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One insuperable problem in the comparison between Chelsea MA and Camden NJ is demographics. I know it's blasphemy in the ears of the self-appointed high priests/priestesses of Political Correctness, but when you have people of "minority" groups inhabiting a city, they find whining and living on Federal-funded entitlement programs like Section 8 housing vouchers much more rewarding. Then, too, they can also continue their retail substance businesses almost unabated by police action, without the inconvenience of paying tax.
Pennsylvania State government should take over Philadelphia, this is the worst run city in the state, schools are bad, crime is horrible, a corrupt City Council and no growth in commerce.
Pennsylvania State government should take over Philadelphia, this is the worst run city in the state, schools are bad, crime is horrible, a corrupt City Council and no growth in commerce.
Thanks to social services, Section 8 housing, and whining, illegal immigrants propped up business! What an insanely stupid conclusion, mikeegan.
I lived in Chelsea for two years, and I can bear witness to Chelsea's lingering problems with drugs and prostitution. My wife and I lived in Chelsea for the same reason as many others: proximity to my job at the airport and downtown Boston, decent public transportation (bus and train), cheaper rents, and decent public safety.
Much to the chagrin of race baiting idiots, immigration has little/nothing to do with the core of the Chelsea's redevelopment. It's more likely that Boston's outrageously priced housing market has compelled professionals to look to the fringes of Suffolk County for viable options. Also, Chelsea and East Boston benefit from the proximity of New England's transportation hub, Logan Airport. Chelsea also boasts a lot of independent business, a large VA hospital, and a busy industrial park.
For such a small city, it has a dynamic employment market, decent housing stock, refurbished schools, and easy access to downtown Boston. Other MA cities with similiar immigrantion statistics (such as Lynn) face tougher times ahead, namely because they do not have the same advantages as Chelsea.
mikeegan may want to think a little harder before he blathers on with preconceived notions about 'priests/priestesses of Political Correctness' and 'people of minority groups'.
This report is way too narrow in its scope. I live on Haddon Avenue four blocks from Camden in a diverse neighborhood. My car down in ritzy Boca Raton gets vandalized, while my off-lease Cadillac is untouched always parked on the street in Collingswood. John Timoney may welcome the challenge of restoring order to Camden, leaving Miami's politics behind.
Education is maligned without comment on the large number of charter schools, including a large commitment from Rutgers. Are charter schools working or not? If yes, what are the implications for next steps?
How voting democrat repeatedly kills cities every time it's tried and forces state takeovers.
That city obviously had no problem kicking the trash out. Plus people there obviously welcome change while people in this area detest change with every wretched bone in their bodies. Start by relocating the low income folks and replace them with a tax payer base of professionals and working class people. Then let's burn Mr Poon at the stake for being a complete and utter moron. Problem solved.
Both of these cities are pretty poor, although the per capita income of Camden is at 10K, while Chelsea is about 40% higher at 14k. The main difference between these towns seems to be the racial/ethnic political dynamic. Camden is a black/puerto rican city, while Chelsea is white/hispanic. It would seem that the historical antagonisms and faltering political alliances between blacks and Hispanics have rendered Camden hamstrung to even establish a set of civic goals (or the political means to accomplish anything). Instead, while these two groups fight over who gets what, the larger County and state governments foist lowest common denominator economic development on them (such as new Hippos for their Aquarium). While I appreciate Woodleigh4Life's race-neutral analysis based on Chelsea's regional comparative advantages, the fact is that Camden possesses all or more of the same advantages considering its links to the most prosperous area in the entire region (Center City). There is something else going on here (aside from the the fact that Camden is in a different state), yes, both cities have a history of political corruption, but the racial attitudes towards Camden in the region keep that symbolic hotel from getting built. A better comparison might be Newark, where a significant African American population needed someone as charismatic and talented as Corey Booker to start the process of changing their political culture. Where is Camden's Booker?
"Hi, I'm Jay and I run the city." What a tool.
"Hi, I'm Jay and I run the city." What a tool.
So the per capita income is 1/3 of the money each child gets for public schools in Camden. Something wrong with that picture.
unless the citizens take initiative and pride in thier city nothing can change. most areas that are reborn (like collingswood and northern liberties) grow because people outside of the area move in.
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