Jobs and Economic Development Discussion Group at the Perzel Community Center

A City That Works - May 7, 2008

There were six or seven people in the Jobs and Economic Development group.  Participants wanted to focus, at first, on strategies and personal anecdotes, but soon embraced the task.  -- Moderator Benjamin Cromie

What does this goal mean to you?

• A sustainability/ smart plan.

• Promote equal opportunity.

• Cut the gross-receipts tax.

• Focus on the city’s population growth and reaching out to new populations.

• Consider the tension between jobs and taxes.

• Green energy.

Performance measures (What would success look like?):

• The best measure for success is population growth – make the city grow!

• The city should set specific reductions in the tax burden; but they have to know the trade offs!

• The unemployment rate should drop 10 percent each year.

• Retain 6 percent more college graduates each year.

• Increase the size of new immigrant populations by 1 percent each year.

• Judge success in economic development by an increase in the tax base (and tax revenues) each year.

• Increase the average wage

• Recycle 25 percent of our solid waste (involve kids).

Customer-service standards:

• “I want to get the right person the first time I call.”

• City government should speak your language (literally; or use phone company language line).

• “The city should reach out to me” to help me get the most of city services.

• There should be an online and local City Hall.

• I want simple and easy permitting.

• The city should focus on education; tell me what I need to know to run a business in Philadelphia.

• They should provide the ability for me to rate my customer satisfaction.

• Every city council person and mayor should use Septa one day per week.