Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Trenton is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, marked by gangs and drug dealing. Yet the city has had to lay off more than 100 police officers, nearly a third of its force. Like many American cities on the brink of bankruptcy, it can no longer afford public safety. Temps Présent follows the daily lives of residents living with minimal public services.
At the heart of the story lies a broader question: what role should the state play? The film compares two cities facing similar financial crises.
In Trenton, crime has risen sharply after cuts to the police. In Colorado Springs, the reduction of public services is a deliberate choice. While police were preserved, other services were cut, and some were taken over by private citizens.
Two cities, two approaches, one shared reality.
Documentary: Retour au Far West, La Faillite de l’Etat American
Directed by: Béatrice Bakhti
Production: RTS – Temps présent (2012)
Ce programme est disponible sur https://www.rts.ch/play/tv
#documentary #freedocumentary #documentary #uscities #trenton #coloradosprings #economiccrisis #publicservices #urbandecline #crime #uspolitics #socialissues #citylife #americandocumentary
Trenton is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, marked by gangs and drug dealing. Yet the city has had to lay off more than 100 police officers, nearly a third of its force. Like many American cities on the brink of bankruptcy, it can no longer afford public safety. Temps Présent follows the daily lives of residents living with minimal public services.
At the heart of the story lies a broader question: what role should the state play? The film compares two cities facing similar financial crises.
In Trenton, crime has risen sharply after cuts to the police. In Colorado Springs, the reduction of public services is a deliberate choice. While police were preserved, other services were cut, and some were taken over by private citizens.
Two cities, two approaches, one shared reality.
Documentary: Retour au Far West, La Faillite de l’Etat American
Directed by: Béatrice Bakhti
Production: RTS – Temps présent (2012)
Ce programme est disponible sur https://www.rts.ch/play/tv
#documentary #freedocumentary #documentary #uscities #trenton #coloradosprings #economiccrisis #publicservices #urbandecline #crime #uspolitics #socialissues #citylife #americandocumentary
