Editing Frank Rizzo Era (section)

== Mayor of Philadelphia ==

Rizzo won the Democratic mayoral primary in 1971, defeating the party organization's preferred candidate, and won the general election easily. His campaign appealed to white working-class voters who felt threatened by crime, racial change, and economic uncertainty. He promised law and order, opposition to school busing, and attention to neighborhoods that felt neglected by previous administrations. His coalition—South Philadelphia Italians, Northeast white ethnics, conservative Democrats across the city—represented a political force different from the reform coalition that had governed since [[1951 Reform Movement|1951]]. Rizzo's victory marked a shift in Philadelphia politics toward racial polarization that would characterize subsequent decades.<ref name="weigley"/>

Rizzo's first term (1972-1976) coincided with fiscal crisis that constrained his options. The national recession, continuing [[Deindustrialization|deindustrialization]], and declining federal aid created budget problems that worsened throughout the 1970s. Rizzo raised taxes while cutting services, angering both liberals who opposed his policies and conservatives who objected to tax increases. His administration was marked by patronage, cronyism, and corruption scandals—despite his law-and-order image, Rizzo's government was not notably honest. Relations with African Americans remained hostile; Rizzo's police department continued aggressive practices, and Black organizations viewed him as an enemy.<ref name="daughen"/>