By James Williams, Editor & Chief

In a political era dominated by loud voices and polarized ideologies, Philadelphia has quietly begun to turn a corner under the leadership of a mayor who rejects both extremes. While many major U.S. cities continue to struggle with rising crime and declining public confidence, Philadelphia is seeing a measurable shift in the right direction.

Mayor Cherelle Parker, who proudly identifies as a centrist Democrat, took office with a clear and urgent focus: restore safety and stability to a city that had reached its breaking point. Her approach has stood in stark contrast to the progressive playbook followed by many of her counterparts.

In 2021, under former Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner, Philadelphia recorded 562 homicides—the highest in the city’s modern history. The streets of Kensington became the national poster child for unchecked drug activity and public disorder. With prosecution rates declining and repeat offenders cycling through the system, many neighborhoods were left feeling abandoned by the very institutions meant to protect them.

Mayor Parker made public safety her top priority from day one. She declared a state of emergency, boosted police recruitment, launched targeted interventions in high-crime areas, and took visible steps to clean up neglected communities. She also partnered enforcement with support—investing in wellness courts and services to address addiction and homelessness.

The results have been swift and significant.

By the end of 2024, the city’s homicide total dropped to 269—a 52% decrease in just three years. Shootings and carjackings were down dramatically. Property crime declined by 40% in the first half of 2025. The numbers speak for themselves: Mayor Parker’s plan is working.

As a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, this is the safest the city has felt in my 50 years on earth. For years, I warned that we had become too progressive. Back when I was a Republican and a GOP ward leader, I told fellow party leaders that the Working Families Party would eventually replace the Republican Party as the city’s second major political force. Today, that prediction has come true. And it happened because too many people ignored the growing disconnect between radical politics and real-life needs.

But while Philadelphia is turning the corner, New York City may be headed in the opposite direction.

Just last week, New York Democrats selected Zohran Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, as their nominee for mayor. Mamdani campaigned on a platform of wealth taxes, rent freezes, defunding police units, and abolishing fare enforcement in public transit—earning the endorsement of national progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.

Political observers are already sounding the alarm. CNBC’s Joe Kernen warned that Mamdani’s victory could send NYC back into a “Gotham-style” decline if law enforcement is again deprioritized in favor of ideological experimentation.

This development makes the contrast with Philadelphia even more striking.

Mayor Parker’s governance has been rooted in pragmatism, not politics. She listens to residents, not Twitter trends. She governs with an understanding that public safety is the foundation of opportunity. Without safety, there is no equity. Without order, there is no justice.

For communities in Philadelphia that have long felt neglected—especially in North and Northwest neighborhoods—Parker’s leadership has been a breath of fresh air. It shows that a Democrat can be committed to reform and still support police. That you can care about equity without sacrificing enforcement.

As other cities lurch further into ideological experiments, Philadelphia stands out as a model of disciplined, focused leadership. The kind that gets results.

The question now is simple: Will other cities follow Philadelphia’s example—or repeat the mistakes we’ve already overcome?

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The Town Crier,  is a Rapid Response news blog that is written by James Williams and created in collaboration with ChatGPT. For research assistance and content editing. The image of the Town Crier was created by ChatGPT.