Post by todd on Dec 4, 2010 11:16:27 GMT -4
Ranked as the number two most dangerous city a few weeks ago behind St.Louis Camden New Jersey plans on cutting one half of it's police force. If you've ever been through Camden(which I dont advise doing unless you're well armed) you know what a cess poll it already is. All I can say is WTF
The Associated Press
CAMDEN — The City Council in New Jersey's most impoverished and violent city has agreed on a plan to lay off one-fourth of city government workers, including about half the police department.
Camden's City Council approved the plan unanimously on Thursday despite pleas from workers and residents to find a way to save the jobs.
The layoffs are to be effective Jan. 18. The state Civil Service Commission has already approved them.
There could be fewer layoffs if public employee unions agree to concessions. Retirements also are likely to reduce the number.
Studies consistently find Camden to be among the most impoverished and crime-ridden cities in the country.
With a tiny tax base, the city of nearly 80,000 relies on the state for most of its funding. But the state slashed aid this year because of a fiscal crisis of its own.
Communities across the state have laid off workers, with some of the biggest cuts coming in police departments in the largest cities.
This week, Newark laid off 167 officers, and Jersey City announced plans to lay off 82. Meanwhile, Atlantic City hired back 17 of the 60 officers it had let go after the police union agreed to pay cut.
Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson has said he'll reconfigure his department so patrols aren't reduced.
About one-third of Camden's firefighting positions also would be eliminated under the city's plans, which could affect every department in the city government.
Gov. Chris Christie said today that he shouldn't be blamed for layoffs in Camden or elsewhere because of cuts in aid. He said the fault lies with city officials.
"They're the ones who have been managing the city for all these years and put (workers) in the position they're in," he said in a news conference in Trenton.
The state, he said, is not "the mother or father of these municipalities, who every time they run out of money in college they call for another wire transfer."