Crumbling Camden

So, as some of you may or may not know, Sunny Camden, NJ is currently trying to redevelop itself. While this is a wonderful idea and much needed it is not very simple and the people in charge of it continue to make things worse instead of better.

They are trying so hard to get businesses into the city (which is necessary) that they are giving incredible tax breaks and abatements for businesses that they cannot afford to do the same for residents. They are trying to redevelop a large residential area of the city, giving new houses to residents who already live there. However, they aren't given a property tax break to those who stay, so they will soon be taxed out of the area.

Recently, they also started condemning properties to do building and promising to reimburse owners. Not only are they condemning unprofitable businesses, but also some of the few profitable businesses in the city, and are apparently having trouble doing the actual work or reimbursing or assisting those businesses that have to relocate.

I am all for redevelopment, but not at the expense of people who already live and do business in the city.