Welcome To Newark Speaks Mr. Booker

[Cory Booker]

Originally Posted by Newark Speaks

Klap Bak asks:

If you will, please share your thoughts with the board on transition. There has been a lot of talk lately, which seems to be creating nervousness with some City Hall workers. Folks are afraid of being unemployed.

Again thanks for coming on.

Peace
Klap

People in city hall have little to be concerned with. If I should win, the politics of revenge will be over in Newark. I am not about perpetuating a machine style politics in Newark. I am going to move our city hall to a new level of professionalism. We will set standards, clear and transparent ways of measuring employees progress towards clear expectations and we will hold people accountable for their performance. There is so much fear in city hall. But it is not created by the prospect of me coming in as mayor. I've seen it for the past five years: people afraid of being seen with me, people afraid of expressing their opinions, people affraid of bringing light to problems in their department - all people fearing retribution. THis is no way to manage an institution. Moreover, people in city hall are frustrated that some folks who have connections are invincible no matter how they perform. They watch folks who are not as qualified get permotions over them because of the politics they play. All of these things must come to an end for the greater good of our instition and for our city as a whole.

I will end this should I become mayor.

[Cory Booker]

I hope to talk to you all again. I appreciate the candid questions and I give honor to this forum. I also invite folks to the many forums we have in the community. I give a thorough presentation of our four points and answer a host of questions from the detailed to the sometimes hillarious. But most of all I want to thank you for all of your committment to and passion for Newark.

[ADMINISTRATOR]

Originally Posted by Cory Booker

I hope to talk to you all again. I appreciate the candid questions and I give honor to this forum. I also invite folks to the many forums we have in the community. I give a thorough presentation of our four points and answer a host of questions from the detailed to the sometimes hillarious. But most of all I want to thank you for all of your committment to and passion for Newark.

You spent a little longer than was agreed upon. We truly appreciate your time with us and hope that you will come back again when you have time.

Oh and by the way, Thanks to Ms. Sakina Cole for setting this up. She's great.

Thanks again,

Webmaster

[ADMINISTRATOR]

BraveHeart asks:

Your stance on school system reform in Newark is admirable in its theory and I hope to say the same for its application. Considering the large part of crime in Newark is committed by people in their teens and early twenties and that the majority of these same people are products of the James administration schools systems which have now been taken over by the state, my question is this:

1. Would you consider expanding the department's community affairs division so that we as officers can begin to help mold these young minds into something other than potential gang members?

2. I believe in the creation of new recreational facilities that are open late on the weekends and over the summer where these kids can go, or be picked up, and not be hanging out on street corners either as victims or victimizers. In collaboration with the school system and the P.A.L. a very productive program could be implemented where these kids can learn to respect the police and not fear and resent them. I would rather escort a young man to a rec center that I encounter on patrol than arrest him for a curfew violation. This can also be a place where parents can come for counseling and direction for those kids that may have already started down the wrong path.

[ADMINISTRATOR]

Newarismyhome asks:

Cory,
New Jersey is one of only 2 states that do not have Needle Exchange and Essex County has one of the highest HIV rates on the East Coast. Over half of the new HIV cases are from intravenous drug use/needle sharing.

Would you support a Needle Exchange program to reduce HIV transmission rates?

[ADMINISTRATOR]

The Observer asks:

I have seen one of Mr. Booker's commercials which gives the impression he is running for school board member rather than for mayor by suggesting he could make education better for Newark's children. How does he propose to do this since the Mayor or Council do not have any direct impact on the Newark School District which is still under state control and has a school board that is not appointed by the mayor?

[ADMINISTRATOR]

WassupNewark asks:

1. Safety is our City's primary issue ... Once you take over July 1st, how long do you expect tangible results to be evident on the streets?

2. What recreational plans do you have for our children?

3. How will you address corruption in City Hall?

4. The North Ward is becoming messy for your Mayoral Campaign ... what will you do now that Councilman Corchado has signs up attempting to convince residents he is part of Team Booker?

5. What is your opinion of the Councilman's (Hector Corchado) presumptuous behavior?

Comment ... 30 minutes is far too little time to engage Newark Speaks. I hope you reconsider and join us another time or extend your April 3rd visit. In 2006, the electronic age is just as important to a campaign as the pony express was delivering messages in 1860. Unlike the pony express, the Internet is a huge success and messages are delivered immediately! Wishing you all the best and hoping you is the greatest mayor in the history of the City of Newark.

[ADMINISTRATOR]

Blkphoenix asks:

1. The retail businesses of Downtown Newark lack diversity. Too many $0.99 stores, beauty salons, jewelry stores.....etc. which many feel helps attract a negative element to the area. What are your plans to encourage retail diversity and attract "better" retailers (ex. Target, Barnes & Noble...etc.) to Downtown?

2. What are your plans to improve Homeland Security in Newark?

[ADMINISTRATOR]

Prosouth asks:

Mr. Booker:

Growing up in the 70s in Newark we had after school recreation. There were football, basketball and baseball leagues. Those days were very impressionable and important in my childhood development. It should be understood that when kids are playing sports they are not hanging out and doing things they shouldn't be doing. We can take back many of these kids from the gangs by offering them a real alternative.

My question is, if you become Mayor and the state continues to retain control over the schools what are you prepared to do independent of the BOE to bring afterschool recreation and sports back to the City of Newark?

[ADMINISTRATOR]

Newark Black Business Alliance asks:

You are heavily supported by many businesses in the Ironbound. Business leaders in the Ironbound like Seabra and others have used their business influence there to rally support for your candidacy over the last few years. No one can deny your overwhelming popularity there.

However, Seabra is not building supermarkets in the Black communities of Newark, nor are any of the Ironbound's Banks (Ironbound Bank, Penn Federal, Crown, BCP, Lusitania, ect.) building branches in the Black communities of Newark. The money generated from these businesses go to feed and support their community. In addition Mr. Booker, the businesses of the Ironbound do not hire African-Americans to work for their businesses. Most of them won't even patronize African-American businesses. Their money goes to their people to feed their families and to help their community grow, prosper and to economically enrich them.

Understanding this, what will you do as an African-American to encourage the creation and support of African-American (not just minority) owned business in Newark? It is understood that you must be the Mayor of all of Newark however you also must recognize the "special" dilemmas African-American entrepreneurs have had in their struggles to create wealth, employment and economic growth for our (African-American) community.