20/20 Camden (Newark, Collingswood, Red Bank: middle-class, to rent, crime)

[borat s]

Did anyone watch 20/20 last night? They ran a special about Camden and the horrible conditions in which the majority of children live in right in our backyards. Very touching and upsetting special. Did you know that Camden is the poorest city in the country? Thats right the country!!! Meanwhile New Jersey is the richest state in the union. Really upsetting to see how our government has failed these people while 10 minutes away people in Moorestown are living a priveliged life. Also 1 in 3 teens have been arrested and it does not seem like their is any light at the end of the tunnel. Trust me when I tell you I am not a softy and honestly I usually do not feel bad for many people but I really was touched by this special and it really showed how hard it is for these kids growing up in the vicious cycle of poverty. Very very sad.

[emanon]

The drug dealers rent out the street corners for 10K a week. Why are these dealers all not in prison. If ABC knows all about the drugs in Camden, certainly the law also knows. Who is protecting these dealers? If drug dealing were to get you life without parole I would think most would have second thoughts about entering that lucrative business.Do you think maybe there is a corrupt politician/law enforcement officer or two in Camden?

[borat s]

Since their last three mayors have been booted out of office for being corrupt I think the answer to your question is yes. I forgot about that part, 10k a week to rent out a corner from the drug lords. The cops are telling Sawyer this but what are they doing about it? All I saw on the special was them picking up petty drug dealers but we all know that there is another dealer in the background waiting to take over for the guy that got put away. My question is do you think if we legalized drugs to a point that alot of these problems would not be happening? More and more I think this may be a solution as crazy as it sounds. Think wbout the mojority of crimes and problems in this country, 90% of them revolve around drugs.

[Jersey Lover]

The majority of urban areas in all of the United States have a drug, gang, poverty problem. Its been that way for some time now. I wouldn't blame the Police I would blame a majority of the people that live there. Its really terrible because the children will grow up with no hope. I have driven thru Camden approx. 10 times in the last 30 years and it still looks the same to me.

[christina0001]

Legalizing things that are illegal would not lower crime, it would just cause other problems. The government, and the people of NJ, need to do something about this problem. All of NJ outside of Camden, ignores the problems that exist in Camden. It's foolish because the drugs that are sold in Camden do not just stay in Camden, and the criminals in Camden do not only commit crime in Camden. With the amount of money in this state, there is no excuse for any city to be that bad.

[LittleMissSunshine]

The one little boy in the special had me in tears! I live in another upper / middle class town and am just a mile from the Moorestown border. While shopping today in Moorestown (something I do almost a weekly basis ) I couldn't stop thinking about the special. I am by no means rich, but by also no means poor and it really upset me to take in how nice of a place I am in with people like that little boy just 10 minutes down Route 38.

I do think the government doesn't do enough to fix camden and I agree with what was said in the special about the children needing menotrs and more opporutunties to get out of there one day. I really want to find a way to help. I hope the special brings about more attenion of ways forunate New Jersyians and even people all over the country can reach out and help start programs to give Camden children the chance at future.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Jersey Lover

The majority of urban areas in all of the United States have a drug, gang, poverty problem. Its been that way for some time now. I wouldn't blame the Police I would blame a majority of the people that live there. Its really terrible because the children will grow up with no hope. I have driven thru Camden approx. 10 times in the last 30 years and it still looks the same to me.

This is indicative that the very same urban sprawl that so many Americans adore and cherish has also lead to the demise of our once-vibrant cities. All across the Rust-Belt, our inner cities have dipped into steep decline thanks to what I like to call the "Krispy Kreme Effect", in which the downtown area is now a void or "donut hole" of sorts while the suburban periphery is laden with calorie-crazed sweetness in the way of growth and prosperity.

There is hope though, even for cities like Camden. I've heard from other forum members that Collingswood, NJ and Red Bank, NJ were both former "dumps" that have transformed themselves into quaint, attractive, walkable towns again. I've also heard the same for Peoria, IL, and Canton, OH, and I've seen firsthand what urban renewal has done to help Bethlehem, PA and Scranton, PA to both bounce back to being liveable cities once again after years of neglect.

My question to you all is this: "How do we harness the successful policies that were embraced by these other Rust-Belt rebounders and implement them in places such as Camden and Newark?" I realize that Bethlehem didn't become "Christmas City, USA" and Scranton didn't land both NBC's
"The Office" and a new major film office overnight. Both cities are similarly-sized to Camden and neither ever had the horrific crime problems plaguing Camden. Nevertheless, there has to be some ideas that Camden can borrow from cities like Bethlehem and Scranton to help itself on a road to recovery, right?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by LittleMissSunshine

The one little boy in the special had me in tears! I live in another upper / middle class town and am just a mile from the Moorestown border. While shopping today in Moorestown (something I do almost a weekly basis ) I couldn't stop thinking about the special. I am by no means rich, but by also no means poor and it really upset me to take in how nice of a place I am in with people like that little boy just 10 minutes down Route 38.

I do think the government doesn't do enough to fix camden and I agree with what was said in the special about the children needing menotrs and more opporutunties to get out of there one day. I really want to find a way to help. I hope the special brings about more attenion of ways forunate New Jersyians and even people all over the country can reach out and help start programs to give Camden children the chance at future.

Camden can really rebound if kind, middle-class suburbanites such as you and your friends did find a way to "spread the wealth", so to speak, to provide hope to city residents. I applaud you for wanting to make a difference in the same way that I'm moving from a well-to-do suburb to Scranton in a few years to help make a difference there as well. Any suggestions out there on how we suburbanites can help to improve our core cities?

[NC little foot]

I watched last night. I was really surprised. I had no idea it was that bad. How about all the dirty needles at the park. The little kid said you don't want to fall down here, and pointed to the ground loaded with used needles. I realized that things might be hard right now for me but I was actually very grateful for what I have and where I live after watching that. The whole town should be condemed.

[Jersey Lover]

I wish some of other posters on the NJ forum would realize exactly what you just said maybe we don't have it as bad as we think.