It's Not Our Fault!!

As most of you know, there is a theory here in Trenton that the state does not pay it's fair share of the expense incurred to run River City. This is a theory to which I do not subscribe. Mostly because our problems are of our own making. For example - the politically correct cry is that the state occupies prime real estate; thereofore Trenton cannot develop and tax this real estate. This is true, but it is true because forty odd years ago, Trenton got sucked into, "Urban Renewal." So the neighborhood around the Justice Complex; Agriculture/Labor buildings was bulldozed. All those houses (I believe it was the old Jewish neighborhood)became dust. Gone, not only the structures, but also the taxes. Along West State Street, where the museum is, also lost housing & lost taxes. And right here, where I live, the short block between Cass and Lexington Streets known as Coats Street - houses GONE. There is now an empty field belonging to the State of New Jersey. No taxes coming in. Because Trenton made a BAD decision, we now scream, "Do over!" And Trenton has never done anything (that I've seen) to correct the problems. On August 10, 2008, former business administrator Jane Feigenbaum gave a deposition to James W. Mastriani, an arbitrator. Between points 8 and 14 Ms. Feigenbaum laid out the various problems here in Trenton. Just one example, she testified that 21.1% of the population live below the offical poverty line. Here's another. Trenton lost one third of its population between 1950 and 2000. Never, never have I heard anyone be it the administration or the council or even the public say, "Let's try to solve these problems." No, the annnual response has been, "You owe us!!" That's the first step. Solve these problems. Ms. Feigenbaum claimed that the state has 24,000 employees (she doesn't say whether this is the total for ALL state employees or just the ones working in Trenton); she then claims 85% of these employees live outside of Trenton. Again, probably true, BUT has Trenton ever done anything to make Trenton attractive as a place to live? My feeling is that we brought our troubles upon ourselves ergo we must correct these troubles. Now that's the hard part because doing will hurt like hell.