Booker Mulls Mandating Armed Guards, Curfews For Newark Businesses After Recent Violence

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The recent bloodshed at a Bergen Street bodega and an IHOP right across the street from busy University Hospital has Newark officials again talking about curfews and armed security.

"Irvington closes their bars an hour before we do. East Orange closes restaurants at 10 p.m., so why in Newark [do] we let folks kind of have their way and go a lot later?" Newark Mayor Cory Booker asked.

Booker vetoed a measure last year that would have mandated late-night establishments have armed guards, citing the cost to local businesses, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported.

But Booker appears to be changing his tune after recent incidents.

"We also want people to be safe and we've got to strike the balance," he said. "We need to start talking, questioning that. And if you want to stay open later, maybe there should be certain requirements."

Booker called the latest violence "unacceptable" and urged the public to get involved.

He said officials must "come up with some rational ideas about how to create more safety, but also to deal with the compelling interest of allowing people to make a profit."

Cops arrested two in the bodega shooting. The IHOP killer remains at large, Sandberg reported.

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