Newark Begins New Council Term as Longtime City Hall Critic Joins Governing Body
A new chapter has started in Newark’s city government after Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the city’s elected council members officially took office during Wednesday’s reorganization meeting. While most of the city’s leadership returned for another term following the May non-partisan elections, the ceremony also marked the arrival of one new council member whose election has drawn significant public attention because of her long history of criticizing City Hall.
Mayor Ras J. Baraka officially began his fourth four-year term after winning a decisive victory in the May 12 mayoral election, where he received about 70% of the vote against seven challengers. During his inaugural remarks, Baraka reflected on several achievements from his previous terms, including expanding affordable housing development, completing Newark’s citywide lead service line replacement program, and overseeing a substantial reduction in murders and other violent crime across the city.
Even while highlighting those accomplishments, Baraka made it clear that he believes more work remains. He told attendees that the progress achieved so far is only part of a larger effort and said he is ready to continue that work over the next four years. He also publicly congratulated newly elected Councilwoman Donna Jackson as she prepared to take her seat on the governing body.
Jackson’s election represents one of the most closely watched developments from Newark’s recent municipal elections. A longtime grassroots housing advocate, she has spent years publicly questioning decisions made by the Baraka administration and the City Council, particularly regarding the approval of property tax abatements for residential development projects.
Her criticism has largely focused on the city’s practice of granting tax incentives to developers building both market-rate and affordable housing. Under Newark’s inclusionary zoning ordinance, 20% of the units in large residential developments must be reserved as affordable housing for residents with moderate, low, or very low incomes.
Jackson and other housing advocates have argued that some of these tax abatements were unnecessary because Newark’s growing real estate market has already become attractive to developers. They have also expressed concerns that many apartments labeled as affordable remain financially out of reach for many Newark residents because affordability is calculated using the Area Median Income, commonly known as AMI, for a larger four-county region rather than Newark alone.
During his remarks, Mayor Baraka acknowledged that issue and identified lowering the area’s AMI calculation as one of the goals for his new term. The figure, established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, determines income limits used for federally subsidized affordable housing programs. Baraka and many local leaders believe the current regional calculation is too high for Newark because it includes wealthier communities in Essex, Morris, Union, and Warren counties, making affordable housing less accessible for many city residents.
When Jackson addressed the audience after taking office, she received an enthusiastic response for her direct and energetic speaking style. She pledged to remain a strong voice for Newark residents while encouraging people to take greater responsibility for solving neighborhood issues whenever possible. At the same time, she emphasized that disagreements within city government should not prevent respectful cooperation among elected officials.
Her message suggested that although she intends to continue challenging policies she disagrees with, she is prepared to work alongside fellow council members as part of Newark’s governing body. That spirit of cooperation was visible throughout the ceremony as Jackson greeted several colleagues, including Councilwoman Amina Bey, who officially began her first full term after previously winning a special election to fill a vacant seat.
Councilman At-Large C. Lawrence Crump, who served as council president, also reflected on his time in office during the meeting. Speaking emotionally, he described serving in the position as an extraordinary privilege and honored the legacy of his late mother, Mildred Crump, who previously held the same office.
City Clerk Kecia Daniels officially certified the results of the May 12 municipal election and the June 9 runoff election before the swearing-in ceremony proceeded. Along with Jackson, Baraka, Bey, Crump, Patrick Council, Dupré Kelly, Michael Silva, Anibal Ramos Jr., Luis Quintana, and Louise Scott-Rountree all took the oath of office.
The meeting concluded with the council’s first official action of the new term. Members unanimously elected Luis Quintana to serve as the new council president, succeeding Crump. Quintana became emotional while accepting the leadership role, recalling that he narrowly lost his first council campaign in 1990 before eventually winning election in 1994 and going on to serve multiple terms.
After the meeting, Quintana expressed confidence about working with Jackson despite her years of public criticism directed at City Hall. He said they had worked together for many years and described her as someone he believes will contribute positively to the council.
With a returning mayor, an experienced council, and the addition of a new member known for challenging city leadership, Newark enters its next four-year term facing continued discussions over housing affordability, development policies, and the future direction of local government.
Sources
- Official City of Newark
- Official U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
