Philadelphia Mayor Accepts Afghan Refugees While Abandoning Local Citizens
As Philadelphia becomes the second city in the United States to welcome Afghan refugees, the city’s universally despised mayor, Jim Kenney said, “This is what America is about, helping people in need and not turning people away or building walls.”
Clearly the wall comment is an obvious and trite dig. What’s far more upsetting is that he spoke of helping people. Ask Philadelphians from Kensington or West Philly or the Temple area, they will all tell you that Mayor Kenney doesn’t help anyone.
Philadelphia has earned the nickname “Killadelphia,” as the number of 2021 homicide victims in the city has risen to at least 314 and counting. This is a 35% increase from this time last year. Philadephia has the highest murder rate in the country per capita of the country’s 10 largest cities. Clearly, Mayor Kenney isn’t doing what he so proudly claimed. Homicide victims and their family members don’t meet the criteria for “helping people,” only refugees.
Murder isn’t the only problem that this mayor is failing to address. Drugs are also a massive issue. Kensington, Philadelphia is home to the largest open-air narcotics market for heroin on the east coast. It has been dubbed the “Walmart of Heroin.” Visit the area and you see a devastated, filthy community, littered with drug needles everywhere. Users inject on the street and often end up passed out on sidewalks. According to the University of Pennsylvania, compared to last year, fatal overdoses among black individuals rose by more than 50%. Once again, Mayor Kenney doesn’t care about helping drug addicts, even if they are a minority.
Words matter, Mr. Mayor. Actions matter. Everyone worries about the plight of the Afghan people, but it’s brazen and irresponsible to ignore your own citizens and use Afghans to garner cheap political attention for yourself.
