Newark after Booker: City faces takeover threat
New Jersey’s largest city is hitting some roadblocks just months after its rising-star mayor went off to Washington.
Since Cory Booker’s departure, a bold reform plan for the state-run school system has hit a snag. The police department is facing federal oversight over citizen complaints. And the state is threatening a takeover of the city’s finances after several key deadlines were missed.
A state official who oversees the city’s compliance with state obligations is awaiting the results of an audit to determine whether he will recommend bringing Newark’s finances under formal state oversight.
Booker is now a U.S. senator. He says he left Newark’s books in shape.
His interim successor is Mayor Luis Quintana. He opposes a state takeover and says his administration is working to address the state’s concerns.
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