A Young Mayor

Here's a story about a very young mayor. One who played college football just a few years back, but now runs a Rust Belt city struggling to revitalize. But it's not about our own Luke Ravenstahl. It's about Newark's Cory Booker.

Wow. Talk about a resume. He was a football standout at Standford. Then he became a Rhodes Scholar. Then he went on to graduate from Yale Law School. Then he moved into the worst ghetto in Newark. And later ran for city council--get this--as an outsider. Then he ran for mayor. And won.

Don't get me wrong. Newark is a disaster. And will likely remain a disaster for some time. And from what little I know about the mayor's policies, I see plenty I might quibble with. But geez. This guy is making a name for himself. He is openly battling one of the most bureaucratic, inept municipal governments in the country. And winning on occasion. Even in terms of entrenched realities like local patronage:

Booker also wants to slash the city’s workforce by 10 percent to 20 percent. He has already fired more than 60 people at city hall, many in patronage jobs, and cut 425 jobs in the Newark Housing Authority, after a federal investigation found that the agency, a longtime source of political cronyism, was padding the payrolls with money designated for capital projects. With refreshing candor, Booker’s housing chief defended the firings by noting that the housing authority wasn’t a jobs program.

Such efforts have sparked controversy, however, for most of those dismissed are African-American Newarkers, while new appointees have hailed from all walks of life and races. Booker discounts the critics, saying that he’s “tired of racial politics” and of “leaders wrapping themselves in kente cloth.” But in a city where race and political connections have often been the key factors in public-sector hiring, Booker knows that his outside appointees will face close scrutiny.

Our mayor is younger, though.

Comments

[Mark Rauterkus]

Having one-time mayors is NOT a bad thing.

This happens in life in many eco systems too. For example an old growth forest needs a forest fire every now and then. The saplings do NOT grow in the shade of the older trees. What grows in the shade is inferior to what is needed.

Then comes a big wipe out. Then the new forest comes to life and things rebound. But, there is major shake ups and major changes.

The hand-off of power in Pittsburgh from Murphy to O'Connor to Ravenstahl has not provided a shake up with any type of magnatude.

But, in 2007 -- a mayor with a 2-year appointment -- could make a serious suite of changes. Priorities could be adjusted. However, the cuts can't be dumb ones -- like Onorato has done. To cut PAT with a chain-saw gone wreckless is only to gain power for himself by spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt). And, it is to save face for a temporary phase.

Cuts with a purpose make sense.

[Al Arnold]

From my cat bird seat, I can't even imagine the problems of Newark. It is good to read that someone is really trying to tackle them.

Go Booker, Go!

[Mike Madison]

In part because of his connections to Stanford and Yale, and in part because (as I understand it) Cory Booker is a helluva guy, the Newark mayor has a national and perhaps international network of good friends and advisors. Those folks helped him get elected and are now helping him run the city.

[Sam M]

He also has a helluvan organization. I got this e-mail the day after I wrote a blog post with his name in it:

"I am a Press Information Officer with the City of Newark, New Jersey, and have been tasked with reaching out and linking to bloggers that write about Mayor Cory A. Booker. Would you be interested in being added to our distribution list for press releases, statements, and press advisories?"

Probably a simple little search engine with an automated e-mail. But heck. It worked.

[Ed Heath]

I've been trying to follow Mr. Booker's progress in the NYTimes. He is impressive, and it gives you hope, that someone like that can get elected. Of course, like you said, Newark is likely to remain a disaster for a while.

[Amos the Poker Cat]

Mayor Booker's Wikipedia page is pretty chocked full of links, lots of stories in the NYT, NPR, etc.

The real interesting thing, at least to me, is his previous and first race for mayor that he lost. Probably one of the nastiest races I have ever heard about. The previous mayor for life, (or at least 20 years) Sharpe James, claimed to have caused (come on, all together now) a renaissance in Newark.

A documentary make about that race called "Street Fight". PBS showed it a couple of years ago on their POV program. There is actually a torrent out there for you non-baseball pirates types.

Actually fired feather bedded union thugs and other political cronies? I'd trade him for any of the past half dozen PIT mayors in a NY minute. Even young Lukie.

[Paul]

You know for city residents you'll have the chance soon. There probably isn't city anywhere in the country where someone as accomplished as Mark Desantis would be defeated by a someone like Luke Ravensthal who's only qualification for public office was his father's political connections ...

Except Pittsburgh.

This really shouldn't even be a race and wouldn't be if city residents put any thought into their votes instead of just pulling the lever.