Philadelphia is a sh*t hole.
If you absolutely MUST be there for work, then, by all means, live in the Western suburbs and commute.
You’re right; it is a dump. I imagine the mayor was angry about the article because it revealed what many cities are trying to cover up (because it may scare away new businesses and residents): that they have black people there. Remember the police bombing the MOVE headquarters there years ago? Even that was sanitized because the man who ordered the bombing was black.
Living next to Newark NJ, I can tell you that the article was the most inoffensive piece, obviously designed to obscure the worst parts of The Truth to be diplomatic.