Connor Barwin's Civic Season

This week, the all-pro linebacker and citizen activist measures how our civic health stacks up against Washington, D.C.

At first blush, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia are quite similar. Both sustained population peaks after World War II and both deal with the usual array of Rustbelt city issues, from poverty to racial and economic segregation. But D.C.’s status as the nation’s capitol makes it different from every other city, in large part because its many federal workers produce a more stable and productive local economy, as reflected in its significantly higher percentage of BA degrees.

According to Professor Richardson Dilworth of Drexel’s Center for Public Policy, that is not unrelated to the rise of the city’s lobbying and advocacy industry over the last 30 years. Dilworth calls lobbying in D.C. a “growth industry” and notes that, in terms of a city’s civic life, such a trend is a mixed blessing.

“On the one hand, it means that a much larger proportion of the population is knowledgeable about public issues, and that locally the civic discussion is much richer,” he explains. “More so than in any other city, D.C. residents every night can go hear free lectures at a host of institutions, think tanks, and public forums. On the other hand, civic issues are commodified in D.C.—they tend not to be part of the civic life of the city, but things traded for money. One of the most corrosive elements of the growth of the lobbying industry is the revolving door between Congressional staff and lobbying firms. A position in a lobbying firm is practically a form of promotion for Congressional staffers—which is simply an institutionalized form of influence peddling.”

Of course, there are lobbyists in Philadelphia, especially since, as gridlock has gripped the nation’s capitol, more effort has been made to advocate at the state and local levels. But the lobbying industry is nowhere near as influential here as in D.C. In fact, Dilworth reports a telling fact: D.C.’s George Washington University is the only university in the country to offer an entire Master’s Degree in advocacy and lobbying.

Finally, both D.C. and Philadelphia have had issues with gentrification in recent years, but only in D.C. is that gentrification tied to lobbying. “The growth of the lobbying industry has fueled much of D.C.’s gentrification,” Dilworth observes.

Next week, our season concludes against the New York Giants.

Note: We played Washington, D.C. twice this season, but only count the city once in our Civic Scorecard.

Results

Philadelphia

Eagles

vs

Washington

Redskins

% BA or higher

24.4

7 POINTS

Redskins

% BA or higher

53.5

% Below poverty

27.2

7 POINTS

Redskins

% Below poverty

18.8

% Bike to work

2.1

7 POINTS

Redskins

% Bike to work

4.0

% Moved to city in past year

4.6

7 POINTS

Redskins

% Moved to city in past year

9.4

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

11.0

7 POINTS

Eagles

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

12.2

% Volunteer

26.1

7 POINTS

Redskins

% Volunteer

32.2

% Voted in last mayoral election

25.5

7 POINTS

Redskins

% Voted in last mayoral election

38.45

Income Inequality Index

.51

7 POINTS

Eagles

Income Inequality Index

.53

% of population aged 22 to 34

22.5

7 POINTS

Redskins

% of population aged 22 to 34

27.64

Final Score

14

Washington

Redskins

Final Score

42

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 2011 general election; Washington’s 2014 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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