Philadelphia elected a progressive prosecutor twice. The state government wants to fire him anyway.

[In It to Win It]

Vox

Weeks before the midterms, a political drama is unfolding in Pennsylvania: A state committee to investigate crime in Philadelphia could ultimately impeach the city’s twice-elected district attorney Larry Krasner, who ran on a platform of reducing mass incarceration and the criminalization of poverty.

Republicans say their investigation is about seeking solutions for rising crime, but for the past five years, they’ve been eager to connect their anti-Krasner rhetoric to the broader Democratic Party — a narrative that has fueled backlash against progressive prosecutors in other cities and painted Democrats as anti-police. Pennsylvania’s investigation started just weeks after San Francisco voters recalled their progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin.

Krasner’s allies see the probe as a cynical stunt by a Republican-controlled legislature that both underfunds Philadelphia and blocks its leaders from passing tougher gun laws. They also view it as a dangerously anti-democratic effort to overturn the will of Philadelphia voters — akin to the effort to overturn the city’s votes for Biden in the 2020 election.

The committee, dubbed the Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order, was voted into existence by nearly all House Republican lawmakers in June. It’s already embroiled in one legal battle with Krasner, who has objected in court to their sweeping request for documents. To impeach Krasner, the committee might have to demonstrate evidence of misbehavior or corruption — not just ideological disagreement — and that could end up being the subject of yet another court fight.

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[dsp3000]

1. I'm not thrilled w/ Krasner, our city has turned to shit;but I don't know if it's entirely his fault

[JohnSJ]

2. SF had an issue with their DA. Boudin was not doing his job, and was recalled

[nycbos]

10. But there is a difference between Boudin and Krasner.

Boudin was removed by the voters of SF in a recall election.

Kranser won two elections. The Republicans in the state legislature are trying to do a power grab.


I'm not from Philadelphia. I'm going to take an educated guess that some of the criticisms of him are fair confirm or not. Most things in life are not black and white.

[JohnSJ]

11. That is a big difference

[PCIntern]

3. Agreed but I know many career people in his office

And they are very unhappy or have left. In Center City wherein my office is located there is no penalty for shoplifting because the police won’t show up so people just take stuff and calmly walk out.

Also other stuff going on….

[Deminpenn]

8. That shoplifting stuff is a canard,

more likely than not a rw talking point promoted by the FOP. The cops hate Krasner because he's been discovering police misconduct and holding them accountable. The state legislature Rs are holding hearings because they want to scare voters.

I was recently told by friends who live in Pgh that they see a lot of shoplifting at a store they frequent and the Pgh DA isn't a "progressive DA". Shoplifting is deterred by cameras and by having enough employees on duty to be able to observe shoppers. Convenience and dollar type stores, that I'm assuming have the biggest shoplifting problem, never have enough workers on duty to deter it. Nothing is stopping any business from hiring private security to prevent shoplifting on their premisis.

[PCIntern]

9. Yes and no...

Without question our police are corrupt to the core. I know of a story so explosive that it would make National news, but wouldn’t have dared at the time to say a word. But what goes on in my area that I’ve witnessed is beyond belief. Petty crime is not ok if you’re a constant victim and there is no threat of punishment.

Perception is everything in LE and it is a given that it’s ok to shoot people and assume that unless it’s a “significant” homicide, nothings going to happen.

[nycbos]

12. And if you can't afford private security.

[Deminpenn]

14. Then have enough workers on duty to keep an eye

on customers and deter shoplifting. But that crime isn't unique to areas where DAs aren't prioritizing prosecuting it.

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. I voted for him, he's not great at this job.

He’s done some good things as far as getting falsely convicted people out of prison but the rampant quality of life crime is the result of his revolving door policy.

He’s likely to become the next mayor. Gods help us if he does.

[dsp3000]

5. No way in hell he becomes the next mayor. I think even most rank and file dems are fed up with him.

he would lose the primary easily.

[BlueTsunami2018]

7. I don't know.

He crushed in the last primary and general despite these same problems and he enjoys a 50+% approval rating overall. It’s even higher in the highest crime areas which seems insane to me.

I don’t see anyone on the council who can challenge him if he decides to run and the Philly GOP is an absolute joke. That clown they ran last time is highly indicative of what the people who hate Krasner want.

There’s a huge section of racist MAGAt types in my part of the city. They have no real juice as a citywide bloc.

If Larry runs, I don’t see him losing.

[nycbos]

13. Re: higher in the highest crime areas which seems insane to me.

I'm guessing the folks there feel they can't call the police for help if they're in trouble. Probably due to either lack of trust or they feel they will be the next victim if they'd testify against one of the gangsters.

From what I read SF voters had very legitimate grievances with Boudin.

It seems similar in this case.

[Deminpenn]

15. The residents of "high crime" areas are often

the victims of the policies DAs like Krasner are trying to change. They are the ones tossed in jail and don't have even the 10% of bail required for release. They are the ones who bear the brunt of aggressive or corrupt policing and prosecutions. No wonder they support him.

The code of silence when it comes to "ratting" out perps long preceded Krasner or any other DA of his ilk.

[nycbos]

17. I understand

That's why I said some of the criticisms of him are fair and some aren't.

[Tree-Hugger]

6. Krasner is....

.....not the best.

All of the city's problems are not his fault. These have been a long time coming and people need to know there is a sizeable GOP-loving block in Philly that will always vote against progress. That said, I don't think Krasner is the man for the job.

[brooklynite]

16. Misleading Headline

"The State" doesn't want to fire him. The House Republicans do. And nothing in the story indicates that they have the authority to remove him.