Ras Baraka released a statement Monday about Barack Obama's visit to the state's largest city.
NEWARK -- President Barack Obama's visit to New Jersey's largest city will add fuel to a fire that's already been burning there, according to a statement released by Mayor Ras Baraka moments before the President touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport Monday.
In the first official statement on the presidential visit released by the Baraka administration, the mayor said Obama's visit will serve to highlight work that the city has been doing to reform its criminal justice system.
"(W)e are addressing crime and violence in Newark as a public health issue, seeing that we must inoculate and vaccinate our residents to protect them from it," Baraka said in a statement.
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The mayor called welcoming the President an "honor," and said that his visit will shed a national spotlight on Newark's anti-crime initiatives and allow the city to "(set) the course for the entire nation to follow in breaking the cycle of tragedy and ending the contemporary culture of violence."
In the statement, Baraka alluded to an anti-violence tour he has been taking to high schools and prisons to engage with young and incarcerated people. The tour, he has said, is meant to inspire the Newarkers to rise above lives of crime.
As of Oct. 25, the city recorded an overall crime rate lower than that of 2014. However, homicides in the city are on pace to be higher than last year's total.
Baraka's comments contrasted with those of Gov. Chris Christie, who held his own anti-violence event in Camden on Monday.
"I think it's wonderful for the president to come to New Jersey and acknowledge the work that has been done in New Jersey, by leaders of New Jersey," Christie said in response to a reporter question at the Camden event.
"What's happening here and what he's celebrating today has nothing to do with anything the federal government's had anything to do with."
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Baraka and U.S. Senator Corey Booker (D - New Jersey) were among the officials who joined Obama at his visit to Newark rehabilitation center Integrity House, and a round table session at Rutgers - Newark.
During the events, Obama outlined several reform initiatives that he said were aimed at re-incorporating ex-prisoners into society. During his speech, Obama singled out some of the locals he met during his trip, saying that in Newark, they are doing "extraordinary work."
Among the announcements was one naming Newark one of five municipalities that will work with local colleges and employers to offer job training and placement for former prisoners.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.