In the second part of an interview with NJToday Managing Editor Mike Schneider, Newark Mayor Cory Booker discussed the city’s economy, healthcare and education issues. He also addressed the question of whether or not he was planning to run for governor.

Booker said Newark is experiencing the biggest economic boom since the 1950s with many companies moving in and creating jobs. He said while the departure of the Nets from Newark will “hurt,” there are many other concerts and sporting events for the Prudential Center to host. He also said he’s working to get another basketball franchise to call Newark home.

When asked about the changes to the University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ), Booker said he wants to make sure the state’s universities are competitive. He also said he would like Rutgers Newark to have more autonomy and be able to keep more funds for its campus instead of sending the majority of the money to the New Brunswick campus.

Recent studies have found extremely high rates of HIV in Newark. Booker pointed out that throughout New Jersey, infection rates are high for certain populations. He also said his city is dealing with the problem. “We’ve made tremendous strides partnering with Bon Jovi to build new AIDS housing, partnering with non-profits and hospitals to make incredible awareness drives,” Booker said. “We’re actually using social media now in innovative ways to get people tested.”

Education in the city has been a contentious issue with Superintendent Cami Anderson announcing several school closings in an effort to improve the education system. Booker said Anderson is doing a “phenomenal job.” “She’s the first superintendent I’ve seen in a long time who stood up and is willing to make sometimes unpopular decisions,” he said.

He said he would like the city to get control back of the public schools. “You will always have a better run city in the long term that has local control,” he said.

When asked if he had plans to run for governor, Booker said he was focusing on his job as mayor. “I’m going to continue to focus on what the people elected me to do,” he said. “There’s not a governor’s race in the state of New Jersey for another year, two years. Let me focus on my job right now and hope that the people in the city of Newark give me the option to do it again one more time.”

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