Court Complaint Accuses Mayor Baraka of using City Resources To Advance His Re-election Campaign
Hearing in Superior Court on Tuesday

Call Marco Laracca at 973-675 6006
or 201 400-0584

(Newark NJ, April 29, 2018)- Mayor Ras Baraka has violated his fiduciary responsibility to the people of Newark by using city resources to further his re-election campaign, according to a lawsuit filed in Essex County Superior Court on Wednesday.

The 5-count suit filed on behalf of three city residents by attorneys Marco A. Laracca and Darren DelSardo alleges that the mayor misused public resources, committed fraud and acted in bad faith when he violated New Jersey election law by using city funds and personnel to support his re-election campaign; and abused the power of his office by having city police escort a celebrity to his birthday party.

A hearing to restrain the mayor from further use city funds for election purposes is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1 before Superior Court Judge Dennis Carey.

In the first instance, according to the complaint, the mayor authorized the production and distribution of a postcard mailer proclaiming that crime has dropped in the city. The citywide mailer is estimated to cost $40,000 and was mailed in March. The mailing date violates New Jersey election law which prohibits incumbent officeholders from using public resources to distribute promotional mailers within 90 days of an upcoming election – in this case the election is May 8.

The second charge in the complaint alleges that the mayor, on April 9, ordered city police officers to drive to New York City to pick up celebrity D.J. Funkmaster Flex and escort him to the Prudential Center to attend the mayor’s birthday party bash at the arena. The complaint notes that during that evening a young male was shot in the city around the time that officers were assisting in the mayor’s birthday party extravaganza.

In both instances says attorney Laracca, Mayor Baraka misused public funds and resources and must be held accountable.

“These actions constitute an wanton abuse of power by the mayor to further his re-election at the expense of the taxpayers and residents of Newark. The mayor needs to answer to the people for his decision making,” said Laracca.

The attorney said the city mailer proclaiming a drop in crime, is “in all respects, including design and messaging, a political mailer prepared at taxpayers’ expense. It is virtually indistinguishable from a piece of political propaganda sent to voters prior to an election.”

The mailer includes Baraka’s photo and bold blocks of type designed to catch the reader’s attention.

The second instance of alleged abuse by the mayor, where police officers were dispatched to New York to pick up a celebrity and drive him to Newark, was, says Laracca, more serious than a simple lapse in judgment.

“Mayor Baraka used highly trained city police officers as a limousine service. He took them off the street to run an errand to New York, where any number of bad things could have happened. This is more than a case of bad judgment; this is an act that is detrimental to the public safety of the residents of Newark.”

Laracca said that the plaintiffs: Donna Jackson, Lisa Mitchelson Parker and Tharien Arnold are representing citizens that are tired of being used by politicians.

“The plaintiffs in this case are representative of citizens of Newark who are fed up with being abused by the politicians who say they want to help the city, but in reality are just helping themselves,” said Laracca

The complaint calls on Baraka to cease and desist from using public resources for his re-election campaign, and repay the city for the money expended on the mailer and for the police officers’ time and the use of a city police vehicle to pick up celebrity disk jockey. The complaint also seeks punitive damages and attorney fees from Baraka.