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Bad things happen in Philadelphia [1]

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Date: 2024-06-06  

Philadelphia elected Cherelle Parker, our first female mayor. She is also a black woman. I voted for her, and she is taking care of business.

Donald Trump famously said in a presidential debate : “Bad things happen in Philadelphia, bad things.” While every city, suburb, and small town has its share of bad things happening, don't believe the bad-things-happening-exceptionalism of Philly.

Well, the local greasy spoon in my Philly neighborhood has outdone themselves with the above installation. Since the last time they trotted this Trump doll out, DJT is now a convicted felon. We just celebrated the Philly Pride March and Festival, hence the color. Why? Here’s a timeline of Trump’s anti-LGBTQ+ actions . That kind of stuff doesn’t fly here in Philly. Only Eagles fly, and maybe invasive lantern flies.

Watching the evening news, especially on the local FOX affiliate, makes the fearful think we are living in a post-apocalyptic war zone. But in reality Philly’s homicide rate is down by 50% in 2024, and we are on pace for the largest reduction in crime of any major U.S. city. And in the United States in general, led by a decent president Biden, we are on pace to record a drop in crime so steep it’s unprecedented in our national history. Unless some insurrectionists try again in November.

What is actually happening in Philly is that we have thriving and diverse communities, a world class foodie scene, the most walkable city in America, ethnic and immigrant diversity, Gritty and the Phillie Phanatic, a fixed Route 95 overpass, MVP Joel Embiid, Mr. Giunta our 96 year old neighbor who stands at his front stoop ready to tell you about the history of the neighborhood and how beautiful you and your family are, MVP Bryce Harper, the legacy of Ben Franklin, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall for goodness sake, Rocky, roast pork sandwiches, and now a black female mayor.

By the way, it has been noted that black women saved Democrats and the country in the last election. They saved Joe Biden, and powered turnout in critical places like Detroit, Atlanta, Milwaukee and Philadelphia to name just a few.

Philly does have problems, too. Persistent violence, poverty, drugs. You can find those across America. But we have way more going for us.

Lonely Planet just named us one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2024.

Come to Philadelphia. Stay for Philly. The above street installation is just one of a million quirky and proud moments of freedom.

~

I write a health and wellbeing newsletter from South Philadelphia, and anyone is welcome to join. We've got folks from Australia to Argentina who subscribe! Just no intolerant, vermin-calling, fear-mongering, felonious types allowed.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/6/2245209/-Bad-things-happen-in-Philadelphia?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

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