Remember when National Geographic was calling Philadelphia the Next Great City? It was just two years ago. National press coverage of Philadelphia has a different cast these days. Witness Anderson Cooper's account of crime and guns in Philadelphia last night. Or this ABC news report over the summer that covered a lot of the same territory.
It's been a tough week for Philadelphia, and the newspapers report what's obvious to everyone: the city is on edge. Three cops shot in four days. Two massive manhunts. "Murder and mayhem," as Michael Nutter put it, not a mile from the site where seven presidential candidates were debating. Worse, officer Charles Cassidy, shot at a Dunkin' Donuts yesterday morning, is in grave condition this morning. Crime is the story of the day, the story of the year. The Inquirer looks at the alarming targeting of police officers here. A report on Cassidy's shooting is here. The man who shot three people in Center City before taking aim at another officer and plunging into the Schulkyll River? A convicted murderer, recently released from prison. Those who know Cassidy are reeling. The Daily News of course is all over the events as well. Stories here, here, here, and here.
There was plenty of other news yesterday as well. Critics and supporters of the Philadelphia Parking Authority debate how well the agency has been run. It turns out that Smokin' Joe Frazier is a Philadelphia tax deadbeat. Michael Nutter unveiled his public health plan. PICA warned that the city is spending far too little on infrastructure investment. And 8th District Council candidate Jim Foster said he would throw his support behind fellow challenger Rev. Jesse Brown, in an attempt to unseat incumbent Donna Reed Miller.
Commissioner Ramsey and Mayor Nutter released their much anticipated crime plan. You can read it yourself on the city's website here. Philly.com has video of Ramsey explaining the plan, and the Inquirer's Andy Maykuth has an early rundown of the new strategy. Ramsey will direct police to focus their resources on the city's nine most violent districts. You can see how those districts stack up relative to the rest of the city here.
This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Heard in the Hall in the Crime category. They are listed from oldest to newest.
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