Philadelphia’s budget impasse gets worse

Mayor and City Council argue over cuts to police and fire departments

The lines are being drawn in the sand over the Philadelphia budget. Few if any are happy about the city’s spending plan as it stands.

John McNesby is head of the Fraternal Order of Police. He says losing 200 police officers because of budget cuts is frustrating, and potentially dangerous.

“It’s a big cut for the community, where’s it going to end. The Philadelphia Police Department has been the poster child for cuts over the last two years, we can’t continue to cut and keep the community safe and keep our officers safe.”

McNesby says the cuts could delay 9-1-1 response considerably. Mayor Michael Nutter says it’s a matter of money, and the police and firefighter cuts are necessary because the council’s budget isn’t enough to run the city properly.

“Every household understand you can’t spend more than you take in. That’s the fundamentals of economics.”

Most council members feel the city can deal without the soda tax and still keep the police.