Newark’s Path to Progress: Mayor Baraka Outlines Vision for a Resilient City

Co-presented by the Newark Regional Business Partnership (NRBP), the NJPAC’s Roundtable event welcomed nearly 300 leaders across various industries to network, gain business insights, and witness Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and NPAC President and CEO John Schreiber converse in person. This ongoing series from NJPAC is sponsored by PNC, United Airlines, RWJBarnabas Health, PSEG, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

The event began with Schneider acknowledging Chip Hallock, the NRBP’s previous CEO, in attendance. He then welcomed Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s CEO and President, Darrell K. Terry, Sr., to the podium to give his remarks to the audience. Since Newark Beth Israel is part of RWJBarnabas Health, Terry discussed the latter’s new program, “Our Healthy Newark.”

“Our Healthy Newark is the collaboration with the FQHCs, creating access points, community health workers, and transportation to create a healthier Newark,” said Terry. “We provide over 10,000 rides a day for our patients, but not just to Newark Beth Israel. To wherever they’re going to get health care. So we’re very proud to take away that barrier to health care for our community.” 

Following remarks from NRBP CEO Ferlanda Fox Nixon, the main event featured Mayor Baraka and Schreiber sitting down to discuss the present state of Newark and the city’s projects and advancements on several fronts. 

Baraka shared his plans to advance issues concerning the state of New Jersey on a regional or national basis. The Mayor expressed his hopes that his administration’s actions in the Brick City and the improvements they’ve created will promote change far beyond the state of New Jersey.

“I think everything we do in Newark, from development to things that we test out and we create around the reduction of homelessness, container homes… all eyes are on us, people duplicate these things wherever we go,” said Baraka.

Baraka has already become a national figure throughout his political career, as he continues to speak to leaders across the country and the globe on tackling issues such as homelessness, violence, crime, hate crimes, and the migrant crisis.

After all, housing was a major part of Baraka’s plan for Newark, as he shared his ambitious solution to decrease homelessness in the city. According to Baraka, 2,500 units have been created in the downtown area alone in the last five to six years. Another 1,200 units are currently being built with another 10,000 units already approved for construction and on the way. 

Baraka also hopes to add another 16,000 units around the Prudential Arena and Mulberry Commons. He claims such developments would house an unprecedented 30,000 people in the downtown area, which Schreiber described as “extraordinary.”

Accommodating for this influx of downtown residents, Baraka discussed the many retail locations that will be added to the area, driving in business and catering to customers whose behaviors have adapted to the post-pandemic world. These upcoming businesses include a wine bar, a Montessori school, a STEM center, a beauty bar, a BLVD Bistro, and more.

“All these businesses that are coming to the area, it’s incredible, right?” said Baraka. “And I think the difference is most of the businesses that were downtown before, some of them were struggling even now because they rely heavily on the afternoon crowd. They’ve marketed specifically to the people who worked here, and that just doesn’t exist like that. Not here and nowhere else in America. People are now working from home.”

All in all, Mayor Baraka proved to Schreiber and their business partners that he and his administration have and will produce great health, social, and economic changes to Newark. He also showed that, when it comes to running the city, he acknowledges the big picture and hopes Newark will continue to dispel stereotypes, move beyond its negative reputation, and become an example that other cities will follow.

“What I think Newark has [that makes it special] is the resilience, at this point,” Baraka stated. “Like belief that things will get better. And I think that ultimately drives our persistence every day to get these things done over and over again.”