'Mayor' Refusing To Take Down Tent City

CAMDEN, N.J. - A showdown is brewing between a self-governing homeless camp in Camden known as "Tent City" and the city that wants to shut it down.

Officials say the camp has become an unsanitary haven for drug users and criminals.

But the "mayor" of the "Tent City," now known as Transitional Park, says he's not going anywhere.

That "mayor," Jamaica Banks, is the one who actually threw out the date during a meeting with officials on how to help the homeless here get on their feet. It was meant to be a date just to give them a goal to work toward, but the plan may have backfired, Fox 29's Shawnette Wilson reported.

"You can't solve it overnight by shutting down Transitional Park. It ain't going to help nothing," Banks said. "There might not be a shut down because you can't send them in the streets. The crime population's going to go up."

Banks said he met with Camden County officials Tuesday regarding April 15, the date to which he says the county is sticking to close this land off of an Interstate 676 exit ramp in Camden.

Like many, James Boggs said he expects to still be here on that date.

"I'm not pleased with it," Boggs said.

He doesn't think the county has a plan for alternative housing for the dozens who live there.

"If you're going to guarantee housing – which really you can't guarantee it – it would be nice. But you really can't, and again it really depends on where it's at."

Many are concerned about being forced back on the streets or in shelters in high-crime areas.

"Relapse, relapse, putting them right back to where they tried so desperately to fight their way out of," Boggs said.

He said residents know this place is temporary and many want to obey the county.

"Daily we're giving them the countdown. We're letting know the 15th is coming; you must make arrangements."

But others say the date is too soon. And some simply don't want to leave, ever.

"They would have to come up with a plan, without a plan what's reasonable notice," said James Luddy.

"Right now this is my home," a woman said.

Fox 29 News called the county's director of community development Wednesday morning but was still waiting to hear back by early afternoon.