National Night Out and Budget Hearings Begin This Week

Tuesday night is National Night Out, when law enforcement across the country host community events to bond with the communities they serve. In Newark, several churches are taking part and other events are tentatively planned, including a softball game between the police and fire departments.

This week the Newark Municipal Council begins a series of budget hearings for each of the municipal departments. Earlier this year Mayor Cory Booker delivered an overall budget to the council calling for no tax increase and a boost in the number of police.

Last week John Sharpe James, the son of Newark’s mayor, officially kicked off his campaign for a seat on the council that will be decided during a special election (the seat was last held by Donald Payne Jr., who left the governing body last November to join Congress). This week we’ll meet at least one, and possibly a few more, of the candidates also running in the race.

Also this week, there will be a global youth conference - which will include young people from around the world - hosted by the New Community Corp. at its Hayes Street facility. Attendees from Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere are expected to attend.