Big-city mayors seek answers to urban ills

Four big-city majors tried to put their political differences behind them. The mayors of Philadelphia, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Baltimore don't agree on much, but they do agree that the "urban crisis" is far from over. And last night, during a panel discussion at the University Museum's Harrison Auditorium, the politicians strove to put political and economic differences behind them while they discussed the common problems facing American cities. The event, "Political Leadership in America's Cities," closed the 1998 Steinberg Symposium. The three-day event, "Beyond Ideology: Discovering Hope for America's Cities," focused on the roles of "leadership, management and faith" in rejuvenating American cities by reducing crime and unemployment. "American cities have all experienced a considerable amount of decay and decline in the second half of the twentieth century," said New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, a Democrat. Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, a Republican, added that "there isn't enough police muscle to make everyone good if they don't want to be good." He also stressed the importance of a core set of values among citizens as a necessary foundation for a "vibrant community." Goldsmith and his colleagues who participated in the discussion are considered to be among the most innovative and effective mayors in the United States today, according to panel moderator John DiIulio Jr., a Princeton University professor and expert on criminal justice and public policy. In Indianapolis, Goldsmith said he has devoted more than $1 billion of the city's money towards infrastructure improvements. He noted that working closely with 40 city churches of varying denominations has had a great impact on his success. Morial, a 1980 Penn alumnus, reiterated Goldsmith's point. "The most powerful instrument of development is the churches." He added that religious leaders have a "level of credibility" that is difficult for politicians to attain. Morial attributed the success he's had in rehabilitating his city to his willingness to "do whatever it takes," even when that includes enacting unpopular policies such as the nation's strictest juvenile curfew -- 8 p.m. on school nights, 9 p.m. during the summer. And he said he has "stepped away from charged racial issues that sometimes stand in the way of progress." Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, a Democrat, agreed that members of urban communities must work together in order to create real change, but he also stressed the individual contribution of each citizen. As mayor, he feels "called upon to be a modern-day Nehemiah," referring to the biblical figure who encouraged the people of Jerusalem to pitch in and rebuild the city walls after they had been destroyed. Schmoke said that "if everyone is of a mind to build, we can eliminate the distress and waste and rebuild the walls of our Jerusalem." The most important thing, he said, was for "each family to take a section." Philadelphia Mayor and University alumnus Ed Rendell disagreed. The Democrat said much of the progress that has been made is the result of Philadelphia officials' realization that they "had to do it together or go down badly." He emphasized the importance of maintaining the same "coordinated, non-turf-oriented, all-for-one mentality" now that the city seems to be on its way to recovery. Rendell also delivered a strong warning to those who think that the urban crisis is over, noting that "serious problems are exacerbated by the feeling that cities are out of the woods." Although the economy is currently on the upswing, requests for food have increased by 22 percent and shelter requests are up 70 percent in Philadelphia, Rendell said. College sophomore Hank Wilson said he agrees with Rendell that there is too much optimism -- and added that the symposium speakers were guilty of this. "One problem with [the symposium] is that it was too much about congratulating each other," he said. "It was good of Rendell to bring up the economy. These programs can be blown away if the economy collapses."