booker administration legacy document

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MOVINGNEWARK

FORWARDTHE LEGACY OF THE BOOKER ADMINISTRATION


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Since being sworn in as mayor of our historic city in 2006, Ive had the honor of workingclosely with countless residents, municipal employees, elected officials, community leaders,and advocates to move Newark forward. It hasnt been easy, but together, we have brought realchange to our city and set the stage for even more progress in the future.

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

When we began this journey, Newark faced seemingly intractable problems on a number offronts. Cynics said our city was ungovernable. That was before we passed ethics reform andused CitiStat to make City Hall more accountable, transparent, and efficient. Cynics said wewould never attract new residents to move here. That was before we doubled the rate of

affordable housing production, attracted developers to construct new apartment buildings, andsaw our population grow for the first time in sixty years. Cynics said Newark was not a placewhere companies wanted to move. That was before we recruited dozens of businesses to ourcity -- from multinational corporations to restaurants and grocery stores.

These accomplishments do not represent nearly all that weve achieved together. But they are perfect examples of what happens when a community bands together to take on tough issues.Collectively, we have restored the fiscal and ethical integrity of our government, we haverevived our states economic engine, and we have moved aggressively to promote financial

empowerment and family success. We also recognize that as a city, we are more than simplythe sum of our parts. The small acts of compassion and decency that I witness each day in ourneighborhoods are the greatest source of power for our citys continued success.

As Newark transitions into a new era, we still face challenges that will only be overcome if allof our residents and stakeholders work together and take responsiblity for what happens in ourbuildings, blocks, neighborhoods, and wards. I have never been more optimistic about whatspossible in Brick City. While I may be leaving City Hall, I will remain a Newark resident andI will still have the privilege of representing you every day, though it will be as a U.S. Senator.

Serving the people of Newark in this role has been the greatest honor of my life. Thank youfor your commitment to moving our city forward. Lets keep it up.

Sincerely,

Mayor Cory A. Booker


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TABLEOF CONTENTSCONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

UBLIC SAFETY

DUCATION

UALITY OF LIFE

OVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

UDGET

1

5

ECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

9-1

13-1

15-1

17-1

19-2


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FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT

SUSTAINABILITY

URBAN PLANNING

VETERANS

PHILANTHROPY

FOOD POLICY

21-2

23-2

25-2


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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTRANSFORMATIVE

THE BOOKER ADMINISTRATION MOVING NEWARK FORWARD

POPULATION GROWTH

60

BIGGEST ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT PERIOD

GENERATION I N

A

FIRST

IN YEARS

Moving Newark Forward

FIRST SOURCE AGREEMENTS

are negotiated by the city withbusinesses to secure priorityhiring for Newark residents.

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS

are arrangements negotiatedby the city that ensure Newark

residents comprise at least 30%of the project workforce.

After taking ofce two years prior to the worst nancial crisis since the Great Depression,

Mayor Booker worked with the Newark Municipal Council to mitigate the effects of therecession by creating jobs and attracting businesses to the city. The result has been thebiggest economic development preiod in a generation , with billions in privateinvestment ooding the city and thousands of construction and permanent jobs forcity residents . For the rst time in decades, ofce towers, hotels, and residential buildingsbegan rising into Newarks skyline.

Most importantly, this development took place across Newark and not just downtown. Infact, more than 50 percent of the projects during 2011 and 2012 were located outside ofthe citys downtown business district. All of the projects negotiated by the city have

included project labor agreements that require Newark residents to be hired forconstruction positions . In addition, rst source agreements give Newark residentspriority for permanent jobs once projects are completed and when positions becomeavailable in the future.

The projects sprouting up across Newark have cultivated a sustainable ecosystem ofresidential, commercial, and retail spaces that attracts residents, businesses, and visitors.

Thats why Newark has seen its population grow for the rst time since the 1950s.


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BUILDING NEWARK

When Mayor Booker took ofce, the commercial and multi-family developmenthappening in Newark made up less than one percent of the states total. In 2013,Newark accounted for one-third of all commercial and multi-family development inthe entire state -- despite making up only three percent of New Jerseys population.

Mayor Booker recognized that the city needed an outside developmentagency to support the recruitment of companies to Newark -- and to help aspiringentrepreneurs gain the skills and resources needed to make their business ideas areality. Thats why the mayor created the Brick City Development Corporation . Since itsfounding in 2007, BCDC has lent over $14.6 million to local small businesses andassisted more than 500 aspiring entrepreneurs. The Grow Newark Fund is a $6 millionoan fund providing capital to locally-owned small businesses that have trouble obtainingoans from traditional lending institutions.

During 2011 and 2012, the city saw $1 billion in new projects break ground, andduring 2013 and 2014 that number will double, as $2 billion in projects move forward.

2013- 20142011- 2012$1 Billion Invested $2 Billion Invested

Mayor Booker launches Kiva City Newark, a small business crowdfunding platform

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HISTORIC TRANSFORMATION

YEARS20

FIRST NEW OFFICETOWERS BUILTIN 20 YEARS

YEARS50

YEARS20

YEARS40

FIRST NEWDOWNTOWNHOTELSIN 40 YEARS

PrudentialPanasonic Cablevision

FIRST NEW RESIDENTIALHIGH-RISE TO BEBUILT DOWNTOWNIN 50 YEARS

FIRST NEWSUPERMARKETSIN 20 YEARS

Courtyard by MarriottIndigo HotelCarlton Hotel

Key FoodSeabraFood DepotShopRiteWhole Foods

One Riverview atRector StreetTwo Theater Square

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[

A SAFER NEWARK

MURDERDOWN

17%

RAPEDOWN

38%

THEFTDOWN

11% 26%

THEFTDOWN A U

T O

SHOOTINGINCIDENTS

DOWN

27%

AGG RAVATED

ASSAULT

DOWN

12%

Average Reductions in Crime Since 2006

Making Newark safer was a top priority of Mayor Bookers administration. Fromimplementing unique policing strategies to personally riding on hundreds of nightpatrols across the city, the mayor took a hands-on approach to public safety thatsuccessfully reduced crime in Newark . In addition to tough, targeted initiativesto combat gangs and drugs -- including the rst-ever specialized Narcotics Unit --the Booker Administration implemented broad community-based efforts to improveeducational and employment opportunities. Mayor Booker has engaged in anddirected both local and national conversations that have sought to address theunderlying structural causes of violence in Newark and urban areas across the U.S.

THE BOOKER ADMINISTRATION MOVING NEWARK FORWARD SAFER

MAKING NEWARK


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GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREETS

-Mayor Cory Booker State of the City

2013

UR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM

CANNOT ARRESTWE

EDUCATEWE MUSTOUR WAYOUT OF IT

OUR WAY

OUT OF ITWORK WE MUST

Early in his tenure, Mayor Booker joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns , national group committed to passing sensible gun laws. The mayor has sinceserved as a leading voice in calling for background checks to reduce the numberof rearms trafcked across state lines for illegal resale on the streets of Americancities. In August 2013, Mayor Booker and Police Director Samuel DeMaio joinedPresident Obama and mayors from across the country at The White House for adiscussion about preventing youth violence.

The City of Newark has also workedin partnership with the State of New

Jersey and Essex County to holdsuccessful gun buyback programsfunded by non-prot organizations..

Through these programs, Newarkresidents have turned in hundreds ofguns at no cost to taxpayers.


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POLICE DEPARTMENT into the 21 st CENTURYby installing computers in precincts and putting cameras and

gun detection technology on to the streets.

He hauled the


ADVANCING TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIESMayor Booker established the Police Foundation and raised millions of dollars tosupplement the resources of the Newark Police Department, enabling the purchaseof cutting-edge technology and new equipment for ofcers. Thanks to those privatefunds, Newark was able to install innovative gunshot detection systems across thecity, mount cameras at high-crime intersections , purchase new safetyequipment for ofcers and upgrade the citys police helicopter with improvementslike infrared capability. In addition to the Police Foundations contributions, the BookerAdministration and the Municipal Council spearheaded the construction of a newstate-of-the-art 75,000 square foot command center in the Fifth Precinct and built a newsub-precinct downtown.Under the mayors leadership, the police department utilized a sophisticated platformcalled ComStat to track every facet of police data. ComStat has served as an effectiveaccountability mechanism for police strategies and enabled the police departmentto make changes to personnel deployment using real-time data. The system has alsoallowed the public increased access to police statistics.

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The grant gives teachers an opportunityto start programs tailored to the needs oftheir schools. Programs awarded fundinginclude ones to boost literacy, use iPadsfor special education instruction and helphigh school students conduct complexchemistry research.

U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

You have a mayor who is actively engaged .A lot of mayors run from education because it is difcult

and challenging. [Mayor Booker is] running to it.


INVESTMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS

Mayor Booker worked with Governor Christie to attract the support andinvestment of Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg , who donated $100million to Newark schools , establishing the education non-prot, Foundationfor Newarks Future . Over the course of three years, that $100 million wasmatched by other contributors to total more than $200 million in investments tostrengthen Newark schools.

The Teachers Innovation Fund was setp to encourage educators to developreative classroom programs. Teachers areble to apply for funding through a process

managed by the Foundation for Newarksuture. This fund has resulted in a variety ofew programs in Newark schools.

Over the last two years, there has been a 61 percent increase in preschoolersin district classrooms .

Between the school years of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, Newark saw a 7 percentrise in high school graduation rates, the highest increase among New Jerseyslargest school districts .

- ARNE DUNCAN ,

Mayor Booker engages with students at University High School-

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INVESTMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS

MAYOR BOOKER

3382OVERSAW THEEXPANSION OF

NEWCHARTER

SEATS

Mayor Booker worked with community stakeholders to create the NewarkCharter School Fund , which has raised more than $35 million to strengthenand expand Newark schools . Since its inception, the number of studentsin charter schools has doubled, while the organization has worked incollaboration with other public schools in Newark to share best practices. Newarkcharter schools are among the highest performing in the country.

Mayor Booker talks with students at North Star Academy


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The Booker Administration and theNewark Municipal Council helped bringTeachers Village to Newark. The $130million development project features

hree new charter schools , areschool, more than 200 apartmentnits for local teachers and 70,000quare feet of retail space . The project

will serve as the anchor of a buddingeighborhood while giving residents

more quality education options.

Teachers Village may in the processdemonstrate a new national model on the old rule that the vitality of aneighborhood is intimately tied to thequality of its schools.


TEACHERS VILLAGE

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QUALITY

LIFEOF

ENHANCED COMMUNITY RESOURCES

IMPROVING


Mayor Booker successfully instituted an array of changes in Newark to makelife better for the citys residents. From new recreation centers to aunprecedented parks expansion , the Booker Administration and the NewarkMunicipal Council championed innovative programs and implemented strategiesthat have changed what it means to live in Newark.

Mayor Booker oversaw the comprehensive rehabilitation of each of the citysrecreation centers. By upgrading the facilities and offering a wider variety ofprograms, the Booker Administration gave Newark residents more opportunititesto stay off the streets by taking part in fun, free activities in their neighborhood.

The city also saw an expansion of family support services, such as the UnitedStates second-ever Grandparents Success Center , New Jerseys rstresource center that provides services for grandparent-led households. The mayorestablished the Newark Comprehensive Center for Fathers , which providesfathers with employment assistance, parenting skills training, and other criticalresources. In 2009, the Booker Administration launched Newark Rx, whichpartnered with private foundations to allow immediate access to affordablemedications for thousands of uninsured Newark residents.

As co-chair of First Lady Michelle Obamas LetsMove! campaign, Mayor Booker brought together65 public and private partners to ght childobesity in Newark by providing tens ofthousands of residents with information aboutthe importance of exercising and making healthy

food choices.Reu


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PIONEERED OPEN SPACE EXPANSION

After raising more than $15 million in private funding for open space improvements,Mayor Booker oversaw the opening or rehabilitation of 50 acres of parks space. Acenterpiece of the effort was the opening of Newarks Riverfront Park , whicgives residents access to their river for the rst time in three decades and includes a

boardwalk, bike lanes, and a boat dock. As the mayor leaves ofce, the 364-year-oldMilitary Park is undergoing transformative changes that will solidify its placeas a community gathering space for generations to come.

ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD

Recognizing the need for increased accessibility to nutritious food options for residents-- 50 percent of whom dont own cars -- the Booker Administration brought ve newsupermarkets to Newark. The mayor also hired a Food Policy Director , one of on20 in the nation, leading to the opening of urban farms in Newark , including thHawthorne Avenue farm, New Jerseys largest . Expanded Newark Farmers Marketsnow accept SNAP benets for the rst time in history.

A QUIET UPHEAVAL

IS TURNING THATRIVER ... INTO A FRONT LINE

OF RECLAMATION .

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MAKING GOVERNMENT

ACCOUNTABLE

A NEW NEWARK GOVERNMENT

Mayor Booker took ofce with a mandate to work with the Municipal Council to

make City Hall more efcient, more transparent, and more accountable to theresidents of Newark. During his rst year in ofce, Mayor Booker took action torestore public condence in city government, creating the Ofce of the InspectorGeneral to conduct investigations of potential misconduct within the administration.The ofce secured 19 indictments and convictions of city employees stealing moneyfrom taxpayers and signicantly reduced the number of ethical complaints.

In addition, Mayor Booker instituted Brick CitiSTAT -- modeled on the City ofBaltimores CitiSTAT program -- to collect data and analyze productivity across citydepartments. This data management platform is linked to the BookerAdministrations 4311 system , the citys rst central hotline for residents, which hasenabled better constituent service. With the introduction of the CitiSTAT program,each department has been required to meet with the administration monthly, explaintheir numbers, and brainstorm how to become more efcient. Brick CitiSTAT hasmade agencies more accountable and saved the city millions of dollars.


2006 -- more outstanding claims than total number of city employees

When Mayor Booker took ofce in 2006, there were more workmens compensationclaims than total number of city employees. Absenteeism was alsoa major problemthroughout city departments. In 2013, workmens compensation claims andemployee absences are incredibly lower than they were in 2006.

2013 -- workmens compensation & employee absences down signicantly


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RESTRUCTURINGTHE BUDGET


In 2006, Mayor Booker inherited a municipal budget with a $118 million decitthat was projected to rise to more than $200 million. Just two years later, theworst nancial crisis since the Great Depression hit Newark hard, exacerbating

the existing problems and leading to a budget crisis in 2010.Recognizing the need to make painful decisions, Mayor Booker laid off 25percent of the municipal workforce, cut spending by 20 percent , and workedto make city departments more efcient. Under the Booker Administration, thecity has been able to collect more and more of the taxes its owed -- moving froman 86% tax collection rate when the mayor took ofce to 96% last year.

MUNICIPAL

DOWN

20%

SPENDINGTAX COLLECTION AT

HIGHEST LEVEL IN TWO DECADES

96%COLLECTION RATE

2006

In 2014, non-property tax revenues are expected to increase signicantly,thanks to new businesses and hotels, the 2014 Super Bowl, and increasedhotel, ticket and parking tax revenues from the Prudential Center. Even as healthcare costs continue their precipitous rise, the Booker Administrations scalmanagement has allowed the city to keep pace with costs and continue todeliver quality health care to city employees and their families.

86%COLLECTION RATE

2012


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TECHNOLOGICAL

INNOVATIONWhen Mayor Booker took ofce in 2006, he moved a computer from his own ofce

to a police precinct, one of many stations that lacked basic technology. Sevenyears later, the Booker Administration has greatly advanced Newarkstechnological capabilities and redenied how city government works both for andwith its residents.


DATA MANAGEMENT

NEWARK 2.0

The Booker Administration took an innovative data management system used bythe City of Baltimore and implemented it at City Hall. Using CitiSTAT , citmanagers are better able to track department progress and hold employeesaccountable for their work. CitiSTAT has improved efciency across departments.

In 2008, the Booker Administration launched 4311 , the City of Newarks rstphone hotline for non-emergency complaints, concerns, and questions. In 2013,the 4311 line will become accessible through a smartphone app. It will also beintegrated with a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will track andmap residents requests and complaints on an open data system , making the

data more transparent and the information more accessible to residents.

#hackNWK

In 2013, the mayor hosted Newarks rst hackathon -- an open call for submissionsto rethink and redesign the City of Newarks website. The goal was a moreuser-friendly site that enables residents to quickly nd information and engage withtheir government. The winner built a durable, cutting-edge site for a fraction of the

cost of a major developer, saving residents hundreds of thousands of dollars


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TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY


The Booker Administration also took an innovative, technology-driven approachto public safety . The Police Foundation -- established by Mayor Booker -- raisedmillions in private funds to upgrade the capabilities of Newarks lawenforcement ofcials. These funds enabled the Newark Police Department toinstall gunshot detection technology across the city, allowing police and medicsto respond immediately following a shooting incident, saving precious minutesbefore the arrival of a 911 call. In addition, the Police Department was able toinstall cameras in high-crime neighborhoods, which has had a palpable andimmeasurable deterrent effect on would-be shooters. The gunshot detectionsystem and the new cameras are some of the many strategies Newark has usedto reduce gun violence, which is down 27% during the mayors tenure.

Technlology has also helped the city vastly reduce the number of accidents athistorically problematic intersections, thanks to the 2009 installation ofstate-of-the-art red light cameras. These cameras helped lead to a 64%decrease in automobile accidents and a 69% decrease in right-anglecollisions, the deadliest kind of automobile crash.

Mayor Booker gives advice to #hackNWK participants during user experience testing

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FINANCIALEMPOWERMENT

Over the past seven years, the Booker Administration launched a series of

initiatives and programs to provide Newark residents with opportunities fornancial empowerment. These programs have helped residents take advantage oftax credits, save money, and become more aware of nancial scams andpredatory lending practices.

The Booker Administration launched the citys Bank on Newark campaignenabling low-income residents to open and maintain bank accounts, and reducetheir dependence on fee-charging check-cashing agencies. The partnership with11 local nancial institutions has helped Newark residents build credit and savehundreds of dollars per year in check-cashing fees.

BANK ON NEWARK

Newark Financial Empowerment Center


Mayor Booker partnered with Newark NOW to launch the FinancialEmpowerment Center -- the rst in the state of New Jersey -- which hasconnected thousands of Newark residents to millions of dollars in tax credits andassisted families with nancial literacy. The Financial Empowerment Center has

provided services to Newark residents ranging from career counseling to benetsaccess assistance and guidance on responsible personal nance.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT

More than 6,000 clients served since 2008 More than $6.77 million in services rendered

10% increase in household income for average client


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Attracted major LEEDcertied commercialprojects to Newark,including the newheadquarters forthe PanasonicCorporation ofNorth America.

Removed over 35,000 tons of recyclables -- with a focus on electronics --from the waste stream. The program paired people coming home from prison

with employement opportunities supporting the initiative.

Attracted $2 million for a Green andHealthy Homes initiative targeting at least200 homes of children with severe asthma.

Attracted $1.5 million for the NewarkGreenstreets initiative, engaging youth andblock associations in planting street treesto cool and beautify their neighborhoods.

This initiative will plant over 2,000 streettrees by the end of 2014.

Leveraged resources to clean up pollutionat seven major brownelds, includingthe Morris/Lister site, which created 400construction jobs and 200 permanent

jobs.

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INNOVATIVEURBAN PLANNING


URBAN DESIGN

In 2008, Mayor Booker hired the City of Newarks rst-ever Urban Designerto focus on improving the quality of Newarks shared space including streets,parks, and plazas.

Under the mayors leadership, the urban design team has achieved thebiggest Newark parks expansion in over a century, with 50 acres of parksrevitalized under the mayors tenure and jobs created for Newark residents inthe process.

NEWARK WATERFRONT REVIVAL

In 2008, Mayor Booker and the Newark Planning Ofce launched NewarkRiverfront Revival to connect residents and visitors to the Passaic River.

Since then, thousands of Newark residents and visitors have visited, learnedabout, and experienced the river on boat rides, walking tours, and school trips.

In 2012 and 2013, Newarks rst two segments of Riverfront Park opened to thepublic, completing a dramatic transformation of over 15 acres of formerlyoff-limits riverfront property.

The Booker Administration worked with Essex County and private partners tocreate the new parks that include features most requested by residents: sportselds, bicycle and walking paths, a boardwalk, oating boat dock, playgroundsand entertainment space.

In 2013, the Newark Municipal Council approved the rst new Riverfront Zoningredevelopment plan in fty years.


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NEWARK PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

In 2009, Mayor Booker relaunched the Newark Public Art Program underthe direction of the Newark Planning Ofce.

Since then, the program has created and sustained Newark Murals, throughwhich collaborations of artists, residents, young people, city staff, andcommunity-based organizations have created 20 large-scale paintings inthirteen neighborhoods.

Newark Murals creates public art projects that advance the neighborhoodimprovement agendas of the citys community-based organizations and isone of the nations only public art programs launched from a planning ofce.

To date, the Newark Public Art Program has completed 20 large paintingsin 13 neighborhoods , commissioned 14 artists , provided 120 jobs andtraining for Newarks young people, engaged over 200volunteers , partnered with over 20 community-based organizations ,received sponsored from over 50 businesses & nonprots and has wonthe NJ State Council on the Arts 2012 Innovator Award.

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