One of the many bizarre things about New Jersey is that our state doesn’t have a major newspaper or news station. We are an after thought in the New York and the Philadelphia coverage areas. The lack of media attention goes a long way to explaining the monkey business that goes on in state and local politics around here. New Jersey political bloggers have done much to fill that void.

Blue New Jersey points me to a touching blog post by the mayor of Newark, Cory Booker. Booker writes that the election of Obama was an important first step, but there’s still much to do.

In church today,
we prayed for Barack Obama and the team he will eventually bring with
him to Washington. His is a sacred task; to lead our nation through
crisis to prosperity. But beyond Obama, we must also recommit ourselves
to our righteous work in cities, towns and neighborhoods all across
America.

Dr. King said,
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes
through continuous struggle.” Certainly Obama’s election does not mean
our nation will inevitably manifest the best of our collective ideals.
It will take continuous, collective struggle and sacrifice. As Ghandi
said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” We cannot
simply hope that Obama is that change.

Well said.