Newark 2022 Mayor Election: Baraka vs. Montague (What To Know) – Patch

NEWARK, NJ — Newark mayor Ras Baraka will face a challenge from Sheila Montague as part of the 2022 municipal election. Learn more about each candidate below.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10. The last day to register or transfer to vote in the Newark municipal nonpartisan election was April 19. The last day to apply for by mail for a vote-by-mail ballot is May 3.

The Essex County Board of Elections offers more information about voting in Newark and the county here, including locations of the nearest ballot box and local polling places. See sample ballots here. Learn more about voting in New Jersey here.

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MEET THE CHALLENGER: SHEILA MONTAGUE

Montague is a lifelong resident of Newark, who is a professor at Essex County College and a veteran teacher of 20 years in the Newark Public School system. She is a graduate of Kean University with a major in secondary education and a minor in African American studies, and holds a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Seton Hall University.

Montague’s campaign website offers more details about her background and qualifications:

“Sheila has experience working with Newark Public Schools students at the elementary and high school level. Her numerous honors and awards include The National Honor Roll of Outstanding American Teachers, a decorated record as a debate and basketball coach with a decade of championships, debate tournament victories among others. In 2009-2010, Sheila was the first place winner in an Elementary School City-wide Film Festival Award for best Middle School film/documentary on the topic of how growing up in an urban district without a dad effected several students. Her dedication and work ethic have opened the door to higher education for countless urban students.”

In addition:

“Sheila is a published author of poetry and founder of community-based organizations, Changing the Lens Together (CTLT) and Face Structure, which hosted The First Teen Hip Hop Competition in 2010 where teens across the city performed original pieces grounded in historical messages and political issues. Sheila has a passion for community outreach and supports many community-driven initiatives including collaboration with neighborhood churches and other organizations that share common goals of community- building and -uplifting. Sheila is also an active founding member of Parents United for Local School Education (PULSE), an active member of People’s Organization for Progress (POP), a member of The National NAACP and a certified notary public of New Jersey.”

Montague provided Patch with a summary about her campaign platform, which revolves around three key issues: education, public safety and affordable housing.

EDUCATION

Montague said she intends to tackle the “penalty of poverty” that public schools in the city have faced for “far too long.”

Montague said her plans for education include:

• Ensuring that the Constitutional Right for an Equal and Quality Education is upheld throughout our city, by promoting for the sharing of best practices of the highest performing schools, which will ensure the health and development of all public schools.
• More accountability on the local school board to ensure the full funding formula per the Supreme Court is returned and those funds reach the classroom first.
• Supporting true engagement of the local community of parents, and providing them with a greater voice in the process of how their children are educated and how funding is disseminated for their children’s education.
• Restoring a healthy teacher, union, administration, and state relationship, in order to create an environment wherein we are able to hear what support our teachers are lacking in our public school system.
• Promoting for additional funding to extend successful STEM curriculum throughout all grade levels.
• Increasing access to local community and state colleges for high school students, as well as offering viable vocational programs to students who choose an alternative road to success.

PUBLIC SAFETY

“The neighborhoods in our city have suffered under the perils of crime for decades,” Montague said. “I am committed to making our neighborhoods better places to live, work, and play by implementing policies that work and enacting those best practices used throughout our country with proven effectiveness.”

Montague said it’s important to take a “comprehensive approach” to public safety, including addressing poverty, unemployment and education.

Meanwhile, she plans to follow a formula of community policing, prevention, engagement and enforcement. That includes:

Community Policing – “With swift and accurate planning, we intend to reorganize the patrol plan, with the goal of active community policing in each precinct throughout the city by the year 2024. Each precinct will be divided into three or four staffed segments, with officers strategically assigned to permanent posts within the community. These officers will take responsibility for their respective areas, which increases familiarity with neighbors, business owners, and clergy. The idea of having officers take ownership of their area affords a feeling of belonging on both sides – community and law enforcement. Patrol along with Coordination Officers, provide a full range of services, including a blackout period from radio service, assigning a time dedicated specifically to community engagement. Coordination Officers will have the responsibility of attending community meetings in an effort to understand the residents, as well as the problems. This practice guarantees our officers the opportunity to recognize dangers and take the necessary action for prevention.”

Prevention – “We must, as an entire community, improve how we identify those most at-risk of committing crimes and implement a multi-level intervention. 1) Understanding as leadership we will demand improvement of the public and adult Education systems, as this is the most efficient anti-crime action, along with school-based programs for at-risk youth; and 2) Recognizing that Newark’s Unemployment Rate of 8.2% is nearly double the State (5.1%) and more than double the National (3.8%) average and this tragedy is in direct correlation to the increase of crime in our community, getting our residents back to work will be the top priority.”

Engagement – “We must create an authentic relationship between local government, law enforcement, and residents in our neighborhoods. We will influence an active partnership in public safety via giving leaders in our community a legitimate seat at the table and allowing those leaders to help design and implement policies, per ward, which will promote greater trust and investment in safer neighborhoods.”

Enforcement – “While Prevention and Engagement are paramount tools in ensuring public safety, it is our responsibility to prosecute those who commit reckless and life-threatening crimes. Working with prosecutors and police, we will send the unmitigated message that if you commit a crime in our city and/or carry illegal weapons, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

“Real Newarkers are being priced out of the city,” Montague said.

“Affordable Housing is swiftly becoming a thing of the past and families are finding themselves with no options,” she continued. “Those fortunate enough to own homes have seen their property taxes increased consistently for four years and families are being locked out of our city.”

According to Montague:

“I intend to create more options for our families. What is being touted as positive development growth in our city, has displaced families through enormous rent increases. As the population of our city grows, so will the problem. The options we create must include low-income families, as well as the middle class we seem to have abandoned. I will create the Newark Housing Agenda (NHA), which will serve as a blueprint for an additional 20,000 to 30,000 low-income housing units over the next 10 years; through developing partnerships at the state, regional and local level, which will be crucial to our success. Targeting for profit and nonprofit developers, social justice organizations, and labor will result in short-term action and long-term success. The NHA will first abolish the City Ordinance recently passed – a document that is adversarial to our residents. We will return preference to Newark residents and abolish any deadlines penalizing the renter. The NHA will continue to promote and engage developers who respect that they are investing in a city that invests in its people. We need to understand the impact of any proposal to build on Newark land, by listening to our communities and neighborhoods and respect the robust input and engagement it takes to fix this complex issue.”

MEET THE INCUMBENT: RAS BARAKA

Baraka, another Newark native, was first elected as mayor in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, when he captured 77 percent of the vote.

Baraka is running on the Newark Forward slate, which also includes several candidates for the city council. A slate of three candidates backed by Baraka were recently elected to the Newark Board of Education in the April school election.

According to his campaign website, Baraka received a bachelor of arts degree in political science and history from Howard University in Washington D.C. and a master’s degree in education supervision from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City. The former educator is also a published author and spoken word artist.

Baraka’s Meet the Mayor page on the city website touts his “progressive approach to governing” and a “forward-thinking agenda that reduced crime to its lowest levels in five decades, addressed affordability while maintaining steady growth, lowered unemployment, and returned local control of schools after more than two decades.”

Here are some of Baraka’s major accomplishments since taking office, according to his campaign website.

INCREASING JOBS

Convinced Employers to Hire a Specific Number of Newark Residents- “The city’s major corporations, hospitals, colleges and universities are partnering with the City to give unemployed residents training and full-times jobs with living wages.”

Won fight to Get Hundreds of Port Jobs for Newarkers – “Two marches on the Port of Newark with hundreds of residents protesting hiring discrimination led to agreement that Newark residents will be hired at the Port.”

Reduced Unemployment from 12% to 7% – “Mayor Baraka’s job creating initiatives have gained employment for thousands of residents.”

Doubled the Number of Summer Youth Jobs – “Mayor Baraka has made Newark’s summer program a unique mixture of education, workforce development and public safety, offering financial literacy, college and career readiness.”

$15 Minimum Wage – “Instituted a $15 minimum wage for City employees and is a leader in the fight for a $15 minimum wage throughout New Jersey.”

MAKING US SAFER

Lowest Level of Crime in 50 Years – “More than 3000 fewer victims of crimes since 2014. Homicides down 28% since 2016, Robberies down 26%. 517 guns taken off the streets including high powered weapons in 2016.”

Added 500 New Police Officers since 2014 – “By improving Newark’s finances, Mayor Baraka has hired additional police and put them on the streets walking a beat.”

Built Cooperation Between Residents and Police – “Newark is now a national leader in building police/community trust.”

Undocumented Immigrants Protected – “Mayor Baraka made Newark a Sanctuary City.”

Street Teams Reduce Violence and Protect Students – “Street Team members are trained to defuse conflicts and steer young people toward education and employment.”

Cutting Edge Law Enforcement Technology – “Our Police have body and car cams, patrol cars with computers and surveillance cameras accessible by residents.”

IMPROVING EDUCATION

Took Control of Our Schools Back from Governor Christie – “Our Schools are now under the control of Newark parents and residents.”

Newark Street Academy Educates School Dropouts – “The Newark Street Academy helps at-risk youth to complete their high school education and gain employment.”

Centers of Hope in Every Ward – “These centers give residents of all ages access to City services, wellness and enrichment. They offer athletic, arts and culture, education, technology, and recreation programs.”

Community Schools – “The initiative involves parents, community leaders, teachers and administrators in providing students with the academic, social, emotional, and health services needed for success.”

NAN Tech World Academy Teaches Technology Skills – “This partnershjp offers courses in web design, graphic design, digital literacy, networking and more in a neighborhood setting for residents of all ages.”

CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Developers Required to Build Housing for Working Families – “New housing must now include 20% affordable units and partner with minority and women Newark contractors.”

Affordable Housing Created for More than 2,500 Families – “Mayor Baraka is ensuring that residents of every neighborhood benefit from the surge in development. The City has programs to help families facing foreclosure to remain in their homes and provide low cost or no cost land and financial grants to help people develop homes for themselves.”

Rent Controls Strengthened – “Landlords looking to raise rents on rent-controlled buildings must now meet a stricter threshold.”

Renters Helped to Become Homeowners – “Several programs enable residents to acquire city-owned property at low cost.”

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