I like what they have done with Center City, and even parts of Northern Liberties. Nevertheless, the rest of the city is a war zone (North Broad, West Philly) or stuck in 1967 (Northeast Philly). I once went on a NE Philly chat group, I felt like I was in a time warp. ;-)
We spent six months living in Turnersville, not too far from the Walt Whitman Bridge on the Jersey side. My dad's office was at the airport (which needed to be privatized yesterday). I remember meeting the Philly Fanatic at Johnny Callison's car dealership.
I’m guessing that’s why you know so much about Montco, etc. I grew up in Montco, but I lived in Southwest Philly for three years before moving to South Jersey. I worked in Olde City for eight years. I was working there when the GOP convention was in town in 2000. The protestors were wild. Hubby grew up in North Philly.
You may be right about the hooligans. Fox29 is showing a crowd going wild in the streets, and they pointed out a taxi, its front window smashed by people jumping on it.