Philly hit its high (as in "low") point in the 2003 mayoral race. It came out that the mayor's office was under federal invetigation for corruption. His support shot up. What was a close race for re-election became a runaway victory.

I agree the one-party lock plays the biggest role. The question is why the 'good government' types don't advocate some political diversity as a result.

At the least, journalists have to stop dancing around the fact that this is mainly a Democrat Party problem.