It’s time for a bolder vision, stronger leadership, and a higher level of expectations from all of us who live and work here.
Better is possible. It’s time for
A Greater Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is a city with enormous assets and amazing people.
Yet it ranks worst or 2nd worst among large cities for poverty, education, murders per capita, and income inequality. Our city has been held back by a shortage of leadership, an absence of vision, and the tolerance we have collectively developed for failure.
“Better is possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence. It takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all, it takes a willingness to try.”
— Atul Gawande, author
Our Mission
The mission of A Greater Philadelphia is to raise expectations and thereby better the lives of Philadelphians. We aim to engage unsatisfied but hopeful people who share a vision of the greater city and region that Philadelphia can be — and build a coalition to work together to demand better: better leadership, better management, better city services, better opportunities for city residents.
A Greater Philadelphia will advocate for the city to embrace a more ambitious and far-reaching vision. We will engage communities in dialogue about opportunities and priorities through a wide range of activities and events. We will survey community members and share findings with the public. And we will partner with other organizations to encourage advocacy and civic engagement at a grass-roots level.
If you’ve visited or done business in other cities, you know our problems aren’t as unsolvable as our officials make them out to be. Governing is hard. Nobody says it’s easy. But vision, leadership, problem-solving, and ownership — that’s the job description. We, residents and voters, have to say “enough!” We have to expect better ... of our leaders, of our city, and of ourselves.
Fifty years ago, Philadelphia was America’s 4th largest city. Since then the city has fallen to 6th, losing nearly 20% of its population along the way. We are on pace to fall to 9th by 2040. Today our unemployment rate is nearly double the national average. We’re even struggling with the basics. Compared to most cities, our streets are dirtier. Our potholes are more plentiful. We make starting and maintaining a small business harder. All of this affects not just city residents — also the surrounding communities and states.
The City has increased its budget by a billion dollars since 2016. That represents a 25% increase in spending. In other words, our government got a lot bigger. Yet residents say city services have gotten worse. In the 2019-20 Resident Survey, just 31% rated overall city services “good” or “excellent,” down from 35% three years earlier. Those responding “poor” rose from 17% to 23%. Ratings declined on nearly all of residents’ top-priority issues: streets and sanitation, police, health services and education. These ratings came before the pandemic.
We have enormous assets. Incredible history. Amazing people. Distinctive neighborhoods. Diversity. A unique and advantageous geography. Colleges, universities, and health care institutions that are the envy of the world. How have we not accomplished more?
It’s time for higher expectations. It’s time for A Greater Philadelphia.
