Newark gets $45M in aid in exchange for state oversight
“Creative accounting,” when it brings legitimate dollars to the bottom line, can be a beautiful thing.
Newark accepted a $45 million bailout from New Jersey taxpayers today, in return for accepting the state designation of “distressed city,” and allowing state oversight of hiring and finances.
The special infusion [...]
Demolition Task Force to Raze Abandoned Properties
This weekend I received a letter from a member of a tenant’s association concerned about abandoned properties being a major source of difficulty for their neighborhood. Apart from the blighted streetscape, abandoned properties can encourage drug dealing (a major source of the city’s violent crime) and squatting by [...]
I received a flyer from the City Hall the other day describing the new parks coming to the city. The city is partnering with philanthropists to bring playgrounds, sports fields, pools and walkable green space to Newark neighborhoods.
Mayor Cory A. Booker and the City Council create the largest historic fund for City Parks
Through Green [...]
Newark City Hall will get plush loo
Too funny. I’ll actually get to visit City Hall today to get a first-hand account of just how bad these bathrooms really are.
Last week, some members of the Newark Council lamented the state of the bathrooms in City Hall, saying they were unfit for the public [...]
Newark pols split on Senate hopefuls
Katie Wang with the Inside Baseball look at the Booker administration’s mixed support in the NJ senate race for Sen. Lautenberg’s seat.
Bankston said when he broke the news to Booker that he was supporting Andrews, the mayor hung his head and grinned.
“I’m a senior adviser in his cabinet, and [...]
Newark has haven in East Ward office
The Ledger profiles “Little City Hall”—Augusto Amador’s office on Monroe Street in the Ironbound, which provides services to the community you might otherwise get at City Hall downtown.
Like old friends, Gloria Feijo and Rosa Tavares chatted in Portuguese about the weather, family and the traditional Portuguese pastries Feijo bakes.
Before [...]
Faiella seeks to settle his bankruptcy debt
Details on how former Newark Deputy Mayor Alfred Faiella is attempting to settle massive debts to creditors—the whole thing just reeks. In addition to the bankruptcy cases Faiella faces, he may also receive a summons from the city itself:
Newark city officials are exploring a possible lawsuit against Faiella [...]
Joan Whitlow’s TahoeWatch stretches into Day 14. As predicted yesterday, the “embedded” City Hall reporter finds space in this week’s column and time in her busy schedule to tail Booker’s security detail to the local car wash: The misuse of official vehicles doesn’t wash.
I understand what Joanie’s issue is with the [...]
It looks as though Joan Whitlow has taken investigative reporting to a new level.
After Newarkers endured to her May 10 piece, casing the mayor’s new ride, the Ledger’s “embedded reporter” at City Hall is rumored to have been stalking the mayor like a jilted girlfriend.
To the car wash.
The Daily Newarker received a tip [...]
Bathroom upgrade stalls City Hall makeover
Amusing glimpse from last night’s city council meeting by Katie Wang at the Ledger.
But, seriously, how bad are we talking here? Have there been sightings of the council members slipping out the back door of City Hall to use the new restrooms up at the Prudential Center?
On Wednesday, [...]