Stpehen Miller has claimed victory over Philadelphia’s Mayor Cherelle Parker who settled in court with Miller’s America First Legal over the city’s commitment to DEI for hiring contractors.
Prior to this court ruling, the Mayor’s office had pledged that 35% of all contracts would be given contracts that were “minority, women, or disabled-owned enterprises,” since 2016 and before that, a modest 25%, set in the early 1980s.
Renee Garcia, the city’s top lawyer, confirmed in a statement what many had suspected, that the change comes from the Trump administration’ legal lawfare assault which seeks to prohibit the setting of contracting goals based on race and gender, and that the city must ensure public funds “are not used to promote, reinforce or perpetuate discrimination.”
Earlier in July, Tyrell Brown, the director of LGBTQ+ affairs, and Brandee Anderson, the city’s chief of diversity, equity and inclusion, were let go by the city on dubious and shaky grounds, leaving the office of LGBT+ affairs still without a leader.
The reason is obvious; Mayor Parker wishes to avoid the wrath of Trump and spare Philadelphia from immigration and ‘anti-crime’ crackdowns from federal agents and the national guard. While this strategy of appeasement has spared the city of Brotherly love an invasion from federal forces, Mayor Parker has been unable to to stop the city from losing tens of millions of dollars in federal funds intended to fight homelessness and over 280 million in university research, public health, climate resiliency, public service and food banks.
But are these capitulatory moves supporting the city?
Lary Krasner, the city’s incumbent District Attorney, handily won re-election for a 3rd term with over 75% of the vote. Krasner has been vocally defiant of Trump, easily one of the President’s loudest critics in the city of Philadelphia. His election, along with the win of Democrats across the country, suggests that both in Philadelphia and in the entire country, there is a hunger for leaders who will fight back against the administration rather than surrender.
Meanwhile, John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democrat Senator who has dined with Trump and defected during the shutdown vote, has a 31% approval rating among PA democratic voters.
Mayor Parker, rather than submit to lame duck Trump, drowning in underwater polling and controversy and controversy, should take a look around, feel the winds of change, and stand up to the administration and defend the policies that Philadelphians voted for and support.
Free Soil 
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