Steve Tang, who recently stepped down as longtime CEO of the University City Science Center, talks with the Committee of Seventy's David Thornburgh about his tenure as sparkplug-in-chief for Philadelphia’s innovation economy. Steve also weighs in on Philadelphia’s bid to become Amazon's HQ2. Steve (who was also former Chair of Seventy) and David talk about how Philadelphia’s political culture affects Philly's prosperity. Plus the mystery behind 20 by Seventy’s official theme music is revealed. And Alexa chimes in, of course!
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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kristen Graham joins host Chris Satullo to talk about a topic she knows as well as anyone: the ins and outs of the Philadelphia schools, now poised to go back under city control after years of state oversight. Then Seventy CEO David Thornburgh talks with Chris about Mayor Kenney's plan for coming up with the money. And David and Chris actually disagree!
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Jonathan Lai of the Philadelphia Inquirer and host Chris Satullo discuss what's going on in the fight over Pennsylvania's congressional map. This is the one road map you'll need to follow the Great Map Fight of 2018.
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David Thornburgh chats with Jeremy Nowak and Bruce Katz, authors of a new book called "The New Localism." Their thesis: Many American cities have more things going for them than they seem to realize - untapped wealth and assets that could enable them to address many of their challenges.
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20 by Seventy host Chris Satullo talks with David Daley, author of "Ratf**ked." Daley literally wrote the book on gerrymandering, how it went nuclear in the digital age, and the damage it does to democracy.
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Philadelphia's head wonk, Seventy CEO David Thornburgh, runs down his list of indispensable nonfiction books that you should consider buying for the serious readers on your Christmas list.
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Seventy CEO David Thornburgh and host Chris Satullo discuss gerrymandering, hopefulness, Robert Moses vs. Jane Jacobs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, purple skies, dead armadillos and what it's like to have your daughter turn you into a character in her novel. This bonus edition of the podcast also includes recommendations from three of the podcast's favorite guests of 2017: Jason Tucker, Harris Sokoloff and Sharon Browning.
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In this episode, two seasoned experts in civil dialogue – Dr. Harris Sokoloff of the Penn Project for Civic Engagement and Sharon Browning (pictured) of the JUSTListening – share practical wisdom on how to craft a conversation over the stuffing that’ll add light and understanding, not heat and ill feeling. And Seventy CEO David Thornburgh adds some thoughts on how curiosity, humility and empathy make the holiday work out better for all.
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In this episode, three young professionals discuss the three main reasons why even some fans of Philly sometimes reluctantly decide to leave: schools, career prospects and a closed-off political system. Host Chris Satullo interviews Jason Tucker (pictured), Jennifer Devor and Bekah Gable, all of whom have been active in Young Involved Philadelphia. Tucker and Devore are also newly minted Buchholz Fellows of the Committee of Seventy.
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In this episode, we review an adventure in civic consulting with the Philadelphia International Airport, aptly named: "The Franklin Challenge: Project Runway." Two of the 18 volunteer consultants, Lauren Hughes of the Arden Theatre and Stefan Frank of the Wharton School, talk about the experience and the ideas for improving PHL that emerged from it.
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Meet Amanda Holt, the Joan of Arc of Pennsylvania politics, and hear about her stubborn, inspiring and victorious (well, partially) quest to stop her state's politicians from gerrymandering. Then hear Ben Geffen of the Public Interest Law Center in Philadelphia make the case for the center's lawsuit against the state's notorious congressional map. If you care about making democracy work again, take a moment listen to two people who are leading the way.
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In this episode, we test the hypothesis that Philadelphia's Democratic organization may be tottering on the brink of collapse with two savvy reporters, Jim Saksa of PlanPhilly/NewsWorks and Claudia Vargas of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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On May 9, the Democratic candidates for the job of Philadelphia's fiscal watchdog met at a Center City co-working space to talk policy, talk finances and talk tough with each other. Here's the audio from that debate.
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Confused by the crowded field for the office of chief prosecutor in Philadelphia? We rounded up two of the smartest guys in the city - Dave Davies of WHYY and Solomon Jones of WURD - to survey the issues, size up the candidates and their maneuverings and, most important, explain why this election means so much. Plus a rundown of all the election resources that Seventy has put at your fingertips.
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In this episode, we take a look at how tech concepts such as data-mining, crowd-funding and network effects are disrupting the settled arrangements of politics (which, Lord knows, could do with some disrupting). T.J Hurst of Jefferson's List explains how he hopes to disrupt the world of political consulting, and an underdog who used crowdfunding to upset a candidate anointed by the Philadelphia machine recounts how he did it.
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