AGENDA . Agenda Picks

Should Philadelphia Annex Camden?

Thu., May 27, 7 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.


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Published: May 19, 2010

[ answer: do we have to? ]

Drexel University professor Richardson Dilworth (grandson-namesake of the former Philly mayor) wants Philadelphia to annex Camden — or at least that's the thought he'll explore in this Free Library talk. Here's how it would all go down: First, Philadelphia approaches New Jersey with a plan to redraw its Pennsylvania border to consolidate Philly, Camden and some of Camden's wealthier suburbs (cue cash-register noise) into a single city within Jersey state lines. Camden's currently a $47 million-plus annual drain on the Jersey state budget, so Jersey says yes, hoping to save money by having Philly and Camden share public services. Then — and this is the good part — Philly goes to Harrisburg and says it's threatening to leave the state, that is, unless Pennsylvania redraws its border so Camden is officially part of the commonwealth, and lets us have some of its own rich 'burbs to balance out Camden's red ink. Sound crazy? Well, you'd better come hear it from Dilworth, before you find yourself living in Camdendelphia.

Thu., May 27, 7 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.