Posted on 12/31/2007 8:17:53 PM PST by dirtboy
Despite progress, the city's murder rate is No. 1 among big cities. Figures tell the story, but don't nail the solution.
AS Philadelphia approaches the new year and a new mayor, the murder rate remains an appalling blight on the city's reputation and a threat to our quality of life. While shootings and other violent crimes are down from last year, there's only slight improvement from the 406 homicides recorded in 2006. As of last night, the city had suffered 391 murders in 2007, the highest rate per 100,000 residents among the nation's 10 largest cities.
It hasn't always been this bad.
From 1998 through 2002, Philadelphia's homicide rate went down and stayed down. Look at the numbers:
Run the Boy Scouts out of town, then wonder why things go the way they are in Philly?
Give me a break, they are crappy because they are designed to be crappy, no more, no less.
The more liberal the city government, the more liberal the city, and the more crime. End of story.
I still love this city.
What happened was Police Commissioner Timoney, a consummate professional, was replaced by a ludicrous hack who says the murder rate is “not the police’s fault” and blames it on the war in Iraq, global warming, George Bush, etc. And this travesty was brought to us by dem Mayor Street, such an embarrassment that even the democrat DA has been publicly demanding he crack down on crime (to no avail).
WITH ALL THE MURDERS IN THE MAJOR CIITES MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE AT HOME IN ONE YEAR THAN THE 5 YEARS IN IRAQ! WHERE’S THE ANTI-WAR CROWD?
Philadelphia, tied for second place with Oakland in the failure of liberalism award. Here’s for hoping that they get it together in 2008.
The City of brotheryly Love even went as Far as after 50 years of Democrat Leadership in City Council by voting Philly A PRO CHOICE CITY.... now does that Smack you in the Face of truely embracing the Culture of DEATH!!!
Mayor Street is NOW Officially an Ex Mayor and he will always be remembered as Heading the Most Corrupt and Inept administration in US History..and peaked two weeks into his administration after he removed all abandoned Cars
GlaD I am Safe and sound in KUWAIT!! The Theatre OF OIF/OEF as a Contractor!
Happy New Year! Now I can look forward to the Smoggiest 2008 Olympics ever...Beijing here I come..
It hasn’t always been this bad.
From 1998 through 2002, Philadelphia’s homicide rate went down and stayed down. Look at the numbers:
That is when COmmisioner TIMONEY was forced out By Mayor Street and they yanked out the NYC COMSTAT Crime system with it.. The PHILLY cops Union ( Monopoly of Labor)did Not like the Daily accountability oftheir Precincts and Officers... Can You say Death Knell of Philly.. How Ironic..
If the murders are scum on scum, what can you do? There will always be crime and poor people among us. Turning the cities into police states isn’t the answer. Just try and contain the violence to those who choose that lifestyle.
How a failed city behaves: make war on the Boy Scouts, a beacon of decency, virtue and patriotism shining from the sewer of moral decadence that is Philadelphia; use the full resources of a swollen and corrupt city bureaucracy to harass and bully a successful entrepreneur who has the audacity to require that business be conducted in English; elevate politicians who claim the resolution of the city’s woes is beyond their reach and responsibility.
Guess it's most dangerous in certain 'hoods.
A lot of the old buildings downtown are being converted into classy high end condos and people with money are moving in so you know they're going to make sure it's a safe place to live.
However north only a few blocks away from Center Philly is a real ghetto full of drugs and crime, and to the west and south to lesser extents.
I used to cop drugs and hang out all night in these places. Been mugged and had guns pointed at me more than a few times. Those were the days :)
Are you seeing the City from the windows of the Merion Cricket Club? Or the Union League?
A colleague and I were part of a job fair held at the Wachovia Center last year. It was a nightmare.
Of everyone that participated, there were maybe 3 qualified people. Plenty of bling, plenty of head-scarves, plenty of gangsta lifestyle, plenty of people looking for handouts. It was like feeding time at the zoo, it was ridiculous.
At this point, I guess that it’s a waste of time to mention the Ultra Strict Gun Laws in Philly.?
Just yesterday I heard a perfect explanation of the crime problem from the old radio legend, Barry Farber. He said, in effect, that crime will expand in direct proportion to our tolerance of it.
Be careful what you wish for. Bloomberg come to mind?
Bloomberg is a Republican? Who knew?
What! Are you saying you wouldn’t offer a job to someone wearing alternative clothing? What’s the matter with you?
Seriously, why do people think they can show up for a job interview wearing inappropriate clothing?
I saw everything from veiled muslim women, to big puffy hundred dollar bill jackets, to gold teeth and do-rags, to a man in a shiny purple suit - complete with hat & feather and cane. I kid you not.
“Y’all got jobs? What kin I do to git me oneadem jobs?” was the most commonly axed question.
Glad that is in the past. Sounds like your future will be a lot more promising since you don't go there any more.
Hope I don't wander off into one of those areas by mistake.
Plan to make it to party New Years Eve, 2008. Will make reservations early.
Happy New Year, dirtboy.
BTW, I don’t know what the top ten cities for homocide are, but I bet I know what party has been in charge for decades in each one of them....
I got out of Philly in ‘97 and went back for the first time last summer. I was pleasantly surprised at how much Center City and University City had been built up with restaurants and shops. But... walking around Market St. was depressing. The people looked poor and the ones who didn’t look angry looked apathetic. I had to deal w/city employees on several occasions and found them less than helpful. I went back to my old house in Univ City and found that the clean, well-stocked and pleasant Korean grocery was now dirty, bare and run by Dominicans. Several stores were empty and the area (in which houses are selling now for almost $300K!) looked run down.
I could have gotten a nice faculty position in Philly, but opted for the heartland. Seeing Philly again, I know I made the right choice.
And Happy New Year to you, MileHi!
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