DV Journal

Delaware County residents have been speaking up at county council meetings, demanding that officials explain why county policies give sanctuary to illegal immigrants.

Now, the federal Department of Homeland Security has named Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties as sanctuary communities that attempt to hinder enforcement of immigration law and the lawful efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Philadelphia is also on the list.

While the Democratic majorities who govern the three suburban communities have been open in their opposition to increased immigration enforcement and cooperation between local police and ICE, they all also deny they are sanctuary jurisdictions.

The Department of Homeland Security released a formal list late last week.

Delaware County Democrats immediately pushed back.

“The county has not received anything more formal than finding out it was included on a list published (Thursday) on a DHS website,” said Council Chair Monica Taylor, Ph.D. “It’s important to note that there is no agreed-upon definition of a ‘sanctuary’ county or municipality, and the county has never formally declared itself to be one. This council—and the whole of Delaware County’s government—exists for one reason: to serve every single resident who calls Delaware County home. We are not an arm of the federal or state government and will not be bullied or harassed away from our core mission of directly serving our residents.”

County officials also claimed they comply with all federal laws and are unaware of any threatened grants or contracts. They also say they are “in compliance with all terms of grants and contracts in which we are a party.”

However, in February, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer (D), now running for Common Pleas judge, said that he would not help ICE enforce the law regarding “peaceful” illegal immigrants.

“After the concerned citizens of Delaware County were gaslit for over a year by the Delaware County Council about the sanctuary status of Delco, it is great to see that we were proven correct by our federal government. Hindsight is always 2020, and this shows our council lacks any integrity,” said Charlie Alexander, one of the most outspoken residents.

President Donald Trump was elected, in part, on a promise to deport the upwards of 10 million illegal immigrants who flooded into the country while former President Joe Biden was in office.

DHS noted, “These municipalities are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws, endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”

“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”

Local supporters of immigration law enforcement greeted the news with praise.

Joy Schwartz, previously a Republican council candidate, said, “We are all very aware that the tsunami of illegal migrants that entered our county during the Biden years has overwhelmed and depleted our resources in healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Don’t even get me started on the added tax burden!” Delaware County Council increased taxes by 23 percent for 2025.

Haverford resident Sharon Devaney said an illegal immigrant “t-boned” her car in 2017.

“I have had four surgeries so far, and no justice because Delco is a sanctuary,” said Devaney. “I am permanently handicapped.”

Once she started speaking out about the crash, her identity was “hacked,” and “my life was destroyed.” County council members refused to believe her, even though she gave them documents detailing the accident. The driver who rammed her car had no license, insurance or green card, she said.

“The cops were horrified,” said Devaney. “They said they couldn’t call ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) because it was a sanctuary.”

An April report by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) found the collar counties and Philadelphia were in violation by not holding detainees in their jails for ICE to pick up. Instead, immigration officers must go out into communities to detain them, which places the officers and innocent bystanders in jeopardy.

Megan Alt, a spokesperson for Montgomery County, did not respond to a request for comment Friday. However, Commissioners Chair Neil Makhija posted to X, “Montgomery County was named on the administration’s target list today. Thankfully, the Constitution protects our right to be a welcoming, safe community—and we’ll keep investing in mental health, housing, and real public safety.”

Philadelphia is not a sanctuary city. We are a welcoming city,” said city Solicitor Renee Garcia. “We are aware that the Department of Homeland Security has published a list of jurisdictions across the country, including Philadelphia and other cities and counties in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia has not received any formal notification from DHS. We will review any communications carefully.”

Under the previous mayor, Jim Kenney (D), Philadelphia was openly a sanctuary city. Kenney famously danced in 2018 after a judge upheld the city’s sanctuary city status.

“Chester County is surprised that it has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security as a sanctuary county and questions how its policy differs from other Pennsylvania counties not on the list,” said spokeswoman Rebecca Brain. “The county has never approved a sanctuary policy, nor taken any action to identify as a sanctuary county and has no intention to do so.

“Chester County does nothing to impede or prevent federal law enforcement authorities from performing their job duties, and the county maintains a cooperative interaction with ICE officials in these matters. As county officials address issues that relate to immigration, they will adhere to important core principles: fairness to Chester County residents, due process for all, and the dignity and respect every person deserves.”

Bucks County is the only Delaware Valley county not on the DHS list.

That may be because Sheriff Fred Harran signed an agreement to cooperate with ICE under its 287 (g) program. However, the Democratic majority commissioners recently voted to rescind that agreement.

(From a press release)

Attorney General Dave Sunday — along with Homeland Security Investigations and Philadelphia Police Department — announced the disbanding of a major, Philadelphia-based fentanyl trafficking network with arrests of several individuals and seizures of more than $6 million worth of fentanyl and cutting agent xylazine.

Investigators made the arrests and seizures this week during vehicle stops and search warrants conducted at a home and garage in the 2800 block of North Franklin Street, where agents encountered an active fentanyl-packaging operation.

In attempts to destroy evidence, individuals packaging fentanyl threw the dangerous drug into a sink, causing intoxicants to become airborne and exposing officers. Multiple officers were treated for ingestion and ultimately released.

Seven individuals packaging the fentanyl are charged with corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver, and related offenses.

”We simply cannot overstate the dangers of fentanyl or the great police work involved here which surely saved the lives of countless Pennsylvanians who these drug traffickers intended to profit from,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “We seized hundreds of thousands of potentially deadly doses, which were headed to communities across the Commonwealth. I commend the officers who put themselves in harm’s way to stop this trafficking operation, and am thankful no one was seriously injured.”

Homeland Security Investigations, Philadelphia Police Department, the Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, and Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office served the search warrants. The Office of Attorney General will prosecute the cases.

“Considering two milligrams is a lethal dose of fentanyl, the number of lives we saved by seizing such a large quantity of deadly narcotics is astounding,” said HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens. “At a time when overdose deaths linked to fentanyl are devastating American communities, we are incredibly proud of the collaborative investigative work our team conducted to ensure members of this drug trafficking network face justice. Through our partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department’s intensive drug investigation squad, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General‘s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, we were able to dismantle the distribution of this poison into our community.”

“Every single day, our Narcotics officers put their courage, skill, and relentless drive to work on behalf of Philadelphians, and this operation is an example of that commitment,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Confronted with a dangerous, active fentanyl-packaging operation, they acted decisively; protecting one another, safeguarding the community, and preventing hundreds of thousands of lethal doses from ever reaching our streets. I could not be prouder of their professionalism and resilience, nor more grateful for the seamless collaboration with the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and our other federal and state partners. Together, we dismantled a network that crossed county lines but underestimated the collective strength of unified law enforcement. This is what collaboration looks like, and it is saving lives.”

Charged are: Francisco Quesada, 40; Juan Fransella, 36; Rony Molina-Rodriquez, 29; Alexander Rodriquez Crouset, 38; Victor Jose Herrera Castillo, 33; Alexi Queada Herrera, 44; and Juan Ortiz, 37.

In all, investigators seized more than 41 pounds of fentanyl and xylazine, with an estimated street value of $6.2 million.

Investigators determined at least 200,000 doses were to be distributed in the Pittsburgh area.

Investigators also seized $185,000 in suspected trafficking profits.

The investigation is ongoing.

The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Philadelphia made national news this week for all the wrong reasons.

At Barstool Sansom Street, a new sports bar launched by the ever-controversial Dave Portnoy, a young man was photographed holding a whiteboard with a message scrawled in marker: “F*** the Jews.” It wasn’t some out-of-context comment. It was deliberate. A posed photo. Shared. Amplified. And disgusting.

But what happened next was not the typical response. In fact, it may represent something of a turning point in how we respond to antisemitism—especially from the young, foolish, and often unrepentant.

Portnoy didn’t hesitate. He condemned the act, launched an internal investigation, fired the staff members who failed to intervene, and banned the perpetrator for life. Then, in a move that surprised many, Portnoy decided to do something more: he helped arrange for the young man to travel to Auschwitz with the hope of confronting the history he so carelessly desecrated.

That part is hard to wrap our heads around. Portnoy—brash, bold, not exactly the model of political correctness—did what most public institutions and elite universities routinely fail to do. He acted. Swiftly. Without a DEI task force. Without hand-wringing. Without pretending there were “two sides.” He did what every responsible adult should do when faced with blatant Jew-hatred: He shut it down.

But he didn’t stop at punishment. He opted for education. And here’s where it gets complicated.

Sending someone to Auschwitz doesn’t automatically make them empathetic. For some, the Holocaust’s enormity can trigger deep reflection, humility, and even transformation. But for others, it can reinforce their already twisted worldview. That’s the uneasy truth no one in Holocaust education likes to admit. Exposure to history can plant seeds of understanding—but only if the ground is fertile.

We don’t know this young man’s heart. We don’t know whether he’s filled with hate, seeking attention, or simply a fool. But we do know what he wrote, and what it represents. And for Portnoy to recognize that education—real, immersive, and sobering—might offer more long-term value than cancellation is, frankly, a welcome change from the usual outrage cycle.

Temple University has suspended the student, and that’s appropriate. There must be consequences. But what we must resist is the idea that cancel culture alone is the solution. Punishment without purpose changes nothing. De-platforming without deeper education just pushes hate underground, where it festers and metastasizes.

There’s something deeply broken in a generation of students who think “F*** the Jews” is funny. That’s not just ignorance—it’s the product of decades of moral confusion, of a culture that has allowed antisemitism to be the one acceptable form of hate. From college campuses to progressive circles to fringe-right echo chambers, Jew-hatred has been rebranded and mainstreamed.

Barstool is not a university, a synagogue, or a history museum. It’s a sports bar-brand founded by a man best known for pizza reviews and polarizing takes. And yet, Portnoy’s response outpaced nearly every elite institution that claims to be committed to fighting hate. That says a lot about how far we’ve fallen—and how little courage most leaders actually have. It also shows a strong moral compass by Portnoy.

Let’s be clear: sending a young man to Auschwitz isn’t justice. It’s not even necessarily a solution. But it’s something. It’s trying. And in an era where most people either shrug, issue a vague press release, or disappear behind layers of bureaucracy, trying is better than nothing.

If this student comes back changed, willing to share his experience, to own his offense, and to become a voice against hate—then we should welcome him back into society. That’s how redemption works. That’s how education works—when it works.

But if the trip is just a PR stunt, a way to avoid accountability or rebrand one’s image, then it will only add to the cynicism that plagues public discourse on antisemitism. Time will tell. I don’t believe that is Portnoy’s goal.

Portnoy doesn’t owe the Jewish community anything. He’s not a polished faith leader. But he responded in a way that felt genuine, decisive, and innovative. He made it clear that his bar was not going to be a home for hate. And then he tried something most people wouldn’t even consider.

It’s okay to have mixed feelings about this. Many do.

But I’ll take messy, imperfect attempts at education over performative outrage any day. I’ll take a sports bar owner sending someone to Auschwitz over a university president who can’t define antisemitism. I’ll take real action over silence or excuses.

So, here’s to hoping this trip is meaningful. Here’s to hoping it creates a crack in the armor of ignorance. Here’s to trying something different—and praying it works.

Because the truth is: we’re out of time for doing nothing.

When progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner refused to participate in any debates outside the friendly confines of public radio, his opponent in the Democratic primary pulled the plug.

As a result, with less than a month to go until the May 20 election, there are no debates scheduled in the race for Philly D.A.

If Krasner continues to reject all debate requests from local TV stations and other venues, says his opponent Judge Patrick Dugan, then he won’t participate in the April 22 debate hosted by WHYY-FM.

“At this time, Judge Dugan will only participate in this WHYY radio event when Larry commits to a debate on network television on ABC or NBC (as he has declined CBS and Fox invites because he doesn’t like the moderators),” the campaign told DV Journal in a statement.

“Larry’s selfish and inconsiderate actions of dragging out the CBS debate invitation for over five weeks were disrespectful to the event organizers, the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, and WURD Radio, which directly reaches Black and Brown voters. These organizers planned this event last year with a Lenfest grant and were the first event to invite both our campaigns to a televised debate on March 4.”

“Larry refusing to give our voters this opportunity is a disservice to democracy and is a form of voter suppression,” the Dugan campaign added. “Larry seems reluctant to debate Judge Dugan on television because he would have to defend his abysmal record of failing to prosecute illegal guns, failure to communicate with victims, and failure to combat rampant retail theft caused by his policies.”

Krasner’s campaign responded by pointing to a poll showing the incumbent with a big lead.

“We received three debate offers and accepted one proposed by WHYY, the Bar Association and Committee of 70 with a diverse slate of moderators. 6ABC has never made an offer to host a debate — a fact that they should confirm, if asked,” said Krasner campaign spokesperson Anthony Campisi.

The Krasner campaign also released a poll taken late last month by Lake Research Partners showing Krasner with a nearly 40-point lead over Dugan.

“On an initial ballot with no information provided about the candidates, Krasner picks up a majority (58 percent), leading Dugan (21 percent) by +37 points. Krasner has majority support among both White (51 percent) and Black (69 percent) voters, but his support in the Black community is overwhelming,” the pollsters said.

Dan Kalai, a spokesman for Dugan, downplayed that poll.

“You can make an early internal poll say whatever you want it to say, but the facts are that Larry Krasner has failed to show voters why he deserves a third term as district attorney, and the proof is in the pudding: he’s failed to fundraise, he’s failed to secure endorsements from open wards he received in the past, and he’s lost support from labor unions who supported him last time around,” said Kalai.

“There is a tangible Krasner fatigue across the city. And we are capitalizing on it with our broad coalition.”

Unions representing firefighters, paramedics, transport workers, building trades, laborers, carpenters, teamsters, steamfitters, plumbers, and operating engineers, among others, support Dugan, the former Municipal Court president judge.

The city’s biggest union, the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, backed Krasner in the past, but voted not to endorse either candidate in next month’s primary.

Ralph Cipriano’s Big Trial Bog accused Krasner of skipping campaign events because he believes he’s a shoo-in. “With five weeks to go before the May 20 Democratic primary for D.A., Larry Krasner is already taking a victory lap,” he wrote.

But Krasner’s team blamed scheduling issues.

“We’ve appeared at events across Philadelphia, from community meetings to ward gatherings. We decide on events based on logistics and the event format. It’s not possible to reach everyone,” Campisi said.

Former Municipal Court President Judge Patrick Dugan is on a mission to save Philadelphia.

He had some strong words about his opponent in the May 20 Democratic primary, progressive incumbent Larry Krasner, during a Delaware Valley Journal podcast interview.

Asked why he’s running for district attorney, Dugan said, “Because I love Philadelphia, and I’m tired of having a do-nothing prosecutor who is unilaterally destroying the fabric and safety and tax base of the city of Philadelphia. He doesn’t care about victims, he doesn’t care about the law, and he doesn’t care about our citizens. Somebody has to step up (and) frankly, stop the insanity.”

Dugan has described his decision to challenge his fellow Democrat as a “get off the stoop” moment.

He recounted that when he was a young boy living in the Fairmount section of the city, his mother, Jacqueline Dugan, saw a boy “of color” on a bike being attacked by teenagers from the neighborhood.

“They catch him, and they pick up a board, one of those yellow boards from the barricades,” he said. The teens started to hit the kid on the bike with the board.

“My mother jumped off the steps as if she was some kind of athlete, ran down there, got in between the board and this kid that was riding the bike. She pushed away the older teenagers,” Dugan said. “She brought that kid over to our steps with his bike and sat there and waited for the police to arrive.”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do,” Dugan added. “I’m channeling my mother. She’s my hero in my life.”

Krasner, who is seeking a third term, claims Philadelphia is “safer and freer” than it was when he took office seven and a half years ago, citing statistics that show crime was down in 2024 and continues to be lower this year.

Dugan dismissed the idea that Krasner has been part of the solution, instead crediting Mayor Cherelle Parker and Commissioner Kevin Bethel.

“What’s happened is we have a mayor who is very active and a police commissioner, and they are working together.”

“Under Krasner’s watch, 3,000 people were murdered,” said Dugan. “The typical person who is murdered in our city happens to be men of color between 16 and 28. While it’s slowed down a bit, I hope and pray that the murder rate continues to go down. But for Larry to take credit for this is just crazy. It’s like him taking credit for the retail thefts (going down) after seven years of his policy that basically made retail theft legal in the City of Philadelphia.”

Many Wawas and drug stores have closed, the DV Journal noted. Dugan said he likes to get lunch from Wawa, but can’t because the convenience store closed its branches in Center City amid the crime wave.

Asked what changes he would make if elected, Dugan said, “The first thing, I’m going to do is I’m actually going to prosecute crime. I mean, imagine a prosecutor who is going to hold people accountable for breaking the law.”

At the same time, Dugan said he’s embraced diversion programs for first-time offenders and those struggling with addiction while on the bench.

“We would do a holistic-type of approach to people accused of crimes” to help them with substance abuse or mental illness or to find a job.

“But I would also hold the person accountable who is running around and shooting people,” he said. Under Krasner, “these folks are getting four, five opportunities before there’s a prosecution.”

Also, the assistant prosecutors in Krasner’s office have not had the training they need and are “losing at an incredible rate. They’re withdrawing up to 70 percent of the cases. It’s amazing how bad they are.”

Dugan promised to follow the evidence and prosecute individuals regardless of their wealth or political connections. He also said he’d prosecute those who try to tamper with our elections.

“And I don’t care if you are a Democrat, an independent, a Republican, a communist, or a Libertarian, if you’re going to break the law and it’s involving elections, I’m going to come hard at you. Because elections are the foundation of our nation.”

Dugan served in the Army and Reserves.

“I was a paratrooper and an infantryman in the 80s,” said Dugan. “And I served six years, and when I got out, I finished school with my GI Bill, got a law degree. Then 9/11 came, and I went back in. And it was to jump back into the fray because I was watching on TV young men and women in combat, and I knew that I had the skills as an older paratrooper, infantryman, to go over and help.”

He served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We were able to do some amazing things,” Dugan said.

When voter registration activist Scott Presler saw the number of registered Democrats in Pennsylvania jumped 15,245 last week alone — and 14,645 were in Philadelphia —  he wondered what was up.

So, he posted the voter numbers to X.

 “Here’s what I do know: Thousands of people that were removed from active to inactive since the beginning of January in Philadelphia County,” Presler said. “And then all of a sudden, within the last week (they were back on), and so I literally just took a screenshot of the information, and as you can see, it went from 702,060 active voters in Philadelphia to 716,703 within one week’s time.”

After he shared the chart on X, Elon Musk reposted it, commenting, “Shady.”

“Did the County of Philadelphia just transfer back those inactive voters that were active but then marked as inactive? And now they’re active again?”

“God bless them if they’re able to process 14,000 applications in one week,” Presler said to DV Journal. “They must be working overtime.”

“It’s a mystery why these people went from active to inactive, and now they’re active again,” said Presler, who, with his group, Early Vote Action, has been working to increase GOP registrations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Whatever the reason, election officials from both parties say all is well.

Seth Bluestein, Philadelphia Republican Minority Commissioner, said on X, “Voter Registration staff have been conducting routine list maintenance over the past couple months. These are eligible, registered voters who participated in the November 2024 election or updated their registration. They have correctly been moved from inactive to active status.”

Also on X, referring to the May 20 primary, retired police Sgt. Mark Fusetti mentioned, “Some Republicans may be switching from R to D to vote out DA Krasner. You should see a big bump back to R after May.”

Responding to an email, Philadelphia Commissioner Chairman Omar Sabir said, “Every year, the Commissioners’ Voter Registration staff conducts routine list maintenance of voter records. Typically, a voter is designated as inactive if they have not voted in five years or if election officials do not receive a response to address verification notices.

“It is important to note, however, that both active and inactive voters are registered, eligible voters. When an inactive voter participates in an election or updates their record, their status is changed back to active. That’s what happened here. The process ensures that voter rolls accurately reflect current voter activity and residency. To be clear, while your question references Democratic voters, the recent update includes Democratic, Republican, and non-affiliated voters across the city.”

Told of the Philadelphia officials’ explanation, Presler said, “And it took three months to do that? OK.”

Earlier this week, Presler visited the White House and brought up voter fraud.

“Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote a note and said she was going to make sure that she passes it directly to the president,” he said.

“I want my audience to know that I’m fighting for them, and I’m bringing up the issues they care about the most with the people that represent us in our government…I’m their voice.”

We are used to mourning people when they die. We have ceremonies and rituals. We bring food [if you’re Italian you bring a deli.] We send Mass cards and flowers. We erect memorial headstones for remembrance. We weep, and we embrace. And we write obituaries. It’s very cathartic.

But what do we have when history dies? What rituals exist to mourn the passing of an inanimate object, which, through lived experience and affection, becomes an animate creature? What ceremonies help us grieve the loss of our secular temples, places that hold our invisible footprints accumulated over decades of familiarity?

When I heard that Macy’s was closing its store in Center City, I felt a visceral pain in my stomach. It felt, literally, as if I’d been punched. This was gut-wrenching news. To anyone under 40, this may seem a grossly exaggerated reaction to the termination of a lease. To these Philadelphians, who are used to shopping online and don’t understand the concept of “window shopping,” the idea that a giant conglomerate is shedding a few urban locations is no big deal.

They don’t get it. They were born at a time when the internet was already sending its toxic roots into our community marketplaces, making it easier, cheaper and less annoying to purchase the things we needed, and the things we didn’t, by removing the middleman. Stores started to become unnecessary. Brick and mortar was passé. I blame Amazon for much of it, but the laziness of the American shopper is also part of the problem. Jeff Bezos thrives only because of his contented clients.

But I predate that psychology. I was born at the end of the department store heyday when you could still walk into a stand-alone edifice and browse. This was even before the malls which I once blamed for ruining the shopping experience and for which I now feel affection. At least there were real stores in Springfield, Granite Run, King of Prussia, Deptford, Neshaminy and Cherry Hill, not “www.whateveryouwant.com.”

I am devastated that Macy’s is cutting the last link Philadelphia has with the first and greatest department store in the country: Wanamaker’s. I can almost forgive it for bowing to market pressures and closing the grande dame of East Market Street. Rents are high, foot traffic is non-existent since COVID. People work from home, and I’m sure that petty crimes and losses to retail theft are on the rise. I get it. It’s not personal. It’s a business decision.

But I feel as if a limb is being cut off. I feel as if my mother, who worked in the bookkeeping department, is being reduced in memory by an infinitely small measure. I feel as if my father’s ghost, which accompanied me when I sat at the Eagle and paused to take a break from my daily rush, is removed. I feel as if my grandmother, who would have lunch with me in the Crystal Tea Room, will be harder to conjure in my childhood dreams. I feel as if John Facenda, whose voice as rich and comforting as mink and narrated the light show of 30 of my Christmases, is saying in Heaven, “Goodbye Frosty, Goodbye. And goodbye, Philly.”

Perhaps, this will seem melodramatic to many who say, “It’s just a store and it hadn’t been Wanamaker’s in decades.” Those people will never understand, and they’re not worth my time. This is for the ones who do. This is my attempt at an obituary for all of us who mourn.

Let’s gather together, and weep for what we’ve lost. I’ll meet you at the Eagle.

The opioid epidemic has extracted an immense toll on Pennsylvania’s communities. Now, with over $2 billion in settlement funds set to flow into the state over the next two decades from companies involved in the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of prescription opioids, we stand at a critical crossroads. This windfall presents an unprecedented opportunity to combat the opioid crisis, but Philadelphia’s controversial spending decisions threaten to undermine the entire initiative’s effectiveness.

While the city has received more than $20 million in settlement funds to date, its plan for the allocation of some of them within the Kensington neighborhood has raised serious concerns. Some believe the city runs the risk of falling prey to the kind of mission drift that plagued previous settlements, whereby money meant for specific public health crises ended up funding pet projects having little to do with the underlying issue the funds were meant to address. As the opioid crisis continues to claim lives on a daily basis, we cannot afford to make the same mistakes.

Kensington, home to what’s considered by Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officials to be the “East Coast’s largest open-air drug market,” certainly deserves substantial support. However, Philadelphia’s decision to spend settlement funds on home repairs and assistance for small businesses as part of a broader abatement plan for the community – albeit well-intentioned – strays too far from the settlement’s intended purpose of directly addressing the opioid crisis. That’s why the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust (PAOT) stepped in to reject those aspects of the Kensington spending plan, ensuring that the terms of the settlement are strictly followed.

Philadelphia’s leaders argue that addressing root causes of addiction like poverty and neighborhood deterioration will help prevent future addiction cycles. While this argument has merit in theory, it misses the urgent reality of the current crisis. When there are immediate, proven interventions available, directing funds toward general community improvements feels like a dangerous gamble with lives at stake.

Other Pennsylvania counties offer compelling examples of how these funds could be better utilized. Neighboring Chester County’s implementation of Project Sticker Shock, which aims to help combat underage drinking, as well as its initiatives to expand access to medications to reverse overdoses and treat addiction, demonstrates focused, practical approaches to prevention and response. Other counties, including Perry, Cumberland, and Allegheny, have prioritized medication-assisted treatment in their prisons – a critical intervention point for individuals at high risk of relapse or overdose upon release.

Philadelphia has appealed the decision of the PAOT to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania where this fundamental disagreement about how to best serve communities ravaged by opioid addiction will ultimately be settled. At stake is not only access to Philadelphia’s future settlement payments – which could be reduced or withheld by the PAOT if they lose and do not change their abatement spending plans – but that of the entire state as well. The terms of the settlement require that 85 percent of funds be spent on authorized uses. If this standard is not met, future payments to the state from the settlement could be jeopardized and previously divested funds could potentially be clawed back. Such an outcome would be catastrophic not just for Philadelphia, but for the entire state’s efforts to combat opioid abuse and must be avoided.

As Philadelphia awaits the court’s decision, the city should begin planning how to better utilize future settlement payments. While community development is vital, it shouldn’t come at the expense of direct interventions that can help curb the worst impacts of the opioid crisis. Its leaders would be wise to reconsider their approach and, instead, look to their neighbors for guidance on alternative applications of their funds.

The strategies employed by other Pennsylvania counties provide a clear roadmap: focused spending on proven interventions, direct support for at-risk populations, and careful adherence to settlement guidelines. Only through such disciplined, strategic allocation can we hope to maximize the impact of these historic settlements and make meaningful progress in combating the opioid crisis that has devastated so many of our communities.

The stakes are simply too high for anything less. Lives hang in the balance, and we cannot afford to squander this opportunity on well-meaning but misaligned initiatives when proven solutions to the opioid crisis are ready to be implemented.

Yo, Adrian! You can always take SEPTA.

A new WalletHub study of America’s 100 largest cities ranks Philadelphia 99th for driveability. Only Oakland, that garden spot of urban livability, ranks lower.

Philly’s cross-state rival, Pittsburgh, is ranked number 46.

Citing the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the analysis reports 87 percent of Americans take daily trips in their personal vehicles, with drivers averaging 370 hours on the road each year. And the cost for that wasted time and fuel is $733 annually.

WalletHub analyzed the cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance. Philadelphia drivers spend 65 hours in congestion, tied with New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Miami.

Breaking down the analysis, the City of Brotherly Love is hurt by being tied for having the highest parking rates in the country, ranked 96th on traffic and infrastructure, and 93rd on roadway safety.

On the other end of the scale is top-ranked Raleigh, N.C., followed by Boise, Idaho; Corpus Christie, Texas; Greensboro, N.C.; and Jacksonville, Fla.

PennDOT spokeswoman Krys Johnson pushed back on the Wallethub ranking. “The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the city of Philadelphia value a safe and efficient transportation network. We take feedback on traffic conditions seriously. While WalletHub’s recent article highlighted challenges in Philadelphia, we view this as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to improving our roadways.

“Philadelphia has made significant progress in modernizing infrastructure, focusing on safety, sustainability, and reliable mobility. Our goal is to create a transportation system that supports drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users,” she said. Key initiatives include: Vision Zero to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030; Infrastructure investments; Expanding bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure. Philadelphia received state grants to help.

“Despite the unique challenges posed by Philadelphia’s narrow streets and dense urban layout, we are resolute in our commitment to ongoing infrastructure upgrades and smarter traffic management,” Johnson said.

Drivers are skeptical. Several Delaware Valley residents took to social media to express their concerns about driving in Philadelphia.

“I avoid driving in Philadelphia. It’s too risky,” said Ted Taylor of Doylestown.

Wayne resident Frank Tait said, “Seems like stop signs and traffic lights are just suggestions.”

Villanova resident Amy Wishner said, “I certainly avoid driving in Philly.” She cited, “Narrow roads in poor repair, very expensive and inconvenient parking, fear of crime, unsafe pedestrians and bikers.”

Doreen Mcgettigan of Media said, “The bike lanes in Philadelphia are treacherous. Good intentions are going to lead to injured and dead bike riders.”

John Featherman, a Republican who ran for mayor of Philadelphia in 2011, said, “I was born in Philadelphia and currently make my principal residence there. However, I feel the city is extremely dangerous, and our city government needs to crack down on violent and quality-of-life crimes. Otherwise, I and others will leave the city soon. Start by confiscating all ATVs and arresting all those who participate in ‘car meet-ups.’ Also, throw the book at those involved in gun crimes.”

“Lock and load,” said Marc Segal of Glen Mills.

Chester County resident Jacques Minstrosity said, “I have driven extensively in every major city in the U.S. Washington, D.C. is by far the worst, followed closely by Boston. Philly is a whole lot of no fun, but at least it’s a grid layout, numbers, and tree names. NYC is a grid. I don’t mind grids. But D.C. and Boston are insane.

“Before GPS, there were Rand McNally road maps. GPS gives a slight advantage, but one wrong turn and you are hosed. Miss that turn and ‘fuhgetaboudit.’ You’ve just added lots of time to your trip,” he said.

Malvern resident Ron Vogel summed it up: “Driving in the city is terrible.”

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said, “Car prices have gone up significantly over the past few years, and gas remains expensive going into the summer travel season. Living in one of the best cities to drive in can make owning and maintaining a car much cheaper. However, costs aren’t the only factors that matter; the best cities for drivers also minimize commute times and traffic congestion, have accident rates well below the national average and keep their roads in good condition.”

To save money, University of Michigan mechanical engineering Professor Andre Boehman suggested that drivers, “Invest in a more fuel-efficient vehicle, combine trips to reduce miles traveled. Keep your vehicle well maintained.”

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A seven-minute walk separates Kensington High School and Liguori Academy, two high schools serving the East Kensington neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia.

Kensington and Liguori have a few things in common. Both schools serve diverse populations—92 percent and 70 percent of which are students of color, respectively.

Both student bodies demonstrate significant financial need. All Kensington students qualify for free and reduced lunch, while all Liguori students qualify for and receive needs-based scholarships.

However, despite these similarities and proximity, these schools are worlds apart.

At Kensington, 82 percent are chronically absent. Only 3 percent and 19 percent of Kensington students can perform math and read at grade level, respectively. Only 23 percent of Kensington students enroll in college.

Meanwhile, Liguori students graduate far better prepared for life. All Liguori students gain college admissions, and 65 percent enroll in college. All students also receive firsthand, real-world experience through service learning and internships.

The Kensington-Liguori comparison may seem apples-to-oranges. Indeed, the first is a public school, the second private.

Nevertheless, how can two schools in the same neighborhood result in such a wide chasm of outcomes? What is the difference maker that empowers Liguori students to excel over their Kensington peers?

For starters, Pennsylvania’s tax-credit scholarship programs—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC)—have a tremendous impact. EITC and OSTC offer more than $630 million to tens of thousands of students annually, providing educational choice to students, especially those in marginalized communities.

Like many private schools, Liguori relies on EITC and OSTC funding to financially support its students. In the 2023–24 school year, Liguori awarded $308,750 in EITC and OSTC scholarships. Moreover, Liguori turns no student away for financial need and offers four scholarships in addition to EITC and OSTC.

Research proves these scholarships are worth the investment.

Most notably, EITC and OSTC scholarships yield improved academic outputs.

The Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP), one of the largest Pennsylvania-based scholarship organizations handling EITC and OSTC funds, commissioned a report showing that their scholarship recipients outperform their peers academically. The report, researched and developed by an independent third party, shows more than half of CSFP seventh graders score at or above proficiency in math and reading, compared to 19 percent and 38 percent of Philadelphia school district students, respectively. Moreover, CSFP students even outperform their private school peers, according to the analysis.

A newly released report, Pennsylvania’s Education Tax Credit Scholarships: How EITC Serves Children and Families in the Commonwealth, underlines this research finding that tax credit scholarship recipients routinely graduate and matriculate to college at higher rates than their public school peers.

This academic success generates better economic opportunities for these students in the future. An earlier study (coauthored by the Reason Foundation and the Commonwealth Foundation) found that the EITC and OSTC programs produced $1.6 billion in higher lifetime earnings for current recipients.

This economic impact benefits some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable. An Independent Fiscal Office report shows seven out of ten scholarships go toward students in households making 185 percent of the federal poverty level. The average household income for CSFP students is $44,827—nearly 40 percent lower than the statewide median. Low- and middle-income families could not afford a private education without these scholarship programs.

Continuing to expand these programs is critical to Pennsylvania’s underserved students. For the 2024–25 fiscal year, Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a $75 million increase, which will enable another 55,000 students to receive EITC and OSTC scholarships in the coming school year.

Yet, despite these increases, demand continues to outpace supply. Arbitrary caps still wait-list tens of thousands of Pennsylvania students.

To ease the waiting list, lawmakers could pass legislation that automatically increases the caps by 25 percent when scholarship organizations claim 90 percent of existing tax credits. Doing so would depoliticize the issue and safeguard scholarships from annual budget battles.

Strengthening these scholarship programs helps Pennsylvania fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide all students with—as the Commonwealth Court ruled—“a meaningful opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and civically.”

Without EITC or OSTC, Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable kids—such as those living in East Kensington—will not have that meaningful opportunity to succeed.