Booker Rips Devils Owner Over Rent Ruling

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is blasting the owner of the New Jersey Devils after an arbitration ruling in a long-running dispute over the hockey team's lease at the Prudential Center arena.

Arbitrators ruled Tuesday that the city must pay the team $2.7 million per year in parking revenue under an agreement signed in 2005. That award plus additional money the city owes the team is more than the team owes the city in back rent.

In a news conference in front of the arena Wednesday, Booker called Jeff Vanderbeek a "Grade-A huckster." The mayor says the Devils owner broke numerous promises to pay for improvements in Newark as part of the arena deal.

Vanderbeek didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)