Candidate Sues Mayor Over New Charities

Cory Booker, a candidate for mayor of Newark, N.J., is suing the city along with its mayor, Sharpe James, over the validity of two newly incorporated nonprofit groups, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Mr. James serves as a board member of the Newark Redevelopment Trust Fund and the Newark Neighborhood and Recreation Redevelopment Trust Fund, both of which were set up in March with $80-million from the city and the approval of Newark’s city council.

Four Newark residents then sued Mr. James, objecting to the new charities and saying they were an improper use of government money. Mr. Booker’s lawsuit says that giving money to the nonprofit groups violated housing and budget laws.

In turn, some members of the city council have sued Mr. Booker on charges of defamation. They also deny any wrongdoing in creating the nonprofit groups.