Ras J. Baraka FOR MAYOR 2014

BELIEVE IN NEWARK

Ras J. Baraka has served as South Ward Councilman since May 2010 and is running for

Mayor in the 2014 election. A native of Newark where his family has lived for over 70

years, Baraka was educated in the Newark Public Schools and went on to receive a BA

in Political Science from Howard University in Washington, DC and an MA in Education

Supervision from St. Peters University in Jersey City, NJ. In addition to his many

accomplishments as the South Ward Councilman, Baraka is credited with transforming

Central High School where he has served as principal since 2007. Baraka’s love for

teaching and education is matched only by his passion for political equality. An

accomplished legislator and administrator, Baraka has tackled issues affecting the

current and future quality of life for Newark residents, including employment,

public health and safety, development, and civic engagement.

As South Ward Councilman Baraka’s many accomplishments include; legislation recognizing violence as a public health issue, the Homestead/Abandoned Properties

ordinance and an ordinance requiring early closures for retail stores and restaurants to curb loitering. Additionally, under his leadership the South Ward police

substation was re-opened, the Bergen Lyons Clinton Special Improvement District was created, Key Foods Supermarket opened in the South Ward providing jobs for

Newark residents, and over 1.2 million dollars has been awarded to non-profit organizations. Baraka has also supported initiatives geared towards youth development

such as South Ward READS and the South Ward Youth Development Center and he created the Senior Citizen’s Committee, a group of committed residents addressing

Issues for seniors.

A community organizer for over 20 years, he energetically ran his first campaign for mayor in 1994, at the age of 24, after returning home from Howard University.

On September 27, 2002 He was appointed Deputy Mayor where he served until 2005, when Newark Municipal Council voted for Baraka to fulfill the unexpired term

of the late Councilman Donald Tucker as Councilman-At-Large. Baraka established Newark's Committee on Violence, served as a key organizer for the Newark

Ceasefire Peace Initiative in 2004, and is a founding member and served as chairman of the historic 1st National Hip Hop Political Convention.

Ras Baraka is the son of renowned poets Amina and Amiri Baraka and the loving father of three daughters. A published author, his latest work Black Girls Learn Love

Hard is dedicated to the life of his late sister, Shani Baraka.

ABOUT RAS J. BARAKABELIEVE IN NEWARK

BELIEVE IN NEWARKPLATFORM: MOVING NEWARK

PUBLIC SAFETY

• INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS PROTECTING OUR CITIZENSWe will work to get our police academy back and hire more officers, reduce the number ofofficers in executive positions and have more officers ensuring safety in our streets.

• TARGET IMPACT ZONES AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLYWe will identify the most dangerous areas and apply coordinated intervention; mentorshipprograms, job development and training, family planning, code enforcement, and communityclean ups.

• TREAT VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUEWe will address crime and violence as a public health issue and work to decrease crime withinthe city through prevention, intervention, and treatment like we would any epidemic.

EDUCATION

• SUPPORT TO ENSURE EDUCATIONAL EQUITYA well-organized public school system designed to educate everyone regardlessof race, national origin, gender, or disability ensures the well-being of our society.

Great schools have resources and there are two mandatory elements that secureeducational equity; foundational education funding for Abbott districts equal tothe highest districts in the state and supplemental educational resources to supportsocial workers, community and parent engagement, early childhood education, smallerclass sizes, and teacher aides.

• REDEFINE ACCOUNTABILITYEvidence suggests that the current approach to measuring student achievement andhow to improve student achievement do not produce higher outcomes for students. We supporta more robust system that allows districts and schools to respond to the specific causes of underperformance they encounter and provides the resources required toaddress these needs.

• ENGAGE THE COMMUNITYStrong schools support strong communities. Schools need to offer learning opportunities tocommunity members and provide parents with the resources they need to be engagedstakeholders and decision-makers in children’s academic success. Through inviting communitymembers to be part of how we design, govern, and assess our schools we ensure that we are actingin the best interest of our citizens.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN DOWNTOWNDEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTWe have an opportunity to create a vibrant, energetic,culturally and aesthetically robust downtown center thattranslates into the surrounding communities.

We will create strategic partnerships that ensure thattargeted development extends beyond the downtownand also revitalizes major corridors in each one of our wards.

• CAPITALIZE ON THE EXPANDING SEA PORTWe will employ a Sea Port strategy that puts our communityto work and is able to leverage that development intodollars for the City of Newark.

Provide equitable access to training and employmentopportunities at the Port Authority for Newark residents inorder to create a skilled workforce resulting in an influx ofgrowth and investment.

Engage the existing anchors in our city as well as the sixuniversities with the Port Authority to create jobs, buildstronger communities, and spark economic development.

• CREATE JOBS FOR NEWARK RESIDENTSContinue to attract the large corporations and businessthat offer employment opportunities for Newark residentsand work to support and incubate small businesses.

Revitalize job-training opportunities for Newark residentsthrough partnerships with existing and future businesses.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: AN INTEGRATED APPROACHACCOMPLISHMENTS: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

BELIEVE IN NEWARK

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTUnder the leadership of Councilman Baraka, economicdevelopment in the South Ward has increasedsignificantly. The formation of the South Ward SpecialImprovement District, the Shopping Plaza at Elizabethand Meeker Avenue, and Bergen Street Developmentproject have provided jobs for Newark residents andbegun to revitalize the business climate in the SouthWard. With the recent opening of Key FoodsSupermarket the South Ward saw the opening of thefirst grocery store offering fresh, healthy food optionsin the South Ward in decades

PUBLIC SAFETYIn partnership with 5th District Police Captain EugeneVenable and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office,additional patrols by Essex County police vehicleshave been added to high crime areas in the SouthWard. Additionally, Councilman Baraka successfullyopened the South Ward Police Substation inpartnership with the Newark Police Department. Thesubstation serves the community seven days a weekfrom 8 AM to 12 AM.

LEGISLATION• Violence as a Public Health IssueIn February 2012 the Municipal Council unanimouslyvoted to support a resolution sponsored byCouncilman Baraka to acknowledge and addressviolence as a public health issue. The landmarkresolution highlights the public health significance ofviolence and suggests that the city of Newark pursueprograms that identify risk factors, designinterventions to address these factors and evaluatethe effectiveness of program efforts.

• LoiteringCouncilman Baraka sponsored an ordinance requiringrestaurants and retail stores on designated, highcrime streets to close at 10 PM Sunday throughThursday and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday.

• Abandoned Properties and BlightCouncilman Baraka is in the process of developinglegislation that will provide the legal framework for aHomestead Program that will allow for the City ofNewark to to deed over select, city-owned propertiesthat are in need of rehabilitation to qualified cityresidents who are willing to rehab and live in thehome for a minimum of five years. This South Wardpilot program is underway and is anticipated toexpand citywide.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENTCouncilman Baraka has worked diligently to engage,educate and empower South Ward residents tocreate and sustain strong, healthy communities.Since July 2010, Councilman Baraka has hostedmonthly community meetings engaging districtleaders, block associations and residents at large.These meetings provide a direct line ofcommunication to city agencies to address qualityof life issues in the South Ward. He also created theSouth Ward Youth Council and South Ward SeniorCommittee to ensure leadership opportunities andparticipation in community meetings that directlyeffect the quality of life for the respective groups.

IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FORNEWARK RESIDENTSKeeping his commitment to improve recreationalfacilities for children in the South Ward, CouncilmanBaraka secured funding for the repaving of theMadison Avenue School playground, created theSouth Ward Youth Development Center, andsecured thousands of dollars for youth in the SouthWard to continue to participate in the JackieRobinson Little League and South Ward POP Warnerwhen economic constraints threatened to eliminateboth leagues. Additionally, Councilman Barakaestablished the South Ward Reads Literacy Programand renovated the Nellie Grier Senior Center.

"I believe in this city. I believe in

what we have the potential to

become and the power we have

to shape this country, to make

it live up to its lofty ideals and

promise of democracy.

Onward to 2014!"

Councilman Ras Baraka

Campaign Contribution Info:

Your contribution to the campaign can be madeat www.RASJBARAKA.com or mailed to:

The Committee To Elect Ras J. Baraka for MayorP.O. Box 912Newark, NJ 07101

Please make your checks payable to:Committee to Elect Ras Baraka for Mayor

Ras J. Baraka FOR MAYOR 2014BELIEVE IN NEWARK

To set up a meeting withCouncilman Baraka please contact:

The Office To Elect Ras J. Baraka570-A Clinton AvenueNewark, NJ 07108

Tel: 973.698.9504Email: BelieveInNewark@gmail.com

Contact Info: