Here’s an irony: Even as Philadelphians accord Ed Rendell historic approval ratings, they continue to grumble about the city government he runs. Citizens have said in forums this year that taxes are too high, city services erratic, the city bureaucracy confusing and hard to access, the political structure self-interested and out of touch. While they concede that too many citizens are apathetic and inept at working the system, they say the system’s red tape and arrogance reinforce those citizen failings.

Many citizens still believe strongly that political connections remain a chief factor determining who gets jobs, contracts or even basic services out of City Hall. Aside from the mayor, citizens don’t seem to credit many other city elected officials with vision or leadership; they worry that city government could return at anytime to habits of petty squabbling while ignoring major policy problems and legitimate citizen concerns.

The suspicion lingers that while the Rendell Administration has brought the city’s budget into balance for the time being, the fiscal situation is one economic shock or bad City Hall decision away from big trouble. Some wonder whether the city’s finances remain structurally out of whack: that is, the city’s ability to collect revenue cannot keep pace over time with its valid expenses. To sum it up, citizens see the problem of government in Philadelphia as:

The public is not getting the services or leadership it wants out of city government.

Citizens identified four main choices for dealing with this problem: