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918 SJM Camden - FINAL_Pages 7 / 30 / 19 5 : 47 PM Page 6 we can provide one , I think it’s something we should strive to do , ” he says . As for the not - so - good publicity surrounding Camden and Grow NJ , Balzano says he feels far removed from it . “ I hope we’re not reflected [ in that negative attention ] . We’ve tried to go out of our way to embrace the city and worked with the mayor and the city’s office to bring people in , like second chance groups . That’s what this program was designed to do and I hope we’ve exemplified it . I hope our record speaks for itself . ” Others may not see it , but a lot of good has been happening in Camden , according to Balzano . “ There is a re - naissance in the city . I’ve been here 40 - plus years — it’s noticeable . You can feel the change — from the schools , to the owered crime rate . When I went l to school here it was scary . Not any - more . Residents are also changing how they feel about the city . I speak to them all the time . Years ago , they just wanted to get out of Camden . I don’t hear that as much anymore and that’s encouraging , ” he says . “ We look forward to continuing to grow here . We’ve been here a long time but now we’ve really dug our roots in . ” When asked what the next step would be for Camden , in spite of all the allegations , Cappelli says govern - ment officials aren’t going to back down . “ We are going to continue on fighting on behalf of the city and residents , ” he says . “ There’s a lot of momentum in the city ; we are in the beginning of a renaissance and will make sure that renaissance will come to fruition . We hope [ Murphy’s ] administration decides to be a part of that renaissance rather than fight it . “ If there’s some wrongdoing , then that should be dealt with . But it’s amaz - ing that out of over 900 tax credit ap - plications that have been granted , only a few out of Camden are being looked at . … I’m hoping political peace can be made and we can all move forward together . ” “ If 10 years from now Camden is in a better place , the state of New Jersey will absolutely be in a better place , ” Moran states . “ It’s a grand opportunity for leaders in Trenton to take credit for what’s happening in distressed cities like Camden . I’m hoping the governor can see this . ” * Parker McCay , George Norcross nd a Sen . Steve Sweeney declined to comment n for this story . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE VOLUME 16 ISSUE 5 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 49
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