CAMDEN, N.J., Sept. 15 (AP) — Gov. Jon S. Corzine was to sign a bill extending a state takeover of this troubled city’s government during a visit on Sunday morning, according to a senior Corzine administration official.
The purpose of the visit was initially reported by The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill, which said the new law would extend New Jersey’s takeover of Camden for another five years.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid upstaging the event, said Mr. Corzine would also formally appoint Theodore Z. Davis, a former State Superior Court judge, to run the city government as chief operating officer, a post Mr. Davis has held on an interim basis since January.
After a morning service at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, Mr. Davis is expected to announce an agreement with the city’s police that will amend the union contract to put more officers on the streets during times when crime is at its highest, the Corzine official said.
Since 2002, the state has been paying for major infrastructure upgrades and subsidizing expansions of Camden’s hospitals and universities. As part of the law, the state also took over many of the powers of the local government and school board, including creating the job of chief operating officer.
