Half of city wants out, poll shows

Fifty percent of Philadelphians would move out of the city if they could, according to a public opinion poll released yesterday. The survey was released by Philadelphians for Good Government, an organization formed recently to bring citizen opinions to city government. PGG President Edward Shils, an emeritus political science professor, called the information the first major study of public opinion on "government efficiency and the quality of life in this city." Among the poll's findings is that Philadelphians from all ethnic backgrounds call city management, drug abuse and crime three of the top four problems facing Philadelphia. Less than 25 percent of Philadelphians feel their tax dollars are spent wisely. When asked who is most responsible for the fiscal condition of the city, the mayor was named most frequently, by 29 percent of respondents, followed by City Council, with 22 percent. And only about 25 percent of those polled could correctly identify their City Council member. PGG is a non-partisan, non-profit coalition of city business, civic, labor and academic leaders. The 30-member Steering Committee includes President Sheldon Hackney, University Trustee Susan Catherwood, Shils and Professor Theodore Hershberg. "Our organization is designed to let the people of Philadelphia express their points of view on major problems of the city," said PGG Chairperson Milton Feldman. "We hope to become the focal point of grassroots Philadelphia -- a conduit through which citizens' voices flow through to government." Hershberg, a professor of public policy and history and director of the Center for Greater Philadelphia, chairs PGG's Polling Committee. The committee formulated the survey questions with the help of polling group Chilton Research. The poll was conducted in July, and consisted of a 20-minute questionnaire. Interviewers reportedly had difficulties ending many of the telephone surveys, because many of the interviewees took the opportunity to vent their frustration. Several Philadelphians actually found the chance to air their views to be therapeutic, Shils said. He also said that many of those interviewed expressed interest in joining PGG. PGG begins an ambitious membership drive today, headed by Catherwood. Kicking off with advertisements in today's Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News, PGG aims at eventually drawing 150,000 members. Membership will cost five dollars and will include two annual newsletters containing questionnaires. The fee will help fund upcoming opinion polls, which are an integral part of PGG's program. Steering Committee member Elton Jolly said PGG's strategy is "action, advocacy and access." "Ours is the spirit of inclusion as opposed to exclusion," Jolly said. Though Philadelphia's disgruntled population rate of 50 percent may seem exceedingly high, a New York Times poll in June 1990 revealed that within four years, 59 percent of all New Yorkers would prefer to be "living somewhere else" than the Big Apple.

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