Thread: Camden/NJ: History of the invasion & decline

Oh, and keep in mind that Camden, NJ was named the most dangerous city since 2004...gee, I wonder why.....

courierpostonline.com

September 21, 2008

Vibrant Hispanic community sees political clout in future

By DEBORAH HIRSCH
Courier-Post Staff

Shoppers greet each other in Spanish as they maneuver past colorful storefronts along Federal Street in East Camden.

One after another, they pass taco stands, Mexican restaurants, "pastelerias" or bakeries, and other businesses geared toward Hispanics. Salsa music blaring from a car cruising down the street adds to the cacophony.

Teresa Reyes remembers when she had only three Hispanic restaurants to choose from on Federal Street five years ago. The associate director of the Ramiro Center, a social justice program, also recalls how she was "one of the only Mexicans around" when she moved to Camden 20 years ago.

"It's a new community," Reyes said.

While Camden's population has declined over the past 40 years, the number of Hispanics has exploded -- especially Mexicans and Dominicans.

Nationwide, Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority, now accounting for 15 percent of the population.

In Camden, though, Hispanics made up more than 40 percent of the city's 73,123 residents in 2006, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. Local leaders say that percentage would be even larger if it were not so difficult to count the city's escalating population of undocumented workers.

Leaders will get a clearer picture of the community's makeup Tuesday, when the bureau is scheduled to release 2007 data.

The city's demographic shift is obvious in North and East Camden, where businesses post signs in Spanish to solicit customers and churches organize bilingual Masses honoring patron saints from Mexico and Puerto Rico.

It is not so obvious in city and government leadership. Hispanic community leaders say they aren't adequately represented in city government, school staff or elected officials.

"The potential here is for the Latino community to have a huge impact on the state," said Manny Delgado, director of the Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation. "People aren't galvanizing for whatever reason to do that."

That could change, community leaders said, if Hispanic residents learn to use their strength in numbers to improve their quality of life.

Population shift

The Census Bureau has data on Camden's Hispanic population dating back to 1970. By then, Puerto Ricans had already formed the base of the city's Hispanic community.

As part of a government program to aid the country's industry during World War II, Campbell Soup Co. secured a contract to hire 1,000 workers from Puerto Rico in the 1940s. Some stayed after the contract ended; others moved elsewhere in South Jersey or to Pennsylvania, said Rutgers-Camden history professor Howard Gillette.

By 1960, Gillette estimated that 6,000 Puerto Ricans were working in Camden. At that time, he said, manufacturing was at its peak and more than 125,000 people lived in the city.

As jobs began to disappear and race riots erupted in the early 1970s, white residents moved to the suburbs. Hispanics, taking advantage of the affordable housing, formed communities near churches in North and South Camden, Gillette said.

The population remained predominately Puerto Rican until the 1990s, when a wave of Dominicans moved in, Gillette said. The Mexican population began taking off in the past decade.

The majority of the recent Mexican immigrants have come from the state of Puebla, drawn by extended family or friends who first moved to Camden. Others came for the promise of jobs.

Angel Cordero, outreach coordinator for Excellent Education for Everyone, said illegal immigrants are also flocking to Camden because they've heard that city and government officials have bigger issues to worry about than their legal status.

"They feel like they have found a place where they are not persecuted," explained Zoraida Gonzalez Torres, a volunteer for Camden Churches Organized for People. "Camden allows them to grow. They can celebrate Cinco de Mayo. They can celebrate Independence Day in September. They have a big park in Cramer Hill to play soccer. They have been given a place."

Community Impact

Today, Cramer Hill and parts of North and East Camden have become established Hispanic communities, said Derek Ziegler, former director of CAMConnect, an independent local data and information group. Ziegler said neighborhoods such as Fairview, Central Waterfront, and Lanning Square are also seeing a rise in Hispanic population.

The growth is reflected in public school enrollment, where Hispanic youths made up 46 percent of Camden School District's student body in 2007-08. That's up about 8 percent in the past decade.

Migdalia Soto, director of bilingual education, estimated that more than half of the 1,250 students in her programs are Hispanic.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/p ... /809210381

External Documents >> Public Safety

Camden Crime Maps and Data

Last Updated: January 31 , 2008

2007 Crime Data in Context
Crime

2004

TOTAL


2005

TOTAL


2006

TOTAL
2007 FINAL
Murder 49 35 33 45
Rape 56 47 66 67
Robbery 822 702 771 781
Agg Assault 897 898 818 865
Burglary 1,159 1,020 1,178 1,128
Theft 2,775 2,332 2,424 2,311
Auto Theft 1,357 955 1,180 1,161
Arson 172 142 129 115

They have been given a place."

Yes they have...handed to them on a silver platter. This city must be a dump!

The majority of the recent Mexican immigrants have come from the state of Puebla, drawn by extended family or friends who first moved to Camden. Others came for the promise of jobs.

Do you think they are all legal? Was it chain migration?

Angel Cordero, outreach coordinator for Excellent Education for Everyone, said illegal immigrants are also flocking to Camden because they've heard that city and government officials have bigger issues to worry about than their legal status.

"They feel like they have found a place where they are not persecuted," explained Zoraida Gonzalez Torres, a volunteer for Camden Churches Organized for People. "Camden allows them to grow. They can celebrate Cinco de Mayo. They can celebrate Independence Day in September. They have a big park in Cramer Hill to play soccer. They have been given a place."

These articles make me ill. Illegal immigrants are "flocking to Camden" because our government officials turned a blind eye and let it become a sanctuary city. THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN AMERICANS VOTE THESE TRAITORS OUT OF OFFICE!

Illegal aliens have literally taken over towns and parks. NOTICE, AMERICANS ARE FLEEING THESE CITIES WHERE ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE MAKING THEIR HOMES. NOBODY WANTS TO BE AROUND CRIMINALS, THATS WHY!

Yea. I've seen how they flock to our parks and crowd out the rest of the park goers, with their loud music, taking over ball fields, and leaving trash overflowing in containers with beer cans and other nasty garbage like soiled diapers.

IMO, they are coming here in record numbers and multiplying like crazy. And the bottom line is that they are all ILLEGAL. And they brag about becoming the FASTEST AND LARGEST GROWING MINORITY IN HISTORY. WELL, AMERICANS DIDNT ASK THEM TO COME AND THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT THEM DEPORTED.

Camden is ranked number 5 as of 2007 by the FBI as the one of the most dangerous places in the US.

There is a new aquarium down in Camden that is really nice, but I would not stay in Camden at night that's for sure.

http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2007/ ... anger.html

Looks like in 2004 is was THE most dangerous city:

Camden, N.J., named most-dangerous city
Detroit relinquishes title just days after NBA melee

updated 10:39 a.m. PT, Mon., Nov. 22, 2004
TRENTON, N.J. - Camden has been named the nation’s most-dangerous city, snatching the top spot from Detroit, according to a company’s annual ranking based on crime statistics.

Officials in Camden, which was ranked third last year, downplayed the dubious designation Sunday, saying many steps have already been taken to reduce crime in the city.

“We must give our people jobs, training and opportunity,â€

Originally Posted by SicNTiredInSoCal

They have been given a place."

Yes they have...handed to them on a silver platter. This city must be a dump!

Oh it is. Never go after dark. I don't even like to go during the day! Thankfully I don't have to drive there, can take the ferry from Philly and not hit these areas at all.

Lake Forest and Mission Viejo, Ca use to be really good neighborhoods and towns. WOW

Well, darn it! DC, when I lived there, used to be the murder capital of the country and now they have fallen all the way to 6th place. Amazing, that this seat of the federal government is failing so badly in keeping first place.