THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN INNER CITY AMERICA, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN DECADES, IS DETERIORATING AS THE COUNTRY FOCUSES ON REBUILDING IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. IN NEWARK AND IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, WHERE THE OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYEMENT FIGURES THREATEN TO REACH OVER 50%, POOR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FALLING TO CRIME, DRUGS AND GANG WARS. THIS SATURDAY, THE ESSEX COUNTY COALITION TO END THE VIOLENCE, RALLIED AND MARCHED ON 18TH AVENUE, THE FIRST SUCH DEMONSTRATION SINCE THE BLACK REVOLTS OF THE LATE 1960â
