13 minute read
Newark Municipal Council Members
LAMONICA MCIVER
Advertisement
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCIL
MEMBER, CENTRAL WARD
Born and raised in Newark’s Central Ward, LaMonica McIver began working in politics at the age of 13, organizing youth groups to encourage people to get out the vote. First elected to the Newark Municipal Council in 2018 —the youngest person to achieve that position — she won re-election in 2022. Her colleagues on the council then chose her as Municipal Council president, another first as the youngest to hold that title.
After earning an undergraduate degree in English literature from Bloomfield College and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from Seton Hall University, McIver began her career as a school leader, educator, and HR professional at diverse public school districts.
LaMonica McIver’s mission remains unchanged: fighting for improved quality of life for residents of the Central Ward. She has not stopped serving the community and serves in whatever capacity necessary to aid residents of the City of Newark. Councilmember McIver says the privilege of her life is working on behalf of ALL the people of the Central Ward.
LOUISE SCOTT-ROUNTREE
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE
Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, council member at large, was born and raised in Newark. After serving in ministry for many years, the daughter of Rev. Dr. Malachi D. Rountree and the late Mrs. Louise ScottRountree completed her studies at New York Theological Seminary, where she received a degree in religious studies and Christian education.
Rev. Rountree serves as manager of Clergy Affairs, the first female in this role in Newark’s history. In that position, she helps coordinate the efforts of Newark’s diverse community of over 500 faith leaders, working collectively to improve the quality of life of all Newark residents and families. Initiatives include grief support, food distribution, health, and wellness.
Rev. Rountree, a senior citizen advocate and community activist, currently sits on the Commission of the Status of Women and the City of Newark’s Homeless Commission and is a lifelong member of the NAACP Newark chapter. She has received countless acknowledgements and awards for her service to her community.
CARLOS M. GONZALEZ
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE
A dedicated professional with an international background in the financial and legal sectors, Gonzalez is committed to public service and community development, and is proud to serve the diverse communities of Newark.
He has traveled extensively throughout the world, to places including France, Holland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, and Singapore. He has also traveled to 11 countries in Central and South America, and most of the Caribbean nations.
C. LAWRENCE CRUMP
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE
In August 2021, C. Lawrence Crump Esq. filled the position of councilman at large vacated by Council President Mildred C. Crump. Elected to a full four-year term in May, 2022, he was sworn in on July 1, 2022. Also the general counsel and director of Development for the Newark Parking Authority, Crump formerly served as Newark’s legislative director for the Department of Economic and Housing Development. His previously held positions include first assistant corporation counsel for Newark’s Law Department and chief of staff to Council President Mildred C. Crump.
His civic and community activities include: member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Board Member, Newark Symphony Hall; Prince Hall Master Mason, Tyre Lodge #29; and proud member of Bethany Baptist Church, Newark, N.J.
Councilman Crump received his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Rutgers University, School of Law, and his B.A. in 1991, cum laude with a major in banking & finance from Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia.
Raised by a single mother and now governing where he grew up, Newark City Councilman Dupré L. Kelly represents the city’s West Ward. He earned the nickname “DoItAll Du” in high school, playing basketball and serving as co-captain of the baseball team.
While attending the HBCU Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, he became a member of the hip-hop trio Lords of the Underground. The iconic group released one of the 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993, recorded one of The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time, and impacted millions on a world tour.
A proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Councilman Kelly is leaning into his commitment to be “first of all” (the first platinum-selling hip-hop artist to win elected office in the U.S.) and “servant of all.” Kelly founded 211 Community Impact, a non-profit organization that has been serving Newark residents since 2010.
PATRICK O. COUNCIL
SOUTH WARD COUNCIL MEMBER
A consistent and visible professional with over 20 years of administrative experience and advocacy, South Ward Councilman Patrick Council’s work at the forefront of change and struggle in the City of Newark and in the South Ward attests to his leadership capabilities.
A unifier and collaboration builder, Council’s efforts in connecting community residents and leaders create better partnerships and resources for citizens and stakeholders alike. His background as an educator and board member keeps him dedicated and focused on equity in the city’s educational system and his leadership as a youth and senior organizer resulted in providing many families the opportunity to connect to a wide range of necessary services and programs.
Councilman Council brings energy, knowledge, and focus to the City Council, his representation of the South Ward, and as a municipal leader. His pronounced intention to refocus, reimagine, and rebuild the South Ward into a stronger and better community for all residents will impact the entire City of Newark.
DUPRE L. KELLY
WEST WARD COUNCIL MEMBER
MICHAEL J. SILVA
EAST WARD COUNCIL MEMBER Born in Newark of Portuguese immigrants, Municipal Council Member Michael J. Silva spent his childhood summers split between the New Jersey Shore and Portugal. Silva attended Catholic grammar and high schools, Union County College, and the Police Academy. He joined the Newark Police Department in 1996, serving for 25 years, 18 of those as a community service detective. Winning in a general runoff election in June of this year, Silva represents the East Ward and supports many charity and community organizations including the Tunnel to Tower Foundation for 9/11 families.
One of the newest City Council members, Silva attends Mass daily and as a cancer survivor, is extremely health conscious. A sports fanatic, he regularly attends NY Yankees, NY Rangers, and Dallas Cowboys games with his son Aiden, his “best buddy.” “I want to continue to serve as the taxpayers' best friend, who maintains an independent voting record and will fight every day to ensure that.”
ANIBAL RAMOS JR.
NORTH WARD COUNCIL MEMBER
North Ward Council Member Anibal Ramos is an innovative leader with an extensive background in management, public service, and community development. Sworn into office in July 2006, he brings his professional experience gained through the Newark Public Schools (NPS) and the County of Essex.
LUIS A. QUINTANA
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE
The first Hispanic elected to the position of councilman at large in the City of Newark, Luis Quintana assumed his Municipal Council seat on July 1, l994. He served in several important roles in the City Council including president and vice president. In 2013, he became the first Hispanic to serve as interim mayor of Newark. During his 35 years of service, Quintana witnessed many changes in Newark.
Born in Añasco, Puerto Rico, Quintana moved to Newark with his family at a young age. Unable to speak English, he was determined to learn and achieve his goals.
Actively involved with the Upward Bound program and numerous other community activities at Barringer High School, he attended Seton Hall University, graduating in 1983 with a degree in criminal justice. Quintana became a North Ward youth counselor.
Quintana served as deputy mayor in 1986. In November of 1990, he was appointed to the Board of the Essex County Vocational Schools, and the Board of Trustees of the United Way. He is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, and a member of the Black & Latino Coalitions of Black & Hispanic Clergy. In 2015, Quintana was nominated to the Elected Officials Hall of Fame.
A Progress Report on Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s Transformational Expansion Project
The excitement is building in Newark’s South Ward as the historic $150 million expansion project known as Newark Strong is transforming Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBI) and its neighborhood. The project represents a major investment in the medical center’s close relationship with its community. The new main entrance on Lyons Avenue will feature a 17,000-squarefoot glass-enclosed lobby. “Our main entrance used to appear fortress-like,” says Darrell K. Terry, Sr., President and Chief Executive Officer of NBI and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. “The new lobby is light-filled and welcoming, letting the community know that we’re here for them.” The space will include lounge chairs, bench seating and planter boxes, as well as a meeting room for community organizations. The glass installation for the entire project is being performed by Josloff Glass, a woman-owned business in the South Ward. “We’re committed to making sure this project truly benefits the community we serve,” Terry says. The hospital will invest 30 percent of the project’s construction costs in Newark-based businesses, as well as in other minority-, female- and veteran-owned businesses. On the Lyons Avenue side of the medical center, five pocket parks with seating and shrubbery, along with tree plantings, are being created. “We want the area to be less industrial and more community-oriented,” Terry explains. “This project is part of the greening of Newark.” Inside, expansion and upgrading plans are moving forward. They include: A 4,000-square-foot Emergency Department (ED) expansion, with 10 new private exam rooms with sliding glass doors, a new waiting room and a new fast-track intake area. A new ED entrance will have a canopy and signage that can easily be seen from multiple perspectives. The Pediatrics ED will have a separate entrance and waiting area, along with new treatment rooms. The new Emergency Services Pavilion will be named for the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, which has committed $5 million toward the project. A 24-bed Geriatric Unit with private rooms featuring nuanced design. This design includes beds that reduce the risk of pressure injuries, cushioned slip-resistant flooring, handrails in hallways and fold-down jump seats for quick seating if needed. Common areas have vibrant colors to make wayfinding easier.
Photos of the new Geriatric Unit with special design features for older adults and the separate reception area for Pediatric Emergency patients and families.
A new state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit, with 13 right-sized private rooms to accommodate equipment, support staff and visitors. Each room will have a built-in desk and television and high-end pullout sleeper sofa so a loved one can spend the night. A centralized nursing station will provide a clear line of sight to patients at all times. Other highlights include the 34-bed Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Mother-Baby Unit with private, newly renovated rooms, and new hybrid Operating Rooms to provide care for the most complex cardiac cases.
themasterplan
Courtesy of the City of Newark
To develop Newark’s 10-year Master Plan, 10,000 voices spoke and what they said was heard. This, the essential backbone of the plan, resulted in Newark360, the forward-looking blueprint for the city’s equitable physical development.
The title came about organically from the idea that the Master Plan should take a 360-degree view encompassing every aspect of city life, overlooking no segment. The Planning Board issued unanimous approval for Newark360.
“Newark360 encompasses the ideas, visions, dreams, and aspirations of Newarkers themselves, not academic or bureaucratic planners,” said City of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “It was created through nearly two years of community engagement, the most wide-ranging and inclusive outreach the city has ever undertaken.”
The outreach touched residents in every neighborhood and every walk-of-life. Face-to-face community workshops in each ward, focus groups, and community meetings and feedback from young people provided insight. A highly interactive website enabled the public to share ideas, review documents, and hold Facebook Live discussions.
“We are grateful for the people who participated, because Newark360 could not exist without the voices and priorities of Newarkers,” the Mayor added.
The goal of the Baraka Administration from his very first year in office in 2014 focused on creating equity in every aspect of Newark life—health, safety, education, home ownership, and business opportunity.
Newark360’s objective is to take long-range steps in those core principles, so that every resident has a stake in the city’s continued development and success.
The implementation of the Newark360 Master Plan outreach illustrated how Mayor Baraka lives up to his 2014 campaign slogan: “When I become Mayor, we become Mayor.”
As one resident said, “I love the diversity of this city and its spirit. It’s hard to name the sense of grit, determination, and pride Brick City residents have in one word. I’m so excited to be part of its present and future.”
Newark360 provides action and work to grow connections between city neighborhoods and job centers, create more affordable housing, strengthen the city’s historical and cultural fabric, and address environmental injustices.
Just a few of its elements are:
• Sustainability and preparation for the inevitable impact of climate change. • Better connection of neighborhoods via public transit and pedestrian infrastructure to take people beyond the downtown core. • Support for neighborhood businesses with micro-capital startup funds. • Utilization of the land bank to promote non-institutional ownership of commercial property and increase home ownership.
Money
business, finance + work
cont’d from previous page
• Foster more affordable housing through zoning change, increased density on key corridors, and allow accessory dwelling units. • Create Newark Airport City initiative, which could build a light rail into the Dayton neighborhood, generating more opportunities for growth and business. • Support the vision of the Newark Arts and Education
District and continue to herald downtown as a place for galleries, restaurants, parks, public art, and educational institutions. • Support legislation and zoning for Newark to become a 24/7 city, to enhance our cultural history as a music and nightlife destination and create a livelier and welllit downtown. • Create broader commercial zoning in our neighborhood “downtowns” to foster more business opportunity and shopping experiences in the wards. • Establish and expand green zones to reduce the city’s heat index, and create a large tree canopy to shade larger parts of Newark’s neighborhoods.
Of course, these actions require that Newark Municipal Council pass ordinances to update the underlying land use and zoning codes, thus providing the legal framework for implementing the proposed actions.
However, as Newark saw in the lead-line replacement program, the council passed an ordinance to allow the city to change service lines without the homeowner’s permission. the council is expected to act similarly in the city’s best interest concerning Newark360.
The implementation of Newark360 will require the same citywide vision and cooperation that birthed the ideas that formed it. From Newark’s proud residents, we expect no less.
