While Penn plays a central role in the life of Philadelphia, many students are unaware of the inner workings of the city government.
Seeking to inform the Penn community about Philadelphia government and other related issues, Philip Goldsmith, managing director of Philadelphia city government, spoke at the Fels Institute of Government last Friday.
Though introduced as "politically savvy," Goldsmith worked in a multitude of fields that ranged from journalism to banking before becoming managing director. As part of his government role, Goldsmith oversees all 13 of the Philadelphia government's operating departments.
With experiences on both sides, Goldsmith was able to critique the media's presentation of local and national government. He noted that, while governments are not perfect, the amount of hard work invested by administrators often goes unreported.
Goldsmith urged his audience to gain a view of the world beyond information given by the media and other authorities.
Though the talk was targeted toward students studying government and criminology, Goldsmith's lecture was relevant to the broader audience.
"We live in our own little gardens," Goldsmith said. As people climb "higher in the hierarchy," he continued, it becomes harder to remember that everyone's segmented worlds all really belong to the same place.
Though Goldsmith described Philadelphia as "a great city" that is "on the move," he also noted the gap in wealth within the city's social structure.
He observed with sadness the disparity in living conditions that he could see in a single day in his job. Goldsmith lamented lodgings in such bad condition that a small plastic pool served as the bathroom, while others in Rittenhouse Square complained of tree branches that needed to be trimmed.
Despite some heaviness, the talk ended positively. Goldsmith encouraged others to follow in his career path, stating that "public service is a noble calling."
"With just a few people in the right positions ... who want a better world," he said, many changes can be made when the "right opportunity" arrives.
For Goldsmith, the best part about serving in politics is that he can "do good with it."
His passion and multi-perspective insights did not go unobserved by the audience.
"He was the best guest we've had," Fels graduate student Radoslav Ralevic said.
