I work with a guy who was in law enforcement in Philly up unti a couple of years ago.
I think there are many more factors that were present well before the war in Iraq such as -
crack
gangs
single mom welfare villages
gangsta rap mentality among youth
a joke of a juvenile justice system
public housing (lets put all of the above into a small area)
I would also bet there are now more men between the ages of 16-24.
The mayor should put the blame on himself and others who support the welfare state.
We had the same thing in the 1960's when I went to Temple University. Only Mayor Rizzo kicked ass. The Democrats have been cowed by the criminals and yet they blame everyone except their cowardly selves.
The City of Brothers Love should be called "The City of Brotherly Murder".
Street is a disgrace and a fool. Hey, why doesn't he run for the mayor of New Orleans? Just his kind of city, and he can blame Hurricane Katrina and Pres. Bush for all the crime there, in the past, in the future, and in his dreams.