Questions on Newark's future without Booker

NEWARK -- Visits from Britain's prime minister, the Dalai Lama and assorted movie stars. A $100 million gift to the school system. Wall Street buy-in. Coverage from worldwide media.

Such attention and investment is rarely paid to America's midsized cities, especially one in the shadow of New York that has long been plagued by crime and poverty.

But others aren't the Newark governed by Cory Booker, who hobnobs with Hollywood celebrities, frequently appears on TV and is now gunning for higher office, announcing a Senate bid June 8.

Booker gets mixed reviews for how he has run the city during his two terms. But no one disputes that funds have gushed to and interest has spiked in Newark, largely because of the mayor, who has worked to put the city -- and himself -- on the national stage.

With Booker a heavy favorite to win and leave for Washington in four months, many wonder: Will his successor be able to sustain the attention and money that has flowed into this city based largely on Booker's outsized personality?

"If Booker goes to the Senate, then suddenly Newark is another high-spending, low-performing struggling community. And there are a lot of those," said Frederick M. Hess, a philanthropy expert with the American Enterprise Institute. "If he leaves, I think it would definitely be a substantial setback in terms of trying to keep the philanthropists and national advocacy organizations interested."

Booker's embrace of private sector-led urban development has endeared him to Wall Street and Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Booker often touts the billions he's attracted to this cash-strapped city of 277,000 only 10 miles from Manhattan.

While Booker says the projects have momentum and he'd continue to be a part of them if he wins the Senate seat, critics wonder if donors have invested less in Newark's long-term future and more in Booker's utopian vision of urban renewal.

"The momentum is clear. There is about $1 billion worth of development projects rolling into the city," Booker said. "As much as you might think I'm necessary to complete those projects, this momentum will continue. And I'll continue to be a part of it."