PhillyTablet Inquirer Daily News
Mobile
Home Delivery
philly.com

email
font size
comments
15
options
 
Thursday, September 24, 2009

Should Philadelphia offer to host G-20 meeting?

So is Philadelphia ready to host one of these global events?

You might think having been the site of the 2000 Republican National Convention, it would be a snap. After all, protesters came to Philadelphia, with marches and banners. The Convention Center, which is being expanded, might even be able to host it rather than the Wachovia Center.

But before our tourism and marketing folks gear up to pitch the Obama administration on Philadelphia's suitability as an international city, I'd hope they take a good look at what is not going on in Pittsburgh today.

Given the city's Convention Center is at 12th & Arch streets, the security zone would probably mean Market & Broad Streets would be off-limits. It would be Chinatown shopowners putting boards over their windows. And with certain roads into the city likely closed, getting to work in Center City would be a major challenge.

Let's let Pittsburgh bask in the glow of the international spotlight for a while. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has said he hopes to see $35 million in tourist spending out of the G-20 summit. I can't see how that math works: Close the downtown and encourage people to stay home from work.

At any rate, the bill for the heavy security efforts is likely to consume most if not all of that economic impact.
Posted by Mike Armstrong @ 12:59 PM  Permalink | 15 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 09/24/2009
    NO!
    — NJA Jr.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 09/24/2009
    NO!
    — NJA Jr.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:59 PM, 09/24/2009
    At best it's a mixed blessing. will all the unlikely visitors to Pittsburgh leave with a positive impression leading to a change in the way people think of pittsburgh? who knows and nobody will for some time. that said, I think Philly needs the exposure less, we're much bigger and much closer to NY and DC
    — dreinterests
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:15 PM, 09/24/2009
    philly is too f****in dangerous!!!
    — frankie
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:01 PM, 09/24/2009
    Pittsburgh's downtown is in such bad shape that there is nothing for the protesters to destroy. All of the storefronts are already boarded up! It's a bunker style convention with maximum security. Hardly an economic windfall. It's also ironic that Pgh was selected considering that it's consistently ranked one of the least diverse cities in the country.
    — aid2
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:12 PM, 09/24/2009
    It is really puzzling to me that we didn't push to get this here. What is going on with this city and current administration. In a time when funds are really tight because of the economic climate, they should be looking for bid oportunities to bring in some needed revenue. The problem with Philly is that it's leaders don't think BIG. At one point it was the second largest US city in the country but because it didn't plan for big things it has slipped to sixth place. For the next mayoral election, we need to select a strong leader who can put forth big ideas to grow and promote the city as a world class city. We need to also look into the summer olympics, world cup, etc. Think Big Mayor Nutter and bring the casinos and the World trade Center in. Philly Style.
    — knmcmahon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:17 PM, 09/24/2009
    couple of things: 1) i was born and raised in the delaware valley but have lived in pittsburgh for the past 4 years. people like dreinterests and aid2 are typical delval residents who have never set foot in pittsburgh but want to spread their provincial superiority complex idiocy onto a subject they know nothing about. pittsburgh is a beautiful city, diverse, burgeoning center of medical and academic excellence. it has low crime rates and an economy that has been one of the most recession-proof of all cities in the past two years. forbes rated it 'most liveable city' in 2008; 2) i left town because the g20 was there this week. most everything in downtown area will be shutdown. business owners are not getting assistance from any level of government for their troubles. many protest groups have been told areas where they are allowed to protest and they are not obeying. traffic is a nightmare. lots of extra police required. AnnoyedWithYou said it perfectly - the cost to hold the event will not offset any supposed windfall of commerce from international exposure. so philly - steer clear of g20!
    — zwarte piet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:05 PM, 09/24/2009
    For all the window dressing that Pittsburgh was chosen because it's a success story, I don't buy it. I believe it was chosen intentionally to keep the number of protesters down. Think of it - small metro area, so few local protesters built in, and the number of flights to Pittsburgh are far less than to a city like Philadelphia, NY, Chicago, etc. All these guys have to work in secret...it's good to keep people away. :-P
    — roger511
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:22 PM, 09/24/2009
    NO! No cowardly protestors, please! If I did see any of those low-life creeps. I'd rip those stupid mask off their faces. Either protest peacefully (guaranteed by the Constitution-which they hate), or stay home.
    — Paul B
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:18 PM, 09/24/2009
    These events are nice in theory, but seem to be disasters in practice. I think we'd be much better pursuing the Olympics instead.
    — NickFromGermantown
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:10 PM, 09/24/2009
    NO, The can't Nutter said the city has no money
    — october9
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:57 PM, 09/24/2009
    zwarte piet, I was born in Pittsburgh, lived there for 35 years of my life and moved to Philly 3 years ago because there are no jobs in Pittsburgh. I go back once or twice a year to visit family. It's a complete joke. It has no young people, the city shuts down at 5, it has the highest elderly population in the country and consistently ranked one of the worst cities for young people by Forbes magazine. I don't think Philly is on par with NYC or SF, but it's far more progressive and forward thinking than Pittsburgh. If you want, i can give you a tour of downtown Pgh the next time I'm there for Christmas. It's a complete ghetto.
    — aid2
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:47 AM, 09/25/2009
    I just moved from Pittsburgh after living there for five years. It is not a ghetto and when my family and friends came in from Philly they were impressed by the tour we took downtown. Pittsburgh is working hard to recover from its economic collapse after the fall of the steel industry. It has done a wonderful job so far. Sure, its smaller than Philly, and yes, I moved away because I still love Philly more than Pittsburgh. However, it is unfair to perpetuate the myth that it is a ghost town of old hopeless steel workers. That being said, my friends and in-laws who still live in the city of Pittsburgh are more scared of the tension due to the G-20 summit than they are excited about it all. G-20 hits strong emotions for people and I think the negative consequences of hosting the summit outweigh the positive. Downtown Pittsburgh is a empty today because no one is leaving their homes or going to work. Last night a few violent protesters mixed into peaceful student observers at Pitt, resulting in an escalated situation with the police firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Why would anyone want this in their city?
    — clc134


15 comments
About Mike Armstrong
Mike Armstrong, a business editor and writer for nearly two decades, is the Inquirer's business columnist and PhillyInc blog editor. Contact Mike via e-mail or at 215-854-2980
Advertise Here