As many Democrat-run cities are being ravaged due to soft-on-crime policies, new Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker is poised to bring a harsh crackdown on crime after taking office on the first day of the new year.
The New York Post reports that one of Parker’s first steps after becoming mayor was to sign an executive order on January 2, which declared public safety in Philadelphia to be an emergency. “I want the world to know that I am fully committed to ending this sense of lawlessness and bringing order back to our city and a sense of lawfulness,” the mayor declared.
Despite being a Democrat, Parker has been a proponent of “stop and frisk” police tactics and has promised sweeping measures in order to address the causes of major crime in Philadelphia. These involve getting “every available resource into the neighborhoods struggling from the scourges of crime, gun violence, drugs and addiction,” and “permanently shut down all pervasive open-air drug markets.” Parker also dismissed those who characterized her approach as “too aggressive,” noting that it was of greater concern that Philadelphia residents might have a “loved one on the streets openly using intravenous drugs.”
At the same time as Parker is pursuing a tough stance on crime, at least one local official promoting radical-left ideology has been removed from the government payroll. Leslie Marant, a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) official with the Philadelphia Police Department, lost her job just before Parker was sworn in as mayor. Marant, who was paid a salary of $170,569, had no law enforcement experience when she was hired. The Philadelphia Police Department did not comment on why she was removed from the position, but it appears as though they may eventually hire a replacement.
Remarkably, it seems that at least one Democratic politician is looking to take meaningful action to stem the burgeoning crime in one of America’s major cities.