To nobody’s surprise, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has used his annual state of the state address to showcase the theme he is expected to emphasize should he embark on a widely anticipated run for president: getting results in a bipartisan manner. Given the amount of time and resources he has directed towards Camden (a … Continue reading Christie Touts Camden’s Recovery, but the Hard Part is Still Ahead…
Camden
Camden’s reputation is on the rise but will the city follow?
So, Subaru is coming to Camden. The headlines keep getting better. Camden’s image makeover has been dramatic. You don’t have to go back that far to remember when every story felt like the city’s obituary. A year ago Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi provoked Camden boosters with his over-the-top damning critique of the city’s new, county-based police … Continue reading Camden’s reputation is on the rise but will the city follow?…
In Camden, Further Scrutiny of Police Surveillance
The stepped up police work in Camden, including not just additional officers, but virtually unprecedented levels of visual surveillance, continues to spark national controversy. Vice Media, the hot news program on HBO aimed at young adult viewers, in its final program of the season June 13th, used Camden’s system as a warning for possible loss … Continue reading In Camden, Further Scrutiny of Police Surveillance…
Hopes Boosted for “Eds and Meds” in Camden
Well before “eds and meds” became a primary focus for revitalization strategies in post-industrial cities nationally, the State of New Jersey was placing a big bet on such institutions in Camden. Under recovery legislation enacted by the legislature in 2001, Cooper Hospital and Rutgers-Camden were singled out for major investments, as anchor institutions that could … Continue reading Hopes Boosted for “Eds and Meds” in Camden…
Behind a sensational story, serious issues in Camden
Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi has stirred the pot on the tribulations of a city mired in extreme poverty by producing yet another sensationalist story on Camden, “Apocalypse, New Jersey: A Dispatch From America’s Most Desperate Town.” In doing so, he adds one more link in a chain of damning national exposes that go at least … Continue reading Behind a sensational story, serious issues in Camden…
If Demolition is the “Price for Progress,” Where’s the Larger Vision?
As the recession passes all too slowly into memory, building activity is picking up even in the most distressed communities, including Camden. Renovations of housing are proceeding around Cooper Hospital, work on the impressive Kroc Center in Cramer Hill is coming along nicely, and a new charter school located off Linden Street seemed to appear … Continue reading If Demolition is the “Price for Progress,” Where’s the Larger Vision?…