Executive Policy Summary: Business Opportunities for the Next Mayor

Because we see the city and region primed to participate aggressively in the national economic scene through our work to attract and retain companies, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce has a deep interest in positively influencing the priorities and policies of the next Mayor. The next Mayor can play an essential role in  enhancing the cohesiveness of the region. More importantly, his primary responsibility to make Philadelphia a vibrant, safe and attractive city mirrors the Chamber’s aspirations for this lynchpin of our region.

Below are some issues that we believe the next Mayor must address:

1. Transportation Infrastructure and PHL Airport - To implement a strategic transportation infrastructure management plan, we recommend the next Mayor appoint an Infrastructure Czar at the cabinet level. In addition, we are involved in efforts to obtain dedicated funding for transit (SEPTA), and increase funding for highways and Amtrak.

The Chamber considers Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) a major  economic driver in our regional economy.  We support redesign plans in order to reduce delays and expand the number of flights through PHL. 

2. Philadelphia Tax Reform - the Chamber has consistently been a leader on tax reform efforts in Philadelphia.  We believe that a competitive business climate is required to reverse the city’s decades-long job loss. 

3. Regional Cooperation - In today’s economy, the unit of competition is a region, not a city alone.  It is important that the Mayor of Philadelphia play a proactive role in reaching out to elected officials in neighboring counties to address the many challenges facing the region, such as infrastructure improvement and workforce issues, which are not constrained by municipal boundaries.

4. Community and Economic Development - We believe that there are a host of publicly financed economic development projects which are crucial to the economic success of the City.  Chief among these is the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  

5. Business Community Role in Violence Abatement - In response to the current wave of violence, the business community has undertaken the task of identifying 1,000 employer-paid summer internships for young Philadelphians as part of our Working Solutions program.  In addition, we are working on establishing a state tax credit to incent both small and mid-sized businesses to offer summer internships. 

6. Economic Inclusion - Despite the region’s wealth of colleges and universities, we continue to see growing public school dropout rates and a population that lags the rest of the country in the percentage of residents holding a bachelors degree or higher.  We believe that there must be greater efforts at inclusion in both the public and private sectors to offer economic opportunity to all people of color.

7. Philadelphia Pension Liability - According to Mayor Street’s most recent Five Year Plan, General Fund Revenues allocated to pension bonds, pension and health and medical cost will increase from $432 million in FY 03 to more than $1 billion in FY 12.  Also, the City’s pension fund is only funded at 53 % of its future liability.  The Five Year Plan also states that “By 2012, major deficit drivers (pension, medical and prison costs) will comprise nearly half (49.1 percent) of revenues.”  We urge the next Mayor to work to get control of these costs.

8. Referendum question: We support the question that would create a Zoning Code Commission. It is time for a comprehensive review of the Philadelphia Zoning Code. We believe the result will improve Philadelphia’s economic competitiveness within the region and the country.