When will Philadelphia start GAINING population?

[brattpowered]

$10 a gallon gas will do it. The folks that fled will be fleeing back in. I live in a car-centered city and this gas deal is bleeding me dry. I'm considering moving to Philly because I am originally from the Northeast, it is cheap, and I can live car-free.

[TracySam]

"...it is important to point out the actual number of murders is down about 20% compared to last year (as of today: 163 compared to 203 in 2007)..."

But it's only July, we can still top last year if we all try hard enough!



Aside from the record-breaking murder numbers each year, I'm very concerned with the small time crime. The arrest rates are not great, as small crime are allowed to run rampant. I believe in Rudy Giuliani's "broken windows" theory. Attack the small crimes, which are very plentiful and very public, and let people know they won't get away with those crimes, while meanwhile you strategically go after the big crimes as well.

When people see everyone getting away with things like:

-driving the wrong way on one way streets
-spray painting graffiti on everything
-selling and buying small amounts of speed, crack, and oxycontin
-vandalizing property

they get the idea that they are not safe.

And have you driven around South Philly lately? Just blocks away from the sports arenas, there are cars double and triple parked in the middle of the street. This gives the message "we don't care about enforcing the law, do whatever you want."

Regarding transportation: I am not a public transit rider, but when I worked in Northeast Philly for 12 years, my clients mostly all road SEPTA. The big problem is that in some areas of the city "you can't get there from here" if you use SEPTA.
People wanting to go east to west would have to take a bus south, transfer in Kensington (big drug capital) and then take another bus north, going miles and miles out of the way, because nothing ran east to west in that area.

This stuff all really breaks my heart; I hate to trash Philly. It's the cradle of our great country, but it has clearly deteriorated, perhaps beyond repair. But I hope the optimists like Duderino are right.

[Joe84323]

It already has. You'll see it in the 2010 census.

[Ant$]

Originally Posted by Tone509

FWIW, I voted for Sam Katz when he last ran for mayor. He seemed centrist enough for me and I wasn't thrilled with John Street.

i'm a bleeding heart liberal, and I voted for Sam Katz. he would've been a great mayor.

I went to JR Masterman with Sharif Street (John Street's son), and i respect him a lot. but his dad did a horrible job as mayor...

[Ant$]

Originally Posted by TracySam

And have you driven around South Philly lately? Just blocks away from the sports arenas, there are cars double and triple parked in the middle of the street. This gives the message "we don't care about enforcing the law, do whatever you want."

growing up in south philly, i think double parking is considered a south philly tradition...

[Miami305Kid]

I agree, it has to do with crime. North Philly, West Philly, and parts of South Philly are ghetto. Once Philly cleans up those areas than more people will be able to live in different places in the city (instead of everyone trying to live in Northeast philly or Center City)

[InsaneTraveler]

Population Inches Up in Philadelphia | Planetizen

Philadelphia is gaining population again.

[Shizzles]

I think Philadelphia is beginning to stablize in many ways and has good things going for it, however, the problem is while one nabe begins to get better, another declines. South Philly, Fishtown, Inner West Philly, etc are all on the up. However, then you have Lower NE, West Oak Lane, Southwest, etc that seem to hit new lows with every passing year.

So in short, the city as a whole is largley holding it down. However, it's more a matter of the core becoming wealthy while the periphery turns to ghetto.

[pman]

I thought west oak lane has improved a lot. the lower NE has problems but mayfair seems to be holding strong. chstnut hill is stil fine, mt. airy has improved, and germantown is showing improvement as well so it's not quite as simple as that. however, the basic point that growth hasn't dramatically outpaced decline is pertinent. and the inky's recent series on the criminal justice system supports the idea that the police aren't the problem.
Justice: Delayed, Dismissed, Denied: Part 1 | Philadelphia Inquirer

if some basic problems such as zoning and crime are reformed, Philly could really start to change.

[thekish]

Originally Posted by PhillyPhan

i'm just curious to what people think about the population issue in philly. ever since the 50's, philly's population has been on a steady decline. we've lost almost 500,000 residents in those years. and we've slid from the 3rd largest city (we were even ahead of Los Angeles for a while!) to the 6th largest city. so do any of you think that we will actually turn this around?

It won't turn around until we elect some Republicans. The city wage tax needs to be lowered. Crime is way to high. The amount of garbage is a disgrace. The schools are a disgrace.

I would like to live in the city if the city would actually do something about some of the problems I mentioned. I see great old buildings that I would love to buy and fix up but the neighbors are all criminals.

PS. Phoenix's grouth is distorted. They have extended their boundries. It would be like Philly anexing Bucks and Montco.