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.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Imagine for a moment.....
Imagine a new COO who was once a Manging Deputy Director for a city like New York. He/she has spent 35 years working in every department of City government. This person has supervised city departments with thousands of employees. The new COO is: an outstanding communicator, very detailed oriented, good at multi-tasking, makes good hiring decisions, delegates well, and demands excellence from everyone. The new COO has a Masters in Public Administration and is also a Professor at a program in Public Administration in NY. Let's find this person!
It's time to get out of the small town mentality of Camden and imagine new talent, vision, energy, and leadership coming to Camden. There are people out there with this kind of talent looking for a place like Camden to make their mark.
Let's help the State of NJ write the job ad:
"The poorest city in the country, Camden, NJ is seeking an individual with extensive city government experience to be our Chief Operating Officer. The candidate should be an outstanding communicator, be good at multi-tasking, have a passion for the details of municipal government, and have very thick skin. The candidate should be a good listener, be capable of setting realistic goals, have experience with community relations, and should have an extensive background in municipal finance and budgeting."
It's time to get out of the small town mentality of Camden and imagine new talent, vision, energy, and leadership coming to Camden. There are people out there with this kind of talent looking for a place like Camden to make their mark.
Let's help the State of NJ write the job ad:
"The poorest city in the country, Camden, NJ is seeking an individual with extensive city government experience to be our Chief Operating Officer. The candidate should be an outstanding communicator, be good at multi-tasking, have a passion for the details of municipal government, and have very thick skin. The candidate should be a good listener, be capable of setting realistic goals, have experience with community relations, and should have an extensive background in municipal finance and budgeting."
Quote from Inquirer Article (11/22/06) by Dwight Ott and Elisa Ung on Corzine's announcement:
Local control was slated to return to the city in 2007, and all of Primas' powers would have gone to current Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison.
Faison yesterday was incensed that she learned about Corzine's action from a reporter. She said it indicated the state was not consulting elected officials in decisions about the city.
"What'd they think I am, chopped liver?" she asked.
My Comment- This was a very disrespectful action by Corzine's staff to the elected Mayor of Camden. They should have at least called her prior to releasing the news. Overall though, I think she'll change her mind. Problems of the scope of magnitude of Camden need the best and brightest minds from around the country to come and help.
Bringing in outside help should be viewed as a good thing. For example, Venegas who was brought in, after a national search, to turn the police department around and he's doing a great job so far. He's certainly handling the press and media relations better than any leader in Camden in the 8 years I've lived here.
Local control was slated to return to the city in 2007, and all of Primas' powers would have gone to current Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison.
Faison yesterday was incensed that she learned about Corzine's action from a reporter. She said it indicated the state was not consulting elected officials in decisions about the city.
"What'd they think I am, chopped liver?" she asked.
My Comment- This was a very disrespectful action by Corzine's staff to the elected Mayor of Camden. They should have at least called her prior to releasing the news. Overall though, I think she'll change her mind. Problems of the scope of magnitude of Camden need the best and brightest minds from around the country to come and help.
Bringing in outside help should be viewed as a good thing. For example, Venegas who was brought in, after a national search, to turn the police department around and he's doing a great job so far. He's certainly handling the press and media relations better than any leader in Camden in the 8 years I've lived here.
Courier Article on Announcement- Great News!
Corzine wants to extend state oversight of Camden
By ALAN GUENTHER
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN
Camden should continue to have an all-powerful, state-appointed chief operating officer for another five years, Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced Wednesday afternoon.
The city's current chief operating officer, Randy Primas, has resigned from the position and will leave office on Nov. 30. Corzine said he will appoint an interim chief in the next few days. He also named a 14-member committee to conduct a national search for a new chief operating officer. The search will be led by Corzine's deputy chief of staff, Jeannine LaRue, a former Winslow Township councilwoman who was born in Camden.
For the past four years, Camden has been the only city in America operating under a state takeover of the local government.
Reactions to Corzine's decision to extend the chief operating officer's czar-like power were mixed.
City Council President Angel Fuentes said he supported the governor and said he hoped to work closely with Corzine to aid the city's recovery. But Councilman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson said he thought a fiscal monitor could get the job done with control of the government returned to its elected representatives.
Jeffrey Brenner, a Camden physician and community activist, was "absolutely delighted" by Corzine's announcement. Brenner, who has a Web site called www.timeforchangeincamden.org, said, "The poorest city in America deserves national-level talent to help turn around its problems."
Olga Pomar of South Jersey Legal Services was disappointed. She thought too much power was given to Primas, who can veto the actions of the City Council and every city board and agency.
"There are more effective ways of having fiscal oversight," she said, "that does not place all the power in the hands of one person who is not accountable to the residents."
As an attorney for South Jersey Legal Services, Pomar represents 211 city residents fighting the massive Cramer Hill redevelopment plan.
During Primas's four years in his $175,000-a-year job, four massive redevelopment plans were proposed, but they have been stalled by procedural errors and community opposition.
Under current law, Primas's powers would be transferred to 81-year-old Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison in July 2007. Corzine wants to avoid that; he would keep an all-powerful chief operating officer in charge of the city until 2012.
Primas and Faison could not be reached for comment.
Reach Alan Guenther at (856) 317-7871 or aguenther@courierpostonline.com
Published: November 22. 2006 8:06PM
By ALAN GUENTHER
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN
Camden should continue to have an all-powerful, state-appointed chief operating officer for another five years, Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced Wednesday afternoon.
The city's current chief operating officer, Randy Primas, has resigned from the position and will leave office on Nov. 30. Corzine said he will appoint an interim chief in the next few days. He also named a 14-member committee to conduct a national search for a new chief operating officer. The search will be led by Corzine's deputy chief of staff, Jeannine LaRue, a former Winslow Township councilwoman who was born in Camden.
For the past four years, Camden has been the only city in America operating under a state takeover of the local government.
Reactions to Corzine's decision to extend the chief operating officer's czar-like power were mixed.
City Council President Angel Fuentes said he supported the governor and said he hoped to work closely with Corzine to aid the city's recovery. But Councilman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson said he thought a fiscal monitor could get the job done with control of the government returned to its elected representatives.
Jeffrey Brenner, a Camden physician and community activist, was "absolutely delighted" by Corzine's announcement. Brenner, who has a Web site called www.timeforchangeincamden.org, said, "The poorest city in America deserves national-level talent to help turn around its problems."
Olga Pomar of South Jersey Legal Services was disappointed. She thought too much power was given to Primas, who can veto the actions of the City Council and every city board and agency.
"There are more effective ways of having fiscal oversight," she said, "that does not place all the power in the hands of one person who is not accountable to the residents."
As an attorney for South Jersey Legal Services, Pomar represents 211 city residents fighting the massive Cramer Hill redevelopment plan.
During Primas's four years in his $175,000-a-year job, four massive redevelopment plans were proposed, but they have been stalled by procedural errors and community opposition.
Under current law, Primas's powers would be transferred to 81-year-old Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison in July 2007. Corzine wants to avoid that; he would keep an all-powerful chief operating officer in charge of the city until 2012.
Primas and Faison could not be reached for comment.
Reach Alan Guenther at (856) 317-7871 or aguenther@courierpostonline.com
Published: November 22. 2006 8:06PM
Governor Corzine's Press Release on Camden
Nov-22-06 Governor's Statement on the Revitalization of Camden
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: November 22, 2006
CONTACT:
Anthony Coley
Brendan Gilfillan
PHONE: 609-777-2600
GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT ON THE REVITALIZATION OF CAMDEN
TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today released the following statement regarding Camden.
“This time of transition in Camden presents us with a great opportunity and a key challenge. We have the opportunity to refocus the state’s engagement in Camden’s revitalization and make a real difference in the future of the city, the region, and our state. Our challenge is to assess honestly the successes and setbacks of the last four years under the Recovery Act and make the changes that are needed to improve conditions for city residents and ensure accountability for taxpayers.
“In order to take advantage of this opportunity and successfully meet this challenge, we must extend the provisions of the Recovery Act related to the state-appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) for another five years, and we will work with the Legislature to implement this extension. In anticipation of this action, we will immediately begin the process of conducting a national search for a new COO for Camden, and a search committee has been created to assist in this effort. Also, in the next few days I will name an interim Acting-COO to replace Randy Primas, who has indicated that his resignation will be effective at the end of this month. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Randy Primas for his long career in service to the public, especially to the people of Camden.
“As we move forward, the focus of the state’s efforts in Camden will be to improve basic governance, including the delivery of essential municipal services, and to foster constructive community engagement. The state also will continue its close involvement with all stakeholders in the vital areas of public safety, public education, and economic and community development.
“Everyone in New Jersey has an important stake in the revitalization of Camden, and it will take a continuing commitment to hard work, integrity, and transparency to bring about success. My administration is making that commitment.”
The membership of the search committee for the Camden Chief Operating Officer is listed below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: November 22, 2006
CONTACT:
Anthony Coley
Brendan Gilfillan
PHONE: 609-777-2600
GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT ON THE REVITALIZATION OF CAMDEN
TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today released the following statement regarding Camden.
“This time of transition in Camden presents us with a great opportunity and a key challenge. We have the opportunity to refocus the state’s engagement in Camden’s revitalization and make a real difference in the future of the city, the region, and our state. Our challenge is to assess honestly the successes and setbacks of the last four years under the Recovery Act and make the changes that are needed to improve conditions for city residents and ensure accountability for taxpayers.
“In order to take advantage of this opportunity and successfully meet this challenge, we must extend the provisions of the Recovery Act related to the state-appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) for another five years, and we will work with the Legislature to implement this extension. In anticipation of this action, we will immediately begin the process of conducting a national search for a new COO for Camden, and a search committee has been created to assist in this effort. Also, in the next few days I will name an interim Acting-COO to replace Randy Primas, who has indicated that his resignation will be effective at the end of this month. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Randy Primas for his long career in service to the public, especially to the people of Camden.
“As we move forward, the focus of the state’s efforts in Camden will be to improve basic governance, including the delivery of essential municipal services, and to foster constructive community engagement. The state also will continue its close involvement with all stakeholders in the vital areas of public safety, public education, and economic and community development.
“Everyone in New Jersey has an important stake in the revitalization of Camden, and it will take a continuing commitment to hard work, integrity, and transparency to bring about success. My administration is making that commitment.”
The membership of the search committee for the Camden Chief Operating Officer is listed below:
- Jeannine LaRue, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor and Search Committee Chair
- Al Alvarez, Policy Advisor to the Governor
- Rev. Willie Anderson, Co-chair of Camden Churches Organized for People
- Michael Camardo, Lockheed/Martin executive and Economic Recovery Board member
- Dr. Henry Coleman, Rutgers professor and municipal government/finance expert
- Father Michael Doyle, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church and long-time Camden resident
- Becky Doggett, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Social Justice, former auditor for Newark City Schools
- Susan Bass Levin, Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs
- Hon. Deborah Poritz, Former Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
- Ed McBride, Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor
- Rosa Ramirez, Member of Economic Recovery Board and Camden resident
- Rev. Floyd White, Secretary of Concerned Black Clergy
- Ken Zimmerman, Chief Counsel to the Governor
- Barry Zubrow, Chairman of the Schools Construction Corporation
1st Posting- Welcome
Welcome to my Camden City blog. The purpose of this blog is to create a regional civic discussion on the future of the City of Camden. We are at an important crossroads with the announcement today by Governor Corzine that the State will conduct a national search for a new COO and that the Municipal Recovery Period will be extended.
Read the Governor's press release and read my previous commentary from the Philadephia Inquirer dated October 18th, 2006.
www.timeforchangeincamden.org
I'm elated by this announcement. If we are going to turn Camden around we've got to start bringing in some outside talent. For far too long we've recirculated the same old leadership. If a corporation was failing like Camden the entire top management would be fired and new management would be brought in. We should demand no less!
Read the Governor's press release and read my previous commentary from the Philadephia Inquirer dated October 18th, 2006.
www.timeforchangeincamden.org
I'm elated by this announcement. If we are going to turn Camden around we've got to start bringing in some outside talent. For far too long we've recirculated the same old leadership. If a corporation was failing like Camden the entire top management would be fired and new management would be brought in. We should demand no less!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Commentary on Resignation of COO Primas
Wednesday, October 18th, 2006
Philadelphia Inquirer
Fewer dreamers, more doers
By Jeffrey Brenner
The resignation of Melvin R. "Randy" Primas Jr., Camden's state-appointed chief operating officer, opens a new chapter in the long recovery process for Camden.
He brought charisma, enthusiasm, an insider's knowledge and a genuine love for the city to his job. For that he deserves appreciation.
With his resignation comes an important opportunity to take stock of our current situation by evaluating the status of Camden's municipal recovery and reassessing the overall redevelopment strategy.
To move forward without a public reassessment at this time would mean that many of the lessons of the last four years have been missed.
Many residents of the region will conclude - based on headlines in newspapers about subpoenas and grand juries - that it's corruption that has derailed Camden's recovery process. This conclusion would be incorrect.
The lack of significant progress in Camden over the last four years has much less to do with corruption than with the absence of focus on the mundane details of municipal governance.
It's the proper execution of a thousand details that ensures that trash is picked up, streets are cleaned, police are equipped, school books are ordered, public contracts are negotiated correctly, budgets are balanced, staff receive training and periodic reviews, and sewers are repaired.
For example, the most recent stumbling block for the proposed Cramer Hill redevelopment project was a legal technicality. The $1 billion project was stopped because witnesses were not sworn in at a meeting of the planning board.
This is emblematic of the broader failures of the redevelopment effort in Camden: There's a gigantic vision with no ability to implement or execute it and no willingness to listen or see the obvious.
How is a city that hasn't seen market-rate, for-sale housing built by a privately financed developer in 50 years going to pull off a project of the size and scale proposed for Cramer Hill?
As the city rose on the national crime rankings to become the most dangerous city in the country, as its budget deficit grew, and as the school system continued to unravel in a scandal of cheating on standardized testing, who did we think was going to buy 5,000 new market-rate housing units in Camden?
A gradual approach to bringing market-rate housing would have been more attainable and less controversial.
While vision is critical for rebirth and renewal, the failure to attend to details will cause a government bureaucracy to collapse and be rendered ineffective. Corruption breeds in the vacuum of oversight created by a failing bureaucracy.
On the side of Camden City Hall it reads, "Where there is no vision the people will perish." The sad truth in Camden is that when all we have is vision, the people will perish.
The next phase of the recovery demands leaders with the ability to execute and a passion for the details of municipal government.
Who will replace Primas and how will that person be chosen?
If Camden were a failing corporation, we would conduct a national search for new leadership and assemble some of the best minds in the industry for advice.
For the $175,000 salary paid to Primas as chief operating officer, we can bring world-class talent to the city.
The State of New Jersey should assemble a distinguished, blue-ribbon panel of municipal government experts with a few local residents on the panel to help lead the search for a new COO and get the next phase of the recovery off to the right start.
The residents of Camden and the taxpayers of New Jersey deserve no less. Please join me in adding your voice to this opinion by logging on to www.timeforchangeincamden.org, an organizing Web site set up by me.
Jeffrey Brenner is a family physician who practices in East Camden and resides in the city with his wife and 2-year-old son. A board member at CAMConnect, a warehouse of Camden data, he served on the state Attorney General's Blue Ribbon Camden Police Reform Commission.
Wednesday, October 18th, 2006
Philadelphia Inquirer
Fewer dreamers, more doers
By Jeffrey Brenner
The resignation of Melvin R. "Randy" Primas Jr., Camden's state-appointed chief operating officer, opens a new chapter in the long recovery process for Camden.
He brought charisma, enthusiasm, an insider's knowledge and a genuine love for the city to his job. For that he deserves appreciation.
With his resignation comes an important opportunity to take stock of our current situation by evaluating the status of Camden's municipal recovery and reassessing the overall redevelopment strategy.
To move forward without a public reassessment at this time would mean that many of the lessons of the last four years have been missed.
Many residents of the region will conclude - based on headlines in newspapers about subpoenas and grand juries - that it's corruption that has derailed Camden's recovery process. This conclusion would be incorrect.
The lack of significant progress in Camden over the last four years has much less to do with corruption than with the absence of focus on the mundane details of municipal governance.
It's the proper execution of a thousand details that ensures that trash is picked up, streets are cleaned, police are equipped, school books are ordered, public contracts are negotiated correctly, budgets are balanced, staff receive training and periodic reviews, and sewers are repaired.
For example, the most recent stumbling block for the proposed Cramer Hill redevelopment project was a legal technicality. The $1 billion project was stopped because witnesses were not sworn in at a meeting of the planning board.
This is emblematic of the broader failures of the redevelopment effort in Camden: There's a gigantic vision with no ability to implement or execute it and no willingness to listen or see the obvious.
How is a city that hasn't seen market-rate, for-sale housing built by a privately financed developer in 50 years going to pull off a project of the size and scale proposed for Cramer Hill?
As the city rose on the national crime rankings to become the most dangerous city in the country, as its budget deficit grew, and as the school system continued to unravel in a scandal of cheating on standardized testing, who did we think was going to buy 5,000 new market-rate housing units in Camden?
A gradual approach to bringing market-rate housing would have been more attainable and less controversial.
While vision is critical for rebirth and renewal, the failure to attend to details will cause a government bureaucracy to collapse and be rendered ineffective. Corruption breeds in the vacuum of oversight created by a failing bureaucracy.
On the side of Camden City Hall it reads, "Where there is no vision the people will perish." The sad truth in Camden is that when all we have is vision, the people will perish.
The next phase of the recovery demands leaders with the ability to execute and a passion for the details of municipal government.
Who will replace Primas and how will that person be chosen?
If Camden were a failing corporation, we would conduct a national search for new leadership and assemble some of the best minds in the industry for advice.
For the $175,000 salary paid to Primas as chief operating officer, we can bring world-class talent to the city.
The State of New Jersey should assemble a distinguished, blue-ribbon panel of municipal government experts with a few local residents on the panel to help lead the search for a new COO and get the next phase of the recovery off to the right start.
The residents of Camden and the taxpayers of New Jersey deserve no less. Please join me in adding your voice to this opinion by logging on to www.timeforchangeincamden.org, an organizing Web site set up by me.
Jeffrey Brenner is a family physician who practices in East Camden and resides in the city with his wife and 2-year-old son. A board member at CAMConnect, a warehouse of Camden data, he served on the state Attorney General's Blue Ribbon Camden Police Reform Commission.
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