Carstarphen: Shame on you, WHYY

OPINION

Early this morning, Philadelphia’s NPR affiliate WHYY released a story that quotes critics of Camden’s successes.  This was not an honest depiction of the great strides being made in our city, it was another attempt to smear Camden’s resilient community.  The story is one-sided because it does not fairly include the facts about Camden’s renaissance and collective efforts to bringing about positive change. 

There’s no mention of the historic 55-year lows in crime.  Or the improvements in schools at every level.  Left out were the facts that the number of people working in the city is up and the poverty rate down.  Absent were the number of cleaner and paved streets, investments in new infrastructure, new and revitalized parks and youth sports and wellness programs.  In other words, the real progress being made for Camden residents and workers — all omitted.

Just two weeks ago, the City of Camden, Camden County, the Camden County Police Department, business and faith-based leaders, and established community stakeholders held a press conference detailing all the positive change happening citywide.  These speakers presented real facts and tangible evidence of Camden’s revitalization.  But for some reason, today’s story did not include any of that information — presumably because it didn’t fit the false narrative.  Some reporters want to tell the story they want to tell, regardless of facts.

The story does not include quotes or reactions from the elected officials who voted for the policy changes the critics lament – no City of Camden official is quoted, no member of the School Advisory Board or Camden County Board of Commissioners is represented.  No leaders of established community groups are quoted, nor are any of the small businesses that are thriving.

The story does not include quotes from Camden residents who actually benefit from the improvements.  The residents of Camden, people who are safer today, whose children go to new schools, who have jobs that didn’t exist just a few years ago, who play in the parks being renovated, live in new quality housing being built and drive on streets being cleaned and repaved.  The story does not include the fact that some of the critics quoted don’t even live in Camden — and never have.

It’s easy to criticize and attack Camden, but it takes real effort to report the facts.  No one is arguing that Camden is perfect.  There remains much work to do, but it is getting better every day due to the hard work of people from every corner of the city, from government and nonprofit leaders, educators and job creators.  Unfortunately, WHYY didn’t speak to any of them.  I encourage WHYY to speak to a cross-section of our residents to truly measure Camden’s success.

Vic Carstarphen is the mayor of Camden, New Jersey.