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

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