Just Don't Know What To Think About Philly These Days (Philadelphia: low crime, day care)

[selhars]

I just don't know how I feel about the city right now.
Is the glass half-empty, or half-full?

1) (Old news but....) We have a police commissioner that was picked from Oregon, and a city no where near comparable to Philly in size or crime stats. Has she been up to the job?

2) Now, we're going to have a school superintendent from a school district 1/10th the size of Philly's and no previous ties to the area at all. He's getting a 5 year contract -- from a district with about 20,000 kids and $190 million budget -- to Philly with 216 schools, 115,000 students, and a $3.9 BILLion budget. Are you kidding me?

3) I was on the Schuylkill Expressway yesterday for the first time in months. The pot holes are ridiculous. The number, the size, the depth. The road is like an obstacle course. The worst condition I've experience in years. I don't take the expressway often, at all. Maybe 3 times a year. Yesterday the road's condition just shocked me. And the pot holes elsewhere in the city are also just as bad, and numerous.

4) Then there's the corruption and bribery trials of local leaders.

5) The crime.

I suppose I see the city's potential. And of course there's the thread about the plan for Philly by 2035.
I just don't know what our leaders are thinking.
I'm Philly born and raised, and still live here. Although I really don't see any plus to it anymore.

It was actually the news about the schools pick, (THIS is what actually blew my mind. HE is the pick?) -- AND the pot holes, AND hearing about a day care robbery, AND the bribery trial -- all in one day that just was too much for me, I guess.

I just don't know what to make of it, sometimes. That's all.

[lpranger467]

It truly is too bad, hoping some real leadership could change things but dont think its too likely

[JacksonPanther]

Originally Posted by selhars

I just don't know how I feel about the city right now.
Is the glass half-empty, or half-full?

I suppose I see the city's potential. And of course there's the thread about the plan for Philly by 2035.
I just don't know what our leaders are thinking.
I'm Philly born and raised, and still live here. Although I really don't see any plus to it anymore.

It was actually the news about the schools pick, (THIS is what actually blew my mind. HE is the pick?) -- AND the pot holes, AND hearing about a day care robbery, AND the bribery trial -- all in one day that just was too much for me, I guess.

I just don't know what to make of it, sometimes. That's all.

Your city is poor. Dreadfully poor. Per capita income is not even close to cities that are doing better. Income matters. You can't be the poorest big city for decades, and think that has no impact.

[AshbyQuin]

Went to the Weaver's Way Market yesterday and had a great time.
I got a little jealous of how posh, quiet, a and green the neighborhood was and I live in the county. The suburbs get fetishized a great deal on this forum when there's neighborhoods in Philadelphia that blow away any mainline town out of the water.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by AshbyQuin

Went to the Weaver's Way Market yesterday and had a great time.

The one in Chestnut Hill or Mt. Airy?

Originally Posted by AshbyQuin

I got a little jealous of how posh, quiet, a and green the neighborhood was and I live in the county. The suburbs get fetishized a great deal on this forum when there's neighborhoods in Philadelphia that blow away any mainline town out of the water.

Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy easily beat out the suburbs where people inject heroin in broad daylight.

[AshbyQuin]

Originally Posted by ElijahAstin

The one in Chestnut Hill or Mt. Airy?


Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy easily beat out the suburbs where people inject heroin in broad daylight.

Mt. Airy. I usually stop by on my way home from the doctors office nearby. I might’ve bumped into you there?

[JamesJay64]

Originally Posted by selhars

I just don't know how I feel about the city right now.
Is the glass half-empty, or half-full?

1) (Old news but....) We have a police commissioner that was picked from Oregon, and a city no where near comparable to Philly in size or crime stats. Has she been up to the job?

2) Now, we're going to have a school superintendent from a school district 1/10th the size of Philly's and no previous ties to the area at all. He's getting a 5 year contract -- from a district with about 20,000 kids and $190 million budget -- to Philly with 216 schools, 115,000 students, and a $3.9 BILLion budget. Are you kidding me?

3) I was on the Schuylkill Expressway yesterday for the first time in months. The pot holes are ridiculous. The number, the size, the depth. The road is like an obstacle course. The worst condition I've experience in years. I don't take the expressway often, at all. Maybe 3 times a year. Yesterday the road's condition just shocked me. And the pot holes elsewhere in the city are also just as bad, and numerous.

4) Then there's the corruption and bribery trials of local leaders.

5) The crime.

I suppose I see the city's potential. And of course there's the thread about the plan for Philly by 2035.
I just don't know what our leaders are thinking.
I'm Philly born and raised, and still live here. Although I really don't see any plus to it anymore.

It was actually the news about the schools pick, (THIS is what actually blew my mind. HE is the pick?) -- AND the pot holes, AND hearing about a day care robbery, AND the bribery trial -- all in one day that just was too much for me, I guess.

I just don't know what to make of it, sometimes. That's all.

None of these are about your experience living in Philly besides potholes. Do you enjoy living here? I live in Center City and it's doing great lately. So many people and tourists out everywhere, lots of new restaurants opening, and the new development continues. I love living here, and it's a big city experience few other American cities can match - especially for so cheap.

1. The police commissioner definitely doesn't seem qualified enough for her job. That said - it's pretty clear the police are practically on strike. They don't walk the beat, don't direct traffic when needed (such as when lanes/streets are closed for work), and allow crimes to be committed in front of them. Krasner sucks as well. Additionally, COVID has impacted many cities the same way. Philly's crime rate mirrors national trends, both good and bad. Over 30 American cities set homicide records last year.

2. Give him a chance. The guy from Baltimore would've been a disaster, Baltimore City is one of the worst school districts in the country.

3. I agree. The potholes are terrible.I walk 98% of the time but just here in Washington Square, they are everywhere.

4. Local leaders are corrupt here, and in most large cities.

5. Crime - See above. Up everywhere, especially in large cities. Doesn't make it ok, but unless you're just done with city life, it probably won't be that much better in most American cities of similar size or bigger. This is anecdotal of course, but it has not impacted myself or any of my friends (as of now).

It sounds like you should avoid the news for a week, as everything you mentioned impacting your experience seems to have come from there... besides potholes. If you enjoy living your life here based on your OWN experience, maybe you'll start feeling better about things. If it makes no difference, it sounds like you may want to try somewhere new.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by AshbyQuin

Mt. Airy. I usually stop by on my way home from the doctors office nearby. I might’ve bumped into you there?

Not I. I haven’t been to that Weavers Way in ages, or the one in Chestnut Hill, for that matter.

Incidentally, the best Weavers Way, by far, is in Ambler. I think Ambler will really take off in the next ten years a la Doylestown and Media. The new Mattison Estate development should help bring things to the next level.

[mphilly]

Are potholes on the Schuylkill Expressway even the city’s responsibility? I’m almost certain that’s PennDot. I’m not saying the roads are good in the city but you can’t blame the city for potholes on interstates.

[selhars]

^^ That my be true.
And heaven knows Philly gets soooo much respect in Harrisburg, that when Philly leaders go ask for money or a service, we get it. (sarcasm)