Great Expectations

The Reform/Leadership piece is indebted to "...and the indefatigable Dan Fee"--isn't he the spokesperson for Sugarhouse Casino? I see him as the spokesperson for the corrupt political process that brought the crisis of unwanted casinos into Philadelphia's neighborhoods. I've watched him give out misleading information regarding the economic impact of casinos on nearby communities. I have also learned that the gambling industry exploits the revolving door between government and industry, a dynamic that is well known to foster government corruption. (This is a huge story that the Inquirer would find LOTS of information about if it would return to it Pulitzer Prize-winning tradition of excellence in journalism.) It is not reassuring that a "reform" agenda is being written with a "communications consultant" who worked on the campaigns of Gov Rendell, Mayor Street, and City Council President Anna Verna but who now represents Sugarhouse Casino in its fight against the citizens of Philadelphia who are having to work very very hard to defend their neighborhoods against the negative impact of nearby casinos--and defend their homes against the confused priorities of the Governor and the Mayor. Deep sigh. I thought it would take a little longer for the "Citizens Agenda" to be gamed by the system that has already brought us the problems of corruption and bad information.

If the city's reform agenda is being written by people who are pushing the casinos, we're in a lot of trouble. These casinos are the result of a process that represents the worst of the old back-door dealing Philadelphia politics. I hope Philadelphia's expectations are a bit greater than that.

I don't know how much space is allovated here-so I'll write till I'm stopped. On transportation I believe there is nothing more important than the extension of the Broad St. Subway to Byberry Road in the NE.Under the leadership of the City Planning Commission this project was taken to the third step-which was a study of engineering and environmental concerns. Lacking the necessary funds, it was put on hold. There were several factors impelling this project. 1) The Clean Air Act mandating cities to clean their air or face loss of federal$. 2)The NE is our ciy's largest and most populous areas lacking a viable mass transit sytem. Just look at the Boulevard with its traffic and fatalities. The NE has industrial parks and commercial areas not easily reached by mass transit from other sections of the city. 3)When we seek to host major events our two arteries are clogged (# 76 &# 95). Leading national transit authorities identified this project as a high quality and necessary one. Then there is the impact on our economy and neighborhoods. The numbers and quality of the jobs that would be created in the construction and operation of this system are strong incentive. Further, the economic plus for the neighborhoods adjoining the stations is more reason. There are studied estimates on how much traffic would be removed from our terribly overcrowded arteries.
Next I want to suggest that our region concentrate on becoming a world recognized center of advanced Nanotechnology. No one appears to be staking a claim to be such at this time. Itis well known that all scientific and medical fields will be dramatically impacted by this technology. Individual projects in this field are procedding at Drexel and the U. of P. Oonly has to look at how the Silicon Valley developed an economic and technological engine for California. Other areas are staking their futire on stem cell research. But even that field will be impacted by nanotechnology. It can serve as an impetus for attracting and keeping some the brightest. Further, as a developing field it would serve to inspire our schools to train people for this field. Our area is rich in research capabilities, chemical an pharmaceutical and manufacturing resources.We would have a head start in this future boon.
I would like to add additional ideas,but I have to go now.

Just to clarify: Dan Fee was a spokesman for both John Street and Ed Rendell during his career as a political consultant, and did a lot of work in Harrisburg.
He's one of the smarter, more candid observers about how politics works, or doesn't work, in this state.
We talked to him for his thoughts on how the city could do a better job of making its case in Harrisburg (i.e. the leadership/regionalism piece of the issue).
He had nothing to do with the campaign/ethics reform piece.
The comment from MB rather aggressively overinteprets and misinterprets a simple note of polite thanks to someone who spent some time on the phone answering our questions.
Chris Satullo

I strongly disagree with a previous comment about there being "nothing more important than the extension of the Broad Street Subway to Byberry Road". Here's why: 1) The Northeast is already served by three Regional Rail lines (Trenton, W. Trenton and Fox Chase). Service could be radically improved and increased for much less than the $2 billion(?) that a subway would cost, and they cover most of the Northeast instead of a narrow slice up the Boulevard. 2) The density is not there for enough walk-on ridership to sustain a subway (esp. past Cottman) so space for numerous parking lots/garages would have to be cleared and security maintained. Remember, the El and present Subway go through areas of extraordinary density. Just the walk from one side of the Blvd. to the other is a hike. 3) Most riders who don't drive would have to ride feeder buses, greatly reducing the speed and convenience of the commute. 4) The extension would be hotly opposed by many as being a conveyor belt from one of the most high-crime areas in the country, North Philly, triggering the ghettoization of the Northeast. The expected sanctimonious cries of "racism" will not change this political reality. 5) The days of gold-plated systems mostly paid for by the feds are over.

The Nov. 28 article "Time to get a move on" says the "interstate system is nearly complete, except for that pesky Turnpike-Interstate 95 interchange".

This interchange is a good example of "foolish consistency". Many of those routinely calling for this billion-dollar interchange--"The Connector"--have a fundamental misunderstanding of its purpose and its consequences. This is primarily a development project, not a solution to a transportation problem.

Yes, traffic coming all the way north to Bristol has to exit onto four-lane secondary roads for a six-minute, uncongested ride between the interstates. But most traffic going from 95 to the NJ Turnpike disperses long before Bucks County; in fact, most long-distance travelers use the Delaware Memorial Bridges, never entering Pennsylvania. That's the "problem" to developers in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia in particular). They want SE Pennsylvania to be "on the map"--regardless of the massive congestion this would cause to existing 95 (some 20,000 more vehicles/day according to proponents) and the fact that long-distance drivers would actually be traveling farther using the Connector than they do now.

If this is built, I-95 will look like rush hour for most of the day, and rush hour will be impossibly jammed. Then we'll be discussing hugely expensive and disruptive widening of I-95 to return us to the capacity we had in 2007.

But the casinos will be making a killing.