Blake: Newark cannot afford four more years

We cannot afford four more years

The mayor of our great city has influence over all of our lives. I intend to be a mayor who is accountable to you by action and by the numbers. I pledge that in my first four years we will dedicate $1 million every year toward neighborhood paving without interrupting the current paving of our arterial streets.

I promise to make our neighborhoods safer by having more than four patrol officers on duty every day and night, and I plan to restore neighborhood policing to build community relationships. I pledge that we will work together with our dedicated firefighters to find ways to increase the number of on-duty firefighters without sacrificing safety for the less wealthy, whose voices aren’t heard by the current administration.

The last eight years have seen the revival of our downtown - a project I worked hard to bring to life alongside my fellow city council members. In those same eight years, violent crime has skyrocketed, our neighborhood streets have crumbled, drug overdoses have grown beyond measure, and nearly three times as many Newark children are homeless. And while these changes have impacted our city, the current administration has done nothing.

Including you - our residents, our taxpayers, our stakeholders - is a necessity for continued success. After God and my family, my most important priority is maintaining the public trust. I have worked in strengthening community relationships and building stronger neighborhoods. It comes natural to assure that all voices are at the table.

Working together, the people of Newark can make our dream of a better city for all of us come true. To battle the drug addiction crisis, crime and underemployment will take purposeful leadership from the mayor to build necessary coalitions. We have to understand our current situation in order to make improvements. It is only by openly talking about the reality will we be able to move forward with plans to make a positive impact. The current administration lacks the will to address these concerns. They have had eight years. It is time for change.

We simply cannot afford another four years of inaction. It is time for change to bring new leadership that cares about all the people of Our Newark. I love my hometown. I pray each day for Our Newark. It is this passion that drives me to want to work openly and transparently for all of you as your next mayor.

The most important value that we all cherish and share as citizens is the opportunity to make our voices heard by voting. No matter where you live in Newark, regardless of your income or your circumstances, we are all equal in casting a single ballot for Newark’s future. I ask for your trust and your support. Please take a friend with you to vote and vote early! Your friends and neighbors are counting on you to make your voice heard.

Councilman Jeremy Blake is a candidate for Mayor of Newark.