Next Mayor Movie/TV/Book Club

In a semi-regular weekend feature here on The Next Mayor blog, I'll be pointing out films, tv shows, novels and other works that may help give readers some insight into the political process on the municipal level. Not all will be non-fiction because, as the saying goes, art imitates life.

I've already mentioned the definitive (and as far as I know only) film following the ups and downs, ins and outs of a Philadelphia mayoral election. That would be Tigre Hill's The Shame of A City. I'll talk about that one at greater length a little further down the line as we get closer to the thick of things in the 2007 mayor's race.

For now, I direct your attention to a well-documented mayor's race in another Northeastern city with its share of difficulties.

In a post on 13th Floor, the blog of Governing.com, Alan Greenblatt gives a good review of Street Fight. This Oscar-nominated film takes you into the depths of the 2002 race for mayor in Newark, NJ between challenger Corey Booker and incumbent Sharpe James.

Give the post a read, give the movie a look. You won't be disappointed. If you've seen it, we can discuss in the comments.