Just talked with some firemen in the city of Camden, New Jersey. This place has the second highest crime rate in the country yet the police and fire departments were just slashed in half. This city presents an intense environment that, in all frankness, I don’t have the ability to process just yet. Since the guys at Ladder 9 have been so helpful and many are willing to let me interview them, I’ve arranged to come back in a couple of weeks and do a big round table discussion at the union hall. The thumbnail of each of their stories is overwhelming, and collectively they are catastrophic.

For now I’m heading home and winding down this long journey. There will still be more updates to come, including videos and podcasts so be sure to check back regularly.

We’ve just put up a new video of Roni Chambers. We met her back in St. Louis. Undoubtedly one of the coolest individuals I came across. She worked in Human Resources and was given the task of laying off a couple hundred people in one day. Then she got laid off.

She has has strength and calm beyond measure.