Philadelphia, it’s time for tax reform. And yes, “reform” should include strategic, substantial and forward-looking tax cuts. Philadelphia has more types of taxes than just about any large city in America. The city’s tax burden is a major reason why the city has trailed nearly all other big cities in job growth over the past 50 years. And low job growth is a major factor behind the city’s stubborn poverty rate, which is higher than in any other U.S. city of Philly’s size.

On June 1, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and numerous other business groups will sponsor a rally at City Hall in support of reductions to the wage tax and the city’s Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT).

Most Philadelphia voters did not cast ballots in the recent primary election, and this was especially true in the city’s least affluent neighborhoods. Ranked as one of America’s most unequal large cities, Philadelphia is also unequal in voter participation.

In an opinion piece cheering the rise of “progressive” Democrats such as U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman and Philly state reps Elizabeth Fiedler and Rick Krajewski in the Inquirer last week, veteran political consultant Joe Corrigan wrote, “Residents of the most voter-rich county in Pennsylvania [Philadelphia] deserve aspirational leaders who get stuff done for the people they serve.”

To that we say, amen. But also, what exactly is this “stuff” that is getting done?

Philadelphia is in a crisis of gun violence, writes Jabari Jones, president of the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative and a board member of A Greater Philadelphia. While he supports strategies that focus on investing in neighborhoods and preventing crime, he writes in the April 21 Inquirer that the crisis requires an immediate investment to expand the size of the police force.

By a 3-to-1 margin, Democratic voters in Philadelphia oppose giving individual Council members sole power over construction projects in their districts.

Working-class voters in the city oppose the tax and more affluent voters support it, according to a February poll of registered Democrats across the city.

Nearly two out of three Philadelphians report having heard gunshots in their neighborhood in the past 12 months, according to a new citywide poll conducted by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Philadelphia became the first major city to bring back an indoor mask mandate on April 18, alarming business owners who in many cases were just starting to see their customer traffic return.

The School District of Philadelphia reported that 33% of K-3 students were at or above grade level on the winter reading assessment, down from 43% two years ago. Black and Hispanic students were at 25% and 22% in the most recent period. This is especially discouraging, since the District made early literacy its top priority nearly a decade ago.

Democratic voters in the city overwhelmingly support policies that give parents choices for their children’s education, according to a poll conducted on behalf of A Greater Philadelphia. Nearly 80% support both a) allowing families to opt into neighborhood public schools outside their own neighborhood and b) education savings accounts to enable low-income families to opt into private schools, special education services or after-school tutoring. More than half of respondents say they are unsatisfied with the quality of schools in their neighborhood.

A new poll conducted among registered Democrats across the city of Philadelphia shows that two thirds of respondents are more worried about being the victim of a crime in the past six months. Concern over crime is widespread regardless of age, race, gender or neighborhood. Non-white respondents are more worried than white respondents, and people with children living in the household are the most worried of all.

A majority of Democratic voters in Philadelphia (55%) say the city is on the wrong track, according to a poll commissioned by A Greater Philadelphia. Just 27% say the city is headed in the right direction.

Respondents emphatically named “police and public safety” as the top priority for the city, followed by safe and affordable housing and schools.

It’s our responsibility as Philadelphians to raise our voices and move our city forward in the face of failed leadership. That’s why we have formed A Greater Philadelphia.

Chester saw just 80 shooting incidents in 2021, down 34% from the year prior. The city also saw the highest homicide clearance rate (arrests made) in 20 years.

“The new policy was hashed out in a backroom and rolled out with no public engagement, warning, or input; and the rigid criteria on which it is based undermine the [district’s] equity goals,” writes School District parent and graduate Sozi Pedro Tulante in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“At a time when disorder and mayhem are reigning supreme, we need better, smarter law enforcement that makes it safe for Philadelphians to walk their streets — right now,” writes Larry Platt in The Philadelphia Citizen.

“We will not be controlled by crisis.” Incoming Mayor Eric Adams declared this as New York City’s New Year’s resolution during his inaugural speech on January 1. He went on to declare “GSD,” or “get stuff done,” as the slogan of his first 100 days. “Government must do better,” he continued. “It means weeding out the waste and eliminating the inefficiencies. It’s about accountability.”