Connor Barwin's Civic Season

This week, the all-pro linebacker and citizen activist measures how our civic health stacks up against Tampa Bay

As we have seen in comparisons of Philadelphia to both Dallas and Charlotte, Tampa is yet again another Sunbelt city, with similar characteristics: Strong population growth over the past several decades fueled in part by territorial expansion and a vibrant economy, with employers like Verizon, MacDill Air Force Base and the  University of South Florida. All of this explains at least part of why Tampa beats Philadelphia in terms of education levels, poverty rates, and the number of people moving to the city.

Like other Sunbelt cities as well, Tampa is pretty low density, which would explain the lower percentage of folks commuting via bike. “Being newer than your typical big Northeastern city, Tampa does not have much in the way of rail transit,” reports Professor Richardson Dilworth of Drexel’s Center for Public Policy. “In fact, on its website, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority actually includes telecommuting as a ‘transit option.'”

 As for our superior voter turnout, both cities hold off-year elections, which always decreases turnout. But Dilworth says it goes beyond that. “Tampa’s last election appears to have been uniquely boring, possibly in part because the incumbent mayor who was running was so popular that no one really wanted to run against him,” Dilworth says. And what made Mayor Bob Buckhorn so popular? Could our mayor-elect Jim Kenney take some notes?

“He is very effective in implementing an agenda of infrastructure investment and downtown development, focusing in particular on the waterfront, having extended the popular Tampa River Walk,” Dilworth says. “He also landed the 2012 Republican Convention and a coveted TIGER infrastructure grant from the US Department of Transportation, the same federal money that paid for most of our Dilworth Park renovation. So if Buckhorn continues to make Tampa a more downtown-focused city perhaps he will help boost the percentage of folks commuting via bike.”

On Thanksgiving, we take on the Detroit Lions.

Results

Philadelphia

Eagles

vs

Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

% BA or higher

24.4

7 POINTS

Buccaneers

% BA or higher

33.9

% Below poverty

27.2

7 POINTS

Buccaneers

% Below poverty

22.7

% Bike to work

2.1

7 POINTS

Eagles

% Bike to work

1.4

% Moved to city in past year

4.6

7 POINTS

Buccaneers

% Moved to city in past year

8.3

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

11.0

7 POINTS

Buccaneers

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

6.0

% Volunteer

26.1

7 POINTS

Eagles

% Volunteer

23.9

% Voted in last mayoral election

25.5

7 POINTS

Eagles

% Voted in last mayoral election

17.38

Income Inequality Index

.51

7 POINTS

Eagles

Income Inequality Index

.54

% of population aged 22 to 34

22.5

7 POINTS

Eagles

% of population aged 22 to 34

20.4

Final Score

35

Philadelphia

Eagles

Final Score

28

Sep. 14
21-35

Falcons

Falcons

Sep. 20
21-42

Cowboys

Cowboys

Sep. 27
28-35

Jets

Jets

Oct. 04
14-42

Redskins

Redskins

Oct. 11
21-42

Saints

Saints

Oct. 19
28-35

Giants

Giants

Oct. 25
21-35

Panthers

Panthers

Nov. 08
21-42

Cowboys

Cowboys

Nov. 15
56-0

Eagles

Dolphins

Nov. 22
35-28

Eagles

Buccaneers

Nov. 26
42-7

Eagles

Lions

Dec. 06
28-35

Patriots

Patriots

Dec. 13
42-21

Eagles

Bills

Oct. 19
35-28

Eagles

Cardinals

Dec. 26
14-42

Redskins

Redskins

Jan. 03
35-28

Eagles

Giants

Civic Record:

EAGLES

Wins

5

Losses

7

Upcoming Games:

Data compiled by Ken Gross, Quantitative Innovations.

All data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey 2011-2013 except: Volunteer rates; crime stats.

Voter turnout rates from Philadelphia’s 2015 general election; Tampa Bay’s 2015 general election.

More info on the GINI Index of Income Inequality.

* All team logos are property of the NFL and their respective franchises.

Homepage photo: Brian Garfinkel/Philadelphia Eagles

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at KL@thephiladelphiacitizen.org or call (609)-602-0145.

Photo and video disclaimer for attending Citizen events

By entering an event or program of The Philadelphia Citizen, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with The Philadelphia Citizen and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.