Recap

What We Learned at the 2023 Ideas We Should Steal Festival

The Philadelphia Citizen’s sixth annual celebration of solutions was its biggest yet — with some of the biggest revelations to inspire you to make our city better in approximately a bajillion ways

By Lauren McCutcheon
Guest Commentary

Serve Your City

Tune out the naysayers, says a former city worker, and take a job in City government. Philly and you will benefit

By Raymond Smeriglio
Ideas We Should Steal Festival 2023

Majora Carter Wants You to Stay in Your Neighborhood

The MacArthur “Genius” has a solution to the problems facing low opportunity communities: Treat them like struggling companies

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

The “Defense Dividend” In Cities

As Congress considers increasing aid for the Ukraine and Israel wars, Drexel’s Metro Finance head explores what that more military spending could mean for cities like Philadelphia

By Bruce Katz, Milena Dovali and Victoria Orozco

The Return of Judith Rodin

The former Penn President just joined the Hilco advisory board. Here’s why she’s excited about the Bellwether District in Southwest Philly

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
Listen

Ali Velshi On Why You Can’t be Pro-Worker if You’re Anti-Union

MSNBC anchor and Citizen Board member points out the hypocrisy and misdirection of politicians who want it both ways

By Ali Velshi
Ideas We Should Steal

Becoming a Manufacturing Hub

Pennsylvania lags behind Ohio, Michigan and other states in an economy-boosting 21st century manufacturing resurgence. Drexel’s Metro Finance head lays out what PA must do to catch up

By Bruce Katz, Avanti Krovi and Milena Dovali

The Unbearable Cost of Togetherness

Low wages and growing inequality have put football games, the Shore, and so much more out of reach for regular Philadelphians. Can we get back what we have lost?

By Christine Speer Lejeune

Can Cities Play in the Industrial Transition?

The Cincinnati Jobs Bond shows how cities can participate in an industrial resurgence. The head of Drexel’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab lays out the case for replicating it in other legacy industrial cities, like Philadelphia.

By Bruce Katz, Bryan Fike, Eric Letsinger, and Laura Brunner
Guest Commentary

Three Simple Reforms to Boost PA’s Fortunes

A former Tom Wolf staffer on how legislators can tackle the housing, job and wage issues that most affect Pennsylvanians

By Mark Nicastre