Philadelphians like their city more than they used to, poll says

City residents have moved on from their onetime advertising slogan - "Philadelphia isn't as bad as Philadelphians say it is" - and are feeling a lot more confident about their city these days, according to a Pew poll released Wednesday.

The poll surveyed 1,600 people in August, asking whether they feel the city is headed in the right direction. Half said yes. That's up from 2012, when 39 percent said yes.

The results are "among the most positive registered in the seven polls Pew has conducted in the city since 2009," the Pew Cheritable Trusts wrote in its summary of the poll results.

Pope Francis' visit in September 2015 and the Democratic National Convention in July showed the city in a good light, according to the poll. Seventy-two percent said the events made them feel pride, and 73 percent said the city should seek to host more large events.

Those surveyed were also asked about the city's soda tax and Mayor Kenney. More than half said they approve of both.

Not all of the results were positive.

The number of 18- to-34-year-olds who said they would "probably" or "likely" be in the city in five to 10 years, dropped - from 59 percent last year to 48 percent this year.

Opinions about the school system remained dismal. Seventy-three percent rated it as fair or poor.

Pew said it selected individuals through landline and cellphone random-digit dialing, and that the poll was weighted to match the city's demographics.

The slogan, "Philadelphia isn't as bad as Philadephians say it is," was posted on a billboard along the Schuylkill Expressway in the 1970s.

mboren@phillynews.com

856-779-3829 @borenmc

Published: October 5, 2016 — 6:40 PM EDT The Philadelphia Inquirer

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