Mayor Mike’s Great Green Measure
Policy wonks, journalists and concerned citizens alike have expressed concern about the state of Philadelphia at the midpoint of Mayor Michael Nutter’s term. Their sentiments, expressed in this exhaustive Daily News piece from November, culminate to form a collective sigh at both the terrible timing and lack of crisis management that have made up this administration thus far. And while a SEPTA strike and closing libraries and pools have punctuated concerns, Mayor Mike can hang his hat on two important milestones: a declining murder rate and measurable advancements in the green economy. In short, he has painted this town from red to green.
This week, Nutter improves on his promise to create William Penn’s “Green Country Town.” On December 3rd, Philadelphia City Council approved Bill No. 090119, a tax credit/incentive program for certified sustainable businesses. Philadelphia’s green community are hoping Mayor Mike will give his stamp of approval later this month, as it is suspected he will. Nutter has been a friend to the environmental community, supporting the expansion of bike lanes, contributing funding for green jobs initiative and, most recently bringing single-stream recycling and approving incentive programs to increase participation. Tax incentives for sustainable businesses will encourage already strong development potential for Philadelphia and will battle rising unemployment.
But if Michael Nutter needs a legacy, as the Daily News seems to suggest, he could do worse than plugging the brain drain. Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania has been hemorrhaging technology and science jobs for the past 15 years. Increased funding for technology transfer and university programs across the state have turned the numbers a bit. But adding fuel to the green energy fire could keep those sustainable technology jobs in Philadelphia. Put the incentives where they belong so we can keep building from red to green.
Author: John Steele