Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Outlines Progressive Agenda for New Jersey Gubernatorial Race

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is setting forth a bold and progressive vision for New Jersey as he enters the Democratic primary race to succeed Governor Phil Murphy. During a recent event at Rowan University, Baraka emphasized his commitment to advancing liberal policies and criticized what he sees as the state’s slow progress under moderate leadership.

Baraka outlined key components of his gubernatorial agenda:

1. Affordable Housing: Baraka identified the lack of affordable housing as the state’s top issue, advocating for stricter enforcement to ensure cities and counties actively participate in developing housing.
2. Reparations: The mayor proposed addressing the racial wealth gap through discussions on reparations, although specific details were not provided.
3. Baby Bonds: Baraka expressed support for the baby bonds concept, a proposal popularized by his predecessor Senator Cory Booker, in which the government sets aside funds for newborns to access when they become adults.
4. Tax Reform: The mayor called for a broader overhaul of taxes and finances, including rerouting corporate tax credits to families, reinstating the estate tax, and reforming the state’s mansion tax.
5. Desegregating Schools: Baraka highlighted the need to tackle racial inequities in schools, aiming to address racial segregation and uneven policies within the education system.
6. Police Oversight: The mayor underscored his commitment to addressing racial inequities in policing and incarceration, describing the current system as “uneven, costly, and racist.”

Baraka’s progressive stance aligns with his track record as mayor, where he supported initiatives such as a pilot program for universal basic income, creating a civilian complaint review board for police misconduct, and lowering the voting age to 16 for school board elections.

He is not the sole progressive candidate in the gubernatorial race, as Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has also entered the fray with similar policy positions.

The race to replace Governor Murphy is anticipated to be competitive, with various Democratic and Republican candidates throwing their hats into the ring. Baraka, confident in his impact on the state’s political landscape, declared, “In the end, mark my words: The state will never be the same because Ras Baraka announced that he’s running for governor in the state of New Jersey.”