The Larry Kane Report

The wave of death and near-death violence that has plagued Philadelphia will be a prime topic at the special session of the Pennsylvania House dealing with crime across the state. My perspective on the tragedy of the Philadelphia crime wave is very clear in the story below. The story of the murder of a five year old is not new to this community, nor is the outright fear that so many of our fellow citizens are forced to live with.

There are various levels of responsibility in tackling crime’s ferocious comeback in the city. The Mayor and the Council certainly have a major role to play. Community groups, especially the Town Watch sector, are critical.

And now, in a time of crisis, it is time for the Mayoral candidates to step up to the plate.

For decades, crime fighting has not received the priority attention it should have been receiving. The police department has been diminished in manpower and funding. Equipment has been shoddy and problematic. Clear evidence is in the recent breakdown of the police radio system.

What plans do the mayoral candidates have to ensure a safer city? For Michael Nutter, and possible candidates Chaka Fattah, John Dougherty, Dwight Evans , Tom Knox and the ever-present Bob Brady, the time is right to speak up and speak out.

It is this reporter’s opinion that crime will be the major issue in the 2007 Mayoral election in Philadelphia.

There is also another problem in this community. Suburbanites and their leaders have little interest about the real problems of Philadelphia. That should change. The health of the region is impacted by crime in Philadelphia. People in the five county Philadelphia region should insist that their legislators give Philadelphia Police the main weapon they need to combat crime - tougher gun laws for the city.

It has always been interesting to me that there appears to be two separate societies around here - the city and the seventy percent of the people of this region who live outside the city. The fact remains that the fate of both of these communities are intertwined.

City crime spreads easily to suburban areas. Indifference on the part of suburban leaders to the needs of Philadelphia is dangerous in the long term.

In the meantime we need to make sure that the men who want to be Mayor start to speak up on specific strategies on crime fighting. It is time for them to take a break from their fund raising to address the most important issue facing this community.