Transcript Emotional Intelligence Implications for - WHYY-TV

The City Budget:
Tight Times, Tough Choices
A REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY, THE MAYOR AND HIS
CABINET
PhillyStat Meeting
March 4, 2009
Harris Sokoloff, director, Penn Project
for Civic Engagement
Chris Satullo, executive director of
news and civic dialogue, WHYY
The City Budget: Tight Times, Tough Choices
Goals
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Inform
participants
Inform the city
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What is
The City Budget: Tight Times, Tough Choices
A joint initiative of WHYY
and the Project for Civic
Engagement at the
University of Pennsylvania
The project is generously supported by
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The City Budget: Tight Times, Tough Choices
Activities
Four Workshops:
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February 12 — St. Dominic's School,
(Northeast); 450+ participants; 12 groups
February 18 — Mastery Charter School
(Germantown); 420+ participants; 15
groups
February 19 — St. Monica's School, (South
Philadelphia); 440+ participants ; 14 groups
February 23 — Pinn Memorial Baptist
Church, (West Philadelphia); 400+
participants; 12 groups
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The City Budget: Tight Times, Tough Choices
The Workshop Structure
At each forum:
 Panel discussion with city officials
 Small group works – 20-25 people per
group
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Work through a list of more than 30 actions to
close a $200 million annual budget gap
Differentiate “low hanging fruit,” “no way, no
how,” “shared pain” and “gut wrenchers”
Individual input:
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
2 Minute video testimonies – 160+
Short written statements on “Wailing Wall” –
440+
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The City Budget: Tight Times, Tough Choices
Participant Demographics
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65% female
57% Anglo-White, 32%
African-American, 11% other
minorities
Median Age: 36-45
Median Income: $40,000 $59,999
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Thematic Analysis
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Focus on Increasing Revenue
Distrust
Vision
Minimize Impact on the Most Vulnerable
Taxpayers
Balance Prevention with Safety
Minimize Impact on the Most Vulnerable Workers
Overcome Inefficiencies Before Cutting Services
Tackle Long-Range Issues Now, So They Don’t
Become Issues without End
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Theme: Focus on Increasing Revenue

In balancing the budget, increasing
revenue is as useful as budget cuts
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We can’t declare a bunch of services off
limits without agreeing to tax ourselves
to raise money for those services
Order of acceptable taxes
Amusement and parking taxes
 Wage tax
 Sales and real estate taxes
 Trash fee

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Theme: Distrust

Distrust
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Of numbers
Of workshop process
Of how the input would be used
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Theme:
Vision
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Tell us the purpose behind the pain
of these cuts and taxes.
How will Mayor Nutter’s vision be
furthered by the budget measures?
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Theme:
Minimize Impact on the Most Vulnerable Taxpayers

“No Way, No How” should we reduce or
eliminate services for the most vulnerable
in these hard economic times

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“Hey, I need the parks. If nothing else, if I
lose my job and my home, I can pitch a tent in
the park and live there
“Health Centers are already overwhelmed with
demand. With the economy, there will be even
more.”
“Have you ever slept a night on the streets? I
have. Everyone should have to have that
experience before they vote on this idea.”
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Theme:
Balance Prevention with Safety
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Prevent crime by keeping youth
engaged in productive activities.
Preserve police patrols so
neighborhoods are safe.
Consider closing a prison by finding
alternatives for non-violent
offenders.
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Theme:
Minimize Impact on the Most Vulnerable Workers
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Civil service layoffs should be last resort
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Get rid of unnecessary expenses
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“I heard he (Nutter) increased the mayor’s
office staff 20%. Is this necessary? Chief of
staff? Who needs a chief of staff?”
“This bit with Council members having their
own drivers is ridiculous. Why can’t they drive
their own cars like everyone else?”
Leave vacant positions unfilled.
Then freeze wages.
Then periodic furloughs (unpaid time off).
Only then layoffs.
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Theme:
Overcome Inefficiencies Before Cutting Services
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Root out inefficiencies and
redundancies, improve the way
services are provided and create
alternative ways of meeting a
service goal before you cut.
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Is it always necessary for EMS and fire
trucks to go out together?
There should be a way to save money
at L&I without cutting restaurant
inspections.
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Theme:
Tackle Long-Range Issues Now

Frustration with narrow focus on FY 2010,
need to discuss long term cost and
revenue issues:
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Revising work processes for greater
effectiveness and efficiency
PILOTs
Tax Abatements
Delinquent taxes and fees
Ending business tax discounts for banks,
utilities, etc.
First Judicial District
Pensions and health care
Row Offices
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Contact
Harris J. Sokoloff, Ph.D.
Director, Penn Project for Civic Engagement
University of Pennsylvania
3440 Market Street, Suite 500
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-7371
[email protected]
Chris Satullo
Executive Director, News and Civic Dialogue
WHYY
Independence Mall West 150 N. 6th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tel: (215) 351-1200
[email protected]
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