Livable Philadelphia

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Livable Philadelphia

• Megan Findley
• Amanda Taylor
• Laurie Klotz
• Margaret Bass

2
Philadelphia

• 5th largest city in US (by population)
• Population 1,517,550
• 45 white
• 43 African American
• 4.5 Asian
• 8.5 Latino
• 2000 Census

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Scanning Philadelphias Policy Issues

• Economic Revitalization
• Decentralization/Sprawl
• City/Suburban Tax Gap
• Public Transportation
• Open Land Preservation

• Industrial Pollution
• Education
• Housing Supply
• Crime
• Historic Preservation

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Issues in Focus

• Economic Revitalization
• Industrial Pollution
• Historic Preservation
• Education

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Economic Revitalization

• Characterized by decentralization
• 30 of workers employed in central city
• 18 of the Citys residents have higher education
• Median household income 30,746
• 22.9 live below poverty level

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Economic Revitalization Philadelphias
Universities

• More than half of the countrys universities are
  located in central cities
• Houses more the 80 colleges and universities
• Provides a spending impact that exceeds 6.4
  billion annually
• Provides unique resources and a mechanism to
  partner with surrounding businesses and
  governments

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Economic Revitalization The Knowledge Industry
Partnership
A coalition of civic, business, government, and
higher education officials collaborating to
improve the role of universities in the area.

• Goals
• Attracting talent to the region
• Creating an educated, skilled worker pool
• 3. Stimulating innovative and entrepreneurial
  activity

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Economic Revitalization A Partnership between
the University of Pennsylvania and West Philly
Goals 1. Promote Safe and Clean Neighborhoods 2.
Improve Single and Multi-Family Housing
Choices 3. Create a Penn-Assisted K to 8 Public
School
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Industrial Pollution

• PA ranks among top 10 worst power plant emissions
• PA 3rd worst power plant mercury emissions
• Philadelphia Co. has highest risks in state for
  exposure to air toxics
• Levels of air toxics are 279 times EPAs safe
  levels of carcinogens

Sources http//www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/cep/cph
i.asp

http//www.pennenvironment.org/reports/LethalLegac
yOctober2003.pdf
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Industrial PollutionKey Policy Issues

• Equity
• Minority Populations are at highest risk

• Public Health
• 35,405 asthma attacks
• 3,329 non-fatal heart attacks
• 1,825 premature deaths
• Philadelphia 4 in deaths per capita among metro
  regions nationwide

• Clean Water
• Ranks 5 with 53,962 miles of river under
  statewide mercury advisories
• Advisories extend to Great Lakes and connecting
  waterways
• Among Top 20 states for expenditures on
  recreational fishing

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Industrial Pollution Federal Legislation

• New Source Review
• Industrial base excused from modern air pollution
  standards

• Clear Skies Legislation
• Changes safeguards for downwind states
• Some of worst pollution comes from OH and other
  mid-western states

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Historic Preservation Benefits

• Benefits
• Protect historical cultural resources
• Promote community pride
• Encourage neighborhood revitalization
• Improve quality of life
• Limitations
• Restrictions of what homeowners can do to their
  property

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Historic Preservation Neighborhood Districts

• Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC)
• 10,000 historically designated sites, buildings,
  objects structures, districts
• 8 Historic Districts with at least 3 pending
  Districts
• Benefits outweigh restrictions
• Threats

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Education

• Poll data
• Funding
• No Child Left Behind
• Annual Yearly Assessments

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Education Key Policy Issues

• Volunteer projects childrens education
• Home depot book bins
• Reading stars
• Kids around town
• Discovery
• Funding Redistribution
• Declaration for Education
• School Reform Commission
• Charter Schools

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A Livable Philadelphia
Education
Economic Revitalization
Industrial Pollution
Historic Preservation