Dear Housewife:

Why is Philadelphia so dirty?

– Disgusted in Philly

Dear Disgusted: 

You ask a very good question.  You may not be aware of this, but filth is in the very DNA of Philadelphia. Russell F. Weigly, author of Philadelphia:  A 300 Year History, describes our beloved city as being dirty with garbage and animals littering the streets during the 1700’s.  Quality of life worsened due to poor enforcement of laws.  Over 300 years later, unfortunately, not much has changed.  Hence the question: Why is Philly so dirty? Well, in 2014, the sources of filth are the same:  trifling people too lazy to clean up after themselves and city government too lazy to hold residents accountable.  Perhaps we should change our name to the City of  Phila-rhyparia (Love Filth). Has a little bit of ring to it, doesn’t it?