Nutter on Nutter: Business community could be more influential

In his exit interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal, Mayor Michael Nutter drew a distinction between how the business community and organized labor each wield their considerable influence.

In the second part of our web exclusive, the outgoing mayor clearly thinks business leaders could play a larger role in pushing forward a broader agenda if they wanted to go that route.

We have a strong, active union presence. There’s nothing wrong with that. But they’re not the only employer in the city. And the business leaders — small, medium and large — provide jobs. And so at times as a government, we need that sort of triangular partnership. Or if you want to make it a square and include the philanthropic and foundation community. There’s room enough in a city of 138 square miles literally and figuratively for leadership from a variety of quarters.

The unions fight for union jobs and employee rights. That’s they’re job and responsibility. At the same time, the business community could have a stronger voice, a louder voice, if they decided that they want to do that. When you are collectively responsible for 600,000 plus jobs, not just in Center City but in neighborhoods all across the city, I think that’s a very powerful force if it decides to engage.

Many of the business leaders are primarily focused on their business and what affects them. I think at times, we’re missing the broader view, the more collective view of what’s in the best interest of the city of Philadelphia. I’m not just talking about the city government but the entity that is the city and our citizens. I’ve been a strong advocate for the business community to be louder, more aggressive and more active in voicing their opinion to elected officials and others in a way that is productive.

Do you think unions, particularly the building and trades, will have more or less influence over the city’s business climate in the coming years?

People look for opportunities or circumstance to influence and if they see an opportunity, they move forward. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that. And there’s nothing stopping business people from being as influential as they want to be. If they decide that’s they want to do that. I mean, to be a leader, you have to decide you want to be a leader.

There’s no one’s standing in the way of the business community being more active in politics, being more actively engaged on the fundraising side, actively engaged in helping to develop public policy. John Dougherty or Joe Jones, if they want to be influential, they take steps to be influential. But the playing field is wide open.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal