Newark Council Members Walk Out During Mayor’s Speech

There was some drama at Newark Mayor Cory Booker's state of the city speech.

Booker spent part of the 45-minute speech at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Thursday attacking the city council for not cutting costs to help balance the city budget.

Midway through the remarks, council members Mildred Crump and Ras Baraka walked off the stage.

Booker spent the rest of the speech touting what he said was $700 million in development projects currently under way in the city. He also defended new schools Superintendent Cami Anderson, who has come under fire after announcing that several schools will close.

Booker is midway through his second term as mayor of New Jersey's largest city.

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