Newark Mayor Cory Booker used African, Hebrew, and Muslim analogies on Wednesday to reinforce the American motto “E Pluribus Unum,” Latin for, “out of many, one,” during a speech that may have been meant to set the tone for a reuniting of Hoboken’s political factions after a thoroughly divisive mayoral election.
Shortly after taking the oath of office to become the 37th mayor of Hoboken, Peter Cammarano also committed to the reunification theme.
“Though we campaigned with fists raised, I now extend my hand,” he said. “Our fates are intertwined.”
The new mayor recounted his theme of work ethic and asked the City Council to work with him to right the city’s ship.
“I ask that we leave nothing for tomorrow that we can accomplish today,” Cammarano said.
Corzine has a couple of Hoboken jokes
Gov. Jon Corzine and Sen.s Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) were on hand for the occasion. Both Corzine and Menendez are Hoboken residents.
In keeping with the unity theme, the master of ceremonies was Ines Garcia-Keim, the former campaign chairman for mayoral candidate Beth Mason. Keim went on to support Cammarano in the runoff election against candidate Dawn Zimmer, although Mason supported Zimmer.
When Corzine spoke, he joked that it was great to see the democratic process play out in Hoboken, but that he felt like he “voted 10 times in three weeks.”
He commented on Hoboken’s propensity for attracting young residents (the new mayor is 31): “When I moved here two and a half years ago, the average age went up two years.”
He parted by wishing Cammarano and the council members luck, and making one last request. “Get my property taxes down,” he said, “will you?”
In fact, Cammarano has a lot of work ahead of him. Municipal taxes nearly doubled last year after the state appointed a monitor to deal with the city’s finances, and she recommended that Hoboken’s long-standing budget gap finally be closed with taxes.
At the ceremony, Sen. Frank Lautenberg also joked around about Cammarano’s youth.
“It’s not about age; it’s about effectiveness,” said the 85-year-old politico. “That was my campaign slogan.”
Rep. Robert Menendez appeared, but was on a tight schedule and could not speak at the ceremony.
First elected Sikh in N.J.
On the more serious side, Lautenberg congratulated newly elected City Councilman Ravinder Bhalla for becoming the first elected Sikh in New Jersey.
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world with over 23 million people adhering to its philosophical tenets.
Booker also singled out Bhalla, who he said aided him in his run for mayor of Newark, calling the new councilman a “trailblazer.”
Bhalla acknowledged the “vigorous” campaign process and thanked his family. He recalled his parents’ stick-to-itiveness that made his office-holding possible.
Of his father: “He had no friends, no family; he had a foreign accent and less than $50 in his pocket. But the one thing my father and mother did have is an unwavering belief that America is a land of equality and opportunity.” Emotion came over his face. “This is the American dream.”
Bhalla ran on a slate of three council-at-large candidates who backed Dawn Zimmer. While Zimmer lost the close election, her three candidates beat out those supported by Mason and Cammarano.
The other new councilpeople are David Mello and Carol Marsh. They are councilpeople-at-large, which means they represent the entire town. The other six councilpeople serve individual wards and are up for re-election in two years.
Booker captivates crowd
Booker’s election loss in 2002 to the now-convicted felon Sharpe James was the basis of an Academy Award nominated documentary, and the 36th mayor of Newark is known for his powerful speeches.
Booker said he and Cammarano are “competing to be the youngest, best-looking mayor in New Jersey.”
________
He said Hoboken represented the plurality of America combined with the ability to unite for the common good.
“This is a calling that Hoboken has answered from its earliest days,” Booker said. “You can hear the echoes of heroes in the streets of Hoboken.”
He challenged the new governmental leaders to rise to the occasion, in a time of economics woes and overseas war.
“This is not a time of peace and prosperity,” he said. “This is a time for Hoboken to unite.”
He ended with some levity, admitting that he was “competing to be the youngest, best-looking mayor in New Jersey,” and ultimately “jealous” of Cammarano for besting him, “jerk that he is.”
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.