PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphians across the city are frustrated with city leaders and concerned for their families’ futures — and some are fearful for their lives.
A newly released poll shows that two-thirds of city residents think Philadelphia is “pretty seriously off on the wrong track.” Interviews with a dozen respondents showed the personal struggles behind those short answers: A young mother in Grays Ferry feels unsafe going in and out of her house at night. A father in Germantown sends his kids to private school outside of the city, frustrated by the education options nearby. A retiree in University City no longer shops in Center City because she doesn’t feel safe on public transit anymore.
Dissatisfied residents span all ages, races, neighborhoods and incomes, according to the survey from the Lenfest Institute and SSRS. It’s against that backdrop of discontent that the city will elect a new mayor and slate of City Council members, who could together dramatically reshape how the city is led and what gets prioritized.
