Town Denies Racism in Plan for Newark Gates
Town officials rejected charges of racism and voted to put up five wrought-iron gates around a neighborhood bordering on predominantly black Newark.
“It has nothing to do with racism. It has nothing to do with elitism,” said township committeeman Gerald Ryan before the 5-0 vote Tuesday.
One of the five gates around the seven-block Hillcrest neighborhood would face Newark, and four would face Maplewood. Three entrances to the neighborhood would remain open to vehicles.
Officials said eight-foot-high gates were proposed to divert traffic from the residential streets motorists were using as shortcuts around busier intersections.
Newark residents complained that the plan is an effort to blame Newark for crime in Maplewood, which is predominantly white.
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