Civil Society/Crime/Overview

"The one thing that I regret in my life more than anythin' else, that my grammar is lousy... and I talk with a New York accent."
– Lucky Luciano

 Crime is ubiquitous in Philadelphia. It exists in city hall, and filters on down through all aspects of city life. While it's true that people are able to go about their lives in Philadelphia without ever being touched by crime, crime is nonetheless pervasive. Cars are broken into, some are stolen. Houses are burgled, pockets are picked. Muggings take place, drugs are available on most corners in the badlands, and you can find a bookie to make whatever lousy ill-advised wager you'd like unless it's on the Dallas Cowboys.

 If you want to grease the palms of a recalcitrant building inspector? Crime. If you want to pay that traffic cop not to ticket you for the meter running out? Crime. Want your fix? Crime. The halls of power are paved with bribe money, and the coffers of local unions and non profits are siphoned off by embezzlement. Philadelphia is a giant bloody steak ripe for eating, and it never seems to run out of meat. Maggots roil and fire burns, but the slab of promised food remains.