A group of 19 people took part in a Citizen Voices Forum on Sunday, Jan.24, for the Kensington-Port Richmond-Bridesburg area at St. Adalbert's Catholic Church on Allegheny Avenue. The moderators were Harris Sokoloff and Julia Rota.

Philadelphia's neighborhoods were at the core of almost everything discussed at St. Adalbert's Church - from why citizens liked to Philadelphia now to what Philadelphia would be in the future.

The 18 residents of the river wards and North Philadelphia (plus one suburbanite) in attendance appreciate the friendliness and cohesiveness of their neighborhoods. They like the convenience of being able to walk to stores and services. They like that neighbors watch out for one another and their children. Ralph Jelleyman, who has lived several other places, returned to Philadelphia because "that's where the real people are." Envisioning a thriving Philadelphia in 2010, citizens saw a city with even stronger neighborhoods - as clean and attended to as Center City in 1998 and with successful neighborhood schools, community-police partnerships, and a return of business and jobs.

Oprah panelists Sara Brower, Tom Caputo, Mike Clark, Miranda Ruffin and Barbara Dennis described how schools improved with the help of a volunteer force, supported by private business such as Independence Blue Cross, who cleaned up the schools and helped with after-school programs. School funding changed to a per-pupil allocation, which meant each city school got its equal share. Busing ended, and all students attended neighborhoods schools. Teachers were held more accountable for student performance. Teacher absenteeism fell. Parents were made real partners in education and offered adult education where needed.

Crime was reduced by more and better educated police officers being deployed in neighborhoods. Neighborhood Town Watch programs were revitalized, and police had a liaison to each neighborhood who really listened to residents.

Government became much more responsive in 2010. City services and infrastructure were improved. "You can get them on the phone now," said Sara Brower. Officials were held more accountable by a "get out the vote" drive that convinced the 300,000 registered voters who had not been voting to go to the polls. A citizens lobbying group, which pressured government, grew out of Citizens Voices '99. Also, "the impeachment process got easier," said Tom Caputo.

Neighborhoods benefited from the cleanup of recreational areas and creation of parks in open spaces where abandoned buildings once were.

Jobs flowed into the city from an infusion of federal money to rebuild I-95. Also, the wage tax was eliminated, and residency requirements were dropped for police and teachers in some subjects such as math and science. Philadelphia hired the best job candidates, regardless of where they lived.

The audience challenged the panel with such questions as: How did you get the unions to buy into a volunteer force in the schools? How did you deal with over- or under-populated schools after busing was ended? How did the new school funding method affect magnet schools? How did you end racial tensions? What incentives did you give developers to build low and middle income housing?