What your neighbors are saying
about the issues in the race
for the Next Mayor

The next mayor of Philadelphia must bring together diverse interests and an eclectic group of people in the city and surrounding suburbs in order to move our region into a secure and prosperous future.

Join the Counter Intelligence Unit as we travel the tri-state region, stopping in
neighborhood lunch counters, diners, barbershops, corner stores and other special events to
listen to your views on the issues and suggestions for the next mayor.

Mission 6: "Web-sclusive" Building from Strength II

What can we learn from people from regions where cooperation between municipal governments is not a foreign concept? In May, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission held a coference called "Building from Strength II: More Strategies for Older Suburbs and Boroughs." The conference brought together elected and appointed officials of older developed communities of the Greater Philadelphia region.

One of the highlights of the daylong conference in Trevose, Bucks County, was a panel discussion during which attendees were invited to "Meet the Mayors" - mayors of four suburban boroughs from the region who would share stories about facing the challenges of an older suburb.

The Counter Intelligence Unit was on the scene, taking full advantage of the continental breakfast and looking for any signs of a thaw in the city-suburb relationship in the Greater Philadelphia region. (Posted 9/5/06)

Keynote speaker Thomas Adams, the Mayor of Green Oaks, Illinois and chairman of the Chicagoland region's Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, talks about the benefits that can happen when a large central city and its surrounding suburbs come together.

Mayor James Maley, mayor of Collingswood Borough, Camden County, New Jersey, says that smaller boroughs need to be given more autonomy on how they can raise revenue and explains that people who live in the Philadelphia area seem hesitant about this thing call "regionalization."

Even after listening to Mayor Adams explain ways in which Chicago and the surrounding suburbs work together, any references to Philadelphia were conspicuously absent from any of the four suburban Philadelphia panelists.

Coming soon! Counter Intelligence bypassed the elected officials and went straight to the people in the suburbs to find out what they think about Philadelphia, the mayor's race and their own towns' relationships with the city.

Previous Counter Intelligence Missions

Mission 5: "Web-sclusive" If These Wards Could Talk

As important as name recognition, a clear message and a plan for governing are for the success of any candidate, having an effective field operation is also key. Elections, especially primary elections, can be won and lost on the ward and division level. Philadelphia is divided into 66 wards, each with a Republican and Democratic ward leader. Each ward has several divisions, smaller units that cover a few city blocks. There are a total of 1681 divisions citywide, each of which can have up to two Democratic and two Republican committeepersons. These are the people at the polls on Election Day and who work to get out the vote. Candidates who run afoul of ward leaders can often find their chance for electoral success in jeopardy.

The Committee of Seventy recently sponsored a forum in which current and former ward leaders came together to share their stories about recruiting volunteers, endorsing candidates and being integral parts of a political machine. The Counter Intelligence Unit was there and brings you highlights from the event. (Posted 7/27/06)

Click on wards for a map of each individual ward. Click here for the ward map of the city (Adobe Reader required).

Zack Stalberg of the Committee of Seventy explains why it's important to know how the party structure works and shares an interesting story about the lengths one former ward leader went to in order to retain his position.

Marian Tasco, city councilwoman and Democratic leader of the 50th ward explains how ward leaders are often faced with the decision of whether or not to support the candidate endorsed by the party.

David Oh, Republican leader of the 3rd ward, talks about being the "single Republican" in his ward and having to recruit committeepersons, essentially building a structure from scratch.

Republican ward leader Priscilla Cohen from the 30th ward, wants to get young people involved and believes that the city would be better served with two strong political parties.

Former 1st ward Democratic leader Jimmy Tayoun says that people get involved in the party machine for different reasons but all fight like mad to keep their positions.

Mission 4: "Web-sclusive" Lunch with the Mayors

Earlier this spring, the Counter Intelligence Unit attended a forum called "Reinventing Older Communities: People, Places and Markets" hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. A highlight of the event was "Lunch with the Mayors." As Philadelphians prepare to choose the person who will lead the ongoing reinvention of the city and the region, it's important to hear from other mayors who have faced similar challenges. (Posted 7/18/06)

Discussion moderator Paul Levy, President and CEO of Center City District in Philadelphia, gives an overview of the opportunities and challenges facing all American cities.

Hon. Donald Plusquellic, Mayor of Akron, OH on dealing with the loss of a city's primary industry

Hon. Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, PA on the loss of downtown retail and the aftermath

Hon. Jim Shaw, Mayor of Rapid City, SD on how innovation and investment in high technology are rebuilding an economy devasted by the loss of mining jobs

Hon. James Baker, Mayor of Wilmington, DE with some blunt talk about the importance of cities for the nation's future

 

Mission 3: Bloggers

Writers in the progressive blogosphere have offered many policy suggestions.
Now they share their opinions on the issues with the Counter Intelligence Unit!
(Posted 6/16/06)

Mission 2: The Platinum Image Barbershop

In the Kingsessing neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia, the Counter
Intelligence Unit visited a small business where people chatted about
crime, taxes and the conditions of the neighborhood while waiting for a
haircut. (Posted 6/9/06)

Mission 1: The Oak Lane Diner

The Counter Intelligence Unit visits the famous Oak Lane Diner in one of
the city’s most diverse and interesting neighborhoods. (Posted 6/1/06)