Camden is likely to stay fifth 'most dangerous'

Camden reeled when a national research company named it "America's Most Dangerous City" in 2004 and 2005. The catchphrase curse was spread by international media and temporarily chilled the struggling city's redevelopment plans.

But there was a silver lining.

The "Most Dangerous" ranking attracted private, state and federal agencies that poured resources into the poverty-stricken city.

On Monday, when this year's "Most Dangerous Cities" rankings are published by the Morgan Quitno research company, Camden probably will place fifth - the same spot it held in last year's report, according to a Rutgers University-Camden analysis.

Using crime statistics and the same formula that Morgan Quitno has used for its rankings in the past, the Rutgers-Camden analysis ranks Detroit as America's most dangerous city, followed closely by St. Louis; Flint, Mich.; Oakland, Calif., and Camden, said Jon'a Meyer, a Rutgers-Camden criminology professor. Philadelphia would be No. 21.

The rankings are based on the FBI 2006 crime statistics and include cities with populations greater than 75,000.

Camden leaders rejoiced last year when the city fell to fifth from the top perch. Mayor Gwendolyn Faison said yesterday that she was glad the city may not get any worse in this year's ranking.

Still, the "most dangerous" title brought money and attention that Camden may not have otherwise received, said Joshua Ottenberg, acting Camden County prosecutor.

ABC's 20/20 broadcast a show about the lives of several Camden children, inspiring a flood of donations to city charities. The news program contrasted Camden with nearby Moorestown, which had been named by Money magazine as "America's Most Livable" town.

"I've seen it used in a number of grant proposals both from my office and other agencies," Ottenberg said of the "most dangerous" tag. "It helped. I think it did. It made for a substantive argument for why money should be given to Camden."

Major charities took notice of Camden's standing in the annual survey.

"They're a useful tool," said Roger Williams of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which donated about $500,000 to projects that benefited Camden children and families last year. "It brought a focus on the conditions that families and children living in Camden face."

Developer Carl Dranoff, who has committed $300 million to two high-rise housing projects and mixed housing on the Camden waterfront, said he remained bullish on the city.

"But it would be better if we moved down the rankings, because people who don't dig beyond the superficialities don't get the full story," he said.

The full story includes statistics showing that the Camden waterfront is one of the safest areas in the state, Dranoff said.

Dranoff pioneered luxury apartments in downtown Camden with the Victor. Construction on the nearby Radio Lofts condominium building is to begin in January. He said 700 buyers were on the waiting list.

He pointed to Camden's gains despite the "most dangerous" ranking: Susquehanna Bank's decision to move its headquarters to the waterfront and the expansion of Cooper University Hospital.

"Nobody is retreating," said Bruce Maines, director of Urban Promise Ministries in East Camden. "We've continued to expand both our school and efforts to reach into the community. I don't think the rankings slowed anybody down."

Camden neighborhoods have also seen improvements, said criminologist Meyer.

"People started thinking, 'We're on the top of the list. Now, how are we going to get off it?' " Meyer said. "It galvanized the community. And where that happens, good follows. People started watching out for their neighbors, they strengthened neighborhood associations. So there definitely has been a silver lining."