Dhiren Shah: Welcome to this interview. Why are you running for mayor of Newark?
Sheila Montague: With my background and my skill set, I can make a difference that’s needed in our city. One of the ways I can be an asset to our community is that I’ve had some extensive training in politics, and I’m a native Newarker. The three issues I’m concentrating on is education, public safety, and housing.
DS: What are the duties of a mayor?
SM: Basically, to hear what the council is saying, because there are members for each ward and at large. You either go along with the legislation and pass it, or you don’t. You make sure things are running right in the city. You make sure there is a balance in the development of the city for the actual residents that live here. You look out for the best overall interest of the city.
DS: How can you help the people of Newark in a real sense?
SM: The first way I can help is to be a voice. Currently, we do not have a voice because of the amount of money that comes through corporations and developers that feed the campaigns. As a homeowner for over 20 years and a lifelong Newarker, I’ve watched us go from having a say-so about what comes thought our community to having none.
As a mom, I’ve seen where, right now, our kids need self-esteem. Right now, escalating crime is not being addressed at all, probably because they are branding the city as crime being down to look inviting to people who don’t live here – like those who can afford the “affordable housing” starting at $1,800 for a studio apartment. There should be adequate income housing.
Homeless shelters have become problem ridden because they don’t have the adequate oversight. People get kicked out in the morning. Some of those people actually have jobs. Also, containers are not an adequate replacement for legitimate housing for the homeless. I don’t even know if they have bathrooms.
DS: How can you stop the inflow of high paying renters, which can make it harder for Newarkers to live in the city due to higher cost-of-living expenses, including groceries?
SM: I would first do an audit of the expenditures. Then I would like to reappropriate some funds, because we have $800 million to help tackle that. The money for the mayor’s security team alone is $1 million. That’s absurd.
DS: Why do you think you are better for Newark than Mayor Ras Baraka?
SM: I know I am a better choice because I am a native Newarker that has been homeless before, and I can relate to those issues. A native Newarker who knows poverty. Newark is a very transient location, and my family has been in every ward. I am a mentor that would never have my character questioned as one involve in any type of questionable street organization. I can relate to Newarkers as a native, homeowner, mother, educator.
DS: How will you work with the council to achieve your goals, especially if they disagree with you?
SM: One thing I depend on is data. Right now, they are not gaging anything on data. They are working under fear, being “yes men” to the current mayor. One thing I advocate for is democracy. If most of my council does not want something, then maybe I need to go back and rethink what we need as a collective. A big disconnect concerning the council is that people are not engaged right now. They are not attending school board meetings or council meetings. They think they have no voice, and they are right. They feel if they raise their voice, they will get targeted. That’s not democracy.
DS: Newark, and most of Essex County, is controlled by big machine politics. How will you overcome that?
SM: With a strong grassroots movement that’s consistent. Big machine politics don’t want to offend the people. If the people stand up and say they want something else, that’s when things change. There has to be a balance between what corporations want and what the people want and need, like better schools or activities. We don’t have not enough activities, like bowling and things like that.
DS: Being an educator, how will you address education in the city?
SM: By being analytical. Seeing where they are, the students, teachers, and administrators, and working with the superintendent and everyone down to make it better. I would want an education officer, fully involved with education.
DS: Newark is infamous for crime and other public safety issues, such as corruption. What will you bring to the table to fix the problem?
SM: A breath of fresh air. We have been governed since I remember by maybe five or six families. I’m not part of that regime. I’m the dream of democracy. I’ve been committed to marriage for twenty years, a mother, and a district leader. We have these families, the Jameses, the Crumps, the Barakas. I loved the predecessors like Mildred Crump, Sharpe James, and Amiri Baraka. But then it went to their kids. Sharpe ran again. He should not feel he has to run again.
My house was shot into before. But I’m a big girl; I understand history a lot. I want to look at the bright side of things. I believe anything is possible. We need someone who knows how to be committed to a task. Leaders set the tone. Young people are looking at you to set a new tone.
As for public safety, I was on board for the CCRB to have subpoena power. But then he (Baraka) turns around and supports someone who’s against everything we’re supporting. I still don’t understand that. It’s a conflict. Regular civilians should have subpoena power. Street organizations that are too affiliated with the administration should not. There’s a conflict there.
Finally, the police need better vehicles. Why do city staffers have better vehicles than the police?
DS: Other than the usual matters of crime and education, what do you feel is the biggest problem in Newark?
SM: The threat to democracy. The need for one person to control everything is a threat to democracy. It’s not just a national problem, but it’s a local one too.
DS: If elected, will you promise not to hire a bunch of family and friends?
SM: YES! I definitely promise that!
DS: Do you have a brief message for your constituents?
SM: I believe that people should do their own research on candidates that are running. They should disengage with gossip because there is a lot of word of mouth. As an adjunct professor, I tell my students you have to look at the source. I’ve been an educator all my adult life. Literacy and language arts. I’ve worked as a 7th and 8th grade teacher.
On May 10th, vote Line A1 all the way!
Newark Sidewalks Are NOT handicapped accessible. Next story to work on.