Below is today’s press release. Representatives of Newark First showed up to this press conference to disrupt and agitate the Newark residents who attended. This is another indication that Shavar Jeffries and his backers lack positive ideas to change Newark, and so they have to rely on negativity and cynicism to cut into Baraka’s lead. With YOUR help, they will not succeed!
NEWS
For Release: Tuesday, May 6th, 2014
Contact Frank Baraff (914) 469-3775 fbaraff@optonline.net
Ras Baraka describes a complex scheme that has provided his opponent Shavar Jefferies with more than a million dollars in secret campaign contributions
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Statement by Ras Baraka
80% of the money spent on radio and television commercials in this campaign has been spent by one committee, Newark First, on behalf of Shavar Jeffries. Newark First has spent at least two million dollars, and the donors of most of that two million are secret.
In other words, a group behind Shavar Jeffries is trying to buy control of Newark’s government, and the people of Newark have no idea who they are, what they stand for, and what they ultimately seek to achieve.
At the last financial filing 20 days ago, Newark First had received $1.3 million in contributions. Of the $1.3 million, $850,000 came from Education Reform Now, a New York City group of Wall Street hedge fund operators behind Chris Christie and his appointed school superintendent, Cami Anderson. Today, Newark First has spent more than $2 million.
By putting their money through Education Reform Now, large contributors are able to hide from the people of Newark. There is nothing illegal about that kind of money laundering. It’s allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. But the people of Newark must know who is trying to control our city.
The fact that people launder contributions through an education reform group does not necessarily mean that they are supporters of Chris Christie-style education reform. The money could just as well be coming from the South Jersey political boss, George Norcross, or big contractors seeking to avoid pay-to-play laws.
Let me be clear. The issue is not that Shavar Jeffries is outspending me. The issue is that he is keeping the source of his money secret. I call upon Shavar Jeffries to reveal his secret contributors. Jeffries will no doubt deny any connection to Newark First.
But there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The Shavar Jeffries campaign is deeply involved with Newark First and I have the evidence.
Connections Between Shavar Jeffries, his campaign, and the Newark First “Independent Expenditure” Committee
Under the law, communication between an independent expenditure group and a candidate or committee it is supporting is strictly illegal. That’s the meaning of independent expenditure.
1. After Jeffries met several times with George Norcross, the political boss of South Jersey, Norcross helped to establish Newark First. The media and mail consultants to Newark First are extensively involved with Norcross candidates.
2. Jeffries raised the most money of any candidate, $1,351,800, yet has only spent $82,000 on television and radio, barely enough to have any impact. No rational candidate would spend so little to communicate his message unless he knew that somebody else (Newark First) was going to spend $2 million or more for him on radio and tv.
3. The Jeffries campaign is run by Steve Adubato’s North Ward political organization. Members of that organization appear in commercials paid for by the so-called independent expenditure group.
4. The chairperson of the independent expenditure group is a leader in the Adubato North Ward political organization.
5. Congressman Payne a leader of the Shavar Jeffries campaign appeared in a television commercial paid for by Newark First. It stretches credulity to claim that the Congressman is unaware of who is paying for his tv spot.
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does” Margaret Mead
This is yet another election the hedge funders are attempting to buy.
Please lend support to the Baraka campaign by joining the Thunderclap NPE is organizing — you can sign up here for free, to allow ONE tweet to be sent from your Twitter account, and/or one message to be posted on your Facebook wall. Sign up here: http://thndr.it/1kIQIAS Thanks!
Combating outside influence on the Newark election by encouraging… outside influence?
No.
This the corrupting influence of hundreds of thousands of dollars of black money, versus the sunshine effect of public citizen engagement via social media.
Not at all the same thing.
I don’t equate gifts of $25 with gifts of $250,000.
Oops, I was referring to what is usually called dark money, that is, campaign funds from anonymous donors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_money
Norcross is an EVIL Crook
“hedge fund managers who are usually found outside, picketing in the rain. Please, someone, remind me of the last time that happened.”
whatever it takes…
The Governor Snooki show continues….
Thank you Diane for continuing to publicize what is going on in Newark. The situation could not be more dire, unless that is Jeffries wins, in which case both the Mayor and the Superintendent will be united in trying to destroy the Newark Public School District with hedge fund support and encouragement from our anti-teacher/anti-union Governor…I am praying that the people of Newark see what is happening and will support Ras Baraka!
The latest poll has Baraka’s opponent trailing by at least 30 percentage points. If the fake education reformers want to buy this election, they may have to triple their opaque spending. And that was a Poll paid for by Newark First.
The Beneson Strategy Group poll commissioned by the Working Families Organization, which has endorsed Baraka, showed Baraka with a 51 percent to 28 percent lead over Jeffries.
I pray that Baraka is the winner in this election. Jeffries has far too many interested financial backers, with their hands out, or their hands in the till. It really will rest on the savvy voters who don’t believe the hype and the twisted “facts” that reformers are for anything besides raiding the tax collections.
Somebody NUST make Norcross accountable contact the FEC abd the SEC and IRS Norcross is always doing illegal staff and nobody researches it we could take him done by getting authorities UN the justice endearment abs it her areas of government making him accountable he’s also involved with a CSC Global still investigating him on computer networking crimes
We must make Norcross accountable we the people are all we have
I posted this on my page today:
“It has occurred to me that DAY TWO of the NJASK (ELA) for the 3rd and 4th graders is on May 13, 2014….a.k.a. Election Day in Newark, NJ. My daughter is in the 4th Grade. Many of the Polling Places are located in Public Schools. I do not want My Daughter or ANY of the Children in the City of Newark to be disturbed by loud blaring vote for “so & so” cars, trucks, bullhorns or walking balls of anger wearing their campaign colors like gangs, on the morning of Tuesday, May 13, 2014. After 12noon, the exam for that day should be over. I’m politely asking for silence at, and around the polls that are housed within the public schools on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 between 8:00am and 12noon.
Our Babies deserve a fighting chance to perform to the best of their abilities during this new Common Core high stakes testing without unnecessary distractions from overzealous campaigners. TRUCE PLEASE! Respect the babies on that day! SPREAD THE WORD!”
I think it’s a very peculiar coincidence that the dates for the 2013-2014 3rd & 4th Grade NJASK, which were determined in 2012, suddenly coincide with the Mayoral Election date. By the way, there are no polling places in any of the Charter Schools, only in the Public Elementary Schools in Newark. Unfair Advantage? I think so, but what’s new in Newark? If Public School children are disturbed during the high stakes testing by rude campaigners, then I think Day 2 results of the ELA should be rendered invalid in a court of law. Especially if we can show cause that there was lots of noise and commotion on the streets and surrounding the schools and it caused our children undue anxiety while the testing was taking place.
We support RAS BARAKA
We all need to unify and file a Class Action Suit in Federal Court on criminal charges against GEORGE NORCROSS
Millions of misappropriated dollars and a while host of under handed crimes
I may have something big on him that could land him in prison
Watch the machines and ballots He’s known foe election Fraud and the AV Sequoia machines make sure there’s back up tape
Somebody look into CSC Delaware and fund our if Norcross is connected to AOL, Facebook, Patch, Hale Global, Huffington Post and Google and Biden
Someone in Washington is providing access for George
There maybe a security breech