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I watched him on Bill Maher's show on Friday night. I don't live in Jersey, but I admire him because he really seems truly committed to trying to turn his city around. Which I think he can do but I still think the city has a long way to go. Earlier this year Newark was in the national news after they went almost eight weeks without a murder, which was unheard of in that city. Hopefully similar trends like this will continue.
It does seem to me that Newark was really a poster child for cities that became a repository for undesireable elements, and suffered "white flight" - starting in the 1950s when expressways were carved through the neighborhoods, then with racist city planning like redlining, economic recession in the '70s, the crime and gang epidemic of the '80s and '90s, etc. But I still think it's getting better. Sportscasters have been bragging about their new hockey arena. I'm sure it looks nice in an aerial photograph, and is a nice place for wealthy Manhattan bankers to enjoy a cocktail in a luxury box, but the city shouldn't limit its potential to being a place that only provides entertainment for a few hours and then people go home to their high-end residencies. Every other city that has tried that has failed miserably, and I'd like to see Newark move beyond its tawdry image.
Booker should try to market itself as next great office park near Manhattan
They have lots of flat land suited for this, plus a lot of abandoned industrial space, plus 2 universities, and an ethnic nabe w/ lots of great food, and pub trans
He can spread the word that it will save the meadowlands from being ripped up, and save newark at the same time
crime is bad, but so was manhattan right before the gentrification
I don't know much about him, but I have always admired that a guy who grew up in Harrington Park and does not have any real "reason" to want to take on the mess that is Newark has chosen to do so.
I developed a lot of respect for Booker after watching the Marshall Curry documentary, "Street Fight." It's a film about Booker's first (failed) attempt to run for mayor in 2002, and throws a lot of dirt on the Sharpe James administration.
I developed a lot of respect for Booker after watching the Marshall Curry documentary, "Street Fight." It's a film about Booker's first (failed) attempt to run for mayor in 2002, and throws a lot of dirt on the Sharpe James administration.
AWESOME documentary!
Booker is a major step-up from James, but besides The Prudential Center and a few other items, I still think Newark is terrible. There is only so much he can do, and in the end, it comes down to civic pride, which we all know a good number of the residents can care less.
that guys got his work cut out for him. Newark is a port city, so aside from the crooked Teamsters union, Police union, Firefighter union, and so on, plus the graft Newark is famous for, plus the legacy of James.....I dont know how he's going to get anything done. The collapse of industry in Newark has freed up some real estate....he may be able to capitalize on that and offer some decent incentives to companys looking to get out of NYC.
Cory is a very smart guy from a good family. I am very proud to say that he grew up in my town and is trying to clean up one of the worst cities in NJ. I'm very happy that he never denied that he grew up in Harrington Park but has made Newark his home. I hope that all his hard work in Newark pays off. If Newark thrives then it will take the burden off the rest of our state.
No matter what Booker has or has not accomplished thus far (as others have pointed out, change takes more than one person) I think that ultimately he's good for Newark. I would challenge HobokenGuy in that Booker's leadership style is the kind that can inspire civic pride. It won't happen overnight though.
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