Healthy Communities Discussion Group at Holy Innocents

A City That Works - May 5, 2008

Eight people – mostly people who graduated from or taught in Philly public schools at some point.

What does this goal mean to you?

• Getting to know my neighbors makes for a livable community

• Working together makes neighborhoods safer and more beautiful

• I want to feel safe walking home alone at night

• Better enforcement of laws and codes would help the community

• Positive alternatives for youth would help the health of the community

• I want to have a sense of pride living here

• Neighbors helping each other is a core value

• We need to recognize that there is a transient element to the area.

Performance measures - I will know that there is:

• Better use of recreational facilities, if

→ there is an increase in enrollment in sponsored activities.

→ there are more volunteers engaged to staff the activities.

• A cleaner neighborhood, if

→ there are more public trash receptacles.

→ there is increased trash collection (more than once a week) in public areas – around businesses, in parks, etc.

→ there are fewer broken glass bottles in parks – perhaps through a ban on glass bottles.

→ there is evidence of uniform enforcement of the recycling policy

♦ documented increase in the collected tonnage.

♦ provision of larger containers for collection.

♦ a simpler system for fining violators.

→ I see city workers enforcing existing ordinances on property maintenance (keeping lawn cut, trash out of yards, etc.).

→ there is an increase in the number of clean streets – perhaps through programs that encourage cleaner streets – e.g., engage local community groups to give awards to clean streets and publicize this to encourage others to follow.

→ my neighborhood looks like Old City as far as the amount of visible trash and litter.

• Better use of abandoned properties, if

→ 50% are converted to a beneficial use within a year.

→ neighbors are given the tools to enable them to contact the property owners directly and engage them in bettering their properties.

• Increased safety, if

→ I see curfew enforcement increased.

→ there is a discernable decrease in the crime rate, particularly crime that affects the viability of small businesses.

→ El stops are improved through increased lighting and development as business locations to make them more people friendly who would otherwise avoid public transportation for going to events like Phillies games.

→ I see more police on foot or on bicycles in the neighborhood.

→ there is an increase in the number of Town Watch programs.

→ there is statistical information available to me showing the location of safe, crime-free houses, not just a focus on the crime areas.

• Increased vitality in the neighborhood, if

→ there is an increase in the number of new small businesses, not just business turnover.

→ there is an increase in the number of block captains.

Customer-service standards:

• I am able to speak to a person in a language that is comfortable for me.

• I am talking to a real person, not a voice mail, and there are no hang-ups.

• They tell you how many other people have called about the same issue/problem.

• They send a responder team within a specified time period.

• I get a call back acknowledging my call and telling me how the problem was resolved or will be resolved, if nothing was able to be done immediately.

• They ask me to call back if I do not see evidence of any action on the issue.

• They let me know if my call led to some action against the person(s) I believed was the perpetrator.

• They have available referral information that could connect me to non-governmental groups that may be better able to help me with my problem.

• I have the option to call a designated person at my Council person’s office, not just 311.

• They post on a web site a “done list” of all the actions taken within the previous week.

• They say “thank you” for calling.