Perhaps nothing says crime has spiraled out of control in Philadelphia like when the mayor is forced to declare a public safety emergency. It’s a sure sign that things are ominous in the city. It’s arguably even worse when the new mayor does so on her first day in office. Nevertheless, it’s at least comforting to know Mayor Cherelle Parker is taking crime in the city seriously, unlike her predecessor, the insufferable Jim Kenney.
I use the word insufferable because he refused to declare any public emergency despite the record-setting crime that transpired during the last several years of his term. When it came to crime, Kenney blamed Donald Trump, he blamed MAGA Republicans, and he blamed the National Rifle Association. He blamed anyone and anything besides himself. As the bodies kept piling up on the streets, Kenney did nothing. And why did Kenney refuse to do this? Because, he said, it wouldn’t accomplish anything.
