Whereas the residents of Trenton City are American citizens deserving of a functioning democratic government governed by the United States Constitution and New Jersey state law, and
Whereas the state of public safety is generally regarded by residents, and not by some members of the city government, to be ever more perilous with the continued presence of violent crime and gang activity, creating an environment of vulnerable residents and business operators, and
Whereas the state of the city continues to become ever more economically stagnant, demonstrated by the flight of business, the near-empty downtown business section outside of normal 9 to 5 weekday hours, and the life of poverty lived by many Trenton residents, and
Whereas the condition of much of the city’s dwellings and infrastructure continues to be deficient and left in disrepair, and
Whereas the state of the city’s education system is woefully deficient, evidenced by declining test scores, dropout rates, and negative department of education reports, and
Whereas all of these problematic conditions existing within the Trenton City limits can be linked to the current government of Trenton City, hereby deemed to be malfunctioning, ineffective, and in desperate need of remediation for the good and safety of all Trenton residents, business owners, and general stakeholders, and
Therefore, be it resolved, by representatives adhering to this Guiding Resolution on this, the fourth day of August 2007, to be the stated goal of this organization to ensure the presence of an effective, well-functioning city government which executes and upholds all present and future laws governing the City of Trenton, operating in a manner adherent to national and state laws and governed by those overriding principles inherent in the American system of government.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
First Draft of Potential Guiding Resolution
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4 comments:
Great resolution the only thing you didn't address which I think is the root of all of the cities problems which is the actual residents who do not give a hoot and keep on electing the same people and when 25 (out of 80,000) extra people show up to a council meeting its in the paper for days. How do you expect to change the city if nobody gives a darn. I don't even live in the city and I'm the only one commenting on these blogs even after all the publicity, I think you are fighting a lost cause. There are plenty of nice places to live and Trenton is not one of them and its highly doubtful that will change in the forseable future.
I was born and raised in Trenton though I'm now in graduate school in Mississippi. I'll be returning to Trenton after I graduate in 2009.
Anyway, in response to the comment above I'd like to say that the notion that Trenton residents don't care about the state of their city is patently false. Actually speaking to Trenton's residents will reveal that. The attendance of citizens at a city council meeting (or the paucity thereof) is not indicative of Trenton residents not caring about their city. Truthfully, it is more likely just a matter of Trenton residents being frustrated with the city government or not knowing where to go for help. Civic engagement beyond voting is not something that is generally taught in Trenton Public Schools. I doubt most U.S. residents known when and where exactly their locally elected reps meet. I also ensure that local politicians and the local media would be taken aback a bit of many resident of a town or city came to a local government meeting where it was uncommon.
As for you being the only one commenting on these blogs, I guess this comment of mine changes that. Not to mention the real fact that I'd be surprised if 1% of Trenton's residents even knew this blog existed. People don't know things that are widely publicized through mediums they pay attention to. Just like there are undoubtedly countless blogs that you and I have never heard of that pertain to things that interest us individually, the situation is the same for many of Trenton's residents.
Furthermore, what do you mean by "nice place to live"? Do you mean places with low crime? Places with large homes? Places with parks and recreational facilities? Trenton has all of these. We have areas where you can sit outside in front of your house for a week and never see any criminal activity in each part of Trenton (North, South, East, and West). We have large houses all over, especially in the area of South Trenton near Jr.4, along Greenwood Ave. in East Trenton, and throughout Hiltonia in West Trenton. Every part of Trenton has at least one park and community center where kids can engage in a wide range of safe, fun activities. Don't let a few pockets of high-poverty/high-crime areas represent the city as a whole to you.
Finally, to the author of this blog, I agree that Trenton as a municipal community has many problems facing it but that's been stated and overstated ad infinitum. What are the solutions? That's where the conversation needs to be headed. First things first for me: teens and young adults need gainful employment. Brings personally fulfilling jobs (not just desk jobs for the state or jobs in the service industries) and ADEQUATE training to Trenton and the lure of gangs and the street life will be gone. I can't tell you how tough it was for even a straight-A, clean record guy like myself to find a job as a teen just a few years ago. The same is the case now for my younger brother who's 15 and still lives at home with my mother in South Trenton. Jobs. That's a start.
I agree with Jersey Slugger, obviously, because Trenton does have many neighborhoods that I believe would qualify under the ambiguous "nice place to live" heading.
I totally agree with you and believe the root of most of the problems in town are related to jobs, and more generally the economic situation of the city.
But we currently have a city government that doesn't do its job in bringing development and business and therfore gainful jobs back into our city. It has to start from the top.
We have started meeting up as a group of residents to take action and try and turn things around, and our consensus was that the problem is coming from the top.
Jersey Slugger,
The truth is I agree with alot of what you said, I was just trying to start some disscusion on this topic.In response to what you have written I would like to make a few points 1. I find it hard to believe that the people do not know about this and the other blogs about Trenton both the Times and the Trentonian have mentioned these blogs several times in recent weeks. 2. Although you are probably right that the average person living in the average place in America has no idea when the council meetings usually take place However when there are big issues town halls are packed to capacity and I'm not reffering to murders but things like high taxes illegal immigration or zoning changes. If the people of Trenron do give a darn they have to come out in droves before it is really to late. 3. Don't kid yourself about kids playing in saftey crime in Trenton is not limited to a few pockets of high-poverty/high-crime areas just ask some of the business owners in Chambersburg why 90% of them are hoping to move out. And one last thing: If the people of Trenton really do care like you say, then why is it that they keep re-electing the same do nothing politicians year after year.
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