Friday, December 19, 2008

Kudos To Cory Booker

Cory Booker became the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey on the strength of his promise that he would bring the crime rate down. He's making good on that promise. This year looks like it will end with a 50% decline in the murder rate.

How did he and his police force accomplish this? They aggressively went after narcotics crimes, and utilized many of the techniques that helped the New York Police Department get runaway crime under control and brought down the murder rate to levels not seen in more than 40 years.

Booker, a Democrat, won the election after Sharpe James, another Democrat chose not to run against Booker a second time. He won a decisive election in 2006 against Ronald Rice. Booker's first attempt to win the election against James in 2002 was the subject of a well regarded documentary and dirty politics played a major role in Booker's loss.

Turnabout was fair play, as Booker's review of the city's books revealed that James was living the high life on the taxpayer dime.

I think that Mayor Booker has given his city quite the Christmas present.

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