Good work to the editorial board of the Inquirer. You hit the nail on the head with this editorial. Now our attention needs to turn to shaping the new legislation that will reauthorize the Municipal Recovery period. The last time the legislation was written, it was drafted behind closed doors, too quickly, by a group that was too small to write such complicated legislation. Part of the failures of the recovery so far have been the due to the legislation. We need to do better this time.

Jeff Brenner



Posted on Sat, Nov. 25, 2006

Philadelphia Inquirer

Editorial | Camden's Rough Road
Wanted: An overseer with a fresh look

Continually ranked among America's poorest and most dangerous, the city reached another sorry crossroads last month. State-appointed chief operating officer Randy Primas resigned amid a fiscal feud with his superiors in Trenton. Also swirling were criticism of his four-year performance and a growing scandal involving a close ally, State Sen. Wayne Bryant (D., Camden).

Primas was hired in 2002 through a $175 million Camden redevelopment plan orchestrated by Bryant. In exchange for des ment and infrastructure investment, Camden ceded city government oversight to the state.

As a former mayor of Camden - one of the few not indicted in recent years - Primas offered insight into the city's needs and a deep commitment to its turnaround.

But progress has been slower than hoped. The waterfront, university and hospital districts are progressing, with private investors moving in. Yet in other neighborhoods, frustration mounts over their level of input and their share of redevelopment money. Residents expected more job growth and wider rehabilitation by now.

Under current law, Primas' powers are scheduled to be transferred to 81-year-old Mayor Gwendolyn Faison in July. That would be premature. Camden has not yet built the civic capacity - in political leadership or nonprofit heft - to govern itself.

The Legislature should approve Corzine's proposal to retain the $175,000-a-year position of chief operating officer through 2012 with veto power over City Council and independent boards.

This time, however, Camden needs an outsider to run it. A national search should bring in a leader experienced in urban renewal through public-p culous about municipal budgeting, and skilled at collaboration. An outsider would come without entanglements in the incorrigible South Jersey Democratic political machine.

To show unity with residents, Camden's new COO should live in the city, which Primas didn't do. Newark's new mayor, Cory Booker, last week moved into an apartment in a drug- and gang-plagued neighborhood. Some critics may question Booker's motives, but Camden could use a few such inspired gestures.

The Brookings Institution reported last spring that extreme concentration of urban poverty endangered New Jersey's future prosperity.

Its cities simply aren't ripe for the kind of resettlement happening in hot spots like Center City Philadelphia. Corzine must shepherd Camden's recovery to secure the state's future, as well as the city's.