Yo, Mike! Here's what we need you to do . . .

After the May city primary, we asked residents of the region to imagine that Democratic nominee and presumptive mayor Michael Nutter was sitting at their kitchen table. How would they complete the sentence, "Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is . . ."

More than 600 responses have been received. Here is a sampling of some of the best. All can be viewed on the Great Expectations project Web site: http://go.philly.com/greatexpectations. Nutter and Republican nominee Al Taubenberger have been invited to respond in detail to citizen suggestions on this page regularly during the summer.

Aaron Goldblatt and Laura Foster

Philadelphia

Get the city agencies to work - through direct public accountability.

Every city agency has smart, committed, capable staff. Every agency also has rude, disengaged staff. When confronted with the latter, citizens often throw up their hands in frustration. There is a pervasive lack of professionalism and public accountability by city employees. People rely on constituent services from City Council because they see no other viable method for fixing problems. This is poor public policy. . . .

Appoint an ombudsman for each city agency, whose job is to field complaints. Empower the ombudsmen to resolve problems and to set the highest standard of customer service.

Alan McHale

Fox Chase, Philadelphia

. . . Buy lunch for some of the area college presidents. The brain drain is a huge problem that not a lot of people are paying attention to. Could there be some research going on that might attract venture capital? How about a working group of college presidents once you are mayor that would devote its time to finding better ways to involve the region's colleges and universities?

Joe McGuire

South Philadelphia

One word (OK, three):

Litter, Litter, Litter!

The trash is overwhelming. I clean my street every day, have implemented twice-a-month block cleaning, and still can't keep up with it. I am embarrassed for myself and for Philadelphia when friends and family visit from out of town. It is the first and last thing they see. Every city has great restaurants and bars, activities and sights, but only Philadelphia can claim fame to being the trash city of the nation!

Come on, Mike, make this a priority. It is a quality-of-life issue for everyone: white, black, old, young, rich, poor. My broom thanks you.

Francine E. Cheeks

Philadelphia

Develop explicit procedures and effective training for police officers before they embark on a "stop and frisk" campaign. As a black woman, I clearly understand the concerns about the possible infringement of constitutional rights and the potential for profiling. I also understand the critical need to take action to get illegal guns off the streets, and support your plans to address the problem.

Procedures should include: training for police officers and community preparation conducted by civil liberties lawyers; mandatory record-keeping of stops and guns collected; and regular reports by the mayor in community meetings on activities and success. Start with a small pilot program, and expand it as seems feasible. Please know that you have widespread support among residents.

Matt DeJulio

Society Hill Civic Association, Philadelphia

The most important thing you can do is to reestablish Philadelphia's independence from Harrisburg on issues that are wholly the city's prerogative: schools, gun control, parking, whatever. Zoning is the most visible issue of the moment to assert our freedom from governance by fiat and backroom payoffs.

Do not permit one-third of the most viable neighborhoods in the city, adjacent to one of the most pristine urban waterfronts in the nation, to lose about 15 percent their real estate value [due to casinos]. . . . Flimflam promotion by outsiders promising outlandish windfalls is simply snake oil. The city fathers need to wake up. You must wake them up.

Sandy Smith

Washington Square West, Philadelphia

The post of cheerleader in chief, so ably filled by Ed Rendell, has been vacant for the last eight years. It needs to be filled ASAP, and you look like the guy who can fill it, Mike.

Rendell understood the value of gestures that some dismiss as mere symbolism and the power of those symbolic gestures to motivate others to pitch in for change. That photo of him on his hands and knees scrubbing a City Hall bathroom did more than anything else to communicate to the general public that he was serious about cleaning up city government and improving the way City Hall not only smelled, but worked. . . .

[Rendell] did such a good job at this that the feeling has not completely dissipated over the eight years John Street has held the office. It will be far easier for you to do some of the tough things you will need to do to get the city back on track if you have people who believe in it - and you - behind you.

Rayna Goldfarb

Teacher, Lincoln High School, Philadelphia

The one thing I really need you to do is to address the violent and disruptive students in Philadelphia's public high schools who routinely undermine the academic program. Your daughter attends a "special select" magnet high school where this destructive element does not exist. There are thousands of deserving students in high schools across the city who should also enjoy the benefit of a school with a conducive environment that would allow them to develop their potential. Make every high school worthy of the very best kids who go there; they deserve it - just like your child!

Walter J. Donahue III

Philadelphia

Give a voice to Republican Philadelphians. Try to find ways to make us believe we ought to remain citizens of our great city. Bring us into the mix. We have ideas no one in power has wanted to listen to for more than 50 years, and many of us have moved away as a result. A one-party system, which we have here, is polarizing and counterproductive. This is what they have in China, North Korea, most of the Middle East, etc. . . .

I am proud to say I was born here, but I confess to thoughts of moving away. I don't want a pep talk on the virtues of Philadelphia. (I am well aware of the pluses.) I want to know what changes you intend to try to make to encourage me to remain here. Thank you.