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Since its establishment in 2018, the fifteen-member Commission has worked tirelessly to produce nine sets of recommendations for consideration by the Mayor in order to help ensure that the City grows in an equitable and just way, accounting for the needs of all Newark residents. Community leaders representing community based organizations, academia, and the corporate community comprise this body, that hasn’t stopped working tirelessly since its inception to advance growth and development throughout our neighborhoods in a way that empowers every resident to be more self-determined. Through thought partnership, research and recommendations these members provide the Mayor and his senior leadership with insightful considerations about how to ensure equity permeates policies, service delivery and decisions.

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To date, the  Commission has submitted sets of recommendations on the following topics:

• Inclusionary Zoning
• 5-Year Tax Abatements
• Non-Residential Development Fees
• Affordable Housing Policy
• Equitable Economic Recovery
• Newark Land Bank
• Zoning and Land Use Regulations
• Recommendations based on Rutgers CLiME “Homes Beyond Reach” report (production of housing at 30% AMI)
• Recommendations based on Rutgers CLiME “Who Owns Newark?” report (identify and register owners of rentals; ensure that a minimum number of city-owned property is restricted for affordability)

These recommendations have been helpful in shaping legislation and initiatives such as:

• Affordable Newark Program
• Office of Equitable Investments in Newark Communities
• Homeownership Revitalization Program
• Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Amendments
• Deed Restriction Ordinance
• Rental Property Registration Ordinance

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Chief among its contributions to the city’s policy landscape has also been its crafting of a comprehensive guide to ensure that equity is infused into policies, the Commission’s Equity Rubric. Currently, this tool is playing a role in the drafting of the City’s Community Benefits Agreement policy. The city can look forward to public engagement with the Commission in 2024.

Members of the Equitable Growth Advisory Commission

Current Commissioners

Deborah Smith-Gregory, Co-Chair

President of Newark Branch NAACP

Jerrah Crowder, Co-Chair

Assistant Director of the City of Newark, Department of Economic and Housing Development

Staci Berger

President & CEO, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey

Richard Cammarieri

Chairman, Newark Community Development Network

Joseph DellaFave

(Retired) Executive Director of Ironbound Community Corporation

Aisha Glover

Global Head of Urban Innovation

Audible

Dr. Kevin Lyons

Associate Professor of Professional Practice

Rutgers Business School, Rutgers University - Newark

LaMonica R. McIver

President, Newark Municipal Council

Raymond Ocasio

(Retired) Executive Director of La Casa de Don Pedro

Judith Thompson-Morris

Deputy Director of Greater Newark LISC

David D. Troutt

Distinguished Professor of Law and Justice John J. Francis Scholar

Founding Director of Center on Law, Inequity and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME)

Rutgers University - Newark

Antonio Valla

Founder at Uptown Development

Former Commissioners

Bradley Gonmiah

former student at Science Park High School

Ommeed Sathe

former Managing Director, Head of Impact at Prudential Financial

Carolyn B. Wallace

Founder of International Youth Organization