Democratic mayor plans to take curfew violators to church

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New Jersey's two largest cities both fear a wave of crime and violence this summer, but they have come up with two different ways to attack it.

Newark is bringing back its police helicopter and its mounted patrols, putting beat cops on the street and officers on buses to get tours of problem neighborhoods.

Newark is also taking the unusual step of bringing curfew violators to church and houses of worship before getting them home.

"We are going to enforce the curfew this summer with a vigor that has not been seen in a long, long time," Mayor Cory Booker said in unveiling the ambitious effort sparked in part by a recent spike in murders.

Last summer, there were 35 killings in the state's largest city.

"That will not happen ever again," Booker said.

...

[Newark is] also planning active summer alternatives for families and young people, including movie screenings.

But Newark's effort to involve its house of worship into the curfew program may be as ambitious as anything.

"I'm excited about the possibility of reaching a whole lot of folks, and also by doing that, literally saving the lives of young people," said the Rev. Steven Davis. of Calvary Gospel Church.

He expects to open his doors one night a week to welcome youth brought in on curfew violations between the hours of 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

...

Newark's curfew program has the potential to draw complaints because of the religious component, but Booker said he is determined to make the curfew enforcement work.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/123129403.html

[Ban Hammer 13,407]

threaten to make offenders appear in jersey shore, that should make everyone behave.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

threaten to make offenders appear in jersey shore, that should make everyone behave.

Scare them straight, eh?

[scandal 951]

Chicago, under new mayor Rahm Emmanuel, just poached Newark NJ's police chief. Garry McCarthy started as Chicago PD chief on the day Rahm was sworn in. Let's see if Newark tough guy policies work in the Windy City.

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Chicago, under new mayor Rahm Emmanuel, just poached Newark NJ's police chief. Garry McCarthy started as Chicago PD chief on the day Rahm was sworn in. Let's see if Newark tough guy policies work in the Windy City.

McCarthy was in Newark last summer, when they had the 35 homicides which Booker is now saying "never again" to.

I'm not so sure McCarthy is much of a "get," given his record. The little improvement Newark has seen over the years has less to do with police tactics and more to do with immigration (both legal and illegal) and gentrification.

Edited June 4, 2011 by \