Recall of Doug H Palmer, Mayor of Trenton, NJ

Welcome to the petition to recall Trenton NJ Mayor Doug Palmer and for the termination of his hired accomplice Joe Santiago.
As the news reflects on a daily basis, violent crime dominates the city. Headlines constantly refer to gang related murders; gangs by definition are simply well organized, highly motivated premeditated killers that are the highest threat to public safety.
Gangs in Trenton are nothing new. The gangs have been in Trenton for about 6 years, more if you count the 'pittbulls'.
Doug Palmer has not stopped his efforts to fight crime in the city, he just never started.
Doug Palmer's efforts for 15 years have only been reactive rather than pro-active. His reactions have only been a few quips to squelch the issues that continue to plague the city.
Doug palmer has been working feverishly on his own political image, mainly by telling the residents of Trenton that crime has been decreasing while under his reign of control.
If Palmer spent only half the energy of his self-serving political efforts towards combating crime, we might have a manageable city.
Residents of the city know better. Most of the law abiding middle and upper class have fled the city for their own personal safety. Palmer acknowledged the flight as part of the blame for the urban decay that he caused.
A small minority of law abiding citizens remain, mostly without another choice.
The elderly from Chambersburg, Villa and Franklin parks will reminisce the pre-Palmer days when they used to leave their doors unlocked and sit outside on their porches unfettered by our present criminal element that dominates the city.
Palmer's efforts have been to demoralize the police force, as the police will tell you, such issues as mandatory overtime among punitive demotions and terminations haunt the officers that make their job to serve and protect us harder at the cost of public safety.
One of the Police Officers top issues with the administration is the need for more Officers.
Many people would be shocked to learn that there are less police officers in Trenton today than 32 years ago! Bear in mind the level of street crime back then.
We should have ample funds to pay for them. Shortly after 1 year of Palmer's rein, taxes in the city, particularly Chambersburg, Villa and Franklin Parks, increased by 2-3 fold. The city was doing fine when houses that were getting taxed $900 yearly shot up to $2200 or more. Bear in mind of the small footprint of space that most Trenton homes utilize compared to suburban homes. Multiply those increases by about 29,437 households (2000 census). That would be 29,437,000 per year, per thousand, above and beyond what property owners were paying per house. Most homes have increased more than $1000 after Palmer took office. One would believe that there are monies to hire more police to protect the public.
These rateables have been stolen to pay for foolhardy projects like the hyped up Marriott Hotel that is trying to be sold like a pawned watch, even asking the state in advance to supplement the city just incase that the potential buyer does not pay the city what the taxpayers paid for, meanwhile the administration adamantly opposes disclosing financial and occupancy records that were concerns by the public, but discounted by the administration upon initiation of the project.
The tax payers have been strong armed.
Palmer has been spending money on construction in the inner city, only for it to be destroyed by the element, which is what has to be corrected.
Correcting the inner city element has not been correctly addressed by the voting people, so as to perpetuate the Palmer machine.
Some of the peoples minds are changing now as there is a substantial loss of life by violence, only prevalent now because a murder cannot be hidden by relatives, hospitals and agencies. Palmer's efforts have been to re-classify crimes and the number of crimes reported to the police somehow just does not make it to public statistics. Ask most police officers or any resident that has eyesight.
If there was a plan to turn a city into a war zone of violence, the first step would be denial of crime and allow it to get worse, just as an irresponsible parent would deny that his troublesome child "could have never caused any problem". Usually those children suffer in the long term. Just think of having this type of parent that is only interested in looking like a good father for only the "next 4 years"?
All of the crime that has been tolerated in Trenton is because of Mayor Palmer's design. Deaths weather they be of gang members, gang victims, random citizens or even drug overdoses are blood on Palmer's hands. Many social problems in the city could have been met with efforts instead of spending our money to try to polish an apple that is full of worms.
Joe Santiago has been in charge of the police department for over 2 years and the results speak volumes. What corporation would put up with Santiagos performance for 6 months let alone 2 years? Perhaps a corporation that has too much money to burn, lets not forget the horses, (Santiagos very own dog and pony show at a huge taxpayers burden) that seems to have a sole practical purpose in parades. Both Palmer and Santiago must GO!

Citizens For A Safe Trenton
609-433-2468
[email protected]
A new forum for anyone to post comments: WWW.DOUGPALMERMUSTGO.COM