And if the state and federal government don't want to stand up to the NRA and some other folks, then let us, let us police ourselves. But they preempt us on all kinds of gun control legislation, our officers deserve to be protected and don't deserve to be shot at by a guy for hours with an unlimited supply of weapons and an unlimited supply of bullets.

Jim Kenney

Categorized in : Top News

I recognize that this is a very difficult time for the family of Walter Wallace Jr., Walter Wallace Jr. and for the entire city of Philadelphia. The killing of Mr. Walter Wallace Jr., Walter Wallace Jr. was painful and traumatic for many Philadelphians. This tragic and unsettling incident, along with last year's protests, underscored the urgency of many important reforms such as mental health training and crisis response resources. I am committed to making lasting reforms that will ensure that all Philadelphians have the safety and available supports that Walter Wallace Jr. deserve.

The uptick in gun violence that we’ve seen across the nation and right here in Philadelphia is heartbreaking.

For nearly fifteen months, the City of Philadelphia has had restrictions in place to protect each other, and I have no doubt that these restrictions saved countless lives, but Friday will be a day that we've all been looking forward to : getting back to doing the things that we love. Thanks to the more than two-thirds of adults who've been vaccinated already, we can finally do the things that we've missed doing for the last year.

I am beyond sickened. I refuse to accept this emergency situation as normal, people have the right to travel between work and home, and around town, without the fear of being shot, and possibly killed, by reckless, indiscriminate gunfire.

Believe me, more than anything in the world, I wish none of this was necessary.

The collective hope of our local government and the Walter Wallace Jr. family is that releasing the recordings on November 4 will provide enough time to calm tensions and for the recordings to be released in the most constructive manner possible.

We felt that with the tension, tonight being mischief night, we wanted to try to get as many people indoors as possible.

We were hoping that we wont have any repeat of weve seen last night and were taking every precaution that we can.

But in light of the allegations, his employment has been terminated effective immediately.

We want federal help, but not that kind of federal help. When the administration had the opportunity to help us months ago, they refused to do so. Now he's floundering in the polls, he's playing to his base, he's playing to what he perceived to be the suburban fear of cities. And he's dividing people again, and he's making a dangerous situation, even worse, and we're prepared to fight in court in every way possible to keep that from happening in Philadelphia.

Lets remember our SEPTA bus drivers are front-line, boots-on-the-ground heroes who go to work every day and feel the need for protection.