America's Toughest Mayor
The July edition of Esquire features an excellent story about the man who may have the toughest political job in America -- improving life in Newark, New Jersey. Scott Raab's "The Battle of Newark, Starring Cory Booker" profiles the city's young mayor, who is determined to make it "America's leading urban city in safety, prosperity, and nurturing of family life" despite some of the worst housing, unemployment, schools and crime in the country. Raab masterfully uses dialogue to create scenes such as this one, which follows Booker as he cruises Newark's streets at night in an Eddie Bauer Expedition, looking to combat Newark's troubles one person at a time:
The bad guys see the SUV creep by, and vanish into doorways, while the others, clutching every last shred of manly pride, share their shame despite themselves.
"You'll get my vote."
"Thank you, brother."
"My name is Leslie Reginald Richardson."
"You know what I'd rather get, Leslie? Get you a job. Where you workin' right now?"
"They keepin' me down because of epilepsy."
"How serious are you?"
"I'm serious."
"So you wanna make a bet? I'll make you a twenty-dollar bet."
"Whaja-hoo? Twenty dollars ain't gonna make me or break me -- what's the bet?"
"I'll bet you don't show up at my apartment tomorrow for information about a job."
"I'll be there. My word is my bond. You give me a job if I show up?"
"No, I won't promise you that, man. Because I don't know what your thing is. I sent thirty guys to a job -- thirty guys . . ."
"Tell me where. Just tell me where."
"Hold up for a second. Only fifteen showed up. And only three could pass the piss test."
"I could pass the test right now."
"Let's be honest. C'mon -- you smoke some weed."
"No, I don't."
"C'mon."
"No. I don't."
"My brother, when's the last time you smoked weed?"
"Earlier."
"Earlier tonight?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't lie to you."
"I respect your honesty. I gotta give you a hug."
And Booker steps out of the Expedition and pulls Leslie to his chest for a long embrace.
www.esquire.com/features/cory-booker-0708