Welcome to the inaugural post of this blog. It's not much now, but hopefully it will be soon. As the tagline states, the purpose of this blog will be to examine the city of Trenton, to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and to promote discussion regarding its revival as an urban oasis. Since in my experience optimistic views of Trenton are sometimes seen as unrealistic and overly utopian, let's review Trenton's detriments and problems:

• Corrupt/Inept administration - This is somewhat of an open secret and has been for years. Like many cities, urban decay and white flight have allowed corruption, cronyism, and machine politics to become deeply entrenched in city government. Obviously this is a problem, but inroads (albeit small ones) have been made, and with the attraction of more diverse demographics they will continue to be made.
• An overworked, underpaid, unsupported police force - This is perhaps more troubling than the issues affecting city government. One doesn't have to go far (http://www.nj.com/) to find out that the Trenton Police Department is an organization in crisis with a questionable leader at the helm. While there is no doubt that the rank and file of the Trenton Police are dedicated public servants, the leadership's track record is deeply troubling.
• Gang violence - Tying in with the overworked police force is the growing gang problem that was all but ignored by the administration. The same kinds of gangs that inhabit practically every city in America are operating in Trenton, but their very existence was only recently acknowledged.
• Lack of opportunity and general urban problems - Drug trafficking, poverty, homelessness, failing schools, and other problems are present in many areas of Trenton, due in part to many different causal factors.
  

The preceding is by no means an exhaustive list of every problem Trenton has, but it hits the major points. Of course, at this point one might wonder how someone could optimistic about the city at all, but let's examine the positive attributes:

• Trenton is the seat of state government - Like the aforementioned attribute, the state could be a blessing but is oftentimes a curse, but again, that's a discussion for another day. The State of New Jersey employs A LOT of people in downtown Trenton, and there are many enterprises (lobbying firms, law firms, associations, etc...) which locate downtown as a result of the capital being there. Though it hasn't happened yet, this is huge market to be tapped.
• Trenton is a historic city - From Mahlon Stacy to William Trent, to George Washington himself, Trenton has been a crossroads of commerce and culture since its founding. The city had a pivotal role in the American Revolution, and it did not stop there. Nearly ninety-five years after Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware to mount a daring assault against the Hessians encamped at Trenton, the John A. Roebling and Sons Wire Rope Factory was busy preparing the cables for what would be the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, the Brooklyn Bridge.
  
• Trenton has beautiful and well preserved building stock - The kinds of buildings found in Trenton from the three story brick rowhomes that line countless neighborhood streets, to the stately mansions on Greenwood Avenue, to the grand Broad Street Bank, Trenton has historic late 18th and early 19th century architecture that is either long gone from other cities or rapidly disappearing. Buildings with the kind of solid construction and artisan quality attention to detail which would be entirely cost prohibitive to build today abound in the city of Trenton.
• Now more than ever, the "Garden State" needs SMART GROWTH! - It is painfully obvious to anyone who lives in the outlying Central New Jersey/Greater Trenton area that the "garden" part of the garden state is being paved over at an alarming rate. The great outward push from the cities beginning in WWII is about to reach its apex. The farmland and forest which once surrounded the city of Trenton is now subdivision after subdivision, linked by traffic choked highways and local roads. Trenton, like many aging industrial cities, is poised to fulfill a need to move back to the cities as the ultimate transit village. Imagine a place where people walk to work, or commute using mass transit, whether that means the bus or light rail across town, or the train to New York or Philadelphia. That place can be Trenton.
• People want an alternative to the "So-called" American Dream - What is the "so-called" American Dream you ask? It's a Starbucks on every corner, its a mass produced cookie cutter home in the endless suburbs, it's a Wal-Mart/Home Depot/Costco mega-complex in every town, it's a TGI Friday's and a Ruby Tuesday's across the street from each other. Perhaps now more than ever, people need something different, a choice, a break from the norm, something refreshingly organic. Trenton offers those alternatives. There's no Costco, but there's a farmers market where you can buy fresh picked produce and more. There's no Starbucks, but there's a funky little place called Cafe Ole. You won't find a Hair Cuttery, but Joe Festa will give you a trim and a little philosophy at the State Barber Shop. You'd be hard pressed to find an Olive Garden, but the food is better at Settimo Cielo. You'd be out of luck if you were looking for a Barnes and Noble, but Eric at Classics can help you find a good read. The list could go on and on and on, but the bottom line is this: Trenton has as much charm and originality as Old City in Philadelphia and the East Village in New York City, it just needs to be looked for.

For now I've said my peace. I've established my reasons (and trust me, I have more) for why we should save the city, next time we'll talk about how.

Slan go foill