"Cherelle Parker Sworn In as Philadelphia's First Female Mayor, Pledges Public Safety Emergency"

Newly inaugurated Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has declared a public safety emergency, directing the Police Department to create a comprehensive crime reduction plan within 100 days. The plan will focus on hiring more officers, reducing violent crime, addressing quality-of-life offenses, and shutting down open-air drug markets. This marks a shift from the previous mayor's stance and is part of Parker's tough-on-crime approach, which she emphasized during her campaign. The emergency order also includes a directive for the new Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel to report progress in 30 days and to explore additional emergency powers with city officials.