Palmer in national spotlight as violence makes news again in Trenton

It was supposed to be Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer's weekend to shine.

But while he was basking in the limelight of being sworn in as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and rubbing shoulders in Los Angeles with the likes of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson, back home some all-too-typical problems were plaguing his city.

Palmer's coronation as a spokesman for the nation's cities would have made front page news in The Trentonian today, but instead the city was hit with its 14th murder. Another possibly gang-related death. This time, in broad daylight.

And more troubling to some, violence was even hitting a Trenton neighborhood that typically is an oasis from the rest of the city's problems. A shooting in the Mill Hill section of the city has merchants on edge.

As he rubs shoulders with some of the most powerful politicians in the country, what does Palmer have to say about the problems back home?

And perhaps more importantly, what can Palmer's newly important status do to help him fix some of those problems?

When's the last time you heard Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson or even Jon Corzine make news calling attention to the plight of small, troubled urban cities such as Trenton or Camden? Or offering some real solutions.

They're in a position to bring the resources of the state and federal governments to Trenton to help.

Maybe Palmer's rise to prominence and all that out-of-town hobnobbing with the rich and powerful can be used to get some help for the city.

Palmer in national spotlight as violence makes news again in Trenton

It was supposed to be Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer's weekend to shine.

But while he was basking in the limelight of being sworn in as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and rubbing shoulders in Los Angeles with the likes of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson, back home some all-too-typical problems were plaguing his city.

Palmer's coronation as a spokesman for the nation's cities would have made front page news in The Trentonian today, but instead the city was hit with its 14th murder. Another possibly gang-related death. This time, in broad daylight.

And more troubling to some, violence was even hitting a Trenton neighborhood that typically is an oasis from the rest of the city's problems. A shooting in the Mill Hill section of the city has merchants on edge.

As he rubs shoulders with some of the most powerful politicians in the country, what does Palmer have to say about the problems back home?

And perhaps more importantly, what can Palmer's newly important status do to help him fix some of those problems?

When's the last time you heard Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson or even Jon Corzine make news calling attention to the plight of small, troubled urban cities such as Trenton or Camden? Or offering some real solutions.

They're in a position to bring the resources of the state and federal governments to Trenton to help.

Maybe Palmer's rise to prominence and all that out-of-town hobnobbing with the rich and powerful can be used to get some help for the city.