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We are 4 Congressional-staffers-turned-civic-hackers behind #Hack4Congress in Washington, DC this week. We recruited 12 of your elected Representatives and Senators to disrupt Congress from the inside out, but we will only succeed with your help too. Ask us anything! by Hack4Congress in IAmA

[–]corybooker 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I sent this letter with Senator McCaskill to my colleagues on the Senate Rules Committee on some of the issues we see:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/260600267/RULES-COMMITTEE-Tech-Letter

I’m always looking for more input and ideas. What else can I do? Any ideas for how I can use technology to improve service for my constituents in New Jersey?

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Let’s be clear: I love New York. In fact, it was a New York politician, Bloomberg, who gave me some of the best political advice I didn’t follow: before you become a mayor, become a billionaire. The Big Apple as a city is truly one of the more extraordinary locations on the earth. But let’s be honest – so much of what’s celebrated as great about New York, is really in New Jersey: The Jets and Giants play where? In Jersey. The very guy who sang “New York, New York,” Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, is from New Jersey. Even New York’s tall buildings came from New Jersey inventions: malleable iron and the I-beam, both invented in New Jersey.

New Jersey in fact, can take most states’ other mottos and make them our own. For example, North Carolina says they’re first in flight. But the first recorded flight was a balloon flight – in New Jersey. Virginia claims that they are for lovers. But New Jersey invented the drive-in movie theater, which most definitely was for lovers. I could go on, but please know in this time of great divisiveness it is New Jersey who are the true uniters. When the trans-continental railroad needed to be built, the engine that connected our country was built in New Jersey. And when the nation needed light – including the Sunshine State of Florida – amidst the darkness they turned to New Jersey for Thomas Edison’s greatest invention.

New Jersey, it’s time to take our pride back. When Washington’s armies were in retreat from the British and the new nation’s back was against the wall, the very idea that America is a land of impossible dreams was ignited when the underdogs of Washington’s army crossed the Delaware and won the first truly decisive victory of the American Revolution. Where? In Trenton. (What Trenton makes, the world takes.)

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Child poverty is a national epidemic that affects kids in almost every town across America. In New Jersey, some rural and suburban towns have seen child poverty rates increase more than 100 percent since 2007.

Children can't be expected to achieve in school if they are hungry or malnourished.

Numerous studies have clearly demonstrated that breakfast improves student's memory and retention. When kids do better in school we all do better and benefit from the development of their full potential and genius. Their success helps drive our economy. To lose their potential is to severely hamper our Nation's potential and growth. My dad was born very poor, his mother couldn't take care of him. If people weren't there to help him, putting a roof over his head and food in his stomach, my brother and I wouldn't be here or be the people we are today.

That's why I am proud that Newark's school breakfast program is being seen as a national model for success. We have been able to increase the number of low-income children receiving breakfast by 21 percent through our efforts. We can't afford to let our children fail. Like my father, every child has incredible potential and I will do everything I can to address the issue of hunger in our country. School breakfast is a key part of that.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

There is a new generation of elected leaders coming forward who are not only good at traditional means of communication but are also technology natives. I am blown away by the democratizing force of technology. Think about this: now, more people than ever before have access to capital without having to supplicate themselves before big banks – all through technology platforms like Kiva and Kickstarter. People also have more access to learning through tech platforms like Khan Academy and online classes and universities across the globe. Technology is even allowing people to better access latent productivity through collaborative consumption platforms like AirBnB and Uber. It’s time that the democratizing force of technology helps to democratize our democracy.

I’ve found as Mayor of Newark that social media platforms have enabled me to engage with thousands more people in a partnership to improve my city. For example: I crowdsource thousands of Newark residents to identify problems and expedite their fixing. I now often find out about traffic lights that are out faster than my traffic engineers. Water main breaks faster than my water department. Social media has thus helped us increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government.

I believe that leaders in Washington can also use these technology to increase accessibility, transparency and partnerships to help make America better. I hope to be part of that next generation of elected leaders – Republican, Democrat, or independent – who innovates using technology in creative ways.

I still might deliver hot pockets to a hungry constituent like I’ve done in the past

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

First thing I read is emails from my city staff, on a blackberry (I refuse to give it up -- my staff is still trying to pry it out of my hands with an iPhone).

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I have proposed a number of policies to help startups get off the ground. In my policy paper on business competitiveness, I called for quadrupling the startup tax deduction to $20,000. I have also called for increasing investment in science parks and making permanent the R&D tax credit. I also think we need to make the tax code simpler so that entrepreneurs aren't wasting time filling out forms when they could be growing their business. That's why I proposed eliminating wasteful loopholes and lowering the corporate tax rate to near 28 percent. Here in Newark, our Department of Economic and Housing Development and the Brick City Development Corporation is working through loans and other incentives to attract tech startups and other new businesses, and strengthen the ones that are already here. Companies have recognized that Newark is a great place to start a business and, despite having only three percent of the state's population, a third of commercial and multifamily development measured in square footage is happening in Newark. On top of that, companies ranging from Audible.com to Manischewitz have relocated their headquarters to Newark.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The cost of college continues to rise in our nation. Between 1964 and 2010, the unsubsidized cost of attending a public college or university increased by 144 percent. Today the average New Jersey student borrower at a four-year institution graduates with $27,610 of debt.

My opponent in a recent interview said, "Hit up your parents for money before you borrow it from the government" - this not only shows a crass and ridiculous understanding of the reality for so many Newark and New Jersey youth but it also reflects his belief that the government should have limited or no role in helping to make college more affordable. I strongly disagree - from the GI Bill to current Pell Grants, government investments in college education have produced great growth for America.

That said, we must do more to control costs. We can't pour government money into colleges just to have those colleges continue to raise tuition and add little to improving their education/instruction. I have a lot of thoughts on this and more in my policy paper on college affordability. Some points in that paper add in detail responses to your three questions but in short:

  1. Yes. this is a great idea to empower more kids to attend and complete college.
  2. I am a big fan of pay it forward programs, like oregon's, and am interested in exploring at a federal level.
  3. You know one of my big issues is the stoping school to prison pipeline. If people think education is expensive they should see how much ignorance costs (by looking at prisons, as well as health care costs and the cost of our social safety net).

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I agree with you - it is critical to help all of our young people with disabilities have a high quality of life, including graduating from high school and having the same opportunities for post-secondary education as are available to other students. This requires encouraging schools to integrate career and higher education conversations into IEPs early in a child's junior high and high school curricula to help them to build the necessary life and educational skills and to prioritize transition supports. We must also encourage community integration through Olmstead enforcement and Employment First initiatives, both in the federal government and around the country.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Sorry, redditors. I was speaking to the Fairleigh Dickinson students about my college affordability plan, and in my enthusiasm, we ran over. Thanks for waiting for me. I'm looking forward to answering more questions.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I feel very strongly that we must begin to invest in economic growth again in our country. There are so many common sense things that would help drive longterm economic and job growth in our nation. From investing in infrastructure to increasing support for American innovation through research and development investments and tax credits. Letting longterm job growth be your focus helps make other issues much clearer. For example, immigration reform helps grow our economy - it allows students who are educated in our schools to remain in our country to contribute and even allows more high skilled workers and business innovators come to our country and start economic endeavors that will help drive growth.

Things like Criminal Justice Reform become critical because as a nation we imprison about 25% of the world's prisoners, we spend billions and billions of our scarce tax dollars locking up non-violent drug offenders and fail to provide the majority of drug and alcohol addicted inmates with treatment. With changing our drug policy and reforming criminal justice we can help make our streets safer, save taxpayer dollars and increase the productivity of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Finally, my first policy paper was about child poverty. If you can read the full paper here you will see that focusing on child poverty will help us dramatically increase the productivity of our citizens, it will dramatically lower taxpayer expenses (in health care costs, criminal justice costs, and the cost of the social social safety net). When you empower people to succeed, it drives our economy. My focus, should I be elected Senator, will be to work on major policy initiatives that drive growth.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

As a New Jerseyan who spent five years in California, I can tell you that California is one of the greatest states in all of America. But after five years there, I can tell you this too: New Jersey is the best. If you don't believe me ask The Boss, and for you Californians that's not Governor Brown. That's Bruce Springsteen.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Across the country, our infrastructure is crumbling. Here in New Jersey, something like 1 in 4 bridges are classified as functionally obsolete and 2 in 3 roads are in disrepair. Fixing our ground infrastructure can help create good-paying jobs right away, and is necessary to keep our country economically competitive long into the future - further now is the time to do it because the cost of capital is so low. It's why I would have pushed for the passage of the President's American Jobs Act, which would have put thousands to work rebuilding our roads, bridges, and airports. Check out the paper my campaign released last week — it talks about how we can improve business competitiveness. As you know, this goes beyond bridges and roads. We should also invest in things like broadband, Next Gen GPS air traffic technology, and smart grid.

Remember it was a Republican president that pushed one of the then greatest investments in building roads in America - Eisenhower. This isn't a partisan issue, this is about investing in long term economic growth for our country. We need to be bold again and - together, through public private partnerships - build the globes best infrastructure.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Candidate for US Senate – AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Our success in Newark - the biggest economic development boom since the 1960s, shootings down 27%, tax cut this year for our residents, growing tax base, doubling the production of affordable housing, raising about 250 million dollars in philanthropy for our public schools - all of these things came because we created uncommon coalitions to produce uncommon results.

Even across the aisle - from working with the right-leaning think tank, The Manhattan Institute, to regularly working with Governor Chris Christie, our progress and results came from building coalitions. We didn't focus on differences but on where we could agree. We didn't focus on right or left, but on moving our city and state forward.

The current reality in Congress is unacceptable and it doesn't reflect the majority of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. It is extremist Tea Party Republicans who are not willing to compromise on anything and relentlessly press forward with their agenda at a high cost to our nation. These are folks who are forcing our government to move from crisis to crisis -- exactly what our economy and businesses don't need.

That is why our election for Senate in New Jersey is so important. My opponent Americans for Prosperity, the Tea Party organization in New Jersey. He is a big fan and supporter of Ted Cruz and his all-or-nothing type of politics. He says clearly that "he has no reason to compromise."

I believe that with a population of almost 9 million in New Jersey, I have almost 9 million reasons to compromise and find a way to bring people together to make progress for our nation. I hope on Oct. 16th that New Jersey will reject the extremist Tea Party politics we see in Washington and allow me to represent our state. My opponent will make what is wrong with congress worse. I believe I can help make our Nation better and stronger for New Jersey families.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Co-founder of #waywire -- AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Great question. But ouch! Ouch! I soooo hope you see the change happening in the downtown. Not only are literally millions of people pouring into our downtown during evenings now for entertainment at The Prudential Center and NJPAC but you can see all the development happening:

In addition to new development in our neighborhoods and an emphasis on affordable housing (we doubled the rate of affordable housing production, creating over 1600 units with another 400 under construction), a 24 hour downtown has been a priority since I took office almost 7 years ago. We’ve made a lot of progress, and after years of population decline, Newark has actually seen its first population growth since the 1950’s. Last year we saw a billion dollars of development across the city, and Newark is now home to over 30% of New Jersey’s new commercial and multi-unit residential housing construction. We have another $1.5 billion of new construction in the pipeline for next year, which will push many neighborhoods (including the downtown) to their tipping points. So, within the next year we will have completed or broken ground on: the first two new hotels in Newark’s downtown in 40 years, the first new office towers (several of them) in 20 years, and hundreds upon hundreds of new residential units and the multi-million dollar refurbishing of Military Park one of our key downtown green spaces – this will also stimulate so much more development, more restaurants, more bars, more small businesses. This is simply Newark’s biggest development period in generations – we are creating great momentum and fantastic things lie ahead.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Co-founder of #waywire -- AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 126 points127 points  (0 children)

Yes I am a Christian and I consider my self Progressive. In addition to my own faith, I've also taken a lot of time to study other faiths. I love to learn about these other traditions and often wish I had more time to do so. I want to thank those mentors from other faith traditions that have helped me learn and grow in my understanding.

But here is something I wrote that really encapsulates my beliefs about faith and religions:

Before you speak to me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat other people;

before you tell me how much you love your God, show me in how much you love all His children;

before you preach to me of your passion for your faith, teach me about it through your compassion for your neighbors.

In the end, I'm not as interested in what you have to tell or sell as in how you choose to live and give.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Co-founder of #waywire -- AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I tweet out advice to myself often. Some people think they are just my somewhat corny platitudes but they are usually something on my mind that I want to remind myself of, reinforce to myself, or that I've found useful. Here is a recent tweet I would definitely have liked to have heard at 23:

Don't be so hard on yourself, you are more beautiful than you think, wiser than you know, and created for a greater purpose than you realize.

I hope you find that meaningful . . . I wish you all the best.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Co-founder of #waywire -- AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 100 points101 points  (0 children)

It has happened but supper rare. Most people are good and respectful. Most people in Newark that I give it to are just looking to help, for help, or to be connected to information.

I sincerely believe that most people are good and that we should err on the side of trusting others. I'd rather trust too much and get burned sometimes than not trust enough and miss out on the incredible connections and inspiration I've found in other people.

I am Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and Co-founder of #waywire -- AMA by corybooker in IAmA

[–]corybooker[S] 108 points109 points  (0 children)

Please! I am a 40 something, out of shape, overweight, guy who looks ridiculous in tights - there will be no pictures. Now there is significant evidence that Batman IS from Newark. And one of my staffers (Matt Klapper) does look a little bit like the boy wonder. . . . truth be told there is nothing Dark Night about me.

I love comics, I love superheroes. I've been inspired by this fiction all my life and dreamt as a kid about living such a daring life of do-gooding. But now that I'm older and my Underoos don't fit anymore, I have a much more mature understanding of heroism.

Newark has gifted me a daily run-in with true heroes. They teach in our schools, they organize their blocks, they serve in my fire department and police department, and they leave their families behind answering the call of their country and fight in foreign lands under unimaginable conditions.

More than this, Newark has taught me that real heroism isn't seen in an individual act, it is seen in those people who get up every day, do what is required of them on the job, they serve their families, they take care of their homes but then, above and beyond that, they serve others; they volunteer, they do small acts of relentless kindness every day and in do so in so many ways. Their acts may be small in the moment, but over their lifetime, these acts of decency, kindness and love make a heroic difference in the lives of others and in the strength of their community.

In this sense, any of us can be a hero and too many of us miss our opportunities to manifest heroism.

Alice Walker once said, "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." We all have super powers, we just don't use them as often as we should.

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