Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I read an article about how Camden rebuilt its police force back in 2013. It emphasizes community engagement and practicing deescalation techniques and so on. Is it better? I would like to hear from people who live in Camden. They said crime has been reduced but that Camden still has problems.
I read an article about how Camden rebuilt its police force back in 2013. It emphasizes community engagement and practicing deescalation techniques and so on. Is it better? I would like to hear from people who live in Camden. They said crime has been reduced but that Camden still has problems.
Their violent crime rate is half what it was before they disbanded it. Camden’s overall crime rate is the
Lowest it’s been in decades. It was routinely the top city for murders in the country before. Of course it still has problems, the poverty rate is still very high. Any area with high poverty is going to have problems. But it’s certainly better than before. Apparently the old force was so riddled with corruption it was unfixable.
“Now, seven years after the old department was booted (though around 100 officers were rehired), the city's crime has dropped by close to half. Officers host outdoor parties for residents and knock on doors to introduce themselves. It's a radically different Camden than it was even a decade ago. Here's how they did it.”
I think their waterfront on the delaware is underutilized. It should be hoboken on the river by the ben franklin.
They have tried for years to get the waterfront more tourist friendly. They built the concert arena, the aquarium and they got the Battleship New Jersey as tourist attractions. Quite some time ago they tried having a ferry run between Philly and Camden, too. They found people do come for the attractions, but then hightail it out and head to Cherry Hill or surrounding areas for dinner. I’d like to see more there too.
They have tried for years to get the waterfront more tourist friendly. They built the concert arena, the aquarium and they got the Battleship New Jersey as tourist attractions. Quite some time ago they tried having a ferry run between Philly and Camden, too. They found people do come for the attractions, but then hightail it out and head to Cherry Hill or surrounding areas for dinner. I’d like to see more there too.
Unfortunately, that aquarium is disappointing for anyone who has been to the ones in Seattle, Boston, and Baltimore. If I had never visited other aquariums, I might have been more impressed, but--by comparison with the ones in other cities--it was a let-down. I went--once--but I don't think that I would return.
One thing that did surprise me was that the areas of Camden through which I drove weren't like a war zone--at least during the day. Obviously, I didn't drive through the worst areas.
Unfortunately, that aquarium is disappointing for anyone who has been to the ones in Seattle, Boston, and Baltimore. If I had never visited other aquariums, I might have been more impressed, but--by comparison with the ones in other cities--it was a let-down. I went--once--but I don't think that I would return.
One thing that did surprise me was that the areas of Camden through which I drove weren't like a war zone--at least during the day. Obviously, I didn't drive through the worst areas.
Aquariums are all about the same, the Camden one does have more sharks than the other ones that I've been to. Just don't go to the NY aquarium, that's a ripoff. There are more fish on display at a local store aquarium. I had to get on line for almost 30mins just to go into the NY one and spend maybe 20 mins total looking at their fish takes, it was dirty, crowded, the fish tanks been all scratched up and smells.
Most NYers think that Camden Aquarium probably looks like the streets of Camden so most don't bother going down there as most visitors are from NJ and PA.
The Baltimore one is nice but too far and not enough to warrant a trip. Boston one also not worth the trip but nicer. Probably the best is the San Diego Aquarium, 2nd best compared to Tokyo which is the best in the world.
Unfortunately, that aquarium is disappointing for anyone who has been to the ones in Seattle, Boston, and Baltimore. If I had never visited other aquariums, I might have been more impressed, but--by comparison with the ones in other cities--it was a let-down. I went--once--but I don't think that I would return.
One thing that did surprise me was that the areas of Camden through which I drove weren't like a war zone--at least during the day. Obviously, I didn't drive through the worst areas.
Back in the day when I was too young to be sensible or have fear (maybe 22) I had a job as an exterminator for a minority-owned company that was given a lot of city contracts. I had to go to free health clinics, group homes, the high school, and even the holding cell at the courthouse (they chained all the prisoners together and led them out so I could go in and spray, it was quite the experience).
The first day, I had a list of about a dozen health clinics and group homes, most in the worst sections of town. I stopped at a firehouse, showed them my list, and asked them to route me (way before GPS!). They looked at my list, looked at me, a 22 year old 5’3 blonde, and said “You can’t go to these places”. Again being young and fearless I went anyway (I also ended up in way worse places in north and west Philly in that job). I took a cigarette break once before going into Woodrow Wilson high school, was sitting on the street in my car with the door open, and a little boy maybe 8 rode over to me on his bike to ask if I was lost.
Today I would never drive through those areas let alone stop and get out. I have to say though I was in awful areas dozens of times (including a house that was an illegal speakeasy in North Philly that was packed with people at 8am and where I was honored with a complimentary shot of corn liquor, which I felt socially obliged to down) and I didn’t have a single negative experience or reason to feel afraid in any of them.
I did however have a scary experience with my niece walking back to our car when we left an all day/night free concert about 11pm once however. I was really angry about the lack of security, especially since they made us part in an overflow lot two blocks from the arena.
I try not to go to those huge venues anymore, much prefer seeing someone at the casino showrooms.
Random acts of violence are not the most common. Drug and alcohol related violence is much more common. I’ve walked in many very bad neighborhoods and haven’t had any issues. I’m not suggesting anyone regularly frequent bad neighborhoods if you have no reason to, but they’re not the death sentences that some people make them out to be.
The one really good restaurant, 20 Horse Tavern, closed about seven years ago. Victor's Pub has better ratings than it used to. Other than that, there's just a pizza, sandwich place. If it's a busy day at the Waterfront, those two places are slammed.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
