Next Mayor Must Think Regionally

Feb. 28, 2007 
By Steven Conn, 
a Philadelphia native who teaches history at Ohio State University

Now that the Democratic primary for mayor has kicked into high gear, the next several months will surely demonstrate the wisdom of Tip O'Neill's adage that "all politics is local."

There is nothing more local than the kinds of issues that bring voters out for a mayor's race: potholes in the streets; the condition of the school down the street; and, most tragically, crime on the streets. Important as all those local questions are, this is the moment to recognize that Philadelphia sits in the middle of a larger region and that the city's future hinges on the region's.

Perhaps now is the time for candidates to articulate a regional agenda. Four areas are of critical importance and offer considerable opportunities for city-suburban cooperation:

Regional transportation. Throughout history, the growth of economies has depended on the ability of things and people to move around. The region's transportation system still funnels through the city, but that infrastructure is already overtaxed. In particular, the region's roads are at or near capacity. Future mobility clearly lies with public transportation - and that means that the future lies with SEPTA. Stop snickering. True, SEPTA as it is currently managed is almost hopeless. But it's good to remember that, as much as we may enjoy complaining about it, we have a public transit infrastructure in the region that is the envy of all but about three other places in the nation. Making SEPTA work will make the whole region work better. There is no reason that can't happen.

Regional culture and tourism. By anyone's best estimate, tourism is now the world's single largest "industry," and, by any measure, the Philadelphia region does not get nearly as much of it as it could. The region has an astonishing collection of cultural assets, from parks and arboreta to museums and historical sites, and much else. The tourist economy comes through the city first - but to persuade visitors to stay longer and spend more, it will take advertising and coordinating destinations around the region more effectively. And it means looking seriously for dedicated regional funding for the arts and culture. In a postindustrial economy, public money spent to improve the region's cultural infrastructure is a wise investment.

Water. Whatever else may divide Jerseyites from Pennsylvanians, working-class from upper-crust, suburbanites from city dwellers, Republicans from Democrats, we all share one basic thing: water. In this shared resource is a tremendous opportunity for regional cooperation. Just consider what is developing along the Schuylkill from the city all the way to Valley Forge. Planning for the Delaware River, likewise, needs to encompass the whole stretch from South Philly to Trenton. Restoring some of the tributaries that feed into the big rivers, to make the whole watershed function as it should, not only helps solve flooding problems. It also creates green spaces and recreation assets from which all of us benefit. The water, after all, doesn't care about our petty differences.

Sustainability. The whole region needs to pursue a "sustainability" agenda. Sustainability is the goal of providing for our current needs in ways that preserve resources for future generations. Without really trying very hard, Philadelphia has emerged as a national leader. According to one 2006 report on the 50 largest American cities, Philadelphia ranked eighth overall on an index of sustainability, even higher in specific areas such as public transit, water quality, access to local food, and developing a "green" economy. With a serious regional commitment to a sustainability agenda, the region could position itself ideally to prosper as energy prices rise; as people desire healthier, tastier food, and as the "green" sector of the economy grows in the next generation. A greener, more sustainable region will attract new residents and businesses looking for the benefits of a sustainable region.

Looking, in other words, for a real, fresh Jersey tomato. Potholes need to be fixed; drug dealers need to be shut down; the city's tax structure needs to be overhauled.

But the city's future is hitched to that of the whole region - and vice versa. It is time that politicians on both sides of the city line take that truism seriously.

Steven Conn's most recent book is "Metropolitan Philadelphia: Living with the Presence of the Past." To comment, e-mail conn.23@osu.edu