Can-do Philadelphia? Let's get out of our way

Nov. 11, 2007
The Philadelphia Inquirer

The day after his landslide election, Mayor-elect Michael Nutter put out a needed and welcomed plea to those who want Philadelphia to finally reach its real potential. Nutter invoked John F. Kennedy's call for the best and brightest to help him lead the way.

But rather than ask residents what they can do for the city, Nutter sprinkled his message with some in-your-face Philly attitude.

"We need to get over ourselves," Nutter said several times during a breakfast speech to several hundred community leaders.

Get over ourselves?

Nutter's blunt wording was in reference to the city's legendary inferiority complex.

"We need to get over ourselves at a certain level and stop being so envious of other places," he said. "We are not Boston. We are not New York. We are not D.C. We are not Chicago. We are not San Francisco, Atlanta, Orlando or anything else. We are Philadelphia and we need to be proud of it."

Beneath Nutter's mildly scolding tone, his message is hopeful. This city faces many challenges, but it also has many opportunities.

Nutter has asked for everyone's help. The time is now for citizens to heed his call.

He wants adults to volunteer for after-school programs. And businesses to double their number of summer jobs - to give young people hope, purpose and to keep them off the streets. "This is a shared responsibility," he said.

Nutter said making Philadelphia great isn't just the mayor's job. Wow, what a difference from Mayor Street, who often appeared to not want or need anyone's help. One councilman said this fall that he hadn't spoken to the mayor in four years. Perhaps pettiness is a two-way street, but it's no way to run a city.

One positive sign is Council's praise for Nutter's first appointment, Rob Dubow, as the city's next finance director. He's widely regarded as a straight shooter with unrivaled fiscal expertise. Trust will be a crucial component as Nutter and the new Council tackle the city's urgent budget challenges next year.

Partnerships among elected officials need to extend beyond the city limits. The Philadelphia region is home to powerful players at the state and federal levels whom Street too often failed to enlist. In Congress, Democratic Reps. Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz hold positions on key committees. Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) has more clout than some sovereign nations.

Philadelphia is well represented in Harrisburg. Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) chairs the House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.) is House speaker, and Rep. Josh Shapiro (D., Montgomery) is deputy speaker. Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) is Senate majority leader. And, of course, Gov. Rendell is Mr. Philly.

Nutter understands he needs to work with all of them. But getting everyone to help him is another matter.

In an interview the day after Officer Chuck Cassidy was fatally shot, Pileggi said gun violence in Philadelphia is "completely out of control." But he dismissed a legislative effort that would allow the city to limit gun purchases to one per month. He said any solution to the violence "has to come from Philadelphia to Harrisburg." Nutter has promised to try a wide array of aggressive crime-fighting tactics locally, but state and federal officials should recognize they, too, have a role.

No, we're not Boston or New York. But the new identity of Philadelphia depends upon how many people answer Nutter's call.