Trenton Diary I
3 March 2010
The Trenton Diary is back because I have to deal with Trenton. Albeit from a distance, nonetheless, I feel like I am there in the city while sitting at my desk in Los Angeles.
I confess. I have a weakness for the older city. Trenton is, factually, a city that can claim “location, location, location.” The trouble is, the people of the state of New Jersey don’t grasp the significance of the small city’s prime situation. For my friends out west, who have never ventured beyond the Mississippi, or gotten out of Manhattan when they do visit the east, Trenton is located right on the Delaware River, mid-state, and mid-states. In other words, it truly is in the center of things.
The history of Trenton bespeaks of glory in achievement. Because of its location – and it was located on that spot for commercial reasons – Trenton happened to the right place at the right time during the American Revolution. Okay, now it rings a bell to many of you, right? That’s where Washington and Troops ended up after they crossed the Delaware. In fact, it’s why they crossed, to get to Trenton. On December 26, 1776, Trenton was a prize worth chancing an icy river, an all night march in a blizzard and a battle. It was worth dying for.
No Americans died at Trenton during the battle against the Hessians. A few Hessians did including their commanding officer. But that’s not the story I am here to tell. Let’s talk about Trenton today.
Today it sits on that same location. The Assunpink creek runs briskly through the town spilling its waters out into the Delaware. Large trees grow up out of its fertile ground and lawns are green without trying. New Jersey is an abundant state when it comes to her natural bounty. Trenton also boasts an assortment of beautiful old buildings. Of course I love that aspect of Trenton. In addition to all of the above, it is the state capital.
As a small city, (89,000) Trenton aught to be controllable. But that’s not the reality. When a majority of the citizens vote in the same mayor repeatedly, a mayor that has failed to perform well enough to move the city forward, and they vote the bum in 4 times, well, you know you’ve got trouble in the city by the river. It could be said that Trenton’s problems echo the state’s issues. You know, too much spending on all the wrong things. Too much corruption. Not enough taxpayers while those who live off the fat of the taxes are invited into the city so that their number multiplies therefore doubling the city’s problems.
The problem is this: the city lost too much of its middle class while the upper classes mostly moved to places like Princeton or Lawrenceville or out of the state altogether. That left Trenton with the working class, and even they move when the opportunity presents itself. What’s left is a large body of the poor and many welfare queens, drug dealers and a few coyotes. Not the four legged kind but the human that traffics in other humans.
I don’t want to paint a picture of a war zone. Because most cities, including places like Princeton, have pockets of gang activity that is violent. It’s just that places like Trenton have more of it and since it’s such a small city, it is more noticeable. My personal experience, after living in the city for two years is that I never felt threatened. Sure, stuff happened down the street and across town. But for me it was no different than living in Los Angeles when it comes to the safety issue. In my chic neighborhood here in Los Angeles, where a small 2-bedroom cottage goes for $500,000, we struggle repeatedly with gang graffiti.
Graffiti is an old problem. We know the Romans contended with it. Whenever there’s a large population, you will find this form of angry expression. That’s not to say it should be acceptable. Fighting back is necessary. Always. So is always keeping alert.
Trenton’s problems stem from the rotten attitudes and mean expectations that are a result of muddle headed thinking. The idea that poverty excuses behavior is an arrogant one. The point of view that skin color or ethnicity is a reason to lower standards is vicious racism. These are points of view readily espoused by progressives. And policies favoring these views have been in place for a couple of generations now. Do you like the results?
Pretty-in-places Trenton doesn’t have a chance until the racists attitudes of more of its citizens change. And then there’s the necessity of an inspiring leader that can point the way while enough others roll up their sleeves to follow. Trenton does have a sizable cadre of intelligent, lovely, responsible folks longing to see their city reborn. The people of the state certainly have cast their lot with a new type of leader, one willing to face reality and do what is necessary in order to restore New Jersey to fiscal health. But in order to accomplish that task it takes a reckoning with the will to take on such a gargantuan and, in some circles, unpopular action. Trenton has an election this May. Let us see what the voters give themselves.
Next week I will tell you the story of my house, the management company and PSEG.
