Newark after Booker: City faces takeover threat (NJ)

Associated Press ^ | Apr 5, 2014 11:59 AM EDT | Samantha Henry

[Olog-hai]

New Jersey’s largest city is hitting some roadblocks just months after its rising-star mayor went off to Washington. A bold reform plan for the state-run school system has hit a snag, the police department is facing federal oversight over citizen complaints, and the state is threatening a takeover of the city’s finances after several key deadlines were missed.

An official who oversees city compliance with state obligations warned the City Council and the interim mayor last month about the state’s growing concern over Newark’s “extraordinary level of fiscal distress.” …

[reg45]

Rats deserting the sinking ship.

[lacrew]

In the national media, I have heard nothing but glowing reviews of Booker.

Go figure.

[HChampagne]

It is the fault of the extremist republicans who would not let the former mayor do what was good for the citizens.

[rktman]

Evil Vlad Putin at work? He’ll give it back.

[Chode]

another RATropolis circling the drain...

[napscoordinator]

Booker booked it out of Newark and on to Washington DC…..He said, “See ya suckers.”. lol. The people of Newark get what they deserve.

[Paladin2]

Newark has been a ‘Rat hell-hole for at least a half a century.

[nascarnation]

One of Hillary’s best VP candidates I believe.

[firebrand]

That’s why the Wall Street Journal just did a piece in the Greater New York section on one of its most beautiful neighborhoods.

[Cowboy Bob]

One thing about Booker - he knows how to play the white liberals for the fools that they are.

[Paladin2]

Here's a NYT article quote from what appears to be a NYT initiative to talk up NYC's 'hoods.

"But when Mr. Franck learned of New Community Corporation's efforts to revitalize the Central Ward, he was "absolutely floored." Among other things, the 27-year-old agency has built 3,000 units of housing, a nursing home, an elementary school,seven day-care centers and the first new shopping center in the Central Ward in 30 years. New Community receives funds from a variety of sources, including Government, foundations and corporations. The executive director, Msgr. William J. Linder, said the sculptures are the agency's first project to focus on beauty instead of practical things."

Apparently the WSJ is on a similar mission.

[Catmom]

Like Detroit, it was actually a good place for working and middle class people to live. After about 1960 it imploded in the same way.

[firebrand]

Well, the beautiful neighborhood described in the WSJ really exists. I grew up there.

[ronnie raygun]

Newark after Booker Is the say while Booker was in charge. So we are being told he saved the world and now it's gone to sh##. This rat darling is cool young handsome and of coarse black so he's a shoo in, don't ask if he's qualified that would be insulting, don't ask about his record or experience that would be insulting all you have to know is he is an activist for the people, a fighter for the poor and a nice guy who cares about the “middle class”

[Paladin2]

I read the article.

It's amazing that those houses weren't chopped up into apartments. Taxes are low too.

Detroit has at least three broadly similar 'hoods, but they still seem to be heading downhill.

[Paladin2]

I had a frat bro who's fam lived there in the 60's.

Seemed to be a good place to always have situational awareness.

[firebrand]

This neighborhood has not gone the way of Detroit. The mansions have been divided into smaller units, for the most part, but there are still many one-family homes.

[Paladin2]

"The mansions have been divided into smaller units, for the most part,"

Bummer, but logical.

I can see where the 'hood could maintain sufficient demand being so close to the still crusin' economy of lower Manhattan as long as crime suppression is good.

[Rodamala]

Maybe when Sharpe James gets out of jail he can come back and really turn things around for Newark.