PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner hand-delivered a letter to Mayor Cherelle Parker on Monday asking for more money for his office. The mayor dismissed the gesture as “theater.”
“The purpose of this letter is to request your reconsideration of the DAO’s budget submission,” Krasner said.
Krasner said he needs $5.5 million more than what’s in next year’s budget for investigators, lawyers and victim services, including relocation. He defended his choice to make his request public, with the added touch of delivering his open letter to the mayor in person.
“After all the protocols have been followed, after you’ve done exactly what you were told to, if the outcome does not satisfy my oath, then I have to make another effort,” Krasner said. “It is necessary that we draw attention to this and we do everything we possibly can.”
Parker called it “theater.”
“I don’t have a role in his play. Maybe it’s a one-man show, but the mayor won’t be participating,” she said.
Parker disagreed that Krasner needs more money, noting that his budget has increased by 55% in the last five years. The DAO budget was $40 million in 2022 and went up every year, growing to $62 million in the 2027 budget that City Council approved last week.
“Check with any Philadelphian dealing with this affordability crisis, if their household budget has increased 55%. The answer is likely to be no,” Parker said.
The mayor said her top priority is finding a recurring source of $50 million a year for schools.
"He can continue with his stunting by himself. I’m not interested in being a part of that," Parker said.
He says he needs $5.5 million more than what’s in next year’s budget
He says he needs $5.5 million more than what’s in next year’s budget
