I don't know about anybody else, but I'm always looking for signs that the shift in consciousness that we keep hearing about is actually occurring. I grew up just a few miles West of Newark NJ, and it was a place you only went to if you had to catch an airplane somewhere. I used to call it the armpit of America. For Newark to go 32+ days without a homicide is a very promising event, in my humble opinion. I hope that this is the beginning of a more peaceful trend that continues. Trust me, if Newark can go 32 days without a homicide, it can be done anywhere. A toast ~ to peace, understanding, and tolerance. (CHEERS)
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In the annals of American urban decay, Newark, N.J., has long stood apart. Five of Newark's last seven mayors have been indicted on criminal charges, and in 1996, Money magazine named Newark — a city of around 280,000 just eight miles outside of New York City — the "Most Dangerous City" in America. In explaining its choice, Money reported that one in every 25 Newark residents had been the victim of a violent crime at some point.
Boy, how times have changed.
Fourteen years after winning that dubious distinction, Newark is in the midst of a drastic turnaround. And today marks a significant milestone in that shift: March 2010 is now in the books as the first month in 44 years that no one was murdered in New Jersey's largest city. In a story time-stamped at 12:01 a.m. this morning, NJ.com reports:
It's been 32 days since a homicide took place in Newark, marking the first time there has been a slay-free calendar month in the city since 1966.
Police Director Garry McCarthy said he hopes to best a 43-day period from March to April of 2008, the longest span of time without a slaying in the city since 1961. 10 homicides have occurred in Newark since January 1st, and none have taken place in the South Ward, long believed to be Newark's most dangerous section.
Shortly after midnight, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, an avid Twitter user, tweeted a Nelson Mandela quote to sum up the moment: "It always seems impossible until it's done."
— Brett Michael Dykes is a national affairs writer for Yahoo! News.
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