"A Mayor That’s Radical": Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Reflects on His Poet Father & 1st Year in Office

Democracynow.org - When Ras Baraka was elected mayor of Newark, New Jersey in May 2014, he entered office as the well-known son of noted global activist and poet Amiri Baraka, with similar radical politics. In his inaugural address, Baraka said, "We need … a mayor that puts his city first. A mayor that never forgets how he got here. We need a mayor that’s radical." He calls for an "urban Marshall Plan" to invest in cities. "My family has been in Newark almost 100 years," Baraka said. "Nothing has been given to those folks - job training, job development, infrastructure redevelopment, roads, bridges, highways, hospitals, schools, putting people to work, giving people jobs and decent education. All of that is necessary in a democracy and to move America forward."
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[@TheBaybunie]

If you do not care for people then you have no business in office or in government at all, for that matter. There's a very clear line between corporation and government and everyday everyone does their best to make sure that line gets blurred. I really like how this man just keeps it so real.

[@phoenixzappa7366]

sounds like Mr T

[@oRuTRa45]

Amiri Baraka will always be the Poet Laureate of New Jersey to me.

[@krileayn]

We meed more principled men like this.