It also became yet another example of how city employees' neglect and carelessness create hell on wheels for motorists and pedestrians on Philadelphia's streets. Since February, the Daily News has documented in a series of stories how poor traffic law enforcement by Philadelphia police and a growing aggressiveness among motorists have spurred a marked increase in serious accidents. At times city employees have installed the wrong signs. In a recent audit, City Controller Jonathan Saidel criticized the city for doing too little to monitor its own drivers. A computer check found 258 city employees with license suspensions or revocations, including 25 cops.
City officials say they're trying to get a handle on the problems.
But the city has a way to go. The missing stop sign at Westmoreland and Collins, for example, was not replaced for more than a month after Lopez was killed. Asked why the stop sign wasn't replaced after the first accident, Streets Commissioner Lawrence Moy said his records show police never told his department about the problem. Police spokesman Cpl. Jim Pauley said officers notified City Hall phone operators of the missing sign - standard procedure in such cases.