Great Expectations

Here are comments that came in via e-mail:

Explain to me why is it that a person like myself who works a 40 plus hour week, who wants to buy a home and create a decent (not great or fabulous just a decent life) can hardly get ahead while a person who doesn't bother at all to work and is living off the government can get a home before we could? Mr. Nutter I completely understand with helping those who honestly need help but everyday when I come home to the house I currently rent, I feel mocked by the beautiful houses that are currently only for those in the Public Housing Program. I won't lie it is annoying to me that for doing nothing people are getting rewarded and not encouraged to do for themselves. But also won't lie that I don't believe it's sad we have to work harder to get theses things. But I will also say that I find it appalling that I've heard mothers encourage there daughter to "hurry up and get pregnant so we can get more money", or tell there children "you better get on that corner and hustle". Sadder still that these are the majority of people who live in the beautiful homes three blocks from where I pay rent. Mr. Nutter I am a 30 year old woman who works full time supporting myself and family. I am a High School graduate and I did attend college. Explain to me why is it that the 23 year old High School drop out who is currently unemployed, with five children has a beautiful home and never has to worry about her bills because she gets a grant from the government. While people like my self who is actually trying to move ahead doesn't seem to.

Ren Venture
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Congratulations on your win. Now...what are you going to do to bring business to the city? We have the baby boomer condo owners taking advantage of the 10-year tax abatement, but what do you have in mind for businesses that would be similar in approach? Crime and education are also important, but it takes money for funding in those areas, which could come from bringing business to the city. What can you offer a business so that they don't find space in the zillion office complexes of the suburbs where you can't find a good cheesesteak for lunch!

Anne Scardino
Philadelphia
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Yo Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is upgrade the backwards racist culture of city government. People talk about the corruption of the Street Administration but not the underlying culture that is corrupt. I was a minority technology contractor with the City Treasurer’s Office for almost 10 years until some Caucasian woman I never met or saw and who is not an official cancelled my latest contract although it was less than 3 months old. It is a culture that has a Senior Attorney who submits handwritten pleadings. It is as dumb as it is racist and corrupt and they administer city business in this great city. It is a real problem. Real turnover is needed. Hire me as head of MOIS for sure.

Raymond Bey
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YO MIKE
The one thing I really need you to do is - really two things that are intertwined.
Gun violence and The School Problem
The schools need to be managed by people that have lived in the Philadelphia area, not "experts" brought in from other large cities or organizations operating schools for profit.
The schools need small classes where the teacher can take a personal interest in the students in her class so that the students feel that someone cares that they attend school and learn the lessons.
Students should not be allowed to leave school at 16 just because they have reached the age of 16.
A student should not be able to leave school until he/she is trained to do a job so that he/she does not become another bum on the street.
Jobs need to be available. President Roosevelt realized that in order for the U.S. to recovered from the Great Depression, people needed to have jobs.(CCC, WPA)
Philadelphia needs to create jobs to give to these high school students who are leaving at 16 or older.
If the students have jobs so that ]they are occupied and have some meaning to their lives, there will be less gun violence.
Young people turn to guns because they are frustrated, angry, and under employed. Life is not turning out the way it is shown on TV. When they have nothing to do, they create situations of discontent.
If we improve the schools, we should be able to make a dent in the gun violence problem.

Elizabeth Chesick
Haverford PA
Delaware County

Yo, Mike: born and raised in North Philly, I'd like to see you put Philadelphia in the lead and leap into the future. Let's make Philly the 'green city' before Mayor Daley in Chicago get's his plan off the ground. I know the reason why the nay-sayers will raise - too expensive, too something or other, They always have a reason.

We have parks and streets which could use more trees and more flowers, We have roof tops which could be roof top gardens or locations for solar panels generating heat and electricity. Let's be 'outrageous' or 'courageous', and be daring as we make Philly "green'. You present a new vision of the future and in the long haul, we will save money and Philadelphia, under your leadership, will be that "greene towne" again,

All the best.

Ed Tomezsko, Chancellor Emeritus
Penn State Delaware County

More emails:

Yo Mike!
I have served my city's school children for over three decades, and have won national, state, and local recognition for my work with the kids I love. I have taught the children of drug and alchohol addicted parents, children who were born to parents who were children themselves, children who live with abuse -- emotional, physical, and sexual -- and children who live in such poverty that I have wept for them during endless nights when worry for them made sleep a stranger. As urban educators, we must often act as parent, nurse, counselor, and psychologist. We are constantly asked to do more with less. We put up with physical conditions in our facilities that would make OSHA cringe.

I'm not asking for a fancy building, state-of-the-art whiteboards, modern textbooks, or laptops for all. My vermin-ridden, sweltering-in-the-spring and freezing-in-the-winter classroom will do as it has done for 30 years. I'm simply asking for the one thing that every expert and study in effective education has proven works: smaller class size. Trying to accomplish the mandates of No Child Left Behind with 33 children who come to school sadly ill-equiped to learn is a formidable task. I am in awe of the number of excellent educators who face these conditions and refuse to let the odds defeat them. They are the "anyway" teachers: they see an impossible task, and they do it anyway. Imagine what teachers could do if they could devote the time and attention to every student that he or she deserves.

We have danced around this issue for years. Why? Smaller classes will cost money. The suburbs have it; we do not. It makes the idea of equality in education a joke. If you can find a way to give our city's children what the suburban children take for granted, we may finally begin to close the achievement gap and our kids will begin to believe that they are as worthy of excellence in education as their suburban counterparts, and then they will begin to believe in themselves.

Sincerely,
Cathy Rex
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Yo mike, congrats on the primary victory…

Although its not a top priority like crime and corruption, I think its important take at least some time to focus on how dirty parts of can be (Im not Ray Nagin in disguise)…….and im even willing to help out by volunteering for Philadelphia Green!…

Andy
Center City
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Yo, Mike! We've tried everything else for gun control. How about something new and different? Try "Give Me Your Gun":

Present efforts of the police to buy-back guns from street kids is naive. These kids have grown up avoiding facing the man in uniform
and even a friendly invitation to surrender a gun for dollars is suspect.

Our plan for retrieving street guns is more user-friendly: Stage an event one afternoon or evening in a movie house, shopping mall, sports stadium or any public location. Assemble a dozen Idols [rock stars, rappers, sports heroes] -- young men who who these kids identify with and wish to emulate -- as role models.

Let each celebrity make an offer: "Give me your gun -- man-to-man, shake my hand, and have your picture taken with me." We know that a picture is worth a thousand words. One's photo standing next to a popular rock star could be worth more than the few dollars that the police offers for guns.

With "Give Me Your Gun" the stars get positive publicity and we get these guns off the street. There must be some talent agent or impressario in Philadelphia who can push a couple of buttons and get together a group of celebrities who will do this as a way to thank the public that made them millionaires by buying their recordings and attending their performances.

Naomi and Henry Klein
Philadelphia

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Yo’ Mike the one thing I would really love you to work on when you are Mayor is cleaning up the City – not just the government ethics, but the City streets themselves. I moved here from Chicago four years ago and while I love Philadelphia and the people, I really miss the cleanliness of Chicago. Beneath the shattered sidewalks and trash lies a beautiful city. We need a Beautify Philly program so people can show their civic pride and make this city the crown jewel of this country that it deserves to be. Regular street cleaning, more trees and parks, and a weekly recycling program will help. We also need to crack down on dog owners who won’t take responsibility for their dog’s waste. I have nothing against pets, but pet owners needs to be made accountable and responsible for their pets waste. It not only dirties our parks and streets but it creates a health hazard.

I was an avid supporter of yours in the primary, will continue to support you when you arrive in City Hall and will volunteer to work on the Beautify Philly program when you get it established.

You give this City hope and I expect great things from you!

Ilene Wilder
Philadelphia

I would like an immediate plan implemented to clean up corruption in City Hall/government;fair distribution of contracts, end corruption with Unions,

An immediate plan of action to combat crime, youth violence, A campaign to restore neighborhood pride promoting clean/beautiful and safe streets, public trash receptacles in neighborhoods,

Jobs for unemployed. Lower auto insurance, fund and staff public Health Centers. Please don't sell us out, or send us down the river. ACT NOW!

Anonymous
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I suggest we find a way to CLEAN UP Philly. Give the kids who are out of school a job. Start a campaign for everyone to sweep and clean their block every week. People need to have PRIDE in their cleanup.
I called two months ago for the city to pick up an abandon van which has been parked for 5 months. It is still there. I do not feel like cleaning my front because I can not get around the van.
Thank you
Lorraine Allen
Philadelphia
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The one thing I really need you to do is...

to make each decision based on facts and not relationships. To do this means first a commitment to understanding the facts – listening, insisting on thorough information, and committing to its regular review. The city needs a mayor committed to weighing costs and benefits with an eye toward effects on residents and not political gain or a fear of upsetting the status quo. I need you to make decisions based on an honest assessment of the true costs, those on the lives and futures of residents. Many of us believe in you Mike and for the first time in a long time have hope that our great city will finally be able to realize its potential with you at the helm. Don’t let us down.

Allison Karpyn

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is listen to your wife. In an Inquirer story about Ms. Nutter right after the primary election she said she told you that if you do one thing as mayor, make being smart cool again.

Now, as a man who has been married for twenty-four years I know you are used to
being told what to do. But since the above command is not an afternoon's work like
trimming the hedges I offer the following suggestion.

You should require every appointed member of your administration to adopt a school and
visit it once a month to read a book, teach a lesson, or tutor a small group of students.

Surely, anyone smart enough to manage a department of city government has special
knowledge, interests, or talents. Perhaps appointed commissioners and deputies will
encourage civil service employees to get involved thus forging department-school partnerships.

Let those of us who have succeeded in our vocations share our intellectual passion with
young people. Let us show them how cool being smart is.

Michael D. Sentman
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The one thing I really need you to do is somehow get additional funding for the Philadelphia public schools. As a public school parent since 1997, I've seen first hand what a gradual decline in funding is doing to the overall health and well-being of our schools. I think more than enough cuts have been made to school budgets and staff, it's time to look on the revenue side of the equation for sources of new funding. Could your administration start a new initiative with a fancy name in order to get some significant donations from private citizens and local corporations? Instead of No Child Left Behind, which I think of as an anti-education initiative, maybe we should borrow from Howard
Dean and call it One School District Left Standing. Another possibility is to make a serious sales pitch to the right folks in Harrisburg for additional state dollars. Or how about heading to Washington, DC for a couple of days trying to get some new federal money for Philadelphia? Congress is now ruled by Democrats who are actually friendly to the concerns and issues of our nation's urban residents.
There's even a good possibility of a Democratic president in 2008 who's interested in more than just pounding on our public school students with endless amounts of standardized tests. I seriously think you should hire someone on your staff who specializes in fundraising, and instruct them to make a major and relentless sales pitch for the Philly public schools.

Garth Connor
Philadelphia
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Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is work to implement some real solutions to improve our public school system. Even with all the so called advances that the school district has made, I feel that it is still failing a lot of our children. Our children need a safe environment to learn in and they also need teachers who want to teach. I hope that the educational needs of our children is high on your agenda.
Ursula L. Hicks-Wicker
Philadelphia
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The one thing you need to do is restore trolley service along the existing Route 23 bus line. It runs up and down 11th and 12th street through South Philly and Center City up to Mount Airy. The tracks and trolley wire are already in place for almost all of the route, at least through Center City. SEPTA actually had this on their capital plans for a number of years but it has been passed over, mostly because of funding issues I believe. But there is strong community support for restoring this trolley line - mostly because trolleys are quieter, cleaner, and will enhance property values. So go ahead and do it - restore the Route 23 Trolley Service!

John Federico

The one thing I really need you to do is recruit a group of people, like me, who have a PASSION for the education of our Philadelphia Public School Children.
As a group, we could go to some of the most empathetic and generous wealthy people to ask for funding. Some may never have even been asked. Like Steven Speilberg.
People at my school laughed at me when I said I would ask Mr. Vallas for air conditoning. Well, I did, and I got it. This is because I was influenced by my great role model, my Dad, who said to ask things of people and institutions that no one seems to. And Dad also said to take action when all seems hopeless , i.e. My Dad went to the Supreme Court and won a case that , Clarence Darrow, the greatest lawyer in the land would not take.
I would be willing to give up any salary (which I could really use) to work as a volunteer for OUR CHILDREN !!! Hoping you will call on me and form a committee as we can be stronger than I can alone!

Alice Farber
Retired art teacher, Phila. Public Schools and Grassroots art advocate for all Phila. Children
(recently nominated for CITIZEN OF THE YEAR, Phila. Inquirer)
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Yo Mike….As you go forward with establishing the great expectations and high standards you have promised, it is absolutely critical that your record of ethical and principled leadership be carried forward into every corner of your administration and the City’s government. If we cannot believe in the honesty and high ethical standards of our leadership we are unlikely to believe, much less act on, our own abilities to transcend the often lamented “old Philadelphia.”

Tom Vernon
Philadelphia
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Yo Mike… The one thing you need to do is to create a culture of listening in City Hall. Because you appeal to a broad range of Philadelphians, many of whom have informed opinions about making this the next great city, you can usher in a new era of collaboration among corporate, community and civic leaders. We are waiting in the wings to help you and our great city. Last fall, we identified 101 leaders who work across sectors for the common good. Use those trusted citizens, “the connectors”- among others- to help you to address the challenges. We’re not looking for contracts- we want to volunteer our expertise and to pour more sweat equity into this town. Be the man who inspires civic engagement and empowers others to serve our beloved Philadelphia.

Liz Dow
President
LEADERSHP Philadelphia
Philadelphia

The one thing you can really do is to fight the crime rate by erasing the tolerance of crime; removing the apathy toward it and remind our citizens that we do not
have to expect it as our way of life.
Thankfully, activists are not the primary targets of the criminals in spite of the excuses that some otherwise good people will give for non-involvement. They cite fear of reprisal. Neighbors who don't join town watch groups or block clubs are afraid of being singled out for pay-back.
Then there are those whose involvement comes at a steep price. They lose a loved one to the violence and become ardent supporters of the need for people to come forward with information and to get involved. Where fear once dwelled, desperation now incites action. Now they have a deep, personal commitment to their involvement. The pain that crime can cause a family
There are 2 groups of people then who you need to address: the criminals who are holding this city hostage by their actions and the apathetic residents who do the same by their inaction. You really need to do something about that.
Good luck!
Joanne Petroski

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The one thing I really need you to do is contact the PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM's director, Nancy Kolb. I would like you to urge her to have a large room ONLY for children's art at the new PLEASE TOUCH museum. She turned my request down a few years ago saying she would integrate children's art in the museum. (this means the art is not seen as too much else is distracting peoples attention). BUT....MAYBE with your clout we could be victorious !!
This could be a win for Philadelphia School children's creativity. In showcasing our children's art in the place where it could be seen by many people it would be dignifying and showing appreciation for our children in a VERY IMPORTANT way. It could also promote art in our schools !!!
As things stand now, the Phila. Schools do have a GREAT show - 2000 students work every year at the Board of Education building. But virtually only a handful of people ever see it because of very difficult parking and other matters.
Art is CRUCIAL to children's education , even a HUGE factor in test taking. Yet it's GREAT power ignored by educators who are making policy. You could help redirect some of our values by taking on this project !!
THere are only 3 such CHILDREN'S ART Museums in the world !! WE could make history !!

Sincerely,
Alice Farber, retired art teacher and art advocate for all Phila. Schools (nominated CITIZEN OF THE YEAR , (Inquirer Dec. 2006)
Supported by Jaqcqueline Barnett, art teacher, Key School and hundreds of other art teachers all over our city !
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is to commit to making Philly an energy efficient and sustainable city by creating a plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. The world’s scientists estimate this is the level necessary to stabilize the climate. If you develop such a plan within your first 100 days, you’ll give us the head start we really need on this issue. By harnessing Philadelphia’s two largest clean energy resources, energy efficiency and solar energy, Philadelphia can create thousands of skilled “green collar jobs” and dozens of clean energy technology and service companies, while saving hundreds of millions of dollars annually on energy costs. Philadelphia could truly become one of the world’s most sustainable cities. We have the technology and the management know-how. All we need is your leadership.

Liz Robinson
Executive Director
Energy Coordinating Agency
Philadelphia
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is...while you ensure the new school district superintendent breaks up the school district into smaller districts with separate central offices, personnel and superintendents to ease the burden of the overcrowded and overburdened current model (check out LA Unified while under Roy Romer); I would like to see you rid the city of the management companies that are not educating our youth. Keep the schools and staff them with experienced administrators and counselors. Some new counselors, assistant principals and teachers who are completing their certification and fieldwork and those who are at the begining of their careers can work in these schools. As they gain experience and seasoned educators at comprehensive schools retire, those at the alternative schools can transfer with a solid educator foundation. By making the alternative schools training centers for future school administrators and "master" teachers, the district saves money because it does not pay companies extra money (which it does have) to educate children. Also, teachers have a smaller school environment in which to get suitible training to begin their careers. School district employees run their alternative schools and new teachers, counselors and administrators can be trained under seasoned veterans!!!!
R. Thomas
Educator

I did actually speak to you for five minutes after you spoke at a coffee last winter. I thought, at that time, that you made a lot of sense. In the subsequent months, I did not hear any other candidate speak in a more intelligent or compelling manner. I expect the media and others who were actually listening to what candidates were saying decided the same.

What I said last winter still holds: I absolutely agree with you that the murders need to be stopped, and that young people need better educational and job opportunities. Everything else can more easily procede from there.

But what I want to know now is, what happens between now and inaugeration day? There is another 5 months to election day, 7 months to inaugeration day - and more than a murder a day so far this year, and a school system in fiscal chaos opening a new year in 3 months. What can be done before election day and inaugeration day?

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is help solve SEPTA’s budget crisis. My father works for SEPTA for a little over 13 years and now they are recklessly cutting heads all around the organization to appease the budget restrictions set upon them. SEPTA employs a great deal of Philadelphians and is an important staple of the community.
I think the idea for better representation of Philadelphia’s citizens on SEPTA’s board will help develop a more interpersonal relationship between the community and the agency. Transportation is too important to ever leave. The quality of that transportation system however can only dwindle. People from other cities criticize our transit system for its un-cleanliness and inefficiency. Those comments reflect upon Philadelphia. The maintenance workers that help to improve that image everyday and now SEPTA are now on the chopping block. What will you do to help either solve or alleviate this crisis and ensure the live of many citizens who depend on SEPTA for their livelihood?

Sincerely,
Matthew Biedrzycki
Juniata Park
Membership Director
Pennsylvania Federation of College Democrats membership@pacollegedems.com
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Thank you for everything that you have done for the City. I worked on your campaign and of course, voted for you too.

Please do everything in your power to reduce the crime in this City.
ANITA M LEWIS
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"Yo, Mike! The one thing I realy need you to do....." is make parents accountable for their children's health and education.

The standards by which DHS are based are below human conditions. The ability of parents to not participate in their child's care has become a parenting style because "they can". It is a cycle of destruction. Parenting is hard work and enforcing quality parenting is even harder, but what ,as a community, are our choices?

As the pending "parent" of the city, please raise the standards of living by setting limits, providing consequences and teaching life skills. Starting with the agencies that are responsible.

Thanks in advance for a great job!
Ann Smigiel

P.S. The School District is not and should not be the parent.
Anonymous

Look at Sydney Australia. They HAD similiar problems as Philly now does i.e. cutting off waterfront with highways. But they have found remarkable solutions and it is now a wonderfull and beautiful city. Similiar proportions too. CBD populaiton 93,000. CMA about 6 million.

Yo, Mike
Work on getting rid of some of the drones working for the city. Make people responsive to those they work for. Get rid of the attitude of 'entitlement' that lives in City Hall. When someone is at the service desk - get up off the chair and help them. Enforce it, and cut some of the dead wood. Professionalize hiring and get rid of the "ward leader's brother-in-law" connections.

More from the email:

Yo Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is to take on the role as “Parent in Chief.” As Mayor, there are many tasks that you will be required to perform. However, it is unlikely that there is any singular item that has more impact on quality of life issues than the need to influence parents and young people to appreciate their societal obligations, personal power, and good fortune to live in the United States.

Respectable youth behavior and civic responsibility have a significant and systematic impact upon the effectiveness of our schools, crime/murder rates, quality of our neighborhoods, our ability to attract businesses, employment opportunities, and the potential for increasing tax revenues. These are the areas upon which your success as mayor will be evaluated. Sad to say, but, since thousands of parents in our city have abdicated themselves from their primal and primary role, we require a leader who can communicate positive expectations and is willing to shame those whose selfish negligence creates current and future problems for all of us. Clearly, your own experience as a cared-for child, as well as being a loving parent, provides you with the expertise to take a stand on such an issue. Most certainly, you recognize that respect for others, self-discipline, deferred gratification, and those other “timeless truths” cross barriers of race, age, and ethnicity. Application of these behaviors dramatically increase the odds of creating a life of meaning regardless of financial resources, social class, or any other barrier that self promoting and negative charlatans will use to diminish the will and spirit of an individual or a group. Great leaders like Reagan and Rendell, who inherited challenging situations, recognized that seeing the big picture and acting in the role of leader is the single most important ingredient in gaining popular support, prompting positive action, and overcoming resistance from those who benefit by maintaining the status quo. As a councilman, a major part of your success may have been your personal tenacity and your willingness to get your fingernails dirty by scratching into the details of legislation. However, as the chief executive of our City, you travel with your own personal soapbox. Your position provides you with the unique right to communicate your vision, your message, your priorities, and your suggested solutions whenever and wherever you choose. The residents of Philadelphia, the citizens of the Delaware Valley, and the visitors to our region, are invested in your ability to use your platform in an inspiring and informative manner. When you do this effectively your statements, as well as your soul, will have an echo effect that will result in measurable improvement in the areas that matter most to you and your constituency.

I wish you the best.
STEWART BOLNO
Mount Laurel, N.J.
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Make sure that the Warminster Septa line keeps running! I realize that it sounds selfish, and you may not even care much because I'm from the suburbs, but I was born in Philadelphia, and I've lived at least 15 of my 45 years in Philadelphia Mike, so maybe you can understand. I've used the Warminster line to go to the airport, center city and Phillies games, and I like being able to take the family on the train, to which I have an emotional attachment. But the full parking lot on the Warminster end means people working in your city, and those getting off at the rush hour are working in places like Warminster's industrial areas, or Anne's choice. Now I understand that as mayor of Philadelphia you have limited power to dictate what SEPTA does with it's money, Mike. But you do have a voice, and the SEPTA board will hear it. Please do what you can to keep that line running, Mike. Thanks

Stephen Trobovic, Jr.
Warminster, Pa.
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The one thing I really want you to do is draw us together.

The 16th Century philosopher Giovanni Botero defined the city not in its built-up form but as 'an assembly of people drawn together to the end that they may better live at ease in wealth and plenty.' At the time, Botero's disregard for the ennobling power of the city's physical form seemed a calculated affront, but his enduring message is that the city's definition lies in its human processes - political, economic, recreational, cultural.

Philadelphia has emerged from one of its most remarkable elections, as the racial, class and neighborhood perceptions that so often have kept us apart gave way to our electorate's shared recognition that the greater good requires a new approach which you provided.

Moving forward, you should continue to draw all of us together toward a vision of Philadelphia's future that benefits as many of us as possible. Some already enjoy wealth and plenty, but others have only poverty and despair, the cause of so many of our problems. Philadelphia has been held back by its divisions, by its perception of disunity, mediocrity, parochialism. These divisions are fed by a lack of vision, by cronyism and disregard for the common good. What we need is a vision of Philadelphia's potential, and of how as many of us as possible can share in this vision's wealth and plenty.

Anonymous
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is clean up the sidewalks and streets of Philadelphia. I would like you to implement an aggressive campaign directed at the residents and businesses in Philadelphia asking, shaming, demanding all people who live or own businesses in the city that they take a broom, dust pan and paper bag and clean the litter from their own front doors.
For whatever the reason, people feel that they can litter, people feel that someone else will clean up after them, people do not realize how a dirty city reflects so poorly on all of us. Litter leads to more litter and decay.
Mike, I have been waiting for you. I think you can make a difference. My mother often said to me, "you can be poor (and we were) but you do not have to be dirty. When the time comes put me on a list of volunteers who want to help clean up the city. The very best of luck to you and your family,

Marlene Lofaro
Gladwyne, PA

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is to solve a seemingly unsolvable problem. The city needs more money for police and the criminal justice system to protect our citizens from violent crime. It also needs more money for schools, parks, recreation centers, the arts, social services, and neighborhood revitalization. On the other hand, we need to lower taxes on businesses to attract them to the city and to be competetive with the suburbs and other cities. We must also lower wage taxes to keep the middle class from leaving our city. We must help center city to continue to thrive while not overlooking the needs of our neighborhoods. Perhaps a decrease in taxes will eventually lead to economic growth that will save our city. But how do we meet the city's very real needs until then?

Robert Koller
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Dear Mike,

Your #1 goal is to make Philadelphia a more livable city, or "America's Most Livable City". Begin by tasking each cabinet member with making five recommendations how they can move their agency forward to achieve the goal. These recommendations should be submitted within 60 (maybe 90) days of your taking office. Request other groups such as parks, schools and other key players who are not represented in your cabinet to do the same. I recommend you include the many independent agencies and authorities which have stake holder positions. (In my view, there are far to many but they must be included). I also suggest you invite the suburban counties to offer their recommendations. Each recommendation should contain associated costs, a time line for completion and what we can expect upon completion.

Lastly you should appoint a small (not more than 7 members) blue ribbon committee to evaluate, prioritize, and make recommendations for your action. These should be on your desk within 120 days from your inauguration. Time is of the essence. Your task, implement the recommendations.

Good luck. My best wishes are with you.

Duane Searles
North Wales, Pa
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“Yo, Mike!”

The one thing I really need you to do as our next mayor is to provide the leadership to ensure that Philadelphia is a truly sustainable city.

As mayor of Philadelphia, I need you to develop policies and programs that cooperate with nature and the environment to sustain the health and well-being of the plants, animals and people of our City.

I need you to take action beyond the global issues of “climate change.” I need you to address our urgent local issues of storm water run-off, solid waste processing and how we use vacant land; plus, you must develop purchasing and contracting practices for our City that support sustainable products and services.

As mayor, you can provide the leadership to educate your staff, City employees and our citizens about the action we all most take to create a mutually sustainable future for Philadelphia.

Mike I need you to be a national leader of urban sustainability.

You can do it!

Craig Johnson
Philadelphia, Pa.
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Mike: Feels uncomfortable addressing the mayor elect of Phila so familiarly even though we are not acquainted, but here goes: I didn't vote for you because I live in the suburbs (Broomall), but I would have if I had the chance because I recognized in you a knowledgeable and enlightened spirit. My advice to you (from a retired engineer and professor of engineering @ Villanova and Delaware County Community College) is simply to advise you to read ASAP Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink" as it has an in depth analysis of the human spirit and the underlying causes of urban violence. And since it also presents approaches to improvement that have been successfully put into practice, it is lots better than all the ineffective well-meaning advice that has been thrown at you so far. So I encourage you to continue keeping an open mind on the many problems that beset our great city and its desperately needed improved relationships with Harrisburg, where some of your previous competitors are positioned and eager to assist with the city's problems. As you well know, you can't do it all yourself, but by forging effective friendships/relationships with those that can help, you should be well positioned to hit the ground running after your inauguration. Also, your knowledge of the present administrations weaknesses (to be charitable) should help you to steer clear of the Ron Whites and Milton Streets that are always ready and willing to exploit any perceived weakness. If I can be of any assistance don't hesitate to call. So again, congratulations and always keep in mind that while you won by a considerable margin over your closest rival, your total number of votes were only a small fraction of the total number of registered voters.

William H. Coleman, PE
Broomall, Pa.

Yo, Mike

The one thing I really need you to do is shave off the hair from under your nose to your chin. It's intimidating and sinister. Were you to peek into my son's baby carriage, he'd cry.

Give it up, man. You've made it on your intelligence and sincerity (and a good word from Olivia). Let's have a clean face for a clean new administration.

Maggie Wollman
Philadelphia, PA
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Yo Mike!

I would like to see the City of Philadelphia initiate an administrative area that is committed to the existing needs of new populations that are increasing the inhabitants of our great city. I am talking about the Hispanic, Russian, African and Asian neighborhoods that are happening in Philadelphia

Many issues must be met in order for them to benefit as full citizens.
There are disparities in health care, License and Inspections, Police and Fire outreach, and Behavior Health Care (CBH has already taken some positive steps)

Health notices and information needs to be translated, bi-lingual help is needed in L&I, the recruiting of bi-lingual Police needs to be encouraged, Fire prevention information needs to be translated.

During Ed Rendell’s era there were commissions devoted to these new minorities, however we need more than that now. These recent citizens are the only numbers that are increasing in population growth. Their financial contributions, especially in small businesses, buying power and taxes are very much desired.

“A New Urban Direction” written by one of our very own, Jonathan Seidel It lets us know of the direction that Boston and New York took to encourage new populations to move into their cities.

Yo Mike! lets sit down and chat. I have a wealth of information.

Skip Voluntad
Asian Pacific Management Consultants
Voluntad@verizon.net
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The one thing I really need you to do is...

give greater support to the public elementary schools which are just barely appealing to middle-class families like ours. Schools such as Jenks, Henry, Dobson, McCall, and Greenfield, and the charters: Independence Charter and Green Woods Charter - these schools seem to be doing reasonably good jobs at educating children, and they may keep us (and many other families with young kids) from moving out to the suburbs. But they need even more qualified teachers; more programs in music, art, phys ed, science; and upgraded facilities. Giving these schools the resources to go from "ok" to "excellent" would make all the difference in keeping young people in the city.

- Shana Kennedy, Germantown
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is revoke the city charter which states all police officers have to live in the city for a year in order to apply & then continue to live in the city once they become cops. The job should be open nationally so we can attract the best candidates like New York & Los Angeles does. Then once you become a cop you should have to live in PA no more than 60 miles from your precinct. It's obvious some cops are scared of these knuckleheads because they have to live in the same neighborhood as them. In New York for example the cops are not scared to bust ass (pardon the expression) because they can go home to Long Island, Westchester, Orange, Rockland or Putnam Counties. Imagine the difference in Philadelphia crime if cops could live in Bucks or Montgomery. Also morale would be better on the force if the cops could live in nicer neighborhoods & send their kids to better schools. Just a thought.

Kevin Mack
New Philly resident from North Jersey

The one thing I need you to do
is...........Legislation (SB717-718) will soon be introduced to abolish all property taxes on homesteads in Pennsylvania. Visit www.grandoldusa.com for more details. Philadelphians need you to educate them on this urgent legislation. Then ask them to contact Senator Anthony Williams, co-sponsor, seeking his continued open support. Abolishing all property taxes will allow more individuals to own their homes, including women and minorities. It will help keep families together. It will create a huge economic boom, generate thousands of jobs and revitalize the City of Brotherly Love. More importantly Mayor Nutter, you sir will enjoy the supreme pride of putting your great city back on it's feet.
Additionally, history will record you with a legacy that will be the envy of all politician's.
Congratulations, in advance, Mayor Elect Nutter!!

Very respectfully,
Robert J. Weinand
Glenolden, Pa.
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I encourage you to address the problem of corporate funding for the arts by positioning your proposed increase in the Philadelphia Cultural Fund as a challenge to the big companies in Philadelphia that don't support the arts much. More arts funding from the city is fantastic, but we need to convince the corporate sector that they should follow the city's lead and increase their own support. This could leverage financial support far beyond what the city can do on its own. And since the Cultural Fund supports the full spectrum of arts organizations in the city, the extra funds would be distributed fairly and equitably and the companies would have a major impact across the cultural community without having to manage hundreds of gifts to individual organizations. Plus, they'd receive a lot of goodwill and PR by participating in a collective effort to support the arts. It's a no-brainer win-win, and I'd be happy to help make it a reality. Thanks for listening!
Michael Norris
Bella Vista
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We need you to enforce the trash pick-up law adopted by Council and ignored by Mayor Street. Condominium owners pay the same taxes as other property owners, but we do not get trash pick-up services.

Robert Selles
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Yo Mike –

As an administrator of an organization much less complex than the City of Philadelphia, I appreciate that addressing the most important challenges in a comprehensive way is a long-term process. My suggestion focuses on a fairly simple solution to a problem less complex than reducing crime or improving education: making our city cleaner. As a native New Yorker who moved to a relatively clean area of Philadelphia recently, I was struck with HOW DIRTY this city is!
Adding personnel and equipment, renegotiating union contracts, etc.
are long-term and/or cost prohibitive, so my proposal is a low-cost, quick fix: put one trash can at every intersection in the city. I frequently carry trash for blocks looking for a receptacle, often bringing the trash home with me. While some will still litter if trash cans are available, many won't. More trash cans mean more to be emptied by sanitation crews – but at present, if you find an intersection with one trash can, it's likely to have a second one right across the street. So, redistribute existing cans, increase modestly, make our city a whole lot cleaner.

Vivian Lubin

Give a voice to Republican Philadelphians. Try to find ways to make us believe we ought to remain citizens of our great city. Bring us into the mix. We have ideas no one in power has wanted to listen to for over 50 years, and many of us have moved away as a result. A one-party system, which we have here, is polarizing, and counter-productive. This is what they have in China, North Korea, Most of the Middle-East, etc., and it must be depressing to live in such places if you are not represented by the powers-that-be. I am proud to say I was born here, but I confess to thoughts of moving away. I don't want a pep talk on the virtues of Philadelphia (I am well aware of the pluses), I want to know what changes you intend to try to make to encourage me to remain here. Thank you.
Walter J. Donahue III
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Yo, Mike , the one thing I really need you to do is beef up the police and bring back a feeling of personal safety to the streets.Four years ago, my family made a conscious decision to leave suburbia and move to center city .We work and play here.
My daughter and her husband just bought a house "in between the fringes" in the Graduate Hospital area.. They are the city's future. They would like to raise a family here. But they won't. Not if they have to worry about being held up by gunpoint when they take an evening stroll with their children.
Crime will destroy the city. It trumps schools and taxes, Who would want to stay here or do business with the city if the schools were great, the tax rate was competive but your life was at stake? Seems like a no brainer to me Mike.

Judy H. Heller
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Mr. Mayor,

Mike, this is what I need you to do; I am tired of the local "lip service and BS" that surrounds the sidewalk and "lot" trash.
I need you to "PICK IT UP or SUFFER A FINE". I know there are misdemeanor laws that cover this subject but the police are not interested in enforcing "quality of life misconduct:" but think about our visitors when they come and go in Philly for whatever reason and they take away with them a "CLEAN" (and all the other adjectives wil follow; beautiful, wholesome etc.) memory not a dingy, gray dungeon that is NOW.

Disgusted!
Anonymous
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Yo Mike! The one thing I need you to do is consider the "long range" while addressing immediate needs. You will have this opportunity to accomplish much AND create the foundation we need to graduate this city to its just greatness. That foundation should begin with city-wide cleanliness. Start a program that will grow and strengthen-one that will instill individual pride. First, have someone in your administration-answerable directly to you-whose sole responsibility is to be on the street and working with authorities in the various city services to investigate and have corrected cleanliness problems. Second, have stiffer fines for violators, stronger enforcement of litter laws and community service for repeaters in the form of physical participation in clean-ups.Rich,poor or in-between there is no excuse for irresponsible trashing or lack of basic cleanliness.

Bill Rose

the one thing I really need you to do is......

clean up city hall and the streets.

City Hall is a disgrace to this great city. The trash, the bad odors from trash and human waste, and the preusmably homeless people that hang out there (esp after dark) make that area extremely undesirable and frightening to both local people and tourists.

The trash on the streets in my neighborhood (Bella Vista) seems to never get picked up, and the streets themselves are rarely cleaned. The 9th street market area attracts both local and tourists, and the streets are filthy. The city did a great job cleaning the area after the Italian Festival recently, but that happens once a year- the place looked great, but only temporarily. Also, I walk along Washington Ave from 11th to Broad St every day - trash and litter everywhere.

Solutions: One - Create incentives for people and businesses to clean up in front of their properties by instituting fines for littering or not keeping their properties clean. Two - Increase public awareness of litering arding littering etc. Three- Launch volunteer programs for the neighborhoods to clean up. Four - Hire the homeless to walk the streets with a broom and trash can. They can earn some money and some self-respect. Perhaps they can be sponsored by local businesses who can advertise their business on the sides of the trash cans.

If I could, I would like to be able to pick up every piece of trash I see as I walk along the streets of my city, but if I did, I would never get to where I was going.

I've had friends visit from Dallas (where they have an incredibly clean city thanks to public awareness and hefty fines for littering) and they couldn't believe how dirty the city is. I was embarassed by this as I would like to be proud of my city of Phila, for all it's greatness.

I know there are many issues this city has, but part of the big picture here is that a cleaner city will increase the vitality of the city by increasing tourism, home ownership, business oportunities, all leading to icreased tax revenue for the city, and ulitmately a better quality of life for the citizens of Phildalphia.

Thanks,

John Manacchio
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“Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is... convince me you will be mayor of all the people, not just “the brothers and the sisters.” If you won’t be mayor of all the people, then Philadelphia will continue its death spiral. Can you – will you – end the black-versus-white destructiveness of past administrations?

Anonymous
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The one thing I really need you to do is to address the violent and disruptive students in Philadelphia's public high schools who routinely undermine the academic program. Your daughter attends a "special select" magnet high school where this destructive element does not exist. There are thousands of wonderful, thoughtful, deserving students in high schools across the city who should also enjoy the benefit of a school with a conducive environment that would allow them to develop their potential. Make every high school worthy of the very best kids who go there; they deserve it- just like your child!

Rayna Goldfarb
English Department Head
Abraham Lincoln High School
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Mr. Nutter:
I have several thoughts of action for Department of Human Services:

The Dept. is to large for one person to oversee break the dept into three areas of service:

1. A Direct Response team -comprised by areas or sections for the city manned by (TBD) with an estimated quick response time after receiving a call of possible child endangerment like our police and fire personnel.
2. Accountabilty Dept.- this dept will be responsible for overseeing all documentation in a timely manner and review to ensure case notes are updated and follow thru is or has been recommended and dispatched to
3. Social Services- for consistent interaction with child and family, community meetings, court appearances, etc., and their (jackets, sorry cases) must be reviewed, also by the Accountability Dept.

Each dept will have its own Supervisor, Admin Ast. and case review monitor.
I believe this is the only way DHS will ever be successful in saving the lives of our children. In addition New Jersey is in the process of revamping their system with something similar as above. This is my Great Expectation for child safety!
Thank you.

Lynn

Yo, Mr. Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is.."

Be the Mayor of all & accessible to everyone. The day after you won the democratic nomination for Mayor you went out & started shaking hands with the people. I hope you carry this over into your term as Mayor. Maybe every Wednesday I'll see you at the northeast corner of City Hall shaking hands.

BE THE MAYOR FOR THE CITY--UNITE & LEAD WITH PRIDE--INSTILL IN EVERY PHILADELPHIAN THE SENSE OF PRIDE & LOVE FOR OUR CITY.

ED SCHIKEL
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Dear Mayor Michael Nutter
I am a former city employee, who got sick and tired of people who have a big salary and don't do a dam thing. They have more drones in the water departments management that would sink a ship. These people are issued city vehicles, and they never leave their office. I worked as field inspector, and we need city vehicles because the water department has spread the all over and we have to take our personal vehicle around dust, dirt and vandalism. I would like for a reallocation of vehicles to those who need them as oppose to those who use theirs to travel from the office, and back home.

Sincerely;

Paul Murphy
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I moved to the Philadelphia area from a close-in suburb of Chicago (Oak Park) last May. There are 2 main things that have struck me about this city in the last year:
The inability of the city to rule itself. I understand that rural Pennsylvania is much different from the city of Philadelphia, but the fact that Harrisburg gets to make major decisions regarding gun control, casinos and SEPTA - which I use to get to my job at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - seems ludicrous to me. In Illinois, municipalities can have laws which are stricter then the state law. Oak Park, for example, barred all guns, even though I'm sure there are some folks in downstate Illinois that object to this. The fact that the Philadelphia leaders don't appear to fight to try to make the state legislature understand that what's good for rural Pennsylvania is not good for the residents of Philadelphia is surprising. There can not be a "one size fits all" legislative approach to everything. The city can't have gun control laws; casinos will be placed where the state dictates, etc.
The second observation is that the city seems to embrace the underdog image. I saw an interview with Richard Daley, the mayor of Chicago, just this week, as he was discussing making the city "greener" on the NBC nightly news. His comment that cities have to keep changing made me think that the Philadelphia leaders do not embrace this philosophy. I hear too much of "it's always been done that way"; "it's too hard/expensive/difficult to change".
When my husband and I moved here, it was with the expectation that the city was much more cosmopolitan then it turned out to be. We are disappointed.
Thanks for listening,
Lynne Clark
Springfield, PA
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“Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is stand up for sustainable, community- centered development. Please entertain us with your thoughts on the plans for the Convention Center expansion.

Is the proposed expansion in- line with your idea of good development? Or would you envision smaller- scaled projects that assure city residents are best served by the proposal? Historic building preservation, artists’ needs and human relations are currently being trumped under this proposed plan by “what is bigger is better for Philadelphia.”

Sustainable development means just that. It sustains our communities. Human relationships. Our landscapes. Scale is a critical component in this equation.

Thank you,

Heather Rose
Chester County Resident w/ familial roots in Philly

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is publicize the innovative artwork in the glass show cases in City Hall on the 2nd and 4th floors at the NE corner entrance of our magnificent and one of a kind architectural master piece at Broad and Market Streets.

Tu Huynh, exhibit director and artist, works so hard in installing the exhibits and also the artwork in the "round house" at JFK Park

The eight installations that are in City Hall now until June 15th titled "Spring Manifestations" on the 2nd floor has not received publicity in the papers nor in the art publications. People are surprised to hear about the exhibit when I show them the well designed 3.5" x 8.5" cards and artist statements in the green booklets next to the glass showcase.

Collectively, we as artists work very hard. It would be so kind to have some recognition and publicity for working so hard. Thank you for listening.

Congratulations, Good luck and Best Wishes in November.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Lavins
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is quote the advice from your own Father who told you to speak the king's English. Visit every public, private and parochial school bringing his message to the students. Address the students during assembly, stressing the importance of being well spoken.
Encourage students to read as a means of increasing their vocabulary. Convey to the students that the key to success in their future is being well educated.
These school visits should be an integral part of your work week. Keep your message short and to the point.
You are their role model.

Sally Ann Mulholland
Milmont Park, PA
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Yo, Mike:

I would like you to take some time while your still Michael Nutter (before you become Mr. Mayor) to have a series of lunches with people around the Region who could provide you with interesting perspectives of regional cooperation. Pat Murphy, Joe Sestack and Jim Gerlach are three. I would also pick some of those folks who will be county commissioners (Joe Hoffel?). I would talk Bob Borski about Delaware waterfront development up to Bucks County. I would talk to Nancy Henkin and Dick Goldberg at Coming of Age about creative use of Boomers in volunteer capacities. I would buy lunch for some of the area college presidents, the Brain Drain is a huge problem that not a lot of people are paying attention to. Could there be some research going on that might attract Venture capital? How about a working group of college Presidents once you are Mayor that would devote their time to finding better ways to involve the regions colleges & Universities? I would also suggest you take at least one day and have lunch with your wife to see how the programs at Philadelphia Academies can be expanded to more young people.

PEACE,

alan mchale
------
Dear Mr. Nutter,

Congratulations on your primary win! Your potential leadership has renewed this native Philadelphian’s delight with our great city. Thank you for your interest in hearing from Philadelphia’s citizens.

I would highly recommend that your team study the “broken windows” theory of public safety. By attending to seemingly “little” things like broken windows, graffiti, poor street lighting, drivers who flout the law by double parking, dog walkers who don’t pick up after their pets, businesses that don’t keep their storefronts clean, etc., neighborhoods will look better, feel better, and become more desirable, walkable, and livable. Having worked for the president of Penn during the West Philadelphia safety crisis of the late 1990s, I can attest to the success of such efforts. Stopping crime from the top down (through policy, gun control efforts, etc.) clearly isn’t working. But giving power to regular citizens by taking care of their everyday needs and everyday environs would speak volumes and have far-reaching, long-lasting effects that would reverberate widely. And help can come from so many circles: police, surely, but also citizens’ groups, special services districts, the Parking Authority, SEPTA and other institutional safety/police departments, to name just a few. Studying the “broken windows” theory could be a wise part of your public safety strategies.

I welcome your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Jennifer Baldino Bonett
South Philadelphia

Do something about the high cost of energy from the Philadelphia Gas Works. We pay much more than most other areas. I realize there is a problem "covering" those who cannot pay, but some solution needs to be achieved. I moved to Philadelphia because it is affordable but unfortunately the cost to heat a house here is becoming increasing UNaffordable.

John Hanovsky
Philadelphia, Pa.
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YO, MIKE!!!

The one thing that I need you to do is wake the sleeping giant, PHILADELPHIA. You can do this by first identifying the complacency, corruption, ignorance and incompetency that has plagued the giant.

Take time and listen to the good and dedicated workers that keep this City going despite having to leap hurdles to do so. Many great ideas and programs start at the bottom and are compromised by poor leadership in various disciplines.

I many cases, we already have the players and tools needed to begin the rebuilding process. Crime can be addressed correctly, efficiency in services can be restored, businesses can grow and citizen cooperation can be achieved by thinking out of the box. All that is needed is a competent leader that puts politics aside and does the right thing for the good of the people.

Let's sit and talk and I'll prove that there is validity and a plan in what I said in just a few words.
I'll even pay for lunch.

Take care and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Rich Turzanski
Sergeant, Phila P.D. Counter Terrorism
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Trees!

Please be the mayor that makes Philadelphia back into the "green country town" that Ben Franklin dreamed of! So many of our trees are dying off and you only need to stand in the shade of a big tree on a hot summer day to know how badly we need more trees!

Though there may be more pressing fiscal and societal needs, here is something that is very 'do-able.'

For the global warming, for the environment for our children, for Philadelphia, for every reason
- please find a way to help us plant more trees in our city.

Thanks!

J. Sweeney
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Your first 12 month efforts as mayor of our great city should be focused on just four major directions. Focusing on all the issues would just greatly reduce your chances of tackling the truly important ones. And besides, progress on the four issues addressed below will undoubtedly make positive inroads on the many of the other important ones.
First, hit the crime issue. Your "Stop and Frick" idea is right on the money. Ignore those boneheads who are afraid of having their civil liberties encroached upon. But I do think you should raise an issue here which has received way too little attention. The parents (or parent) of all the young people being shot on our streets have to be accountable for their son's or daughter's behavior and what kind of company he or she is keeping. It's the parent's responsibility. It's not easy to do, I know. But being a parent isn't supposed to be easy. Being a parent has its responsibilities and people should be made to wake up to this simple fact.
Second, continue (and accelerate) the income tax and business tax decreases. The present mayor has lacked the needed vision on this most critical issue.
Third, give the new School Superintendent the necessary support he or she needs to continue the good work of Paul Vallas. Here again, the present mayor has dropped the ball in this regard.
Fourth, don't fall into the ill conceived trap that the present mayor fell into when he made the ridiculous statement that "the brothers and sisters are running this city". This bad statement only ensured that race would continue to be an issue when we know it shouldn’t be.

Thank you.

Francis

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is … actually, the three things I need you to do are:
1. Be the mayor of all Philadelphia citizens and neighborhoods.
2. Care about the City Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Put a stop to piecemeal planning by private interest groups, however well intentioned. Restore comprehensive City-wide planning and predictability in the development process by making thoughtful, appropriate appointments to these two City agencies.
3. Take a commonsense approach to the City budget. Those agencies that most interface with the public - Licenses & Inspections, Streets, Revenue, and Records - have been undermined by personnel cuts. The result is long lines, delay, less service and a frustrated citizenry. Some of us understand that City services cost money which may have to be paid for with higher taxes.
Like many City residents, I eagerly await the day you take office and wish you all the best in the days ahead.

Claudia Becker
Mt. Airy
------

Dear Michael Nutter,
I think the most important thing that you must tackle as Mayor is the development of explicit procedures and effective training for police officers before they embark on a “Stop and Frisk” campaign. As a Black woman, I clearly understand the concerns about the possible infringement of constitutional rights and the potential for profiling. I also understand the critical need to take action to get illegal guns off the streets and support your plans to address the problem.
Procedures should include: training for police officers and community preparation conducted by civil liberties lawyers; mandatory record keeping of stops and guns collected; and regular reports by the Mayor in community meetings on activities and success. Start with a small pilot program and expand it as seems feasible by the results.
Please know that you have widespread support among residents.
Francine E. Cheeks
-----

This is my list of ideas and concerns:-
1) Choosing Nanotechnology as our area's concentration. It is the next leap forward.
2) Push the extension of subway up the Boulevard to Byberry.
3) Build community/police coalitions for quality of life issues. This will help stifle crime!
4) Work with organized blocks on shared cost projects to foster community organization. We need to go beyond block cleaning.
5) Talk to our Congressional reps. about a bill to have the Federal government pay for school busing in order to help all school districts (urban and rural).
6) All levels of government need to guarantee our transit systems. Cuts in a time of global warming are criminal.

I will stop here. I am prepared to speak on any or all points.

Aaron Libson
Phila.,PA
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"Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is…"
Stop Murder in Philadelphia
Each and every day, my father commutes to work in Philadelphia. I was born and lived out much of my young life there. The city is a great and wonderful place. But there are many things wrong with it.
The city has a murder rate of one per a day. That means at the end of each day, you can reasonably assume that at least one person, one individual, one member of a family has been a victim of homicide. Sometimes no one dies. Sometimes around ten or twelve die.
These are men and women, boys and girls. The adults often have families who are left in despair and unable to adjust to life after their deaths. Children are often torn away, frequently accidental fatalities in gang fights and drive-bys.
The murder rate in Philadelphia is worse then the murder rate of some small countries. Mr. Nutter, I believe that you should do something about this. I am not sure about attempting gun control. That would be too hard of a battle to win, and then I also doubt the results would be significant. A stronger curfew could be enforced, penalties for possession of weapons could be raised, a stronger police force and tougher police presence… The list of ideas goes on. I am not sure what the correct action would be. But I know that something must be done, and soon.
Chris Heljak
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"Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is clean-up the urban section of the city. We have not had new streets or sidewalks in years. If the neighbors see that you are doing something then they will pitch in to help as well. We have 10 abandon houses that need to be cleaned out and sold or rented. These houses are eye sores and brings down property value. You should know about our neighborhood since you were our Councilman when you were in City Council. I live on the 5400 Block of Spring Street. We can't even get paint to paint the curbs. At least with the paint it does make the streets look better for a while. A lot of our neighbors voted for you now you will have to prove that their vote was worth it. We will compliment you when you're doing good and complain when you're not. Just wanted you to know.
Eleanor Ball

I don't need 150 words. Really, just 3: Stop the violence!! But add to those 4 more: Bring back John Timoney! I can't believe that we've had such a reversal since he left only 6 years ago. We did well during his years at the helm of the Police Department -- he had a strong grasp of the situation. And generally, I felt safe during his tenure. I'd like to feel safe again. I'd like to see if he would come back and could clean up the city, again.

Mary Ellen
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If Mayor Mike Nutter was sitting across my kitchen table I would tell him to please clean up North Philly streets. They are discussing. When I drive around North Philly I feel a sense of depression taking over my spirit to see how dirty our streets are. I also feel embarrassed because I know it is our people's responsibilities to keep these streets clean, however, there is a deep sense of not caring there, so I would absolutely love it if you, Mike, would clean our streets and fine those who dirty it.

Thank you very much for this opportunity in letting me express myself.
Cinthia J. Andujar-Baez
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I need you to do is LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE. I campaigned and voted for you without knowing anything about your family (I was probably the only one in Philly who missed your daughter's debut) but the Inquirer piece on your wife the day after the elections had me flying high. She sounds like one solid woman.

The sentence "I told Michael, 'If you don't do anything else, can you make being smart cool again?'" has been cut out and put on my refrigerator along with the family photos. She is right on and you need to go right on listening to her. I'll bet she has many other fine ideas and good opinions.

my best to you both,

Carol Peterson
a 69 year old grandmother
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Democratic Candidate Michael Nutter,

My suggestion is fairly simple to state.

Eliminate the barriers to entry for political outsiders/upstarts.

Because no one person can save this city, it will take a collective of energetic people with good ideas. We cannot afford to shut out talented minds any longer.

That's it! Sounds easy enough!

Bryan Van Lenten
Madison Sq
Philadelphia
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Seems impossible to get into your website to leave a message SO,
Mike, what I'd like you to do is decrease the tax abatement from 10 years to 3 years. I understand the need to have folks move into Philadelphia but IF folks can afford to pay over a million dollars for a condo or other property, they certainly CAN afford to pay the property taxes on it. Giving them 10 years allows them to turn the original property over and get another tax abatement property with a sizeable profit. I believe the 3 year abatement allows for SOME benefit without bankrupting the city. If ANYONE needs tax abatement, it's the poor folks who can barely make ends meet. Perhaps 3 year tax abatements can also be given to folks who choose properties that are abandonned, preparing to rehabilitate them for their home.
Thank you for considering this.

NB Wolfe

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is... stay humble.
Even before I actually saw you on the debates, I'd just read about you, and something began to click. Then I realized the same thing must have happened to most of Philly as you gained momentum in the campaign and then beautifully pulled off your win of the primaries.
This is your moment. Few get such an opportunity to affect people in this way, the way you are now affecting them. I just want to run up to you and give you a hug and a kiss. I don't even know why but that is the reaction you elicit in me. Then, on the day after the primaries, I saw someone doing just that to you as you were greeting people outside City Hall. I thought to myself," Ahh, she's doing that for the both of us."
There is a beautiful kind of charismatic aura surrounding you now; some may call it charm, sincerity, magnetism, an unnameable energy, but I'm calling it grace. You are blessed, Mike, for whatever God-given reason, you have been given a blessing to 'go forth and be a blessing' for the people of this city who are in great, great need of a leader. You have what it takes and you have been chosen for the task at hand. Don't lose sight of where that blessing emanates from and the service you are called on to do. And with all that you must do, remember that in addition to it all, you must stay humble too. Don't ever stop listening or caring.

Truly, may God bless you and your family with wisdom and strength.

Truly, all best wishes to you,
Rhona Bergman
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Yo Mike, I was just waiting for you to settle in before I sent this fairly simple suggestion:

Security in City Hall:
IF I know enough to go into the Northeast entrance of City Hall to reach you or City Council, I would pass through security, a protection for all of us. It took me a while to figure this out. Originally I used the Southwest entrance coming into a totally vacant corridor, no security guard, no signs or directions. I wandered the halls looking for directional assistance. No one anywhere. Still no signs. This is a totally dangerous situation. I felt very vulnerable to someone perhaps loitering in there. Deposit a bomb in this lonely place and City Hall would be rubble.
Please protect yourself, indeed all of us, by securing City Hall (as was suggested some years ago by the Street Administration which never acted on it).

Sincerely,
Connie Moore
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Yo Mike,

I really hope that you’ll take a hard look at education. Each year the district cuts the budget to our school. This year they have reduced the alloted number of teachers yet we still have the same number of students and the classes are already packed. In the case of some teachers who teach the core subjects of science and social studies, they are assigned anywhere from 160 to 200 students each on a daily basis, with but one set of textbooks to be used by all six classes. There is no budget to replace these books, which in their five years of use have the equivalent wear of 30 years of use. For some, teacher resources are ordered, but the district does not allow the order to be filled. There is not enough money. Charter schools are paid by the number of students. Later in the year, after problem students have been removed, they reportedly continue to receive money for the empty spots. Discipline schools are reportedly paid by the number of places they have, whether or not there are students to fill those places. Meanwhile, the district schools are given a fixed budget, regardless of the number of students they have. Additional students have been assigned to our school without additional teachers and without additional per pupil budget. The amount charged to the building budget per teacher has been increased this year by about 10% and the budget has been reduced by about 10%. As an Edison school we have received little technology support yet have been charged by Edison for a tech support person. Our computer lab has been ignored since Edison arrived. We have had to find government surplus equipment and, after the majority of the equipment ceased to work, to reequip our lab from grant money acquired by the school. We have also been able to create an additional lab using discarded computers trashed by the district, donated to our school by several supportive schools throughout the district, and renovated/maintained by a team of students who make up a Technology Service Team, advised by me.

The leadership of this district owes its students and its building staffs more respect and support than it seems willing to give. We are a multi-cultural school with a significant number of special education and ELL students, supported by one of the most fantastic building staffs with whom I have had the honor to work. Our school is a 96% poverty, title I school with a 100% free breakfast/lunch program. That is, it serves a very needy group of students. This is not unlike many other schools in our district. If we are to meet the goals of “no child left behind”, we need the resources with which to work.

Please help us all. Please take a hard look at what the district leadership is doing to its schools. Yes, there is a signifant shortage of financial resources. But there must be a better way to distribute them.

Thank you for your caring interest,

Joel A. Moore,
Teacher, Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator, Technology Service Team Advisor

PS-This is but one concern. What is done to disruptive students is a whole other issue.
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Yo, Mike, The one thing I really need you to do is make my hometown safe and clean again. I remember historically beautiful movie theatres, museums and buildings before the gluttonous real estate moguls destroyed the inner city. Abandoned homes need to be demolished and reputable contractors need to rebuild. This is the only way neighborhoods can rid themselves of crime, drugs and addicts. Safe, clean shelters and food banks need to be available to the homeless, aging and poor. Children need to be fed so they can give their attention to learning and not hunger and provide them excellent education to go on to lead productive and prosperous lives to rise above poverty and crime. Cameras need to be installed on crime ridden street corners to identify and punish dangerous criminals because innocent citizens are too afraid to come forward and testify. Criminals who commit murderous and heinous acts against innocent children and citizens need to be incarcerated and not let back on the streets to inflict more harm. Dog laws need to be revisited so that elderly people and children do not have to fear venturing outside to be attacked by vicious pit bulls. Enforce property laws so homeowners take responsibility for their own properties. Philadelphia needs to take back its city.

Rosalyn Gambino
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1. Be the leader of the region, not just the mayor of Philadelphia. Market the region as its leader.

2. Downsize government. There are still some city departments that are sized for 2 million residents.

3. SEPTA. Bring down costs.

- Close the Callowhill and Comly Garages. The new Midvale bus facility can handle 25% of the SEPTA bus fleet.
- Sell SEPTA property to get it back on the tax roles. SEPTA is the 7th largest land owner in Pennsylvania, they do not need all of their property.
- There are other things SEPTA can do and I can elaborate

4. Employment for the poor. I see in the Inquirer (6/3/07) that Yosemite Park etc. can't get foreign workers to do seasonal work. Why can't those firms that need help for basic jobs come to our cities to recruit?

Good luck, we expect great things from you.

Jim Glatts
Drexel Hill, PA

Please take a long hard look at L & I and Zoning. Just as car owners are required to display inspection and regitration stickers the same should apply to multi family dwellings. These stickers would have a bar code available to inspectors. When properties are not inspected it is risking the health and welfare of the community. Present conditions result in wasted man hours and lost revenue for the city. Inspectors are unable to gain access to the property, the courts can't serve notice for hearings because they can't locate the owner. These owners must list their principal residence for mailing purposes.. There should be a seperate fine attached to applications to legalize apartment buildings where owners have neglected thier legal obligations for years and years. It should be noted that this only occurs when they want to sell the property.

There are serious inequities with real estate assessments when the multi family property is assessed the same as the adjoining single family property. L & I should enforce the Zoning Board of Adjustments refusals , too often these owners continue to operate their multi family dwelling collecting rents and laughing all the way to the bank.


Every district should have an advocate to work with L & I and the community.

Respectfully,

John Furey,President
Broad Street West Civic Association
Philadelphia, PA.
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Yo, Mike!

The one thing I really need you to do is to provide the leadership necessary
to create a program to prevent domestic and child abuse that is not judgmental, corrective, or punitive and geared to identifying failure. More of the same will not be productive. I am an advocate for programs that accept that people who have problems with relationships with other adults and children are also human. I believe that we should be developing services that are geared to prevention, education, and respite as well as counseling and treatment and finally, where necessary, removing children from the home.

The tragedies that befall families with children are not limited to people in particular socioeconomic, racial or ethnic groups, although the media focus on those in the urban area who come from poor minority families. The problems resulting in abuse of children occur in families in all socioeconomic, racial or ethnic groups.

If we are to truly initiate an effort that will focus on prevention of abuse to children we should identify and bring together the professional service providers in different agencies geared to helping children and families, with an orientation to helping people handle the stress in their lives even as they have to meet the developmental needs of their children. I am sure you will be able to find many competent people who are able to provide the necessary services.

Sincerely yours,

Renee S. Levine
Philadelphia
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The one thing I really need mayor elect Michael Nutter to do is clean up Philadelphia. I'm talking about trash, not City Hall. (Although a good sweep through wouldn't hurt there either). I relocated to Philadelphia from New York approximately two years ago. A reason I often cited for leaving New York was that it was a dirty city. Well, little did I know I would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Because I have fallen in love with this city of Brother Love (and Sisterly Affection) there is no turning back. But the amount of trash and garbage shrewn about its streets turns my stomach. I tell people I feel at times that I am walking though a land fill. The first thing Mike can do is get some trash receptacles onto the streets. The next thing is to start a publicity campaign to encourage Philadelphia residents to CLEAN UP THIS TOWN! Surely, it has to be embarrassing to have a mayor from another city, make snide remarks about how dirty Philadelphia is. Connected to this issue of trash is recycling. It took New York a while, but by the time I departed, they had recycling down to a science. People recycled because IT WAS THE LAW! Philadelphia needs to get with the program. Help us out mayor-elect Nutter.

Denise Campbell
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The one thing I really need you to do is address the quality of life issues, which eventually lead to more serious problems. I'd like to see people held accountable for keeping their property clean and maintained (expand the C.L.I.P. and Anti-Graffiti programs). I'd like to have some kind of ordinance regarding the abuse of cell phones, i.e., talking while driving, talking loudly in public places, holding up customer lines in stores, banks, etc. I'd like to see the police issue tickets to drivers who "block the box", park on sidewalks, and have the volume turned up so loud in their vehicles that the windows vibrate . There is enough stress and anxiety in our normal everyday lives. By eliminating the above problems you can create a happier and healthier citizen, instead of someone who may be looking to leave the City.

Helen Gorman
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Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is to fix the Board of Revision of Taxes. The BRT sets the property values for our real estate taxes and the BRT hears the appeals by property owners. The appeal MUST be heard by an independent body and not the BRT so that the property owner can avoid filing a costly appeal in the Court of Common Pleas in order to get a fair hearing and decision.

Bill SJP'58/East Torresdale

Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is to address the casino situation when you take office. I've conceded to the inevitability that casinos will become a part of Philadelphia's future. We must now consider ways to offset the social costs that accompany these venues. I believe that Philadelphia can reduce the negative social impacts by implementing a bill designed to limit the flow of Philadelphia dollars into the casinos. It is illegal for native Bahamians to gamble in casinos on their islands; Philadelphia should draft similar legislation barring any Philadelphian from gambling in the city's casinos. That way, we'll be able to collect casino revenues from tourists while minimizing the criminal and social implications of gambling.

Aaron Wernick
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Yo Mike! Climate change. A great city cannot be obtuse on global warming. We need shade. Trees benefit us from streetscape to heat escape. And that public sharing in the benefit makes “plant a tree” a more complex endeavor in the city from the standpoint of responsibility. Some want city government to plant 23,000 trees. (Yes, with only about 12% of the recommended 40% tree cover, we need a lot of trees.) Some beseech private citizens to do so. We know it is some kind of combination and strategic coordination is sorely needed. As an example, last summer on my block 4 new trees (less than the need) suddenly appeared – from the PA Treevitalize program or some “tree wait list” - and within 3 months, 2 were dead (50%). The lesser quality of the trees and insufficient watering were too much for the too young trees to bear. Also, no one participated in the selection so that the best type of tree – e.g. size, growth pattern, hardiness, shade quality – was planted in each location. Elsewhere, some tree freebies have been planted by neighborhood associations and they are not street-worthy, shade trees. Planting curbside decorations on skinny trunks is a waste of resources and does not contribute to increasing beneficial tree canopy in our city. We need a coordinated plan of action that attacks all aspects of urban tree life: removal, pruning, selection, planting, and care, and a lot of government and private citizen action around getting it done and paid for. P.S. I am working with 4 neighbors – as private citizens - to plant 7 gorgeous trees on Fitzwater Street this June. Please call and come see!

Janet Lorenz

Today's e-mail entries:

The one thing I really need you to do is stop the speeding on Roosevelt Boulevard. There are cameras, large 45 MPH speed signs and warnings about a double fine for speeding but there is no one to enforce the warnings and speeding. Years ago, there were Fairmount Park Police. They were there on the Boulevard all the time. I think more police appearance and tickets given would help stop the speeding and accidents. This ticket money would create more revenue for our city.

Thanks,
Maria N. Formicola
Philadelphia, Pa.
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Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is…

…dress Philly up and take her out!

We all know Philadelphia doesn’t have the greatest reputation. Not so sophisticated, not so educated, not so fashionable, not so clean, not so skinny. Sadly, we are best known for cheese products and sports fan stories that would put your average European soccer hooligan to shame.

Philly is pretty well misunderstood. Sure, we have our share of difficulties (SEPTA, I’m looking at you), but it seems that even basic facts about our city go unrecognized. In college, I almost fist-fought a kid from Boston who insisted that his city was larger; ditto for the guy from Queens who suggested Philadelphia was “in the Midwest” (no offense, Midwest).

What about the fact that Philadelphia has some of the greatest restaurants, large and small (wid’ and wid’out cheesesteaks on the menu) in the country; or our diverse neighborhoods; or our top-notch universities, beautiful parks, farmers markets, hip (and maybe even sophisticated) arts, culture and nightlife? We’ve got history, style, heart, and authenticity! We’re not New York, or D.C., Chicago or Boston – and we don’t want to be. Philadelphia is not just the NEXT Great City, it was the FIRST Great City, and I for one am tired of taking the jabs. Sure, there are things we can learn from those other places (except you, Boston!), but let’s step up and show the rest of the country, and the world, why Philadelphia is an American city like no other.

Yo, Mike, I think you’re the man for the job. There’s a lot to be done, and I think you’ve got the plans to do it. Let’s dust her off and show the world what a great city really is!

Becki Brumbach
University City
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Mike – we are very excited for you to become the next mayor of Philadelphia, anticipating your open-mindedness, independent nature and vision to bring our city to levels our citizens have only dreamed of.

We heard your fellow Democratic candidates speak of education, schools in general and after school programs, but the discussion was perceived as centering on inner city programs. What is being done for urban white collar professionals who are hoping to remain in Center City (including our family in Northern Liberties) and sending their children to public schools?

There are very few public schools in Center City that most middle class and above parents would consider sending their children to, and the chances of getting into these schools are becoming more and more challenging.

What will you do to keep Center City families such as mine from loosing faith and moving to the burbs solely because of the schooling situation?

Thanks,
Marc Kravitz

More e-mail submissions:

"Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is ..." stop the status quo. The residents of this City is always paying for everything that is needed and/or improved upon. When will we get a break! Our wallets have more going out than what goes in. This is one of the reasons why people are leaving. Making this City attractive for people to move in is not helping the residents already here. The ball is in your court now Mike!

Janice Serrano
NE Phila
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Dear Mr. Nutter:

First let me congratulate you on your victory in the primary election.

What I would like to see is our Mayor working with the Governor's office and others in State Government, to repeal, rewrite, etc., the laws that effectively put hundreds of mentally ill persons in the streets of Philadelphia.

Ostensibly, the reason for their "release" is that they posed no physical threat or imminent danger to themselves or others. That was done with horrendous results. The fact that they cannot adequately care for themselves is evidence that they pose potential danger to themselves.

Some of our City's homeless are veterans who put their lives on the line serving our country; they now are hard pressed to find service for themselves. This is inconscionable.

We can do better.

Sincerely,

Dorothy Bailey
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Dear Mr. Nutter;
We are all concerned citizens of Philadelphia.
We are all members of the LIFE Program (Living Independently for Elderly). You may have seen an article about our program in the Sunday paper on May 27. We meet weekly as a group.

Our biggest concern, that we would like you to address is SAFETY. We think about this every day: Safety in the streets, safety on the playgrounds, safety at school and after school and safety in our homes.

This is what we think you should do:
• Get the guns off the streets.
• Do everything you can to stop the drug trafficking and gang wars.
• Work to make playgrounds safe places for children to play.
• Keep the kids safe going to and from school.
• Protect our homes.

These are our suggestions:
• Have a curfew for young people, and enforce it.
• Have more policemen on foot so their presence is known.
• Have a more organized way to dismiss school- like dismissing one class at a time.
• Encourage the neighbors to be involved with each other.
• Provide support for parents. We see from our children and grandchildren that being a parent is harder then ever. Parents
need more support.
• Help build our communities so we can feel closer to each other.
• Help clean up and fix broken streets so they are safer.

Thank you,

Mr. G. H. Parks
Ms. Juanita Cuthbertson
Ms. Frances Woolridge
Ms. Ruby White
Ms Inez Burwell
Ms. Lillian Ball
Mr. Oscar Boyd

The Visually Impaired Group at LIFE
4508 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139

Submitted on behalf of the group members by group facilitator Carol Martin Johnson, Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor at the LIFE.

And another e-mail:

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Yo, Mike!

Read Without Reservation, by Jeff Benedict.

I urge you to read Benedict’s book because I believe you to be both intelligent and moral, and that having read this book you will recognize that Pennsylvania has made a Faustian bargain with the casino industry and that unless we renounce this compact we will never regain our soul.

Much has rightly been said about the travesty of placing casinos on the waterfront; the danger to vulnerable citizens who become addicted; the promise of “jobs” which aren’t going to provide a decent wage. Less has been said about the addiction of governments to casino money. You will learn about this in Benedict’s book. And you will see that casinos present a real and present danger to democracy itself as governments accede ever increasing control to casino investors who step in to bail the state out of ever recurring shortfalls in exchange for greater spheres of influence, which extend from local governments all the way to the White House. Indeed, our current “reform” Democratic party has recently granted a loophole in the lobbying bill to the gambling industry.

Your win as the Democratic candidate for Mayor is a measure of what you represent to Philadelphia voters and to the success of the reforms you led which were critical to the outcome. We are counting on you.

Norma Van Dyke

Dear Mike,
PHA laid off over 300 taxpayers and then turns around and gives Carl Greene a RAISE, a multi-year contract with a two year Buy-out. As the head of PHA's board, what steps would you take to correct this injustice??

Thanks for your time
James E.

And more e-mails:

Yo Mike.....the most important thing I need you to do is to focus on JOBS and job training.......job training support through state and federal money will aim at poor folks who are at the moment closed out of the workforce......and JOBS will require your aiming at the business community to garner their support through wage tax reduction.

Judy Hartl,
Society Hill
Philadelphia PA
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Dear Mr. Nutter:
Yo, Mike - It is difficult to say what I think is the most important thing that needs to be done in Philadelphia. I am a lifelong resident and truly love this city.
Something must be done to change the image that Philadelphia has when you say you are from Philadelphia. I immediately proudly say that it is a wonderful city but I get a skeptical look from people. I wish I could say I knew how to improve our city but I think first something must be done about the murders in Philadelphia. If you could change just that one thing bring that number down.
Good Luck,
Myrna Schneider
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The one thing I would like you to do is tell me why I should be happy that my son wants to live and work in Philadelphia? The homicide rate is presently at 171 and now I’m reading about a guy who is taking cabs to and from his robberies right in the heart of the city. According to the 2007 stats released by the FBI, Philadelphia has seen a rise high above the national average in all areas of violent crime.
My son is majoring in journalism and has a minor in criminal justice at Drexel University. His internship with the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Safety gave him the opportunity to see your city from a very different prospective.
His experiences with the people of Philadelphia and your mayoral campaign have made a tremendous impact on him. New York City has always been his favorite city and I felt this would be his home after graduation.
No, it is Philadelphia! So, as a mother from a suburb in northern New Jersey, Mr. Nutter, please answer the question, “Why should I be happy that my son wants to live and work in Philadelphia?”

sandy cohen
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Ten years ago, non-uniformed municipal unions collaborated with city managers to spell out ways the city can save money and improve efficiencies in its operations. It’s called the Redesigning Government Initiative (RGI). We went from department to department, analyzing workplace processes, developing flowcharts, recommending changes in procedures. The RGI process resulted in substantial cost savings and improved efficiency, for example:

— In the city’s Criminalistics Lab, which conducts DNA testing and physical evidence analysis, procedural recommendations increased samples processing by several hundred percent,

—In Licenses and Inspections, the city’s complex licensing system was simplified and condensed, reducing processing time for various city licenses, as well as administrative expense for the city,
—RGI developed recommendations for expanding the Recreation Department’s Summer Food and After-School Snack programs for low-income children,
—And in the Revenue Department, the RGI committee weighed the cost of implementing travel audits vs. the revenue that could be collected from businesses located outside Philadelphia. Result? More than $1 million collected from 12 newly audited businesses.
RGI shows that the city’s unions can be a major partner in helping Philadelphia provide good government to its citizens. Please email me for a draft copy of the 2003 RGI report.

Thomas Paine Cronin, President
AFSCME District Council 47
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Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is to make the process for acquiring a nuisance property or a vacant abandon property, or an unattended lot less complicated and more available to interested neighbors or others of interest. Dirty trash strewn grafitti houses serve as hideouts for guns, drug dealers, users, prostitutes; places to relieve themselves and criminal activity. This is an unhealthy situation for all, but especially for our children and youth. Neighbors who maintain their properties, can't get decent insurance, nor can they enjoy beautiful scenery when they sit on their porches. This can be depressing to the human soul. Beautiful clean neighborhoods encourages good citizenship practices and positive attitudes which carry over into our schools and our communities, thereby, making our communities viable, decent places in which to live and raise our children. You have my vote, support, prayers and best wishes as you endeavor to make this great city even greater.

Martha L. Baysmore
Philadelphia, PA
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The one thing I need you to do is investigate the Philadelphia Prison System. The county jails on State Road in Northeast Philly are horrible. Rats, mice, roaches. Overcrowding. People coming from the police districts are stuck in holding tanks for 3-7 days @ CFCF with no chance to shower and sleeping on the cement floor. The guards are mean and always looking to fight an inmate. Very disrespectful and very unprofessional guards. There is no strip search coming into the jail. Supposed to be, but there's not - trust me, I know because I was there. C.O. homophobic, don't wanna look at a naked man. Breach of security. Do you remember a few years back when someone from PICC got stabbed in the holding cell while going to court @ CJC? How did the perp get the shank into the holding cell of court building? asked the newspapers. Now I know. When I went to court 8-29-2006 nobody searched me. Sheriff deputy checked my shoes, that was it. I could have had anything. Too many C.O.s bringing in cigarettes and marijuana and/or they allow it to come in through the VR. Very corrupt C.O.s, too many of them taking bribes. Too many C.O.s allow homosexual activity, even making jokes about homosexual activity among inmates. Too many C.O.s allow inmates to fight, especially C.O. Long at the Detention Center. I once seen a C.O. open someone's cell so that the block workers could jump him. This was in protective custody at DC. She thought it was funny until they wouldn't stop beating him on her command and she had to call for the emergency response team to get control of the situation, a situation she created. C.O.s are too quick to jump or mace an inmate because they feel disrespected. Not threatened, but disrespected. And allowing inmates to fight is gonna lead to a lawsuit if it hasn't already, because someone will get badly hurt. The inmates are locked down too often which causes restlessness and frustration. Only one guard on the block, they say. Must be two to open up for activity, they say. This is a job offering a lot of overtime, and it seems like there should always be someone willing to work O.T. And furthermore, why does the county jail need 2 C.O.s to work a housing unit with 100 inmates when in the Federal Detention Center, 7th & Arch, one C.O. works a block with 125 inmates? And @ FCI Fairton, the medium security federal prison in Cumberland County, NJ one C.O. works a block with 160 inmates. Maybe that 2 guard rule can be revisited. State Road is a riot waiting to happen. It has happened before, guards attacking inmates, guards jumping inmates, inmates fighting back and showing solidarity and kaboom, you got a riot on your hands. Trust me, it will happen again. Unless... Will you investigate? What are you prepared to do? Giving Leon King carte blanche was a huge mistake by John Street and Pedro Ramos. HUGE!! What will you do different? What are you prepared to do?

Carlos Johnson

yo mike, you hsould spin once a month at a local club. its crazy but you don't understand how much it would do for you and the city to just show up once a month at night. people would go out more and respect you so much more. it would also put the city way up on cool points. i think you should move around and hit a new venue every month. hit different demographics sometimes old, sometimes young, black, white, rock, hiphop. whatever jsut show up and spin.

Dear Mike (I'm not a native Philadelphian, so "yo" just doesn't come naturally to me):

There are many things I and the rest of us need you to do. But my one request here is this: When it comes time for you to appoint members of the School Reform Commission, please sit down and talk to parents and teachers, find out what we need, and then appoint people who have integrity, who actually care about serving the schools, and who won't abuse the trust we place in them. And then find a way to make these people genuinely accountable. Every day the news is filled with appalling stories of the SRC's duplicity, while we parents fight to make our voices heard in front of their blank stares and deaf ears.

Help us out!

"Yo Mike the one thing I need for you to do" is to think and act on how to educate and engage the many adults in the city who are unemployed. When looking at the report "Tale of Two Cities" you can see that "Over 60 percent of our city's residents are considered low literate, making it hard for them to succeed in higher education, compete for jobs, and advance in employment."

I know that there are many issues around the K-12 educational system in the city but it seems that the many adults in the city who do not have an education are being handled as a throw away concern. These adults are a resource that is not being looked at and engaged by the city of Philadelphia. "At the high school level, we see that 25 percent of our city's residents did not graduate..." Please note that I am talking about education not just "training programs" for adults. Many of these Philadelphians cannot perform in these training programs because their literacy levels are too low or their language skills are too low. Adults not only need education as an investment into their future but also foundation skills to help learn how to survive in a work environment.

We also need to have business invest in their workers and help build a stronger workforce. Your leadership is vital in that area. Our skilled labor (the ones who make the most money) in the city comes from the suburbs to work in high skilled occupations in the city in areas such as health care and education. We lose that economic base every night when they return to their home. How can we attract and maintain business that can't see the employable population in the city? Even the businesses that need labor that may not need a college degree (i.e., manufacturing) look for employees who have foundation skills who they can train. Also, we have few too many career ladders in place for our citizens and in some case they can not even get to the bottom rung due to their lack of literacy skills.

As a final note, "The most accurate predictors of educational success at all levels are the education level of mothers and family income." The children in our community need financially stable households to help them succeed in schools. We have so many young adults "...one in five students ages 16–24 are not working or in school." These young folks need to be engaged and directed away from the violence in this city.

Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is ... lead a change in the conversation - from this! or THAT! priority or impending disaster/opportunity to a new framing of the matter. Many of the excellent postings ask for your attention to specifics - but of course these would be the SAME ISSUES that existed before the upcoming 4-year term. So I ask you to look at the essential framing of those issues in light of today's circumstances, and in light of what we anticipate those conditions to be four years hence.

We already have some tips in that direction in this civic message board: Liz Dow posted that you should engage the 101 Connectors and Liz Robinson on energy consumption/efficiency and CO2 reductions as jobs generators among other benefits.

These both rely on you using your intellligence and experience in public life to step away from specifics which enwrap any sitting councilman. Imagine a new approach such as: electric rate caps come off in 2 years; global competitiveness is accelerating dramatically for all sides of American business and finance; the EU, and now the G8 plus World Bank et al are already imposing higher standards regarding carbon footprint, with loss of business as the most acute penalty; Gov. Rendell's jobs training money was shot down by the stubborn Republicans; jobless youth and depressed family structures derive from and drive hopelessness; UPenn's latest grad school is - believe it or not - a degree in Positive Psychology (the role of happiness in health, productivity, understanding, social well-being etc.) ...

Whew ... out of breath yet? Let's see what these, just these few, bring into being when we look at them as a holistic mesh, in three or four dimensions rather than as mesh simply connecting a wide variety of disparate points (issues).

1) many of these items are problems, rooted in what Dick Cheney might call "the Old Economy"; some are mired in it and some came into being to rise above it.

2) some are still stuck in the short-payback mentality which itself is rooted in old economics - the economics that says "economic growth" is the goal of human endeavor because it support less war, greater health, etc. etc. while some are redefining “payback” itself.

3) an eco-economy supports REGENERATIVE growth, rather than linear growth. It redefines "economic growth" such that the waste, death, disease, violence, lack of productivity due to widespread low grade depression and/or poor dietary health, are seen WITHIN the BALANCE SHEET and no longer are off the books costs. See McDonough’s Cradle to Cradle.

- -

OK, enough. I ask you to let us help you to CHANGE THE FRAME OF REFERENCE. Not just adopting a Six Sigma management philosophy or its ilk, but rather reframing the question in the light of today's and tomorrow's circumstances and opportunities. From my perspective the ONLY thing to drive this is climate change: you have two obligations now - reduce our carbon emissions (followed by our methane emissions) AND prepare us for adaptation to what even the least impact studes say is inevitable - shifts in energy cost & modes, same for transportation, the sources-types-costs of foods, the high global economic stress due to parts of the world to be devastated by even the low end projections, and so on.

Sorry. This is just the way things are.

We are here to help!!!

Bill Marston, AIA & LEED AP
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK members "Green Village Philadelphia" Ecocity Developers and the "Alliance for a Sustainable Future" wmarston at verizon dot net.

Greetings Mike! My thing for you to do is give us HOPE for our DREAMS. Please assist the SCHOOL District. Forget the "us /them" mentality and help teachers teach. As a parent, you can understand what goes on in schools. Help the District use what the have. Stop inventing the wheel; smaller class, books, the TV channel, parents. As for books, as a child I loved the public LIBRARY. I was too sad at the condition of the local libraries. How can we dream if we don't read.
It was a safe haven to relax during the summer just the the REC CENTERS provided a great outlet for youthful energy.

If it isn't broken, don't fix the tax abatement...

Congratulations Mike! Many of us are eagerly anticipating your leadership in Philadelphia. However, I would urge you to keep in mind the law of unintended consequences when addressing changes to the present tax abatement design. I believe that adding the 15 year abatement for less attractive areas of town is a good idea, but I believe it would be very dangerous to tamper with the 10 year tax abatement that has done such wonders for Center City. Dropping the abatement from 10 years to 5 years could have significant negative unintended consequences and derail one of the most positive influences on the city. Go ahead and see if 15 years stimulates growth in other parts of the city. If it does, it should pay for itself. But if the 10 year abatement isn't broken, please don't fix it.

Yo Mike,

The one thing I need for you to do is help me get a FREE venue and promotion/advertising for one night to gather Christians together to pray for Christian unity in Philly. To break down the awful racial, etc. divisions between Christians BY praying together. One night. One large, neutral (non-church) venue. Prayer expresses pain. When we hear of one another's pain we are united, b/c we all hurt similarly. We need to work smarter (united) not harder (separated). This worked in South Africa, helping to keep that country from civil war 15 years ago. If you help me get the venue,many will come. So very many are working so hard ALONE. I want to encourage them all and promote the true Christian unity for which Christ prayed: "I pray that all of them may be one...so that the world may believe"(JN 17:21).

Thanks, and God bless you!

Dr Ed Gross,
Pilgrim Church
Roxborough/Manayunk
215-483-8878 (ch)
215-482-1139 (hm)

Yo Mike,

I’m writing on behalf of the East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association’s Clean and Green Committee. Our Civic’s Boundaries are between Broad and 9th and Tasker and Snyder in S. Philly.

The big issue for us is TRASH. It’s everywhere and it is unrelentling. People also misuse street trash cans to dispose of their personal household garbage. This leads to piles of trash on every street corner.

We propose a massive television and media campaign to combat trash and to change peoples’ behavior. Perhaps we can enlist the volunteer efforts of several famous Philadelphians such as Bill Cosby and Sylvestor Stallone. We need to send a message that when you’re trashing your city, you're also trashing yourself.

Yours truly,

Jeff Goldman
S. Philadelphia

Some more comments via e-mail:
--------------------------
Yo, Mike,
Recreate the Mayor’s Business Action Team.
From 1988 to 2003, I ran the Firehouse Farmers Market at 50th & Baltimore. At first, MBAT was on our side. We’d have periodic visits. The questions were, “How’s it going?” “How can we help?” Slowly, MBAT collapsed.
Philadelphia now has several private Business Improvement Districts. Where BIDS exist, the MBAT representative should interact with the BID corridor manager and the individual businesses.
But small businesses should know you want them to be successful (and law-abiding). The MSB should learn private-sector helpfulness and efficiency.
The MBAT can be your own eyes and ears, your own stethoscope, if you will. The world may be a safer place for your not having gone to medical school, but Philadelphia will thrive with you as Mayor, and it will be all the more vibrant for your informed engagement with its streetcorner entrepreneurs.

Bill Coleman
Philadelphia
---
Yo, Mike!
Keep doing what you've been doing and being who you've been. Don't change! Philadelphia needs you just the way you are.

Marjorie Ogilvie, President
Business Association of West Parkside
---

Yo, Mike!

The one thing I need you to do is:
Help me get from here to there before next Christmas!
I can’t get to anywhere in Philly quickly anymore… Born and raised in Overbrook in 1961, I either took the Paoli local out of Overbrook station, or the “105” or “E” busses at their stops on City Line - I didn’t HAVE to drive. Now, I live in the Lehigh Valley, and it’s just not possible to get to center City or south Broad Street unless I allocate an extra hour for the Schuylkill. Going to the Flyers? Can’t do a weekday trip and still make the start of the game…. So we just don’t go anymore. It’s actually easier to get to Broadway than Broad Street! Please don’t make me have to sleep over just to see the opening face-off!
What we need is a comprehensive public transportation policy with dedicated financial support, including the further PHILADELPHIA suburbs like the Lehigh Valley, Reading, Lancaster, etc…. and improvements in flow on existing highways. Congestion is wasting our time and fuel and fouling our air, and is impeding Philly’s ability to be the Next Great City.

M.I.Rothman
Bethlehem, PA
---

Yo Mike!
The one thing I really need you to do is find an open-minded educator or administrator who is willing to try a free program that could eventually have all Philadelphia school children reading and doing math before first grade. Once you focus a spot light on how things could be done, other schools will be motivated to achieve the same results.
As a longtime educator who teaches dyslexic children to read, I am hopeful that you will utilize the services of people who can solve some of the city's problems. If we change the face of education in the city, we can give Philadelphia's children a chance at having a bright future.

Sincerely,
Karen Truncellito, M.S.
---

On July 3 I received a bill and penalty on a ticket from the parking authority that was written on June 2. I do not live in Philadelphia, and on the evening in question I was at a family reunion at my brother's house in New Jersey, so the ticket was written in error. My husband says that he has heard of this happening to others and that everyone says just to pay the fine because it will take too much time and money to fight. Needless to say, this is not engendering good will between city and suburbs. May I suggest that the ticketing officer be required to write down the make and model of the car along with the license number so that if the license number does not match the car, the ticket would be considered void? If you are concerned that the city will lose valuable revenue if the ticketing process is made more fair, perhaps the $46 can be deducted from the pay of the careless officer or ticket-transcriber.

Best of luck and thank you for your interest.
Michele Harbison

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