Newark Talk

[RichO]

Newark council members question mayor's tactics
Officials say Booker's push for legal contract shows lack of respect for their authority
Friday, June 08, 2007
BY KATIE WANG
Star-Ledger Staff
When they took office about a year ago, the nine Newark City Council members and Mayor Cory Booker pledged to use teamwork in reforming the city.

But that unity is starting to fray, exposing a growing frustration and tension between the council and administration. Last Friday, the Booker administration pushed through a contract saying four yes votes were sufficient to increase a legal contract to $1.8 million, be cause the vote represented a majority of the six members who were at the meeting.

On Wednesday, the council struck back, introducing an ordi nance requiring five yes votes to pass any resolution or law in the city. The ordinance is intended to prevent the administration from pushing resolutions through without the majority of the council's approval.

"We needed to ... put our authority out there," said West Ward Councilman Ronald Rice Jr. "This administration is going to have to start respecting this council as an oversight branch of government."

Council President Mildred Crump said she was surprised by the administration's aggressive stance on the contract.

"If they have the number of votes (needed), there should be no need to circumvent the city council," Crump said.

Crump met privately with Booker on Monday to relay the council's frustration with the way it handled the legal contract.

"The administration acknowledged in their zeal to try to clean up some of the legal matters by hiring this particular law firm that they disrespected us," said Crump. "(Booker) acknowledged they were perhaps a little overzealous in moving forward."

Booker, through his spokeswoman Lupe Todd, confirmed Crump's account of the conversation. He said in a statement he is confident the administration and council can continue to work together despite the rifts.

"In every way possible, my administration is following the letter and spirit of the law within the strong mayor-council form of government," Booker said. "We are working to honor the requests and desires of the council, and balance is always a challenge."

Council members sounded off on a number of other instances this year where the administration has either failed to give them sufficient information or backed them into a corner over an urgent issue. For example, they said the administration came to the council with a multimillion-dollar insurance contract at the last minute and said they had to approve it or the employees would not have medical coverage.

Throughout the year, they have griped about hearing important news through the media rather than hearing it directly from the administration.

On Wednesday, a vote on funding for Newark Symphony Hall stirred up more frustrations. Council members complained the administration has not responded to repeated requests for information about the center's budget and board of directors.

"We're forced to vote on items without full disclosure," said Councilwoman Dana Rone. "We have to stop this pattern."

Rone said the council has fallen into a habit of criticizing the administration, but then voting in favor of their measures anyway.

On Wednesday, the council had to take another vote on the Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein, Celso and Kessler contract since the measure failed last Friday, said City Clerk Robert Marasco. Although the council has questioned the millions in legal contracts given out to firms since July 1, it has also approved most of them.

It did so again on Wednesday, increasing Schwartz, Simon, Edel stein, Celso and Kessler's contract to $1.8 million to handle labor is sues.

Council members Crump, Donald Payne Jr. and Luis Quintana voted against the legal contract. South Ward councilman Oscar James II abstained and the rest of the council voted in favor of it.

Rice said he does not think the administration is deliberately ig noring the council. The administration, he said, has made honest mistakes, but said those need to come to an end.

"We have accommodated this administration as well as we can," he said. "At a certain point, you have to draw a line in the sand and demand more."



Katie Wang covers Newark City Hall. She can be reached at kwang (at) starledger.com or (973) 392-1504.

[Jule Spohn]

You know you ain't doin sumpin right when even your own people turn against you. Booker came into this town riding a white horse but let's see how he exits.

Booker is playing the people of Newark, and the Newark City Council, for fools. Let's see where this act winds up.

[Joey George]

[MaryEllen]

LOL LOL LOL Joey, who is that adorable creature? It made me laugh!
I think I know who it is but I cant think of the name.
Mary Ellen

[Joey George]

[MaryEllen]

Joey, I was right! My children...older ones, loved that show.Isnt there one who throws up all the time too? I dont think I ever saw a whole show...but I did see a portion of it.
Have a good day Joey!
Mary Ellen