The Poorest City in the United States.
Sad to say, but it’s in New Jersey.
Camden, the county seat of Camden County (a democrat party stronghold), has a rich history of political corruption and is crime-ridden. Yet, in the face of large public sector liabilities and shrinking revenues, the city is laying off its entire police department to be replace by a county-run force.
I was in there about twenty years ago (one avoids Camden, if at all possible), and back then it already looked like WWII Dresden. I assume it has gotten worse.
I drive through Camden occasionally, and have attended events in the waterfront area (Campbell’s Field for baseball, USS New Jersey, Aquarium). That area and the immediate vicinity of Rowan University (formerly Rutgers Camden) are safe, but only just barely.
No need to assume about the rest of the city. Imagine Dresden if we’d kept bombing it for 25 years.
Comment by Ken Adams — September 23, 2012 @ 7:41 pm
I’ve seen lots of photos of Camden (I may have even there once, for a concert of some sort) and I don’t think the comparison to the aftermath of the bombing of Dresden is too far off. I’m not sure how such a place is even fit for humans to live in. It makes Baghdad and Fallujah sound appealing.
Comment by Erica — September 23, 2012 @ 9:51 pm
I work there. The section I work in has undergone an extensive renovation paid for by the Campbell Soup Company, you wouldn’t know you’re in Camden, but you don’t want to wander too far. The rest of the city is like being in the film Escape From New York. I do not want to be here when Obama loses, that’s all I have to say.
Comment by gregor — September 24, 2012 @ 8:50 am
My Town,Erie Pennsylvania has had 46 straight years of uninteruppeted Democratic Administrations.with parallel results to what Camden gone through ….we are not yet as bad but we are headed the same way.
In my town there are three certain things you can count on …Death,Taxes & the Democrat`s will run for office on their record of progress & continue to win! Sad , absolutely sad!
Comment by dudley1 — September 24, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
Why do the voters there keep electing the same party that caused all the problems? They must be severly lacking in common sense and even more lacking in basic intelligence.
Comment by Kevin — September 24, 2012 @ 8:50 pm
Virtually every urban area touched by Democrats is in shambles yet the idiots keep voting for Democrats .California has collapsed financially,and the morons elect a buffoon who contributed to the collapse .We have a Democrat who is a communist running for reelection so he can complete the destruction .This piece of crap shouldn’t get ten percent of the vote yet,despite his horrible record ,he has a number of a..holes who support his communist agenda .There is no rational explanation .
Comment by john — September 24, 2012 @ 9:19 pm
Kevin…..Here in Erie our local bird cage liner “the Erie Slime News” sponsers a web forum called “TOPIX”.
Generally a place for the most ignorant, juvenile, inane & profane of commentary , it recently had a thread about Erie`s decades of decline.
I posted there with the same point I posted here concerning the 46 year history for Democratic Control & continuing mind numbing voter allegiance .
I was roundly critized for my post & told it was not the fault of the Democratic Party at fault it was the evil Republicans in the background whose actions was responsible.
We have a Democratic Mayor,an all Democratic City Council,an all Democratic School Board, a Democratic controlled County Council,a Democratic County Executive with all County political offices filled with elected Democrats but somehow…..it is the Republicans in the back ground who are responsible?
It must be the Republicans up in Cleveland Ohio I guess……Stupidity does not even begin to explain the level of ignorance here in Erie. There is a serious problem here, The people know it, they just refuse to see what is so obvious…..the Democratic Party & the voters who continue to elect them.
Comment by dudley1 — September 25, 2012 @ 8:27 am
It just seems to me that electing the same political party and expecting things to change is stupid. If one wants change, vote out every incumbent who has a challenger.
Comment by Kevin — September 25, 2012 @ 6:53 pm
It amazes me how many people lack the most basic common sense. Maybe it’s something in the water there.
Comment by Kevin — September 25, 2012 @ 6:54 pm
[…] The bluest parts of the Garden State tend to be, like Princeton, the most affluent (with some exceptions). Maybe it has something to do with […]
Pingback by Michelle came to Princeton to ask people to go to Pennsylvania | Fausta's Blog — September 26, 2012 @ 11:22 am
That looks/sounds just like Detroit, which is another city that has been voting 95% Democrat for decades.
Comment by Morgan — October 4, 2012 @ 9:49 pm