Shootings Refocused Booker On Mission

Six days after the triple slayings behind the Mount Vernon School in Newark, N.J.. - where at least one Hispanic illegal immigrant killed three black college students - Mayor Cory Booker was at a prayer vigil when the moderate Democrat realized he needed help if he was going to turn the state's largest city around. In some of the most candid comments of his 13 months as mayor, Maor Booker spoke during a 45-minute phone interview about how the tragedy changed him personally, how it caused him to reflect on how he can improve as mayor, and how it reminded him and others of their priorities. "It's easy to get distracted by smaller issues and petty divisions," Mayor Booker said. "This seems to be getting everyone thinking about the bigger issues again ... It's snapped us all back into focus."

There certainly were plenty of difficulties before the murders. Mayor Booker's first year as Newark's chief executive included the triple whammy of an unpopular tax hike, a massive budget deficit and a stubborn murder rate knocking the glow off whatever honeymoon he had. A recall movement, however unlikely, was gaining momentum. City council members -- most of whom were on his ticket a year ago -- were starting to distance themselves. Mayor Booker had spent the week before the killings apologizing for insensitive comments to a suburban audience about Judith Diggs, a deceased black constituent, in a video that appeared on YouTube. His youth jobs program -- supposed to be the summer highlight -- had turned into a symbol of City Hall incompetence, as thousands of young people were not paid on time.

Before the first week after the Mount Vernon School murders closed, the criticism was muted by calls for harmony. Booker wasted no time harnessing the momentum. The city's new anti-crime program, a camera-driven gunshot detection system called Community Eye, is an example. Before the killings, Mayor Booker's administration had been working out the details but had raised just $200,000 in private donations for Community Eye. Within days, the newly formed Newark Community Fund stepped in with a commitment to raise $3.2 million to fund the program. Mayor Booker said he's seen similar transformation in the Big Brother Big Sister program, which has had a rush of new volunteers, and in the Clergy Alliance, which Mayor Booker has been trying to nurture for months but is now suddenly taking off on its own.

My response: I like Cory Booker. However, he has been wrong on this illegal immigration shooting situation. The first thing he should do is revoke Newark's "sanctuary city" status. It was foul that he was so reluctant to show outrage at the crime, especially given the fact that he knew of two of the murdered students prior to their murder.