This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

Booker: 'Leading Newark Is the Greatest Challenge of My Life'

Cory Booker says community collaboration is the secret to Newark's progress, in this series sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. As the mayor of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, Cory Booker says he understands the importance of leadership. But he especially acknowledges the importance of inspiring and engaging local leaders to assist in achieving community goals. Q. PATCH: What is the biggest challenge you’ve taken on?   A. BOOKER: Leading Newark is the greatest challenge of my life, but it’s not a policy challenge.  I’m proud we’ve notched victories — fought to improve education, create jobs and cut crime. But the challenge has been the…

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Booker Urges Support for Lautenberg, Despite his Interest in Senate Seat

Mayor wants senator's blessing for 2014 campaign

Despite declaring interest in Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s job and registering a “Booker for Senate” campaign with federal election officials last week, Newark Mayor Cory Booker said Monday he was not trying to poach any of the veteran lawmaker’s support.  Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Booker said his focus during the next year will be on his current job, including hiring more police officers and overseeing an estimated $1 billion in investment destined for the state’s largest city. His campaign for Senate in 2014 is only in the “preliminary stages,” he said. After months during which Booker deliberated over whether to run for governor against Republican Chris Christie, the 43-year-old mayor announced in December his decision to instead …

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Judge: City Must Surrender Emails About $100M School Donation

A judge ordered Wednesday for the City of Newark to make public 36 emails about the $100 million donation Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made in 2010.

An Essex County Superior Court judge has ordered Newark officials to handover emails about the $100 million donation Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made to the city’s schools in 2010.   The Wednesday ruling said the city must release 36 emails exchanged between Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Superintendent of Schools Cami Anderson and other public officials about the donation.   City officials did not immediately repsond to a request for comment Thursday. The ruling, issued by Judge Rachel Davidson, came after the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey sued the city in August 2011 calling for more transparency about the $100 million pledge. The ACLU sued the city on behalf the Secondary Parent Council, a group of Newark parents.  The …

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Report: Booker Leaning Toward Senate Run

Mayor would go for Lautenberg's seat in '14, paper says.

  The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Newark Mayor Cory Booker appears likely to seek the US Senate seat now held by fellow Democrat Frank Lautenberg.  At a July appearance in Bergen County, Booker confirmed long-held suspicions he might be seeking higher office, announcing his interest in running either for Senate or against popular Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Earlier this month, Booker vowed to make his decision before Christmas.   In an October poll, Booker had the strongest showing among a hypothetical field of Democrats against Christie, with the mayor coming within a few percentage points of the first-term governor. But a subsequent poll, taken after Christie’s widely praised performance during Hurricane Sandy, showed …

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Booker Talks Governor Run, Food Stamp Challenge [Video]

Booker to HuffPo Live: "When I go out and campaign next year for myself as a gubernatorial candidate or for another gubernatorial candidate should I decide not to run..."

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Newark Makes Space for Elbow Room

New restaurant specializes in the ultimate comfort food – macaroni and cheese – with a twist

Halsey Street in Newark has made way for Elbow Room, a restaurant that got its start in comfort food concoctions right across the Hudson River. The casual corner joint, near Bleeker Street, recreates down-home macaroni and cheese using kicked-up flavors, like fiery buffalo chicken macaroni with Black River blue cheese and Frank's hot sauce, and heart-stopping poutine mac with short rib gravy, Yukon french fries and fresh cheese curds. Restaurateur Joel Bolden celebrated Tuesday the grand opening of Elbow Room's second location in Newark, after opening the first at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. "I wanted to be at the forefront of the Newark food renaissance," said Bolden of opening a location in Brick City. "I love the history of the…

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Lia Eustachewich

8:34 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Thanks for the feedback. We don't "promote" restaurants, we write about them when it's newsworthy, like yesterday's grand opening. I'd be happy to consider writing about other restaurants in Newark if you had some in mind, Diane.   more ›

Democratic Party Supports Same-Sex Marriage

Platform committee, co-chaired by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, backs issue for first time

The national Democratic party's platform committee, co-chaired by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, voted Saturday to endorse same-sex marriage for the first time. In a meeting in Detroit this weekend, the committee also called for the repeal of the 1996 law that recognizes marriage as between a man and woman, saying that it supports the "movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples," the Associated Press reported. Booker told Bloomberg Businessweek that while the committee's action to endorse same-sex marriage was "very significant," the top issue in the presidential campaign would be the economy. "At the end of the day, it'll maybe repel some and attract others to be more engaged," Booker told the Associated Press. "This …

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Cory Booker Hints at Chris Christie Challenge, Senate Run

Booker said at a Democratic County Committee event in Fair Lawn Wednesday that although he's focused on running Newark for now, he's strongly considering seeking higher office in the future.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is having the time of his life leading his city's urban revitalization, but it hasn't kept him from strongly considering a run at higher office when his term expires in 2014. That's what the rising Democratic star told a partisan audience of about 200 on Wednesday night at a Fair Lawn Democratic County Committee event at the Fair Lawn Community Center. "I came [to Newark] and said I was going to do a mission," said Booker, responding to an audience question about his future political aspirations. "But I'll tell you this, I'm strongly considering the options at the end of my term." Booker said he has his eyes set on either the governor's seat or the U.S. Senate seat currently held by 88-year-old Frank Lautenberg. If…

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Legs2

9:35 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Are you saying we should elect a fireman?   more ›

Booker Lands Major Democratic Party Role

Newark's mayor will help formulate party platform

  Reports of Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s death as a player in national Democratic Party politics have apparently been greatly exaggerated. Booker, along with Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and others, has been selected to help craft the party’s platform for the next four years, the National Journal reported this week. The mayor, who has fans from coast to coast thanks to his attention-grabbing exploits and huge following on Twitter, will help chair a committee advising delegates to the Democratic National Convention being held in Charlotte, N.C. September 3rd. In May, Booker angered many in the party by defending presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s career with Bain Capital, which was the subject of recent attack …

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