Philadelphia's first female mayor has been sworn in and promptly signed an executive order declaring a public safety emergency to address rampant crime.
Cherelle Parker, a 51-year-old Democrat and longtime councilwoman, campaigned on a centrist platform of safety, jobs and city services.
She pledged during the campaign to hire another 300 police officers, including community officers, and to restore “constitutional” stop-and-frisk. She also came up with the idea of going to school year-round to reduce juvenile crime.
Her plans include increasing the number of police officers on the streets, with an emphasis on community policing — a policy she championed while on the city council.
Cherelle Parker, the newly sworn-in 100th mayor of Philadelphia, delivers her inauguration speech at the ceremony on Tuesday
Parker is seen swearing in the new Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Kevin Bethel, on Tuesday
“Officers there as guards, not warriors, get to know the people they are sworn to protect and serve,” she said during her inaugural address Tuesday night.
Parker takes over a city where violent crime is on the decline: homicides are down more than 20 percent year over year, and nonfatal shootings are down 28 percent.
But Philadelphia had a grim reputation in 2020 and 2021 as one of America's most dangerous cities, with more than 500 murders a year — significantly more than New York, which is five times the size.
And thefts in Philadelphia are skyrocketing, with reported car thefts up 72 percent. Retail theft is also soaring, rising 28 percent in the past year.
Drug use is also a major problem, with the city's Kensington area particularly hard hit and shocking images of addicts injecting themselves in broad daylight. More than 90 percent of the heroin now found in Philadelphia contains xylazine, or “tranq,” which was developed in 1962 as a veterinary anesthetic. The drug causes a blackout and deep, festering wounds that often lead to amputations.
Drug users are depicted stretched out in the park, waiting for their next fix. The city of Philadelphia is struggling to cope with the increase in xylazine use
A pastor talks to drug users in McPherson Square Park off Kensington Avenue
The downtown has long been a draw for drug users looking for their next high
Kensington, which was a bustling industrial district until the 1950s, is now described by The Philadelphia Inquirer as “the poorest neighborhood in the poorest big city in America”
Exclusive photos from Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood reveal a shocking scene of drug destruction, with addicts injecting themselves in broad daylight
A sad scene unfolds on Kensington Ave in Philadelphia at Christmas
Parker said her Public Safety Emergency “will quickly bring all available resources to neighborhoods struggling with the scourges of crime, gun violence, drugs and addiction.”
She said her new police chief, Kevin Bethel, is tasked with planning for these crises and for quality-of-life crimes including auto theft, shoplifting and illegal ATV use.
In early October, the city was shocked by images of a dirt bike rider jumping off his bike and onto the roof of a parked car while a 23-year-old mother and her children sat inside.
The man jumped on the rear window glass and shattered it: when the woman got out to confront him, a gun fell from his pocket and he headbutted her with his motorcycle helmet before driving away.
Cody Heron, 26, was arrested and charged with assault and battery.
A Philadelphia dirt bike rider callously smashed the rear window of a car driven by a young mother who showed complete disregard for her children in the back
The motorcyclist smashes completely through the rear window of the car with both feet
The mother got out to confront him, even though he was armed and had a gun pointed at her
Outraged by what happened, Bullock confronts the cyclist who then headbutts her
Parker also said cleaning up the drug market in Kensington is a priority.
“If someone says to you, 'we think she lacks compassion because she wants to be too aggressive in cleaning up the open-air drug market,' you tell them to think about whether or not they want their mother, father , sister, brother… lover on the street who was openly using intravenous drugs,” she said.
She said she plans to get the city ready for 2026, when Philadelphia will celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
The Declaration of Independence was signed at Independence Hall in the city on August 2, 1776, finalizing the colonies' break with England.
Philadelphia will also co-host the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
“If we don't get our own house in order before visitors arrive, and if we don't address public safety, we won't be ready to receive anyone in 2026,” she said.
“I want the world to know that I am fully committed to ending this sense of lawlessness and returning order and a sense of legality to our city.”
She said Philadelphia is open for business.
“We're going to bring together local, state and federal officials — along with our business leaders who have a stake in the economic success of our city — so we can tap into Philadelphia's intellectual resources and really try to create economic growth.” opportunities for everyone.'