Everything Newark

Rutgers-Newark: Rutgers-Newark Campus To Host Newark’s Four Mayoral Candidates In May 2 Debate. One week before election day, Rutgers-Newark will be hosting the mayoral-candidate smackdown on May 2^nd at the Robeson Center.

The event at R-N will be the only forum to bring together all four candidates in the nonpartisan election: David Blount, Cory Booker, Ronald L. Rice and Nancy Rosenstock. The format calls for the debate moderator, Desiree Taylor of NJN, to present a series of questions, with each candidate given an equal amount of time to respond to each. Questions will be drawn both from audience questions, submitted shortly before the debate, and questions developed by Student Voices based on input from Newark high school students about local issues they are most concerned about. Doors to the program will open at 6:30 p.m. to allow audience members to submit their questions.

Clement Price, Newark historian at Rutgers University, introduced tonight’s screening of Marshall Curry’s “Street Fight” by explaining its relevance in the stream of documentaries about the city, including “City of Promise” and “Revolution: 1967”. He noted the film’s Oscar nomination, but explained that the film was ultimately was beaten out by 100 penguins.

We got started with the film shortly after Curry shared some additional words of introduction—though some technical difficulties at the outset prompted a member of the audience to ask, “Is there anyone here from NJIT?” It was fun to see the film again, this time with an audience. We laughed as one enthusiastic little girl declared that Booker “smells like the future,” and gasped in amazement as Curry caught James telling lie after lie down the campaign trail.

I’m just getting around to reading the Q&A Cory Booker had with the Newark Speaks community. His answers to the handful of questions he chose to answer were very clear and exciting for the people of Newark. One question, in particular, really struck me as an extreme example of public service:

Q. Do you plan to move (I’m embarrassed to say my mayor lives in a run down apt. building.) and if so what ward do he plan to move to?

The Newark Star Ledger helpfully gives a thumbnail sketch of the candidates running in the East Ward: Newark’s East Ward Candidates. The two candidates’ platforms are virtually identical around the issues of property taxes, crime and new schools. Linhares seems to be more verbose—which might have something to do with that law degree—whereas Amador’s language is more pragmatic, concrete and time-bound.

The hardworking folks over at the New York Times Newark06 blog figured out who had posted a mysterious attack ad against Booker on the web a couple of weeks ago: “Corey” Ad Mystery Solved!. Great work, guys!

He went on: “We collect data, sir, and we try to give the people of Newark the right message. The message is we need to save Newark from the outsiders who are coming in and trying to take over this city.”

…

Your area code isn’t from around here. Do you live in Newark?

Pause.

U.S. News & World Report: The guy in the thick of it (via). An in-depth look at Booker’s inspiration to run for public office. Favorite quote:

The real dignity in life is not winning the battle; it’s being in the fight.

The New York Times Newark06 blog interviews Newarkers to get their take on the upcoming mayoral election. Interesting insights from Area Man (he says with a completely straight face).