Pope's Visit: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Philadelphia: university, closing)

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

The jury is, of course, still out on decision the host the pope-related events in Center City. Nevertheless, I could predictably see these pages light up if the pope spent time in NY and DC and skipped over Philly. Successfully hosting this event has the potential to result in more than just a few thousand happy Catholics. Regardless of what people think of him, the pope is a powerful world leader. As such, his travels are covered by the global media. As the last stop on his first US visit, culminating with an outdoor mass for a million or so faithful, these two days will garner world attention. If we take advantage of this opportunity, the world will learn what we know: that Philly is an amazing city. This will result in more than just civic pride (which seems surprisingly lacking to this transplant); there will be payback in the form of increased tourism over time.

I like the analogy that we should treat these few days as a snow storm: the roads are impassable, transit is compromised, cars are towed from snow routes, and people are unable to leave their neighborhoods. In that instance, what do we do? We hunker down for a few days until the city digs itself out. The big difference is that in this instance, we have had plenty of advance notice.

Man, people would be pissed if city hall somehow chose to have a blizzard.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

The jury is, of course, still out on decision the host the pope-related events in Center City. Nevertheless, I could predictably see these pages light up if the pope spent time in NY and DC and skipped over Philly. Successfully hosting this event has the potential to result in more than just a few thousand happy Catholics. Regardless of what people think of him, the pope is a powerful world leader. As such, his travels are covered by the global media. As the last stop on his first US visit, culminating with an outdoor mass for a million or so faithful, these two days will garner world attention. If we take advantage of this opportunity, the world will learn what we know: that Philly is an amazing city. This will result in more than just civic pride (which seems surprisingly lacking to this transplant); there will be payback in the form of increased tourism over time.

I like the analogy that we should treat these few days as a snow storm: the roads are impassable, transit is compromised, cars are towed from snow routes, and people are unable to leave their neighborhoods. In that instance, what do we do? We hunker down for a few days until the city digs itself out. The big difference is that in this instance, we have had plenty of advance notice.

This is all quite true.

Billy Graham used to rent out the stadiums & it resulted in a lot of inconvenience to people in South Philly. They dealt with it. A papal visit is a chance for a lot of positive press in Europe. It could result in tourism being boosted or even a foreign company opening a local office. Center City will be disrupted. It will be disrupted next year by the DNC. It's for the common good.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

[Partial deletion]

This will result in more than just civic pride (which seems surprisingly lacking to this transplant); there will be payback in the form of increased tourism over time.

I like the analogy that we should treat these few days as a snow storm: the roads are impassable, transit is compromised, cars are towed from snow routes, and people are unable to leave their neighborhoods. In that instance, what do we do? We hunker down for a few days until the city digs itself out. The big difference is that in this instance, we have had plenty of advance notice.

Alluding to your statement above, maybe as a transplant you could start another thread about what the Negadelphianism is about: it's origins and why it persists even though it makes no sense and never did.

I mentioned a while ago how one could compare this to a huge snow storm that paralyzed the city for a while. The comparison got shot down, of course.

[Janszoon]

The idea that this visit is going to be some tremendous boon to the city in the long term is kind of funny. Is that what the 1979 visit did for the city? Because it seems to me that the 80s and 90s weren't the greatest of times here.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

The idea that this visit is going to be some tremendous boon to the city in the long term is kind of funny. Is that what the 1979 visit did for the city? Because it seems to me that the 80s and 90s weren't the greatest of times for the city.

The Polish pope came because he was a personal friend of Cardinal Krol, whose heritage was Polish. It did help tourism which was still fairly new for the city & had taken a big hit in 76 when Rizzo called for the national guard.

Sorry if you are inconvenienced. However, if you feel that the city needs to revolve around your convenience, maybe you should explain that to Mayor Nutter.

Local stations around the country are sending reporters to Philadelphia. I hope that they come upon older Philadelphians who WILL be hospitable to them.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

The Polish pope came because he was a personal friend of Cardinal Krol, whose heritage was Polish. It did help tourism which was still fairly new for the city & had taken a big hit in 76 when Rizzo called for the national guard.

Did this alleged tourism improve the city for the residents?

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Sorry if you are inconvenienced. However, if you feel that the city needs to revolve around your convenience, maybe you should explain that to Mayor Nutter.

Local stations around the country are sending reporters to Philadelphia. I hope that they come upon older Philadelphians who WILL be hospitable to them.

It's not my personal inconvenience that's the issue, not even sure why you'd go there. My issue is with the fact that the event is being handled poorly and in a way that is causing unnecessary problems for people who live here.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Did this alleged tourism improve the city for the residents?


It's not my personal inconvenience that's the issue, not even sure why you'd go there. My issue is with the fact that the event is being handled poorly and in a way that is causing unnecessary problems for people who live here.

This whole experience, really only online, not in real life in my experience, has been a nice reminder about that weird undercurrent in American society that seeks to personally ostracize people who question authority- even about the most mundane things such as transportation policy during a specific event.

Notice in this thread how often it's been said to just "get over it" and the like, and accusing people of being self-centered and dramatic, yet it's rarely been claimed that all of these measures being taken, specifically with public transportation, are actually intelligent, beneficial, or serve any purpose.

It's a bad plan.

It was a bad plan when they were going to shut down the BSL and MFL - and because of intelligent, questioning people pointing out how bad of a plan it was, and putting pressure on various agencies, SEPTA opened up the BSL and MFL. They specically said this was the case in their press release - due to "customers wishing to travel to work and other non-Francis Festival activitie" - as if people wouldn't want to travel to work or other events in the 5th largest city in the country. And it'll also help people get to see the Pope who want to see the Pope - by allowing them to take the subway there.

The regional rail plan is a bad plan too. The number still aren't out yet - but unless something heroic happened this weekend, the stunningly low number of people even choosing to bother with the 5th largest commuter railroad in the country will prove how bad of a plan it is.

But yeah, it's all about you being personally inconvenienced.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Man, people would be pissed if city hall somehow chose to have a blizzard.

Unlike a blizzard, however, is the invaluable exposure and benefit we will achieve if we handle this opportunity successfully. This is especially significant, given opportunities of this magnitude only come around every generation or so.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Unlike a blizzard, however, is the invaluable exposure and benefit we will achieve if we handle this opportunity successfully. This is especially significant, given opportunities of this magnitude only come around every generation or so.

If reporters are treated with respect & treated with hospitality the benefit will be immense. They will go home & they will ask to come back for the DNC & they will have time to do packages about the city that will do more good that a decade's worth of advertising.

I worked as a broadcast tech for 20 years.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

If reporters are treated with respect & treated with hospitality the benefit will be immense. They will go home & they will ask to come back for the DNC & they will have time to do packages about the city that will do more good that a decade's worth of advertising.

I worked as a broadcast tech for 20 years.

Looks like you have an inside view. I suspect the tourist bureau is savvy enough to do what you say. If not, shame on them.