A new qualitative study sheds light on the sentiments of Philadelphia residents about the city’s current issues and the early actions of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration. Conducted by survey research firm SSRS for the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, this study gathered insights from eight focus groups representing 67 diverse participants from various neighborhoods within the city.
The research was initiated as part of the Lenfest Institute’s Every Voice, Every Vote project, aimed at amplifying community voices on pressing local matters. Jared Council, the editorial project lead, emphasized that while mobilizing residents to vote is essential, understanding their concerns is equally critical.
The focus groups discussed the themes of public safety, education, and environmental quality in relation to Parker’s initiatives. Residents expressed a strong desire for progress yet grappled with skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the administration’s responses to their concerns. Some of the common issues experienced across neighborhoods included poor school conditions, street cleanliness, crime, and a perceived lack of communication from city officials.
One of the most prominent findings was the call for more visibility from Mayor Parker and her team. Many participants remembered seeing Parker engage with communities during her campaign but felt her presence has been lacking since her inauguration.
Even with the heightened awareness of certain city initiatives, residents often lacked a thorough understanding of their implementation. For instance, while the concept of pilot programs like year-round schooling and extended school days was well known, many participants remained unsure about how these programs were unfolding.
When discussing education, residents expressed both pride and frustration. Participants celebrated dedicated teachers and positive literacy initiatives but were very concerned about insufficient funding, substandard school facilities, and high student-to-teacher ratios.
One South Philadelphia parent articulated the struggle of navigating overcrowded classrooms, remarking, “There are literally 27 to 32 kids in each class, and they are packed on top of each other and there’s nowhere to move or to do anything.”
Though there were supportive comments regarding Parker’s pilot programs designed to tackle the ‘summer slide,’ concerns arose over a lack of communication about these changes.
A teacher noted, “We saw it in the paper and I was freaked out. They didn’t even tell us” regarding the extended school day. Beyond complaints about programs, participants acknowledged the administration’s attempts to modernize school infrastructure but called for more significant transformations. “Shouldn’t we have torn it down and rebuilt?” questioned a private school parent in South Philadelphia, highlighting the inadequacy of mere repairs.
Similarly, the soda tax, originally implemented to fund educational initiatives, left many confused. A Germantown educator conveyed, “I still, to this day, don’t know where the soda tax proceeds are actually going.”
Concerns surrounding cleanliness in Philadelphia were voiced loudly, with residents mentioning issues such as illegal dumping, dilapidated parks, and abandoned vehicles.
Despite those frustrations, some participants acknowledged improvements in city services, such as increased trash collection and street cleaning. One resident from Center City remarked, “There are real people walking up and down the street with brooms.” However, others felt that such efforts were temporary and ineffective against the ongoing challenges, with one West Philly resident pointing out that dumping was still prevalent.
The administration’s initiatives to fix roads and remove derelict cars received attention too, yet residents felt changes remained short-lived. A 45-year-old woman from South Philadelphia lamented, “It was good for about two days, and then a whole new slew of abandoned cars came.” Additionally, disparities in how the cleanup efforts were distributed across neighborhoods were flagged, prompting some to question, “Why hasn’t it reached us yet?”
When tackling issues related to crime, respondents perceived an overall reduction in crime rates but continued expressing concerns regarding substance abuse in the city. As residents noticed clean-up efforts in Kensington, they often felt that the initiatives merely displaced the issues elsewhere.
“What you did was push those people off of Kensington Avenue around the corners and stuff like that to other places,” stated a 56-year-old male resident.
Participants criticized simple solutions from the administration, such as increasing police presence without addressing deeper-rooted causes of crime, which they felt included poverty, trauma, and disinvestment. One participant articulated the need for more substantial community resources: “We need things other than police; we need more teachers, need more social workers, we need more librarians.” Council noted that residents were hesitant about a significant focus on incarceration as a solution.
Many participants expressed a desire for a approach to policing that emphasizes community interaction over mere enforcement. Some respondents called for a return to community policing approaches where officers would establish relationships with residents, walking the beat and building trust.
In terms of safety within the public transit system, many participants shared a desire for a more secure SEPTA experience. One educator reflected on the troubling environment her students faced: “My students regularly see people using and selling drugs right in front of them when they ride SEPTA.” This included narratives of drug use being publicly witnessed by SEPTA police officers, who did not intervene, contributing to an unsafe commuting experience for young riders.
Moreover, the issue of reckless driving was raised, signaling a broader concern about unsolved safety issues within the city.
Despite these hurdles, many focus group members highlighted active community engagement, from voting to volunteering at schools, expressing a willingness to contribute positively to their neighborhoods. Individuals noted the importance of staying informed through community meetings and engagements, with a realization that participation is critical to avoid feeling disconnected from local governance.
The quest for clearer communication from City Hall was one of several wish lists shared during discussions. Many participants voiced their frustration with existing media coverage, asserting a need for more focused reporting on local stories rather than an emphasis on sports or human interest pieces.
A 33-year-old resident lamented, “They can tell you everything about the Eagles, but there’s no emphasis on these things that we’re speaking about.” Others mentioned turning to social media for updates but emphasized the need for accuracy and verification.
Out of the 67 residents who participated in the focus groups, diverse demographics were present. Of those involved, 42 were women, and 25 were men, with participants heavily skewed towards the middle-age demographic. Nearly half fell between the ages of 36 to 50, while 15 younger adults aged 18 to 35, and 18 participants were over the age of 50.
A mix of racial backgrounds was also represented: 28 Black residents, 27 white residents, six Hispanic participants, four Asian participants, and two Native American individuals were present in these discussions. Notably, approximately one-third of the participants were parents to children currently in grades K–8, emphasizing a generation vested in the community’s educational landscape.
The majority of respondents described their economic comfort levels as “somewhat comfortable” or “just getting by.” As the perceptions of the Parker administration continue to evolve, Philadelphia residents are encouraged to provide further input through PhillyPulsePoll.com. This initiative reflects an ongoing commitment from local media to engage the community and ensure that the voices most affected by policy changes are heard in future decision-making.
This story represents part of a larger collaborative undertaking under the Every Voice, Every Vote initiative managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which sees profound importance in elevating local concerns while receiving generous support from organizations such as the William Penn Foundation and other philanthropic partners. WHYY along with other media outlets are committed to independent journalistic content, focused on the interests and challenges of local communities.
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