DV Journal

The cockpit voice recorder from the doomed medical transport jet that crashed in northeast Philadelphia Friday evening is being examined the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C. in hopes that it will shed light on why the plane crashed into Cottman Avenue.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited the crash site Monday and said it will take about a month for a preliminary report on the black box’s information, noting it’s a voice recorder, not a data recorder. And he promised “transparency” in the investigation.

The device was found eight feet into the ground at a hole made by the plane’s impact.

“Whether it’s the speed or location of the aircraft, we will be able to get some data, hopefully, off that device,” said Duffy. It could reveal whether rainy weather that evening was a factor, or if the cause was mechanical or health-related, he said.

Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that so far seven people are known to have died in the crash—six on the plane and one who was in a car on the ground. The plane was taking a pediatric patient and her mother home to Mexico after the child was treated at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.

Twenty-four others were injured, she said. At least two remain in critical condition and two are in stable condition.

At a press conference on Monday, Parker thanked Duffy for coming to see the site himself and Gov. Josh Shapiro for his ongoing support.

The jet crash was “the worst black swan event” that the city has faced in years, she said. But it is “resilient” and remains strong, she said. Officials breathed “a sigh of relief that the black box was found.”

All city, state, and federal “partners” are working together in a “collaborative spirit.” She also thanked their elected representatives for their support.

“Everyone standing up together in this crisis,” said Parker. “One Philly strong.”

Parker and other officials visited some of the victims in a hospital and also thanked emergency room workers for taking care of those injured.

The jet crashed less than a minute after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a smaller secondary airport about 3.5 miles from the crash site. Parker said the incident, while horrific, could have been much worse if the plane had struck a gas line. As it was, five houses were set ablaze and numerous cars were charred.

The jet was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri before heading on to Mexico.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said there was “a thin line between tragedy and triumph, between danger and safety. A millisecond could have claimed many more lives in our community.”

Cottman Avenue divides a residential and a very busy commercial area that includes the Roosevelt Mall.

While Shapiro was at the scene Friday evening, he saw a person “donning a kelly green hoodie and…running to help others.”

Both Shapiro and Parker praised the police and fire departments for their swift response and “extraordinary leadership.” Shapiro thanked Duffy, who had only been confirmed a week earlier, for his quick response.

Parker noted the city is relying on its state and federal partners.

A reporter asked Parker about the examination of DNA at the scene and whether anyone else could have been killed by the plane crash. Parker responded that is why they are not giving absolute casualty numbers but “going to allow our experts to continue to do their work.”

The NTSB is the lead agency investigating the crash. If anyone finds debris they should not touch it but instead report it to: [email protected]

The Roosevelt Boulevard has reopened but Cottman Avenue remains closed between Bustleton Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.

Parker and city officials will hold a town hall meeting to answer residents’ questions at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Solis Cohen Elementary School, 7001 Horrocks Street, Philadelphia.

According to updates provided by the City of Philadelphia, the medical transport jet that crashed around 6:10 p.m. Friday at Cottman and Bustleton Avenues in northeast Philadelphia took seven lives: six onboard and one person who was in a car on the ground.

Twenty-two other victims were taken to area hospitals. Five remained hospitalized as of Sunday. Three of those people were in critical condition.

At a Saturday morning press conference, Mayor Cherelle Parker urged people to call police if any of their family members in that area are missing.

Five houses and numerous cars were set ablaze.

Both Parker and Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was with her, asked people to pray for those affected.

“I happen to be a praying mayor, and I know that prayer works,” said Parker. “Offer a prayer for our city. Now is the time we need it.”

An oxygen canister from the doomed airplane at the curb on Cottman Avenue

The people on the plane were Mexican nationals, a pediatric patient, the patient’s mother, and a four-person flight crew, said Parker. The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

“It was only aloft for a very short period of time before something went terribly wrong and it crashed,” said Parker. “The aircraft, a Learjet 55, was en route to Missouri, according to our Federal Aviation Administration.”

“Investigators are pouring over the crash site right now,” said Parker. “We will find a cause for this tragedy.” Workers were restoring gas and electric service. SEPTA is detouring buses around the Cottman and Roosevelt Boulevard area.

The Red Cross is helping people who are displaced by the crash. The school district said there are no school closures.

“What you witnessed today is everyone standing up together,” said Parker, naming all the city, state, and federal agencies involved, as well as public officials.

She asked people not to come to the site since it remains “an active scene.”

Shapiro said, “The city is working around the clock to keep people safe, to understand what happened and to be there for those who are impacted.”

He thanked “everyone who is joining forces together,” including 50 state police troopers and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. He said he spoke to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who offered federal resources. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have dispatched investigators.

The NTSBB also had a press conference Saturday. Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said a team of 17 people was deployed and an investigation is underway.

Ralph Hicks, with NTSB, said the doomed airplane climbed to 1,500 feet before it fell to the ground.

“The entire fight lasted less than a minute,” he said.

Homendy said, “This was a high-impact crash and the plane is highly fragmented…The debris field extends four or five blocks.”  On Sunday evening, workers found the cockpit voice recorder.

Anyone who fiends a piece of debris should email: [email protected], she said.

The NTSB is classifying the crash as an accident, she said.

“I know the good people of northeast Philadelphia, as daybreak came, walked out of their houses and down from their stoops and saw carnage in their communities, saw a fuselage, saw destruction, and saw things no one should ever have to experience in their neighborhoods,” said Shapiro. “We also saw the best of northeast Philly: neighbor helping neighbor. Folks looking out for one another. That’s the Philly way. That’s the Philly spirit.”

The pediatric patient on the plane had been treated at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia and was returning to Mexico by way of Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri.

Flames from jet crash (via X)

City Manager Director Adam Thiel said the accident scene is a “very large area.”

“We’re doing a grid search of this entire four to six block area,” said Thiel. “A very dense area to ensure we’ve found everything we need to find, that we have checked in with all of the residents. And we will continue to do that.”

“We have teams that are going literally house to house, door to door,” he said. “Also, license and inspection personnel are inspecting all the dwellings in the area so we can be sure we don’t have additional structural damage, and it is possible we will still find that.”

“It is still a very active and fluid situation,” said Thiel. “It is entirely possible there will be changes to those casualty figures that you heard…We have a lot of unknowns as to who was where on the streets of this neighborhood last night at the time of impact. It will likely be days or more until we are able to definitely answer the question about the number of folks who perished in this tragedy and the outcome for those who were injured.”

Anthony Romi lives on the east side of Roosevelt Boulevard and was home when the crash occurred.

“It sounded like a missile,” Romi told DVJournal. “That’s how loud it was. It shook the whole neighborhood. The whole neighborhood lit up. I knew it was some sort of an explosion.”

His first thought was the gas station on the corner had exploded.

“It was such a shock. I feel sad for the people that lost their lives,” said Romi.

State Sen. Joe Picozzi (Philadelphia) was on hand for the press conference.

Afterward, he told DVJournal, “I’ve had a lot of people reach out, ‘How can I help? What can I do?’– community leaders, civic leaders.

“We’ll be working together to help everybody,” Picozzi said.

Philadelphia will offer support to affected businesses. Businesses with property damage or operational issues because of local road closures can contact the Department of Commerce’s Mayor’s Business Action team or call (215) 683-2100, or email [email protected].

The city is also offering mental health services for those affected by the crash or (215) 685-6440. And residents affected by the aircraft incident can text RECOVERPHL to 888-777 to get the latest updates and information sent straight to their phones.

Even though tax increases are looming, Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley counties have promised to jointly contribute $22.95 million to help shore up the coffers of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

That is unwelcome news for Delaware County taxpayers. Delaware County faces a $76 million budget deficit, and residents are looking at a 28 percent tax hike. A county spokesman said nearly $13, 5 million of county funds will be allocated for SEPTA for 2025.

That pledge was announced at a recent press conference where Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would shift $153 million in federal funds from Pennsylvania road and bridge repairs to the transit agency.

“As governor, I have a responsibility to serve every region of our commonwealth — rural, suburban, and urban,” said Shapiro. “Over the past two years, we’ve come together on a bipartisan basis to invest $330.5 million in additional funding for Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges, repairing more poor-condition bridges than any other state and improving more miles of roadway than at any time in the past decade.

“But while we’ve made great progress on our roadways, we must also address the needs of mass transit riders, particularly those in Southeastern Pennsylvania who rely on SEPTA every day to get to work, school, medical appointments, and more.”

Critics say throwing money at the problem won’t solve it, pointing instead to the drastic decline in ridership. Since 2019, SEPTA ridership has decreased by 38 percent, the Commonwealth Foundation reports. At the same time, SEPTA’s operating budget to serve fewer riders has increased by 9.3 percent since 2019.

“SEPTA has repeatedly failed to serve customers, residents, and taxpayers, and not because of state funding issues,” said Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield.” Even before this new bailout, Pennsylvania taxpayers and drivers were footing the bill for SEPTA’s bureaucracy. Shapiro’s bailout attempts to avoid the deep issues he and SEPTA leaders must address. They have refused to deal with rising crime and quality of life violations, nor have they evaluated routes in decades.

“SEPTA leadership should focus on streamlining service, finding efficiencies, and relying more on fares and local support—like most major metropolitan transportation systems,” Benefield added.

That analysis has largely been ignored by Delaware Valley elected officials.

“Montgomery County, much like the Governor’s Office, is on a mission to repair our aging infrastructure,” Montgomery County Commissioners Chair Jamila Winder said at the Shapiro press conference. “Better infrastructure improves quality of life, reduces transportation costs, and makes our region more attractive for investment and economic growth. Our economic productivity [is] only possible with a robust mass transit network.”

She said Montgomery County plans to increase its SEPTA funding from $8.3 million in 2024 to $9.4 million in 2025. Montgomery County taxes will rise by 9 percent in the proposed 2025 budget.

If Delaware County Council Chair Monica Taylor had any reservations about increasing spending and taxes, she didn’t show it during the press conference.

“It is vital to our community that SEPTA stays fully functional at the rate they’re at,” Taylor said, noting Delaware County has the second-highest transit ridership in the region. “SEPTA is the backbone of so many of us. The 101 trolley line runs right behind my home. I take it to Media. I take it into the El. I take it into Center City. Over 18,000 people who ride SEPTA every single day. Those individuals are riding it to work, who are riding it to school, to their doctor’s appointments, and so much more.

“But as we all know, the pandemic hit SEPTA hard,” said Taylor. “And without some sort of relief, we all know this system is not going to maintain itself.”

She thanked Shapiro for his “true leadership.”

Representatives from Chester and Bucks Counties did not attend the press conference. Bucks County released its 2025 budget with no tax increase, while Chester County homeowners will pay less than 1 percent more next year.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said SEPTA is “at the heart of the economic engine of Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

“If you claim to be pro-business,” she said. “If you claim to be pro-growth. I don’t care what your party is, you will find a way to partner with our governor and our legislative to continue the tradition that we started in the commonwealth and from our county leaders here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Let’s get stuff done.”

Despite the influx of state and local funds, SEPTA riders are paying 7.5 percent more as of Dec. 1. However, a second round of fare hikes that was to take effect next year has been postponed. SEPTA had not raised its fares since 2017.

WalletHub is out with its list of best-run and worst-run cities.

Despite new Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s promises of significant improvements, Philadelphia isn’t among WalletHub’s top 20 best-run municipalities.

The City of Brotherly Love ranked 138 out of 148 larger American cities.

WalletHub used six categories for its rankings: 1) Financial Stability, 2) Education, 3) Health, 4) Safety, 5) Economy and 6) Infrastructure & Pollution.

Additionally, the website calculated overall quality of services scores for each city. It also factored in the total budget per capita to determine a score per dollar spent index.

The top 10 cities were Nampa, Idaho; Lexington-Fayette, Ky.; Boise, Idaho; Nashua, N.H.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Durham, N.C.; Provo, Utah; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Wichita, Kan.

Philadelphia also has the unfortunate label of “America’s poorest big city,” with poverty at 22.8 percent, according to Pew Charitable Trusts.

“The best-run cities in America use their budgets most effectively to provide high-quality financial security, education, health, safety and transportation to their residents. Many of the top cities also have a very low amount of outstanding government debt per capita, which can prevent financial troubles in the future,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst.

City officials say not so fast.

Joe Grace, communications director for Parker, said the city’s credit rating was recently upgraded to A+ by Fitch Ratings. He pointed out the higher rating will decrease the cost of borrowing for the city, and Parker agreed.

“I am delighted by the news that the City of Philadelphia’s credit rating has been upgraded to “A+” – our highest group of credit ratings in decades,” said Parker. “This upgrade is the product of the hard, sustained work of every member of our finance and budget teams, including the Treasurer’s Office, Finance Director Rob Dubow, and everyone on these teams. It’s also the result of our improving pension fund, which is 62.2 percent funded, its highest level in two decades. Our economy is diverse and improving – another positive indicator. Higher credit ratings mean lower interest costs when Philadelphia borrows money, a savings for taxpayers. This credit rating upgrade proves that we’re moving in the right direction in Philadelphia.”

Philadelphia Treasurer Jackie Dunn added, “We are pleased to see our commitment to the city’s fiscal health recognized through this latest rating action. The city’s financial management team has really focused on making critical investments, building reserves, and improving the health of our pension fund.”

Grace said, “We’ll stand on these rankings from Wall Street any day of the week.”

However, Philadelphia also ranked near the bottom, 72 out of 75, for cities ranked for how well they’re run by Truth in Accounting.

That organization found the city needs $11.2 billion to pay bills and has a taxpayer burden of $20,400 per taxpayer. Meaning if all bills were to be paid in one year, that’s how much each taxpayer would owe. Truth in Accounting gave Philadelphia a grade of “F.”

While things had improved somewhat due to federal COVID relief dollars, the city’s pension debt increased due to the poor performance of its investments, Truth in Accounting said on its website. The city set aside only 62 cents for every dollar owed in pensions and only 14 cents for every dollar owed for retiree healthcare costs, according to Truth in Accounting.  Philadelphia has $8.6 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, the organization noted.

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Delaware Valley county officials–with the sole exception of Chester County Republican Commissioner Eric Roe–signed a letter penned by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker asking Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The March 22 letter said, in part, “Pennsylvanian’s current minimum of $7.25 is the lowest of our surrounding states. (In New Jersey, it is $15.13; in Delaware, it’s $13.25.)

“This ultimately puts a strain on Pennsylvania’s families, leaving little left over to cover basic necessities, let alone saving or investing for their future. Raising the minimum wage is not only an investment in our residents but also an investment in the state’s future.”

The letter referenced the left-leaning MIT Living Wage Calculator claiming the hourly “living wage” for a person with no children in Bucks County is $25.15, $26.49 in Chester County in Delaware County, $23.58; in Montgomery County, $25.46 and $22.29 in Philadelphia County.

But Roe said Democrats were getting the economics wrong.

“The inconvenient truth is that markets have always done a better job of pulling people out of poverty than governments ever have. Many companies are already offering starting pay at well over $15 per hour, and they still have trouble finding people to take those jobs. If we want jobs that give workers a sustainable living wage, then we need to get government out of the way. That’s why I declined to sign that letter,” Roe said.

Federal data confirm that while Pennsylvania’s mandatory wage is low, the state ranks 20th in the nation for highest average annual salary ($58,470).

As for Keystone State workers earning hourly wages, their $28.11/hour in 2023 was the 19th highest in the U.S.

One other key fact about the minimum wage in Pennsylania, notes Commonwealth Foundation Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle: Just one percent of the workforce has minimum wage jobs.

“Unfortunately, a $15 minimum wage would hurt the very people it intends to help, resulting in fewer jobs, weaker benefits, and higher prices,” Stelle said. “Just last week, the IFO (state Independent Fiscal Office) found that increasing the minimum wage to $15 would kill 21,000 jobs.

“If our elected leaders want to raise wages without eliminating jobs, they should ask Gov. Shapiro to cut taxes and eliminate government red tape. We need to hold the governor accountable for reducing business taxes—just as he promised.”

Both Bucks County Republican Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo and Montgomery County Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello signed the letter. DiGirolamo did not respond to a request for comment. DiBello, however, defended his support for a mandatory wage hike.

“I joined my fellow leaders in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties in supporting a maximum $15 minimum wage because, by and large, that threshold has already been met by many of our region’s companies,” said DiBello. “Businesses need to offer competitive pay to attract quality employees. In most cases, the market sets the level of pay.   By recognizing the realities of the current workforce’s pay and the importance of attracting quality employees, the market has already set the minimum wage.

“In reality, I’m only supporting what is already occurring, nothing more,” said DiBello.

“I like them and respect them both, They have very different districts from me,” Roe said of his fellow Republican commissioners. However, as the minority commissioner, Roe said, he sees it as his job to “be different” from the Democratic majority and speak up if he disagrees with a policy.

“I didn’t hesitate to say no when asked to sign that letter,” said Roe.

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Widely different views of Philadelphia’s future came into focus last week.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and District Attorney Larry Krasner held major press conferences with widely divergent approaches to fighting crime.

Parker announced that Pedro Rosario, a Philadelphia Police captain in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, was elevated to the rank of deputy commissioner, and his sole mission will be to police Kensington. This is a much-needed signal that Parker is going to bring a methodical and determined approach to the shame of Kensington. She said several times on my show that she has compassion for those addicted to drugs, but Kensington will not be an open-air drug market on her watch.

On the other hand, Krasner’s press conference was dedicated to his opposition to the new state law, Act 40. It requires the Pennsylvania attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor who would have the power to prosecute crimes that happen on SEPTA or in the general area of their stations. The intent is not to take away Krasner’s power to prosecute but to add a prosecutor who will enforce laws that Krasner ignores or does not fully charge. This bill had the support of many Democrats in Harrisburg and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Krasner and his supporters said this law suppresses democracy in Philadelphia, and they blamed former President Donald Trump’s influence on Republicans in Harrisburg. Krasner also claimed that his philosophy and methods still have overwhelming support in Philadelphia.

I would challenge that assertion. If Krasner still had that kind of support, then former City Councilperson and Krasner favorite Helen Gym would have beaten Parker in the Democratic primary for mayor. Instead, Parker won because people in many minority neighborhoods in Philadelphia wanted an all-out effort against lawlessness.

The arena where Parker and Krasner will first lock horns is over retail theft. It is clear that Krasner will not prosecute shoplifting under $500. It’s clear that even if the items stolen are over $500, Krasner will not do much about it. This policy has led, in some cases, to a lack of effective police response to these crimes and some businesses, such as Wawa, to either leave Philadelphia or scale back their presence.

Parker and newly-appointed Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bechtel are going to fully prosecute these crimes and periodically inform the public of arrests. They will challenge the Krasner narrative that the police are not doing their job. I believe this is a crime that infuriates people, and they want it to be a police priority.

The secret sauce for Parker on Kensington drug crimes and retail theft is community engagement. She and police officials will meet extensively with communities and will incorporate their ideas. She also will institute massive cleanup campaigns across the city.

Parker does not shy away from a fight.

However, it’s unlikely that Krasner will change his methods. He believes his policies are the best way to lead Philadelphia out of some of the worst poverty in the country. He still has great support in largely progressive neighborhoods that are somewhat insulated from the worst of crime. Some of his base is even excited by the grand experiment he is conducting.

Parker’s targeting of Kensington through engagement and enforcement is the model to use to diminish Krasner’s destructive capabilities. If she can make it work in Kensington, she can make it work anywhere.

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In her first hours on the job, Cherelle Parker, the new mayor of Philadelphia, has outlined a platform that prioritizes addressing crime and improving law enforcement.

On Parker’s first day in office, she declared, in an executive order, a state of emergency on crime. Parker declared a citywide public safety emergency, directing the Police Department to develop comprehensive plans to address crime across the city.

This action is no surprise given Parker’s election platform, built on her commitment to tackling the pressing issue of crime and public safety.

This executive order calls for a report from the police commissioner within 30 days outlining a plan to reduce crime levels. The mayor’s supporters will undoubtedly view the executive action as highlighting her commitment to prioritizing public safety and firmly demonstrating her intent to tackle the challenges promptly and proactively.

Parker’s planned response to gun violence includes a focus on more policing and the reintroduction of stop-and-frisk. Before the election, Parker expressed the need for a high-quality law enforcement leader who could change the culture of the police department, emphasizing the importance of reform, empowering good officers, and standing up to the police union.

Parker has been supportive of law enforcement, indicating a willingness to consider controversial practices and change tactics.

The mayor’s platform is aimed at striking a balance between empowering the police to do their job and addressing the concerns of the community.

Through the declaration of a public safety emergency and the stress on the importance of comprehensive plans for crime prevention, Parker has indicated a prominent emphasis on law enforcement and community safety as central elements of her agenda. The executive order serves as a guide for her governance approach and initiates a sequence of measures designed to enhance public safety.

The best-case scenario is that the mayor’s emphasis on reducing crime and improving public safety would shift in the Philadelphia Police Department’s operational strategy toward a more proactive and community-oriented approach.

Civil rights groups have raised concerns about excessive policing and its effect on certain communities. The reintroduction of stop-and-frisk, a controversial practice known for its disproportionate effect on minority communities, has raised red flags.

After her election, Parker hinted at increasing police presence and potentially relaxing employment requirements. However, the potential of increasing police presence and relaxing employment requirements has sparked concerns about the risk of over-policing and the need to ensure that law enforcement practices are conducted to respect civil rights and avoid discriminatory outcomes.

Civil rights groups have historically emphasized the need for effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms to address police misconduct and ensure that law enforcement practices are in line with civil rights standards. Parker’s order is likely to amplify the concerns, emphasizing the need to balance public safety measures and safeguarding civil rights while promoting equitable and community-centered policing practices.

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