The 18 citizens in the session seemed to be highly motivated Center City folks with generally positive experiences in Philadelphia. For a while, they were caught up in the processes that were required to turn Philly into an All-American city. They talked often of ideas such as good planning, ``innovation'', improved administration and the most often-used buzzword, ``accountability.''

The four people chosen to be ''Oprah'' panelists came up with some innovative thoughts as to how Philadelphia achieved ''most livable'' status by 2010:

A healthy, home-based child care industry was set up and largely staffed by former welfare moms who were given training and support to do what they did best.

SEPTA had become much more popular and profitable, thanks partly to its modern innovations such as the installation of computers at nearly every seat.

The popularity and expansion of SEPTA had opened opportunities up in the suburbs, where growth had slowed over 10 years. A suburban labor shortage was eagerly corrected by mass transit-using city workers.

The newfound job opportunties for workers coincided with a markedly improved school system brought on by: teacher competency testing; accountability standards; the city's adoption of federally supported Americorps volunteers working in school-based neighborhood resource centers, and better child care options for parents no longer pressured to use older kids to solve the problem.

More jobs also led to a revival of homeownership spurred by residential tax abatements to upgrade abandoned houses, and a demolition program that cleared empty homes.

The city had imposed a penalty system against lending institutions still guilty of red-lining certain neigborhoods.

Historic preservation had taken on new importance to the mayors who followed Rendell into the 21st century.

The city's revival had turned it into a techonological mecca. The Free Library became a computerized center where average folks could learn and access updated information, education and training opportunties. The unversities had finally learned to cooperate in expanding and centralizing incubator technology-based industries in a sort of silicon city (my term).

What helped attract these new technologies, and the suburbanites moving into the new and spreading tax-abated empty buildings turned apartment and condo complexes, was 21st-century mayors' steady reduction in annoying taxes started - a trend begun by Ed Rendell.

Speaking of whom, several participants enjoyed referring to Mr. Rendell as either ``Governor'' or ``President'' Rendell, who in his higher posts took care of improving life in his old hometown. Dick Epstein asserted that by 2010 ``the state shed its hatred of Philadelphia'' long enough for it to truly help the city with its heavy burden of non-taxpaying residents.

Some of the other most original ideas came from Nicki Newell, Northeast-turned-Center City resident. She suggested that marijuana was decriminalized, with more police resources on violent crimes. She also suggested that public school teachers be asked to pledge that they would submit to competency tests to ensure quality education.

In the otherwise unremarked area of race relations, Ms. Newell recommended an ``education program'' for the public on the issue. Kathleen Pereles recommended an ``annual culture fair'' where all groups would be invited, apparently instead of the current practice of every group getting its special parade or fiesta.