Philadelphia Business Leaders Partner With Brookings Institute to Further Develop Global Image (Lancaster: 2013, rent)

[Duderino]

I think some folks are being a little too hard on the current Philly reputation.

No, Philly doesn't of course have a near-spotless image quite yet, but in my interactions with non-natives over the past 5 years years (mostly those from other areas of the Northeast), for every negative comment I've heard about the city (mostly related to cleanliness), I've heard at least 3 others that are very positive (remarks about great food, fun places to go, great culture, personable people, etc).

I'd say that most people, particularly those "in the know" about cities and are actually well-traveled, are sophisticated enough to understand that Philadelphia is large, vibrant city with much to offer, although it does have some challenges with things like poverty, crime and blight. But certainly the positives outweigh the negatives. In addition, I think more folks are realizing that more "alpha"-type cities like NY, SF and DC are simply not worth the cost/immense stresses that come along with day-to-day life in those types of places (at least, if you're not part of the 1%). Philly, probably more than any other city in the US, perfectly fills the void of the large and traditionally urban city on a much more livable and approachable level for the middle-class. That's an enormous asset.

This type of nuanced reputation is especially true within the Northeast Corridor region, but especially since Philly's tourism numbers have grown pretty substantially (Philadelphia region saw record 42 million visitors in 2016), it's clear that this more positive reputation is reverberating in more far-flung domestic and global areas. It's just a matter of the city pushing this momentum forward to continue to building on the positives, and the negatives are sure to slowly-but-surely diminish.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by MB1562

When I traveled to Europe a few years ago, and China this past summer, the only things I heard when I said I was from Philly were Rocky, Cheesesteaks, and Fresh Prince. One Chinese guy that I knew said he had heard of a “a cracked bell, or something like that.” A lot of Americans also still think of Philadelphia as a crime infested slum, mostly forgotten between New York and Washington. We need to start making the average person aware of our world class hospitals, universities, urban living and dining, the arts scene that has been priced out of New York, etc. Outdated movie references and disgusting foods are not things other world class cities tend to be known for.

Also, we need to dump the political machine that has run Philadelphia for the last 60ish years. Brady needs to go away, as does our mayor, most of city council, Johnny Doc, and anyone else associated with the Democratic Machine. That doesn’t mean electing Republicans, because nobody wants that. But it means electing a young, uncorrupted crop of progressives with a modern, forward thinking attitude to bring the city to what it really could be. That is why transplants who aren’t just okay with “this is how it’s always been done” and actually like living in the city are crucial to its future. Native Philadelphians (in general, not all) tend to be a huge roadblock to progress.

Your first paragraph is pretty much what cpomp was talking about. The restaurant scene, with generational changes in chefs, has been exceptional for a long, long time. Why don't more people know about it? How do we distinguish ourselves because the closeness to NY will always be there. Penn has an international alum base. Why don't we tap those individuals more often?

Saying we need to dump machine politics is obvious but until a new generation makes moves to do so it still seems way off.
What we need is youth as you say. Ironically it was reforming Democrats who destroyed the Republican machine that was there before. Someone does want to challenge Brady in the primary this year. We'll see what happens.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

We will always be living in the shadow of New York, with an inferiority complex because of it.

There should be no inferiority complex inspite of NY. Not too long ago NYC came close to imploding from crime , physical decay and bankruptcy. So NY has not always known how to manage itself.

The fact that the country was born here is reason enough to never feel inferior to NY.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

There should be no inferiority complex inspite of NY. Not too long ago NYC came close to imploding from crime , physical decay and bankruptcy. So NY has not always known how to manage itself.

The fact that the country was born here is reason enough to never feel inferior to NY.

I agree, Boston and DC don't live in the shadow of NYC, they don't think they do either, neither should Philadelphia.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by kyb01

There should be no inferiority complex inspite of NY. Not too long ago NYC came close to imploding from crime , physical decay and bankruptcy. So NY has not always known how to manage itself.

The fact that the country was born here is reason enough to never feel inferior to NY.

I personally do not feel we are inferior to NYC, but I think many do. I like Philly a lot better than NYC, which honestly I avoid unless I have to go there for work. NYC seems fake to me, and is more transient than Philly. It is also G*d awful expensive, and way overrated.

[thedirtypirate]

Our sports teams are trying to expand their overseas presence with games in London.

The Sixers are on today vs. the Celtics at 3PM in London. The Eagles announced this morning that they will be playing the Jaguars next year there too.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I agree, Boston and DC don't live in the shadow of NYC, they don't think they do either, neither should Philadelphia.

Boston has an advantage in being the capital of New England and it has no big urban center, closeby, to compete with. DC is the seat of our federal bureaucracy so ....

[Pilot1]

I think Philly has been on the upswing in SPITE OF its leadership, and Johnny Doc, etc. Just look at all the construction, and how the sky line has changed in the last thirty years. Also, a lot of run down areas have been gentrified, improved, and now considered valuable real estate. Yes, it still has its warts, but so does everywhere else.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

I think Philly has been on the upswing in SPITE OF its leadership, and Johnny Doc, etc. Just look at all the construction, and how the sky line has changed in the last thirty years. Also, a lot of run down areas have been gentrified, improved, and now considered valuable real estate. Yes, it still has its warts, but so does everywhere else.

When did you come back to the area? How did you feel about the changes you saw(good or bad)? Sounds like it was primarily positive for you.

Weirdly, IBEW 98 union bldgs are neighbors of mine. One of their buildings was a total eyesore previously. Now it's not. I have mixed feelings about their influence politically.

[kyb01]

As a reference point to posting in this thread, it might be useful to re-look at, "Does Philly have the worst perception problem...." on the city vs city board. There are new posts in that thread.