The Regenration Of Camden: The Effects Of Public Administration - Essay Example

THE REGENRATION OF CAMDEN: THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THE REGENRATION OF CAMDEN: THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Introduction The beginning of the 20th century was the major period of growth for Camden. Prior to the culmination of World War I, Camden had been growing steadily. However, it was the post war era that saw the major leap in the population from approximately 75,000 residents at the turn of the century to 120,000 by 1920. The major influx was due to the immigrants, mainly from Europe. The great depression and World War II slowed Camden’s growth, but by the 1950’s Camden had reached a population of 125,000 residents. Like many cities on the East Coast, the increasing population saw the need to spread outward from the center cities – there was little room from growth inside the city limits and the suburbs were born. (“MP1”, 2002, p. 1-5). Camden at the beginning of the 21st Century. The outward sprawl that started in the 1950’s continues today. As the industrial base began to decline and with the advent of interstates it became easier to live at greater distances from one’s work. This manifestation of the urban blight continued through the latter part of the 20th century. Much of the industrial base of Camden had moved to more southern sections of New Jersey or had relocated to other states. As seen in Figure 1 below which displays this dramatic shift in population, the decrease in Camden’s population has coincided with the growth of suburban outlying areas of the surrounding region. For example, in 1950 the population of Camden was 125,000 while the outlying area’s population was approximately 737,104. By 2000 the population of Camden was 79,904 while outlying areas had grown to almost 1.9 million people. The projected target for Camden in 2020 is 100,000 people based on the Camden Planning Board urban renewal initiatives. Figure 1: Population of Camden over Time 1950 - 20001 As the population began to move out of the inner portions of the city due to the declining industry the demographics in Camden began to change. By the late 1960’s the socio-economic conditions in Camden were poor. This was demonstrated by the riots in 1969 and 1971 which demonstrated the level of despair felt by the African American and Hispanic population that had migrated to the city. This precipitated the beginnings of urban renewal planning in Camden and the 1980’s saw a slight population increase of approximately 3%. (“MP1”, 2002, p. 1-6) The growth was short lived by the 1990’s the population was decreasing again and more and more industry fled the city. The dwindling industrial base was also manifested in the changing household demographics of the city. While as late as 1970 the homes comprised of married couples consumed 41% of the total households in Camden. By 2000 this had dwindled to 28% coupled with a 13% rise in single family homes headed by females equating to 40% in 2000 and an increase, as well of 4% of single people. In 2000 this total was 24%. Figure 2 below this data. Figure 2: Household trends in Camden 1970 and 20002 According to the Master Development Plan (MP1) in 2002, not only had the economic base dwindled further, but the loss of the industrial base brought with it new demographic changes. Camden in 2000 as seen in Figure 3 below was comprised of 35% of residents 17 and under while the older population continued to decline. According to MP1 (2002, p. 1-7), in 2000 “The City’s population remains young with a median age of 27.2 in 2000 as compared to 27.5 in 1970. The number of persons in the prime wage earning years of 45 to 64 has dropped by about 17% or by some 7,000 persons since 1970.” Figure 3 below displays this shift in age of residents of Camden from 1990 to 2000. Along with this age shift came the need for increased services in our schools and recreational facilities. Camden did not keep up which lead to a further decline of the city. Figure 3: Age Shift in Camden 1990 and 20003 The outward spread of the population base in the 1970’s due to continued decline in the industrial base of the city saw rapid changes in the ethnicity of the city as well. As the once predominately white resident base began to move outwards, there was an inflow of minorities to Camden, including African Americans and Hispanics. According to MP1 (2002), in 1970, 60% of the residents of Camden were white. By 2000, whites comprised only about 18% of the population while Blacks comprised about 52% of the population and Hispanics approximately 28%. There have also been increases in the Asian population, a gain of approximately 5%. Figure 4 below displays the ethnicity changes in the city from 1990 through 2000. Figure 4: Ethnicity in Camden 1990 and 20004 Poverty is a serious problem in Camden as a result of the industrial base loss the city has experienced. According to MP1 (2002), in 1970 Camden had the highest poverty level in the area. Camden residents have continued to lose ground. The median household income in 1990 was $17,386 as compared to $36,190 for the immediate region. Estimates by State forecasters indicated that in 2000 median household income had risen to about $22,000 as compared to some $52,000 for the immediate region and a $56,650 median for all households in New Jersey. (“MP1”, 2002, p. 1-9) Figure 5 below displays the disparity of income in Camden in comparison with the remainder of the region. As seen, Camden had 40,226 people living below the poverty level which equates to approximately one third of the population of the city. According to MP1 (2002, p. 1-9), the per capita income in 1990 was $7,276 which was 50% below the county average and only one third of the state per capital average. Figure 5: Poverty in Camden 1970 and 19905 Between 1990 and 2000 there has been a slight decline in the number of people living in poverty in Camden. Figure 6 below displays this decrease from 35% to 33.5%. Figure 6: Poverty in Camden 1990 and 20006 The high poverty rate in Camden is evidence of the decline of the industrial base since the 1950’s. According to MP1 (2002) in 1970 there were approximately 11,700 manufacturing jobs – in 1990 only 5,267 remained. The largest sector employment in 1990 was in the service industries at a little over 10,000 jobs. The problem, however, is those salaries within this sector often fall below the average salaries of manufacturing. Figure 7 below displays the employment demographics. Figure 7: Job Demographics and Totals in Camden 1970 and 19907 According to MP1 (2002) as seen in the above graph, there is a core amount of industry that has remained in Camden. Much of this is attributed to the South Jersey Port Corporation. Further, the job realignment from manufacturing to the service sector has, as discussed, produced lower paying jobs with technical skills often required that are not found in the local populous. This has lead to an unemployment rate of over 13% in Camden which is over three times greater than the state average. Appendix A contains a listing of all jobs by sector available in Camden during 2000. This shift in educational needs brought on by the demand for new technology knowledge, skills and training. As seen in Figure 8 below Camden falls below the region for degree holding residents and has the highest number of non-high school graduates in the area. Figure 8: Educational Attainment Levels in Camden8 Education is key to the development of the city. In general, there still remains a general decline of the students attending Camden public school. In order to stem the poverty and unemployment the quality of education for our children must improve and we have to ensure they get to school each and every day. Figure 9 below displays the decline in state proficiency testing from 1996/7 to 2000/01 school years. Figure 9: School Performance in Camden9 Another area of concern for residents and for the city in general is crime. Appendix B contains 2001 arrest data for the city by district and type of crime. What has been done and where we are going The City of Camden has taken a proactive role in planning and putting forth effort in conjunction with local stakeholders in rejuvenating the city. The redevelopment plan is quite comprehensive and divides the city into three districts. Appendix C contains the maps of the three distinct planning areas and the services they currently posses are annotated on each of the three maps. In 1993 the state enacted the Urban Enterprise Zone Program (UEZ) to a help facilitate the rejuvenation of impoverished cities within the state. Camden is one of the cities receiving benefits under this program which was designed to offer incentives to companies locating within the designated zones. Some of the benefits include sales tax exemptions for hard goods needed for business start up, reduced sales taxes (3%) to sales from within the physical locations, corporate tax credits, subsidized unemployment insurance, and priority processing for state labor training programs. (‘Urban Enterprise”, 2002, screen 1) Additional funding is available through the Empowerment Zone which is a federally sponsored program designed to provide funding for not only economic development but quality of life issues which attract and retain the residents. This program offers funding for development of such areas as education, health care, and housing to name several. (“Empowerment”, 2002, screen 1) The city of Camden established in 1999 the Business Development Center which coordinates the various state, federal and local economic development plans and acts as a central location for coordinating business development programs within the city. The package of economic stimulus offered by the various programs described above provides incentive for new business development within the city limits. Much of the traditional industrial base of the city as previously discussed has left the city. Once the home of manufacturing facilities for such business as Campbell Soup, Victor/RCA, and shipbuilding the major employers are now in the service area and education. However, as previously discussed much of the professionals within these job sectors commute to work and do not reside in the city itself. These factors have resulted in many challenges for the city which through its incentive programs has attempted to address some of these major issues including the declining educational achievement levels, job training programs and economic incentives for new business creation. The city has also taken a proactive role in softer resident quality of life issues such as beautification. These issues are discussed more fully in the following paragraphs. The FutureCAMDEN VISION is the comprehensive redevelopment plan detailing the efforts needed to accomplish the revitalization of Camden which has been undertaken by the city, state and local stakeholders. The plan is comprised of four major areas of concentrations: Read More