Thanks.....

Thank you to everyone who cared enough about this issue to speak up, send a postcard, make a phone call, come to a City Council meeting, or just keep informed.

Tonight City Council ratified a new four year Camden Police contract. It was 6 pages long. This is the City of Camden's reponse to being the most dangerous city in the country.

Their plan, after ratifying the contract, is to go back to the negotiating table and do another agreement covering Steady Shifts. We can only hope they can accomplish this. Conducting additional negotations at this point seems rather unusual. Especially since, with the passage of the agreement tonight, the City has lost significant negotiating leverage.

Prior to the vote Mayor Faison, COO Primas, Chief Figueroa, and Council President Fuentes spoke in favor of Steady shifts. Mr. Primas said that the unions are in favor of Steady Shifts. Also, previously the Attorney General has indicated support for Steady Shifts and so has the Camden County Prosecutor, Vincent Sarrubbi.

So WHAT HAPPENED? How did we get to this point? Where were our State, County, and Local leaders when the contract was being negotiated? Why do we need to go back to table for additional negotations when this issue should have been settled in the first place? Perhaps, this why the City of Camden is where it is today. Thousands of failures in leadership just like this one.

I am optimistic. This campaign did accomplish many important things. People from across the City, in different neighborhoods, came together to fight on this important issue. We spoke in a respectful, dignified, and informed manner. And, a lot of people understand then concepts of Steady Shifts and why they are so important.

With faith, good ideas will prevail. Camden just wasn't ready for this idea, yet. We will hold our leaders to their promise: to go back and negotiate for Steady Shifts in the next few months.

Jeff Brenner