The Philadelphia Police are probably the worst police force I have ever observed. I never see any police patrolling the neighborhoods. I take that back, Shawn and I once saw two police in Rittenhouse Square, sitting down eating donuts--no joke. But you do see 10,000 meter maids patrolling the street, citing cars for expired meters, etc. I think Philadelphia sees the Police as a source of revenue and not a municipal service to protect the residents.

The reason I am particularly disappointed with Philadelphia Police is that today, baby Caroline got a $25 ticket for dumping a trash bag illegally in the street 5 blocks away from our house. I am fairly certain that Caroline did not carry the trash bag downtown and throw it in the street. Today is trash pick-up day. Maybe the trash truck dropped it?

Trash is another bone of contention between Philadelphia and me. Philadelphia is dirty. Philadelphia is also smelly. It's not just me--people call it Filthadelphia. A big reason for the stink is that trash is only picked up once per week and there are no "herby curby" trash cans. So people just throw these overflowing boxes of stinky trash on the curb. The trash of course get blown down the street and are not completely picked up by the union trash companies. Furthermore, the restaurants have to store a weeks worth of decomposing food until trash day--stinky!

How could this be solved? Trash dumpsters for each building that are picked up biweekly. Mayor John Street, that's not too difficult.