NEWARK – After news of a federal case involving bribes and kickbacks being brought against him, it took no time for people to call upon the resignation of a Newark politician.
On Oct. 20, West Ward Councilman Joseph A. McCallum Jr., 65, was charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud for allegedly devising a scheme, using interstate wire communications, to defraud Newark and the NCEDC of the right to McCallum’s honest services.
When “Local Talk” asked Councilman McCallum for a comment, he replied, “I’m not letting anything interrupt the continued progress we have planned in the West Ward.”
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint against McCallum are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Despite this, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former West Ward council candidate Tomecca “Mecca” Keyes suggested that a resignation would be appropriate.
“On behalf of the City of Newark, we do not condone any of the actions within city government that have allegedly occurred and will cooperate with the investigation,” Baraka said in a statement. “With that being said, we also send prayers to Council Member Joseph McCallum and his family during what must be a difficult time. We do hope that these allegations are not true. However, if in fact, they are, then he should consider the West Ward and the City of Newark by resigning and allowing us to heal and move on.”
Keyes, who finished second to McCallum in a 2018 run-off election by less than the 300 votes, was not as gentle with her thoughts.
“To betray the public’s trust as an elected official is not only an egregious display of arrogance and negligence that the ward has experienced,” Keyes said in a statement. “Understandably, these are mere accusations, yet it shines a light not only on the West Ward, but on the entire city of Newark; a city that has had its share of political corruptions over a course of decades.
“It is heartbreaking that we are living in a time of a pandemic where residents are losing housing and employment that we would have this kind of abuse of power. This is nothing more than a slap in the face of all the honest hard-working residents that are trying to make ends meet and care for their families. Councilman McCallum has been an absent member of this community and now he has robbed this community of its pride and dignity…he has failed us.
“I call for Councilman McCallum to step down IMMEDIATELY, and to be relieved from his position on the Board of Directors of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC) which by all standards is a conflict of interest. Mr. McCallum has a moral judgement call to face. If he genuinely believes in Newark and moving the city forward, he will no longer take another hard-working cash strapped taxpayers’ cent or allow the city to handle his legal defense fund.”
