Mayor Ras J. Baraka, City of Newark
Q1: Why are the arts so important?
MAYOR BARAKA: “Here in Newark, we are using art to expand our economy, to create jobs and opportunity, to be inclusive and leverage our diversity, to lift our spirit and to inform our direction. The expansions of NJPAC and the Newark Museum of Art, combined with the Lionsgate Film and TV Studio, are expected to generate $1 billion in economic impact. Besides those milestones, we are still going strong with our Creative Catalyst fund that has supported over 500 local artists with millions of dollars in grants, which allowed Newark to be listed as the eighth most vibrant arts city in the country. This includes countless public arts projects, and about 75 murals in collaboration with Project Empty Space.”
Members of the arts community join Mayor Baraka during the 2025 State of the City address
Q2: What’s your response to those who say nothing is happening in Newark?
MAYOR BARAKA: “I was at a forum recently and one of the candidates said, “No disrespect, Mayor, Newark only has three cranes in the air.” Well the best way to diffuse a lie is to share the truth. Newark has billions of dollars of development going on now. This includes Newark Summit Tower at 200 Market Street. It has 579 units, with 20 percent set aside as affordable, and 11,000 square feet of retail. There is also Fireman’s Insurance Building at 10 Park Place, which transfers a historic landmark building into a 231-unit affordable housing complex. These people are talking about things they want to do. Or, ideas about what they hope to accomplish. Well, I say come visit us, we are getting it done. (Other current projects include The Ballantine Project on 80 Freeman Street, which is redeveloping an old brewery into housing; Rise Living Phase Two and Three, developed by Queen Latifah; Boraie Development’s third tower on the city’s waterfront, and 48 parcels given to 16 community development organizations, which will add 88 additional affordable units.) My mother would say: no investigation, no right to speak.”
Excerpt from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s 2025 State of the City address.
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