I just wanted to share a section from an article by my colleague Dr. Howard Gillette. I’ve been writing for a while now that, with companies receiving tax credits in Camden, the next step is to see that some of these resources “trickle down” to the community. I’m skeptical, but the tax credits are the way the state has chosen to support Camden. Now, the discussion turns to how to best go about that “trickle down.” The question is, how does that happen? Dr. Gillette makes a case that the responsibility for ensuring corporate dollars connect to communities lies with the city:
Central to Christie’s vision have been generous tax incentives to businesses to locate in Camden. Yet notably absent from the start of the rolling announcements have been plans to aid the home community.
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This can change. Camden Mayor Dana Redd must now announce her own set of initiatives to make the most of the state’s largess. What might that include?
Of course, setting up programs with new businesses to prepare Camden youth for employment in the city should be a priority, whether that comes in the form of apprentice programs or new initiatives in the schools and local universities. But there are other ways companies moving to Camden can assure that the opportunities they are embracing extend to local residents.
This could take a number of forms, starting with the creation of a Camden Community Chest that would build from business contributions in the form both of human and monetary capital.
I’m skeptical that the city has the resources and capacity to do this, in part because I imagine that any value capture beyond tokenism probably will come from more aggressive conflict tactics, and the city isn’t well positioned to do that. The administration needs to play nice with the state.
But, Mayor Redd’s administration might be amendable to a solution like this, because a “Camden Community Chest” would allow the city to control resources that came from local corporations.
Photo by Tom Gralish, Philadelphia Inquirer
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I am writing not to provide answers. My comments are my safety valve going off. Camden is a one-party town whose elected officials are void of independent action – political or otherwise. Even if they had independence of action, they have no capital to work with. They are basically administering 9-square miles of ghetto as best they can, delivering the minimum of services expected of any municipality. The city is basically a wide open shopping mall whose purpose it is to enrich the well off and to parcel out power to those that play the game. The so called non-party, independent individuals and groups do not have the power to seriously challenge the system in this “corporations are people” era.
The aisle most recently opened for business was the educational system. There are some people, the majority who don’t live in Camden, who are going to make millions off of the delivery of educational services, direct and indirect, to the children of the powerless in the City. Camden is a poor city in many senses of the word. The people are great and I love to live here. But the level of passivity and disengagement of the average resident is both deep and wide. One wonders if they would laugh if tickled or cry if pinched.
Discussions of economic resurgence is pie in the sky talk. Barring a world war type event or a coherent and comprehensive statewide economic policy, that addresses the needs of urban centers, nothing is going to change much. Sorry. Hope I am wrong.
In response to Mr. Eric, the Project Labor Agreement ordinance(law) was adopted. Whether it is being implemented I do not know. In response to Ms. Debra R at one time we had contract enforcement officers to monitor the situations post contract but I do not know if that is the case anymore. Last I heard the Law Dept for the city was overseeing the monitoring process to see that Camden residents are on the job site. There is really no need to debate or give the perception of debating when there is a need to act now. The laws are in place now it is up to residents, businesses, appointed and elected officials to hold each other accountable to see that needed change is made.
Councilman Jenkins has been giving the same speech since 2005. Enough talking if you are going to get it done then get it done. There are politicians who talk and politicians who do. We are still waiting for him to do. Mr. Hargrove we have workers in Camden you don’t need to go to North Jersey.
I simply can not understand why the needs of Camden’s residents are being debated now. After the deals have already been made! Pardon my cynicism, but isn’t it possible that most of the money the companies are saving in taxes will go straight to their bottom line? If there is an ordinance that requires these companies to hire some people who live in Camden, who is going to monitor this and make sure it happens?
There is an ordinance requiring Camden residents to be hired, I believe 40% of new jobs should be held by Camden residents. It also states that they must be trained and if not then the employer can hire from outside. There is also legislation on the books for project labor agreements to provide pre-apprenticeship training to become laborers that I partnered with Councilman Jenkins to put on the books. The laws are there but have to be used and we also have affirmative action as well but I do not know if the committee is active. We need training which is not always sexy to funders. Also more partnerships with Camden County Technical Schools for example to provide vocational training to give people of Camden a hand up. If Camden had the plumbers, electricians, carpenters …. that we once had the tide will turn. Let’s find a way to work together to make this a reality.
Give the mayor credit she has shown to be one of the best mayors in New Jersey. At critical time like this she is the leadership we need. You can judge criticize all you want her legacy will stand to any of the critics.
I wish one thing she would announce is that the city will finally go after the owners of abandoned homes for violations. They haven’t done this in 5 years, and it’s insane.
Very important to pay attention to language and phrasey-ology when the grand announcements about business “coming to Camden” and “bringing jobs to Camden.” If the money awarded to companies from the 2001 Municipal Recovery Act, which gave Camden $250M (and took away residents’ rights), is any indication, the likliehood is high that residents and city tax roll will never see a meaningful impact at all (except in the way of more traffic).
If there is to be a recovery, Camden city govt MUST impose a resident hiring quota similar to what then-Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson did with the building of the airport. Otherwise, city residents, like me will see all of these dollars, and all this (what appears as) oppurtunity go to others. For example, when looking at construction crews building in this city, there are hardly ANY minorities working at all. Looking at inbound traffic to Camden in the morning, and exiting traffic in the evening, it is obvious to any observer that the commuters are not residents. The same can be said of most of the municipal workforce (police, fire, etc. even school staff)
“Brining jobs to Camden” is not enough if the jobs aren’t for Camden residents. To change Camden this time (verrrrrrrry skeptical that this is the goal at all), jobs must be available to the people that live here. And if need be, requirements and statutes must be enacted – otherwise this is simply smoke and mirrors. (And a reinstitution of residency requirements for muncipal, and education jobs as well)
Amen.