"I WILL NOT BE CONTENT" BOOKER CHARTS NEW COURSE FOR NEWARK
Bookin' Newark's Destiny
SARAH RAHMAN, OBSERVER NEWS EDITOR
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Page One
Newark is on its way to fulfilling its destiny of greatness, so says Mayor Cory A. Booker.
But not without strong family ties, technologically advanced public safety, and civil solidarity.
At the second annual State of the City address on Feb. 7, Booker, welcomed with booming applause by invitation-only guests, talked at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on new proposals and plans in store for the city.
Focusing on programs in 2008 that invest in the families of Newark, beautifying its parks, and improving public safety, Booker proudly boasted of how "we had a great year demonstrating who we are."
"I'm proud of our progress in 2007," he said. "We faced great challenges, but we never faltered in our mission to distinguish our city as the most dynamic, the most exciting city on the move in America. We continued to march towards Newark's certain destiny - to be America's leading city in urban transformation."
Describing family as the "fundamental building block," Booker proposed a new program called "Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren," a pilot program to assist low-income grandparents who are raising their grandchildren by providing "direct financial assistance, key referrals, and other forms of assistance including housing, clothing, nutrition, and utility systems."
Booker also proposed another family-related initiative to support the fathers of Newark, both of which were exceptionally received by the audience.
"In keeping with the tradition in every family, in every faith, is one of our nation's most profound traditions - to honor our elders," explained Booker.
"More than 10 percent of our city's children are being raised by their grandparents, and many of these families are living below the poverty line." Booker continued.
He went on to say that his administration, specifically a newly formed senior life council advising him, would be sponsoring city-wide financial planning, pre-retirement, and seminars for the seniors of the city, applauding the first ever senior citizen olympics last year, as well as the dozens of seniors that graduated from the senior citizen police academy.
But not without strong family ties, technologically advanced public safety, and civil solidarity.
At the second annual State of the City address on Feb. 7, Booker, welcomed with booming applause by invitation-only guests, talked at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on new proposals and plans in store for the city.
Focusing on programs in 2008 that invest in the families of Newark, beautifying its parks, and improving public safety, Booker proudly boasted of how "we had a great year demonstrating who we are."
"I'm proud of our progress in 2007," he said. "We faced great challenges, but we never faltered in our mission to distinguish our city as the most dynamic, the most exciting city on the move in America. We continued to march towards Newark's certain destiny - to be America's leading city in urban transformation."
Describing family as the "fundamental building block," Booker proposed a new program called "Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren," a pilot program to assist low-income grandparents who are raising their grandchildren by providing "direct financial assistance, key referrals, and other forms of assistance including housing, clothing, nutrition, and utility systems."
Booker also proposed another family-related initiative to support the fathers of Newark, both of which were exceptionally received by the audience.
"In keeping with the tradition in every family, in every faith, is one of our nation's most profound traditions - to honor our elders," explained Booker.
"More than 10 percent of our city's children are being raised by their grandparents, and many of these families are living below the poverty line." Booker continued.
He went on to say that his administration, specifically a newly formed senior life council advising him, would be sponsoring city-wide financial planning, pre-retirement, and seminars for the seniors of the city, applauding the first ever senior citizen olympics last year, as well as the dozens of seniors that graduated from the senior citizen police academy.
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