Review: Lessons From "Brick City"

I felt bad about turning off Ken Burns' National Park documentary and missing Mad Men, but I'd scored a copy of "Brick City" -- thanks, Sundance Channel! -- a new documentary about efforts to turn around Newark, New Jersey, site of some of the nation's worst riots 40 years ago. 

Above all things, the documentary shows how hard it is to take ideas and make them work in the real world.  That's what the pundits and idea-pushers won't tell you (or don't know), and what Corey Booker learns along the way.  Adoption and implementation are the real obstacles to change -- not new ideas or high hopes.    Like Washington Whispers says about the show, "Governing is hard."  Indeed it is. 

What the documentary also shows is what makes Corey Booker, mayor of Newark, a little bit different.  He goes where few dare to go -- not Obama, not Clinton (in his day).  He talks about love.  He talks about weeping.  Wonky and awkward as the guy is, it's hard not to be moved by his resilience and optimism. There are also some great school scenes -- a principal and AP working hard to make their school safe, a former gangbanger starting a support group for teenage girls. 

Comments

[Corey]

psst: there's no 'e' in Cory Booker's name