A Hands-On Councilman For the North Ward
Anibal Ramos Jr. has dedicated his career to delivering practical, hands-on results for Newark. Born, raised and educated in Newark, Anibal Ramos Jr. has a track record that underscores his commitment to improving the lives of his constituents.
Councilman Ramos was elected to his fifth term on the Newark City Council representing the North Ward in May 2022. As a member of the Council and as a public servant long before that, Councilman Ramos has established himself as a leader on the issues of crime reduction, economic development and education. As a member of the Council and as a public servant long before that, Councilman Ramos has established himself as a leader on the issues of crime reduction, economic development and education.
He attended Rutgers University in Newark through the Educational Opportunity Fund, which offers promising young students from impoverished backgrounds the chance to succeed in college. After graduating, he went to work at Focus, a non-profit organization that helps Newarkers get back on their feet.
After he was elected to the City Council in 2006 to represent the North Ward, Councilman Ramos made public safety his priority. He has been one of the strongest supporters of the police department, consistently voting to provide officers with the tools they need to fight crime.
Under his leadership, partnerships were established with other law enforcement agencies, including the bordering towns of Belleville, Bloomfield and East Orange as well as the Sheriff’s Department and the Prosecutor’s Office. Neighborhood associations were established that work closely with police to keep neighborhoods crime free.
As a result of Councilman Ramos's leadership, recreational opportunities have been expanded in the North Ward, including the construction of Waterfront Recreation Center and the restoration of Newark School Stadium as well as renovating Elmwood Park and Kasberger Field.
Councilman Ramos is also strongly committed to creating jobs and bringing economic development to the North Ward. While on council, he established the Mt. Prospect Neighborhood Improvement District, which helped create a thriving business district in the heart of the North Ward. He also worked to create the Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway improvement district.
When the pandemic struck Newark, Councilman Ramos led efforts to provide emergency food donations to thousands of Newarkers, working with organizations such as the Salvation Army as well as the County of Essex.
During his tenure on the Newark school board, including two terms as chair, Councilman Ramos worked to drastically improve public education. He is committed to ensuring that every child in Newark has access to quality public education. In 2014, Councilman Ramos founded the Anibal Ramos Jr. Civic Association, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to help Newark students pay for high school and college.
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What's New
Ground Broken on a Nearly One-Mile Newark Segment of the Greenway Project
North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. joined with Gov. Phil Murphy, state Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and other elected official to break ground on the first phase of the Greenway project – a nine-mile, 100-foot-wide former rail line spanning Essex and Hudson counties which will be transformed into New Jersey’s newest state park.
Expected to open by the end of 2026, the Newark phase of the project will allow walkers, joggers and cyclists to travel from Branch Brook Park Drive to Broadway on a meandering ADA-accessible trail lined with native plantings.
“Spanning two of the most densely populated counties in the country, the Greenway will be a new landmark that reflects who we are and where we’re going,” Governor Murphy said. “When it’s complete, the Greenway will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best urban parks in the country and will create opportunities for economic growth in the surrounding communities. It will belong to the people who live here, ride it, walk it, and raise their kids alongside it.”
Once complete, the Greenway will connect eight communities across Essex and Hudson Counties – Jersey City, Secaucus, Kearny, Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, and Montclair. The project aims to create a linear, multi-use corridor that supports walking, biking, and active transportation while fostering community connections and enhancing regional environmental quality.
Councilman Ramos has worked with state legislative leaders for nearly a decade to revitalize the former rail line that had become a dumping ground. In 2018, long before the Greenway project was proposed, Councilman Ramos worked to get Norfolk Southern, which owned the railway right of way, to address numerous concerns, including illegal dumping, idling diesel trucks and improper storage of materials.
"We saw the inactive rail line turn into a major neighborhood concern," Councilman Ramos said.
The Greenway will benefit the entire North Ward community, he said.
“This Greenway is more than a park — it’s a promise to our residents that every neighborhood deserves access to safe, beautiful, and connected public spaces,” Councilman Ramos. “Transforming this long-abandoned rail line into a vibrant corridor for walking, biking, and gathering reflects the kind of inclusive, forward-thinking investment our communities need. I’m proud to stand with our partners at every level of government in delivering this transformational project for Newark and beyond.”
The Greenway’s design includes several features that enhance safety and user experience while preserving the surrounding environment. Downward-facing lighting will ensure pathways are well-lit without disturbing nearby residents or natural habitats. The project also features separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, designed to promote safe speeds and provide places to sit and enjoy the trail’s natural setting. Three community gathering areas spaced throughout the segment will feature numerous amenities.
Newark Central Activity Center
The Newark Central Activity Center, the largest of these spaces, is between Summer Avenue and Broadway. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the activity center will feature amenities for people of all ages and abilities. The space includes a performance stage with an expansive lawn area to accommodate audiences of varying sizes, as well as an ADA-accessible adventure playground complete with slides, swings, climbing features, and a water play area. Additional amenities include ADA-accessible restroom facilities, outdoor exercise stations, space for a community garden, a shaded picnic grove and multi-sport courts suitable for basketball, street hockey and other organized sports.
Tiffany Manor Community Space
The Tiffany Manor Community Space will be located between Manchester Place and Greenwood Lake Street, directly across from the historic Tiffany Manor, which once served as Tiffany Company’s silver plate jewelry factory that was converted into apartments in 1996. The spot will feature a central seating area and a designated space for short-term amenities such as food trucks. Visitors will have picturesque views of Tiffany Manor, grassy lawn areas and a dedicated picnic space. Stormwater management features, including rain gardens and native plantings, will support the surrounding ecosystem.
Branch Brook Park Overlook
The Branch Brook Park Overlook will be west of Tiffany Manor and feature an observation deck offering sweeping views of Branch Brook Park and the Second River. The space will enable visitors to connect to the neighboring 360-acre Branch Brook Park, which offers access to the 36-mile Lenape Trail. Visitors will also be just steps away from Belleville Park and the Hendricks Field Golf Course.
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Dumpsters in North Ward July 1
Residents of the North Ward will be able to throw away bulky waste and other unwanted items on July 1, when the City of Newark makes dumpsters available at certain locations in the North Ward, Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. announced.
The dumpsters will be located at the following intersections:
- Sylvan Avenue - Broadway
- Summer Avenue - Irving Street
- Lincoln Avenue - Bryant Street
- Garside - 2nd Avenue
- Heller Pkwy - Mount Prospect
- Grafton Avenue - Manchester Place
- North 7th Street - Delavan Avenue
- North 10th Street - Abington Avenue
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E-Waste Recycling Event
A free community collection event! Stop by Elwood Park (aka Phillips Park) at the intersection of Elwood Avenue and Elwood Place near Lincoln Avenue – rain or shine – to recycle your old TVs, computers, laptops, printers, phones, small household appliances and other e-waste.*
What you can recycle
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