Contact       Home               " I am a college graduate and I couldn't find work for almost a year. Someone from the unemployment office advised me to use another address other than Camden and that's when I finally received calls. "  LaVERNE MITCHELL Camden, quoted in Courier-Post, Dec. 31, 2006

     Is Camden, New Jersey really necessary?
Michael McAteer
Camden Land and Dream    

    Is Camden necessary? Has Camden lost its logic for existence?

     " Camden " itself as a brand is a great drawback for renewal efforts, conjuring up negative images and visceral knee jerk reactions such as Violence, Crime, Drugs, Welfare Cheats, Illegitimacy, Blight, Decay, Illiteracy, Gangs, Incompetence, Dependent, Scary, Official Corruption, Bankrupt, Most Dangerous City in America and so on . 

    CBS 60 Minutes, Morgan Quinto and Time Magazine among others have helped promulgate the city's negative image in the national consciousness. As recently as Spring 2006,  City Journal, a prominent urban journal, while critiquing New Jersey's political system, highlighted Camden in the following manner: "Nor was Camden any less shady: since 1981, three of its mayors have been convicted of corruption and deposed. In Camden, the nation’s murder capital, the state had to take over the failed school system and the city’s out-of-control finances..." Now with scandals and criminal investigations of Camden's school system rocking the city and making  headlines all over the United States, Camden seems to have carved out a new area of national ignominy for itself. On June 21, overshadowing the news of a massive new $750 million dollar residential and retail groundbreaking on Camden's waterfront the same day, National Public Radio (NPR) hosted a lengthy news segment on the school district scandals, and referred to Camden as "New Jersey's perennial headache." ( While not reporting on the largest construction project in Camden in fifty years.) Now even the city's school children are walking around confused and droop shouldered over the burden of the Camden systems reputation and image. Unfairly, now every school and every neighborhood in the city bears the weight and scars of crimes committed by a corrupt few, even if these schools were miles from where they live. What happens in one part of the city stains every part.

      According to city and state officials, Camden's renewal got a good start out of the gate four years ago and was gaining momentum until the Morgan Quinto crime ratings came out, resulting in the cancellation of virtually every large investment commitment in the city. Being named again the following year as America ’s most dangerous city  did not help matters. In the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, Camden is rated the city with the highest poverty rate un the United States. 
     Camden ’s problems are very real, and the degree to which they can be alleviated in the timeframe New Jersey's taxpayers will allow is unknown. Until the loser image and perception of Camden can be done away with, the area will never attract the powerful visionary champion it needs to regain momentum.

      The first step must be retiring Camden's once glorious name, now irretrievably tarnished. The name Camden will always be a drag as long as it is in official use and referred to. Camden’s ability to finance basic services is completely dependent on the patience and largesse of taxpayers and voters statewide. State taxpayers provided $175 million for the initial bailout package four years ago, with the understanding that Camden would be financially self sustaining in 5 -7 years. In addition, the state has provided approximately $120 million for operational funds for the city beyond the bailout package.

     If the Morgan Quinto crime ratings can stop the city’s renewal virtually dead in its tracks, then Morgan Quinto and those contributing to the ratings have more control over the city's destiny than all the political powers in the state combined. The city's statistics and historic reputation overshadows and denudes too many of the best intentions and efforts.

      But the greatest threat in the near future is the impatience of taxpayers statewide. New Jersey has never been in as bad fiscal shape as it is now. The degree of cutbacks in state services is unprecedented. Tax hikes are pending.

      Under such conditions a statewide taxpayer revolt over Camden is a certainty. As one concerned citizen recently said, "To New Jersey taxpayers, Camden looms over the state treasury like a Pirate ship on the horizon." During a June 6 news interview Gov. Corzine did not fail to mention Camden's precarious position vis a' vis New Jersey's taxpayers. 

    The light at the end of the tunnel for Camden really is a freight train barreling down on it, and it is carrying every taxpayer in the state of New Jersey.  The clout of South Jersey ’s powerful politicians will not be enough to stem the tide. Camden is about to have its extraordinary funding greatly reduced, if not cut off altogether. The city can count on a decent level of support for the next two years. The third year is an election year. But will the governor and state legislators risk their necks for Camden while slashing funds for every other municipality in the state? In such a year, Camden may be an easy target as voters scrutinize politician’s records on spending. After the Morgan Quinto disaster, Camden cannot risk becoming a front page controversial  example of government waste. There is no true answer to whether investing taxpayer’s money in Camden is an example of wise spending. It is a philosophical issue. That is why it is susceptible to lively public debate.

     With all of Camden’s existing brand problems it cannot risk becoming the campaign poster child of government waste, risking a pariah status in its own state. A Camden called "Camden" cannot escape the anchor of negativity associated with its name in the limited timeframe it has in respect to statewide support. Another negative appellation could sink it.  

      In the area of attacking physical blight, Camden has produced no more than a few attractive and scattered Potemkin villages through cosmetic changes, not having any effect beyond the edges of their own composition. This is no ones fault. The renewal effort began with great optimism and all the grand visions commensurate with a positive healthy outlook. The city created a great master plan with regional input from area universities and the business community. What are now Potemkin Villages were originally the dots in the plans that were to be connected by the free market commitments that did not come through. The reason they did not come through gets back to the issue of Camden ’s image. No one knew Camden's progress could be so vulnerable to a crime rating. Whether Camden really is the most dangerous city in America is a highly suspect statement in itself. In any case, Camden's ranking on the Quinto Morgan scale has always hovered in the same area. Nothing in Camden ’s reality had changed. Only the perception of its reality in the public eye, brought on by one for profit researcher. But the Quinto rating was just the latest additional piece of baggage to an already burdensome reputation. While holding onto the name of Camden, the city cannot overcome the perception of its reality in any realistic time frame, that is, a time frame that suits New Jersey ’s taxpayers.  

    If GM or Toyota marketed a car that was ranked "most dangerous car in America," whether it was true or not, that brand would be yanked. If that car stayed on the market and was ranked most dangerous a second year, the entire management board would be yanked. It may be said that a car is not a proper analogy, but from a marketing perspective it is certainly correct. All cities maintain a perpetual marketing mode. Growth and progress is greatly dependent upon it. Who would buy a car labeled most dangerous in America two years in a row? "Camden" as a brand cannot be marketed.

      Camden needs nothing less than an urban version of the Manhattan Project, with all the necessary intellectual breakthroughs implied. The first mental hurdle to overcome, easier said than done with so much money, heart and soul, blood sweat and tears invested is to bury the name. If people can bury their loved ones, they can bury a name. The second mental hurdle is to address the question: Is the City of Camden even necessary?  If so for what? An honest examination may lead to the conclusion that the City of Camden is not necessary.

    Camden’s most serious problems exist at the street and neighborhood level. Until these problems are resolved, no other problems can be adequately addressed. City Hall is too distant, figuratively, to deal with Camden ’s neighborhoods.  Compounding the "distance" problem, the city - for better or worse - is run almost entirely by people and political forces from outside the city. In fact, no one can say with a straight face that City Hall has been effective in addressing neighborhood problems to the satisfaction of those residents. City Hall is consumed currently with larger issues such as billion dollar development deals, Aquariums, concert parking, Medical school expansions etc., while responding ad hoc to repeated street level crises and concerns. When recently asked about the situation in Camden, New Jersey Gov. Corzine mentioned the issue of the Riverfront Prison's blocking North Camden development as a priority item. This despite the fact that Camden's welcoming downtown waterfront is fully clear and totally prepped with infrastructure for development, yet largely vacant. Currently there is insufficient market demand for downtown space and none for North Camden, with or without a prison.
        Renewal leaders, like the great ancient philosopher and astronomer Thales risk tumbling backwards into a well while gazing at the stars above. It is said of Thales that he knew more about the stars in the sky than the ground upon which he walked.

      There is a governing structure for large neighborhoods that gives them the power to enforce their own laws, enact their own zoning ordnances, and create their own police forces, neighborhood design and schools. It is called incorporation as a town.

      The South Jersey town of Haddon Heights is an exemplary model of civic pride and activity, safety, well maintained properties and excellent schools. It is often mentioned as one of the top ten most desirable places to live in New Jersey . Its population is only 7,547. The population of Cramer Hill ( including Bideman) is a healthy 10,035, more than enough to be a viable town with its own Public Services and schools. When and where towns feel it is in their mutual interest to share systems they may.

     People in small towns know each other, keep an eye on each others children. Police know the difference between a bad guy and a guy who is just having a bad day, an essential knowledge in community policing. Currently community leaders in large neighborhoods in Camden like Cramer Hill, Waterfront South, and North Camden etc. are powerless. They can voice their opinions, create vision statements and so on, but what actually happens in their neighborhoods is totally dependent on what goes on in City Hall downtown. Neighborhood leaders, elected by their neighbors, given the power of law inheriting in town incorporation, can energize residents who have become apathetic due to their lack of influence with city leaders. The people best suited to address community issues are those who know the community best. 

    Camden churches do their best. But those who contribute the most to Camden's odious reputation are hardly church goers or influenced by the ministry.

    The "Shame" factor in small towns is an incredibly powerful tool in maintaining socially acceptable behaviors, suppressing crime and creating pride in property upkeep. Where pride is high in towns, more eyes are on the street, observing the beat and rhythm of the town, and keen to report when something is amiss. These "eyes on the street" are a powerful aid in policing and crime suppression.

    The reason Waterfront South has smelly air polluting industries in its midst is because the people of Cramer Hill, East Camden, Parkside etc. are too consumed with their own issues to know or be concerned about issues in Waterfront South or in any other neighborhood. It does not affect them.

       Throughout its history, Camden has shown itself to be very neighborhood centric, its citizens uninvolved and uninterested in matters outside their own neighborhoods. This alone is enough evidence that Camden ’s current constitution is illogical and should be reorganized into towns.

      Camden’s problems are an accumulation of community problems, as local as local gets, and will respond to local initiatives. People of small towns exhibit more civic pride than city dwellers, and are more likely to participate and volunteer their time, rolling up their sleeves and contributing sweat equity to their neighborhood. The cumulative area that was once Camden will become an expression of an empowered and activated citizenry, with organic solutions percolating up and outward in a most democratic and inclusive process. The last several decades has proven Camden is too large a situation for any one mayor and council to manage. The area needs nine mayors and councils.

    Camden as a worthwhile name is dead. Removing "Camden" as a perennial headache gives politicians cover to continue area support below the radar and on a more intimate level, dealing directly with neighborhoods turned towns that would have previously been bypassed. Towns birthed by Camden can create their own political power and the same advantages enjoyed by Haddon Hts., Haddonfield and many other popular area towns.

   Reorganized as towns, the state of New Jersey will not have to endure 60 Minutes segments and Time Magazine proclaiming it hosts America's second poorest and most dangerous city. The FBI, Morgan Quinto and the national press do not report crime statistics for towns under 15,000 population. Never again would a South Jersey city or town show up on a "most dangerous" or "dangerous" list. This is a PR problem that has to be put to rest forever and it has to be done now. Addressing image problems does not solve real problems. But eliminating image problems eliminates the noise, circus, distractions, distortions and many other impediments getting in the way of tackling those problems.

    People in the area of Camden need to get out of the cross hairs of state taxpayers, naysayers and vociferous critics as soon as they can. In the future, when Camden's community problems have been securely resolved, towns can decide one by one of their own free will whether to rejoin a reconstituted city. The neighborhoods need a fresh start free of the weight of Camden ’s history. Empowered by law and free of Camden’s image, Cramer Hill, East Camden, North Camden, Waterfront South, Parkside or any other large neighborhood reformed as a self-governing entity can succeed where city government and state oversight has failed.

 "Small towns have a quality that attracts people," says Malcolm Johnstone, a respected downtown development specialist since 1985.

11/03/07 Howard Husock , former director of case studies at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

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