McGreevey`s New Plan for Camden

The state will give its poorest city $175 million over three years to demolish more than 1,000 abandoned buildings, rehabilitate housing and build new facilities at universities and hospitals, the governor said Thursday.

Gov. James E. McGreevey said state government has the moral responsibility to improve Camden and should take some of the blame for the city's decline. He spoke at Antioch Baptist Church, where the governor three months ago held a town meeting and promised to bring change to the city.

Under the proposal, a chief operating officer will be appointed by the state to oversee economic development in the city of 80,000.

Mayor Gwendolyn A. Faison had opposed an earlier version of the proposal that had required her to give up power. But Faison supports this version because it does not take away her responsibility to run the city's day-to-day business.

The plan would, however, take away power from the school board by remaking the panel to include three appointments by the governor, three by the mayor, and only three elected members.

School board member Dwaine Williams said by doing so, the governor is misplacing blame on the school board.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP