Philadelphia has long been derided for its dirty and filthy streets. This reputation has turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"'It's almost part of the social norm in some circles to think of the city as 'Filthadelphia,' ' he said. 'It's become ingrained in people.'
Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler agreed that the local outlook makes it more difficult to keep the city clean.
'People are disconnected from the fact that littering is very disrespectful to their city,' she said. 'The biggest difference [between cleaner cities and Philadelphia] is mind-set and attitude.'"
The bad reputation has turned into a feedback cycle in which people think it's acceptable to litter. Officials are trying to figure out how to reverse that cycle.
FULL STORY: It's a dirty, rotten shame: We have a filthy image
Community Composting Network Launching in Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia is seeking 25 locations around the city for composting facilities that will help the city achieve its goals of zero waste and litter.
Nudging People to Keep Cities Clean
Philadelphia looked at how interventions can change recycling and littering behavior.
New Philly Fare Gates ‘Astonishingly Easy to Beat’
A set of high-tech gates aimed at limiting fare evasion is already failing.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
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