When Cory A. Booker was elected Mayor of Newark, he made several promises to the citizens of the city. He said he would do everything in his power to reduce crime and ensure public safety. He also mentioned how he would bring new businesses to the city and empower the community to be a part of that trend. At the end of his term, he has accomplished these tasks.

On Monday, International Women's Day, India's Upper House (Rajya Sabha or Congress) passed a bill for reservation for women to improve women's representation in the political process. The Bill may go to the Lower House (Lok Sabha or Senate) before March 16 for discussion and voting. If approved, it will groundbreaking. Right now, around 8 to 13 percent of women are representing the Indian government at different levels, and women make up 50 percent of India's population.

East Orange Police Director Jose Cordero achieved his goals better than anyone imagined. He has transformed the system of policing and reduced crime by 76% in East Orange. It is a greater achievement than anyone can imagine.

"I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Mayor Robert L. Bowser, who has placed his confidence in me to serve the citizens of this great city...I say that because I have the utmost respect and admiration for the residents of East Orange; they have throughout the years expressed both support and gratitude for what we have achieved and optimism for an even safer city...A simple metaphor for what we have done and need to do going forward is: we traded shotgun-type policing methods for a scalpel-like approach; we must enhance those methods with laser-like speed and precision."

We all have seen the devastation since the 7.0 earthquake hit Port-au-Prince in Haiti on Jan. 12, and the images are mind blowing. People being left for dead or dying in the streets; hundreds of thousands are crying out for help.
I've seen the recovery efforts on television, showing the people walking around homeless, the trauma, injuries, hunger and the mental shock on people's faces. We have even seen Port-au-Prince reduced to rubble on TV and the Internet.

Who can say in their lifetime what catastrophe one might live to see. This earthquake in Haiti was truly devastating, to a land and people that was already impoverished and suffering.

Hundreds of thousands dead, thousands needing medical attention immediately, people with severe head injuries, chest injuries, broken bones, broken limbs, open wounds, severe burns, no food, no water, or a place to stay.

Every day, people are being dug out of the rubble; many of them have lost legs and arms. But many others were brought out safely, some even after four or five days without food or water. They survived.

This earthquake has brought the world together. Countries from all over the world have sent help, volunteers, medical attention, food, and heavy equipment to help with rescue efforts, the removal of the rubble and rebuilding.

Money. That's what we hear the people say they need, and President Barack Obama pledged $100 million to go to Haiti for relief and rebuilding.

Celebrities are giving millions of dollars, countries are pledging millions, and John Q. Citizen is texting millions so Haiti will receive a lot of money. But their immediate need right now is food, water, medical supplies, doctors, surgeons, band aids, alcohol, toilet paper and the bare necessities. That's what they need right now, plus security.

Plenty of people are dying from lack of medical attention, dying from infections from their injuries, and many of them could be alive if they could only get much needed medical attention.

There are plenty of children in Haiti. Many of them are injured, traumatized, and left without relatives or parents, and they will need some form of counseling to help them to cope, and survive.