007 8:55 PM
You didn't mention that Kenny Gamble is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Could it be this article's influence?
www.phillymag.com/articles/features_king_kenny/
Posted by Anonymous | December 14, 2007 4:25 AM
When we let PGW collect what is owed it, it tends to do a lot better. Now we have to allow the gas liens against it trigger sheriff sale over a certain time or amount unpaid.
We will have a waterfront, now that ethics reform is in. Nutter won't try to just give stuff to his pals, and have Leonard Ross orchestrate elaborate bait that results in nothing done. That's why I'm forced to support casinos -- it was done closed door, smoky back room style, but at least it will result in ground being broken on a reasonably good design in a competitively bidded process that was not totally rigged to favor one or two applicants that gave money to John Street.
THAT's progress in Philly. If the state wants to take over some other Philly agencies, I recommend the Dept. of Revenue and the property tax collection arm of the Sheriff -- what city is owed %527 million to $700 million in overdue, long uncollected property taxes?
I bet Texas would invade any city that tried that.
You won't get hydrogen cars, but you could have electric cars, like the ones GM discontinued.
The "bad debt" portion of your gas bill is still collectable, but not by harrassing the owners, who are dead. We have to sell the property at auction, and give the remaining price after debts are paid to surviving relatives. Philly property is still more valuable than ever, and any new administration has to recognize that treating this property like it has no value, just letting the city hold on to it, or the RDA, or other agency, deprives the city of a critical tax base needed for schools, and anything the new mayor wants to do.
Philly's PGW problem is mostly a failure to probate and collect city liens problem. Ditto PWD. Ditto the schools -- which use about half of all property tax revenue collected. Meanwhile, some zip codes have almost half of all owners owing significant, long overdue property taxes to the city.
The city needs a smart administrator, not just a politician who tries to please everyone all the time.
Fix that, and all the city will have the revenue it needs. Why does the press hate to write engagingly about city revenue and property taxes when the solution to every sad story you write about lay in property tax and other lien collection?
Posted by Anonymous | December 14, 2007 4:37 AM
Philly is starting to rock again!!!
Posted by KEM | December 14, 2007 6:53 AM
The key thing about PGW is that it got so bad that the mayor and council stopped using it as a political toy. The mayor, council, state legislators, etc. allowed the board and company to operate free of patronage hires and interference.
Imagine what could be accomplished at the School District if every SRC member wasn't sending millions to their favorite consultant and mandating unqualified hires....or at PPA without the abuse.
That is the real story here. The more the press calls out these politicians, the more likely we will see PGW's success replicated.
Posted by Anonymous | December 14, 2007 7:30 AM
Philadelphia is a dying city, and it will continue to die as long as the city collects a 4% wage tax. I have lived here my whole life (roughly 30 years) and in between the rising property tax, and the city wage tax I may be forced to move to the suburbs.
The best way to keep young professionals in the city is to abolish the city wage tax at the very least. This would bring in more residents to the city and boost the local economy, which would then lead to more revenue for everyone (including the local government). If Mayor elect Nutter decides to keep (or raise) this tax then he should expect more people and corporations to leave in droves(as has been the case for the last decade or so).
The idea of casinos in Philadelphia was sold to citizens as a way to cut property tax, yet the opposite has happened. The casinos have a tax abatement and a new property tax plan will raise property taxes for everyone.
To the poster above who spoke about paying off our debt with "overdue" property tax: First there is no such thing as "overdue" tax unless you have not paid your taxes. What right does the local (or federal) government have to extort money from what they deem to be the value of my home? Tax is not a rite. Secondly do you have any idea what the next plan is for property tax? The city wants to base it on current market value (rather than tax assessed). Initially the city will try to match the current tax amount for the first few years, but after that it will rise dramatically. The result is that people like my parents and extended family and friends, who have lived in this city for 50+ years, will have to sell their homes under the intended plan. The city will be punishing those who have been loyal and have lived within its limits for a lengthy time. If there is to be a property tax the city should either use the current system or (even better) base the tax on the purchased price of the property.
The latter plan would reward those residents who have been loyal citizens of Philadelphia and promote the idea of people staying in the city and keeping their property. Those who are purchasing new homes can afford their rated tax under such a plan (the rate should be the same across the board). The city could boost its tax revenue in this way without punishing its long standing residents.
In the end I think things will improve only slightly. I think Philadelphia's suffering will be slowed but not eliminated by Mayor Nutter. I do hope I am wrong.
Posted by Skeptic | December 14, 2007 8:59 AM
you cant get rid of the wage tax. Its a huge amount of the operating budget. it is being reduced as we speak and is down considerably from 15 years ago. I hear people complaining about a lot of things, but the wage tax isnt one of them. Its a nonissue for many people. Citizens want service more than they want a lower wage tax.
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