DV Journal

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.

Philadelphia may be known for Ben Franklin, Rocky, and cheesesteaks, but it’s listed far below Pittsburgh in a new ranking of real estate markets. Why?

Too many underwater mortgages and not enough jobs, according to an analysis by WalletHub.

Analysts compared 17 “key indicators of housing market attractiveness and economic strength” to come up with their ranking. The data comes from median home-price appreciation and how affordable housing is, along with job growth.

At the top of their list: Two Texas communities, McKinney and Frisco, followed by Cary, N.C., Nashville, Tenn. and Durham, N.C.

Pittsburgh perched at 196 for the best place to buy a house, while Philadelphia is down at 294 among the 300 largest U.S. cities.

“I would take umbrage if I knew what ‘umbrage’ meant,” joked Bill Lublin, incoming president of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. He told DVJournal he was surprised Philadelphia and Pittsburgh were so far apart in the rankings, given that the cities are so similar, and that he was used to seeing them near the top of various charts.

A lifelong Philadelphian, Lublin noted both cities are great places for first-time homebuyers with rowhouses that are economical because of their shared walls, which help with heating costs. Both cities have excellent hospitals, universities, cultural amenities, restaurants, cuisine, and outstanding sports teams.

“The cost of living is lower compared to other mid-Atlantic states,” so people move here for that reason,” he said, although higher interest rates are currently hampering sales a bit.  Comparatively low real estate taxes are also a boon, he said.

WalletHub analyst and writer Chip Lupo explained, “Philadelphia ranks 100 spots lower than Pittsburgh in WalletHub’s Real Estate Market study, mainly because of the city’s share of seriously underwater mortgages and people delinquent on their mortgage debt. It also has a higher foreclosure rate than Pittsburgh, ranking 250th.

Another reason why Philadelphia ranks lower than Pittsburgh is the unemployment rate, which is one percent higher than Pittsburgh. This suggests that people in Philadelphia might not be able to afford housing in today’s market.”

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

“Additionally, Pittsburgh residents have a higher median credit score than those in Philadelphia, which indicates a better chance at getting accepted for a home loan,” said Lupo. “Overall, Philadelphia’s real estate market is not performing well, mostly because of its residents’ financial state.”

WalletHub experts used only city-level data, not information from surrounding suburbs.

“Current home prices are extremely important, but there’s much more that you need to look at when determining the health of a city’s real estate market,” said Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst. “Factors like the cost of living, the potential for the value of homes to increase, the availability of recently built homes and the quality of the city’s job market are all important to consider in conjunction with asking prices and interest rates. The best cities may not always be the cheapest, but they offer excellent housing options and long-term stability.”

Pittsburgh was also named the fifth most popular housing market in the U.S. by realtor.com.

Lublin shrugged off the numbers. Both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are “really great places to live, raise a family, or buy investment real estate,” he said.

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Hours before Vice President Kamala Harris came to town to introduce new running mate Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) to Americans, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) held a rally with some 500 supporters at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia to make his case for the Trump-Vance ticket.

It’s part of a counterprogramming strategy by former president Donald Trump’s campaign. As Harris and Walz barnstorm swing states over the next five days, the Vance campaign blitz won’t be far behind.

While Vance didn’t address the Walz pick in his speech, he did discuss it with reporters afterward, noting Harris’ snub of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who had been widely viewed as the frontrunner for second spot. According to Vance, Harris caved to pressure from within her party not to pick a Jewish running mate.

“The biggest problem with the Tim Walz pick, it’s not Tim Walz himself — it’s Kamala Harris,” Vance said. “That when given an opportunity, she will bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party, and that’s exactly what she did here.”

Vance added that he “felt bad” that Shapiro “had to run away from his Jewish heritage because of what the Democrats are saying about him,” calling it “scandalous and disgraceful.”

Democrats dispute that claim.

Citing the wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas along with the current instability in the stock market, Vance told rally attendees Harris brought chaos wherever she went.

“Everything that Kamala Harris touches has been a disaster and we’ve got to kick her out of the United States government, not give her a promotion,” he said to cheers and applause.

Vance used most of the time to criticize the Biden-Harris administration’s policy on the southern border. The White House gave Harris the task of addressing the flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico and the “northern triangle” nations of Central America, earning her the moniker “Border Czar” from the media.

Vance said Harris was an abject failure when it came to securing the border. The result, he added, was a flood of deadly fentanyl into communities across the country, including Pennsylvania.

The event featured several Pennsylvanians who said they had suffered from the Biden-Harris administration’s bad policies.

Denise Trask discussed how her 26-year-old daughter died of an accidental overdose at a Philadelphia mall after buying fentanyl-laced heroin.

“Fentanyl is killing thousands and thousands of people every day,” she said. Trask added the administration ignored the “border travesty” and caused families to lose loved ones.

One South Philadelphia woman told rally attendees that her mother has Narcan in her closet because her brother is an opioid addict.

“I feel compelled to address the opioid crisis that’s affecting our community,” Denise Briggs said. “Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies have led the city I once knew to become unrecognizable.”

Vance took time to answer questions from the press — something Harris has yet to do since President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race. Asked about Harris choosing Walz to be her running mate, Vance quipped, “They make an interesting tag team because Tim Walz allowed rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020, and the few that got caught, Kamala Harris helped bail them out of jail.”

Vance also said he called Walz to congratulate him on the selection because he wanted to be nice. Walz didn’t answer so he left a message, Vance said.

He was noncommittal on when the pair would be on the debate stage together. Vance said it was important to make sure Democrats didn’t try to pull a fast one at their convention this month and nominate someone else.

“Of course, we want to have a robust debate again because we believe the American people have the right to have their political leaders try to persuade them,” he said.

Rally attendees liked what they heard and expressed support for Vance and GOP presidential nominee Trump.

“He’s the definition of the American Dream. If you work hard, you can do anything,” Downingtown resident Kate Collins told DVJournal.

“They bring a level of normalcy back to the country,” said Bryan Shine of Phoenixville.

Shine said the previous Trump administration was good for the economy with lower gas and grocery prices. He noted he works two jobs now to pay bills. “I can barely survive. It’s really difficult,” he said.

Others at the event pointed to the Biden administration’s foreign policy as extremely problematic.

Philadelphia lawyer J. Matthew Wolfe told DVJournal he still gets sick when thinking about the Afghanistan withdrawal that left the Taliban in charge. “My stomach still tightens up when I  think about the vision of people holding on to the airplanes,” he said. “It’s seared into my mind.”

For Vietnam-era Army veteran Frank G. Criniti, it was Biden not remembering the 18 service members who died under his watch, including the 13 in Afghanistan. “That put a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of us veterans,” he said.

Nearly two-thirds of the population of the city of Philadelphia is part of a minority race (source: U.S. Census). This means that collectively, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) account for a majority of the city’s population.

Yet, for too long, we have allowed our voices and viewpoints to be cancelled out by our own inaction and inability to find unity. Historically, voter registration and voter turnout for minority groups has been substantially lower than our white counterparts. There’s plenty of debate over why, but what we really need to be focusing on is the how.

How can we be sure minority voices are heard in this election?

It really comes down to personal responsibility. Voting is our right, and our civic duty. And the beauty of this is that regardless of race, age, income, or education level, each vote counts equally…but only if it’s cast. For every minority within and beyond the borders of Philadelphia, the importance of your vote cannot be overstated. It is the single most accessible and impactful action you can take to stand up for injustice and create a better world for our future generations. As we inch closer toward Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, here is how we all need to step up and do our part to be active and informed constituents.

A Call to Educate

Be an informed voter! Consider what issues matter the most to you and do your research. Look to multiple, trusted sources and be a smart consumer of media. Take your civic duty seriously and prepare for Election Day just like you would prepare to make any other important decision in your life. Imagine if even just 10 percent more voters did this than last election cycle. What a profound difference it would make on accurately reflecting the viewpoints of our minority voters!

A Call to Vote

Make a plan to GOTV (get out the vote) on or before Nov. 5. There are so many resources available that are designed specifically to help voters like Pennsylvania’s website. Don’t let any obstacle stand in your way from voting! There are solutions for those with disabilities, non-English speakers, and people who need transportation or other assistance.

Don’t treat this Election Day like any other day. And don’t take a passive approach to casting your vote. Have a plan, commit to it, and treat Election Day like the important day that it is.

A Call to Unify

And most importantly, keep in mind that the results of any election are only as divisive as we allow them to be. One of the biggest challenges of our society is to put away our pride after an election and come together in unity to support whatever leaders were elected. We may not agree with a decision, but it’s the outcome we must learn to live peacefully with. Any effort spent undermining a new leader is shooting ourselves in the foot. Our time is far better spent seeking unity and finding common ground to move forward. Being in total agreement all the time isn’t likely or necessary, but showing respect is essential for living in a unified society.

The point I want to drive home to our minority communities, especially in the city of Philadelphia, is that your voice matters this Election Day. And the best way to make sure it’s heard and counted is to be an active and informed voter. Sitting this one out just because you don’t like any of the candidates or feel overwhelmed by the amount of information being shared isn’t an excuse. Our vote is our voice. Be anything but silent this Election Day!

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An Israeli flag displayed along Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia was vandalized Friday, coinciding with a drone attack on Israel by Iran-affiliated Houthis in Yemen.

News reports say one person died and 10 were wounded in the attack on Tel Aviv.

A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department said Central Detectives are investigating the incident. The department has no statistics on reports of vandalism against the flag. However, antisemitic incidents in the region have increased since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports Pennsylvania ranked sixth in the U.S. for the most antisemitic episodes last year, including 51 bomb threats. There were 8,873 reports of assault, harassment, and vandalism around the country, the most in four decades. Since Oct. 7, there have been 5,204 antisemitic incidents in the U.S.

The Jewish Federation of Philadelphia released a statement condemning the vandalism. “This defacement following last night’s terror attack in Israel meant to threaten and intimidate the Greater Philadelphia Jewish community, further contributing to rising levels of antisemitism nationally. We appreciate the work of Mayor Parker’s office to swiftly remove the defaced flag, sending a clear message that there is no tolerance for antisemitism and hate in Philadelphia.”

The ADL tweeted a similar message: “We are appalled by the hateful vandalism of the Israeli flag on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. We have contacted law enforcement to address this and to hold those individuals accountable for this hateful act.”

They also thanked Parker’s administration for quickly removing and replacing the flag.

The flag is one of 109 flags from various countries from which Philadelphia residents or their ancestors came. The Israeli flag, which hangs near the Holocaust Memorial, has come under attack previously. The Philadelphia police spokesperson said police are not tracking how many times it’s been vandalized.

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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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Our city of Philadelphia is known to be called “Killadelphia,” a slang reference to the city of Brotherly Love due to its high murder rate. That is not a good name to be known by in our 2020 decade era. Our politicians have to do way more to change Philadelphia’s narrative and reputation as one of the most dangerous cities in America.

I agree with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s 100-day action plan focusing on public safety, clean and green, housing, economic opportunity, education, and roundtables (business, faith-based, and intergovernmental). More specifically, hiring 300 additional foot and bike patrol officers to walk a beat in every neighborhood of the city, getting to know the community they’re sworn to protect and serve without any tolerance for misuse or abuse of their power.

But still, to this day, almost every day, a shooting is reported in our city of Philadelphia, and it is astounding that this still happens today compared to the 1990s to now. It is also not just Philadelphia. It is our surrounding Delaware Valley, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.

The crime rate seems to be increasing due to what is being reported in the news media lately, such as juvenile thefts, drug possession, gun possession, and domestic violence. The drug epidemic, including opioids plus fentanyl, we as civilians in Pennsylvania are all witnessing is entirely out of control. Even our youth starting at such a young age with vapes and electronic cigarettes is disappointing. Smoking does not have to be the only way to relieve stress and try to escape reality.

More funds must be allocated to our police departments across southeastern Pennsylvania to provide more resources to stop this lawbreaking. Focusing on the youth, they need more attention than ever before. When youth are out on the streets committing crimes, shooting, robbing, and selling drugs, all they need is just more in-depth mentorship.

There are plenty of leaders who are of color who can be mentors to all these troubled youth. But the youth have to listen to them. Patience is the key. In this era we live in now, we are trying too hard to be competitive, and social media attention is ridiculous.

There are a lot of organizations out there that are already doing so, but more needs to be emphasized. More constructive solutions from all organizations providing youth mentors need to be established.

In my perspective, if you take guns out of homes, then the murder rate will go down substantially.

House Bill 777 will help significantly with gun violence. On January 17, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee approved putting the bill in place. The bill closes a loophole in state law to prohibit the production or sale of “ghost gun” components. Either sold separately or in kits that are easily accessed and assembled to make a gun, these parts lack serial numbers and are untraceable in future investigations. Ghost guns are a way for people who are not legally allowed to possess a firearm to evade detection and background checks. Our civilians have to stop this senseless violence crisis.

Making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation, with economic opportunity for all, has not been nearly done yet. Many would agree, especially in our senior citizen age range, that nothing changed in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Technology has advanced through the years, but the crime rate is still rising.

Lastly, there needs to be more resources for mental health services. With all this gun violence going on, schools, jobs, and all religious establishments should offer more mental healthcare options because you never know what is going on with someone. There is a lot of divide in America nowadays due to most citizens’ political views. This anger has to stop, and only our police forces and politicians can do that.

It is a shame that generation after generation is experiencing crime and gun violence at such a high level. It is a continuous toxic cycle we are experiencing with crime, drugs, and gun violence, and it needs to be put to an end. But some of us still believe that some things will never change.

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