Nation's most dangerous small city rehires police

[TomCADem]

Source: Reuters

Camden, New Jersey, the nation's most crime-ridden small city, on Friday welcomed back 55 police officers and 31 firefighters laid off in January because of lack of funding.

Mayor Dana Redd was able to rehire the 86 public safety workers after receiving $2.5 million in state and federal funds.

"I fully expect that all boots will hit the ground and that their presence will be known and felt throughout our neighborhoods and business districts," Mayor Redd said in the statement.

In the months since the officers received their pink slips, Camden has experienced a slight increase in crime but it could not be directly tied to the layoffs, mayoral spokesman Robert Corrales told Reuters. There was no change in reported damages caused by fires, he said.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110401/us_nm/us_camden_police

---

Well, I guess this should count as a huge "OOPS" by Republican governor Chris Christie who has been pushing for cuts and layoffs. Well, surprise, public safety and services suffer when you start laying off government workers. YET, Chris Christie is a Tea Party favorite who is mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential contender!

[liberal N proud]

1. Did anyone say: Told you so!

[BumRushDaShow]

2. The problem is

making sure that they can remain permanently in the new FY, should Christie go flamboyantly teabagger on them.

More on this here: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/119108309.html">http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/119108309.html