Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Ceremonial Street Designation
Honoree: John T. Jenkins
Date(s): Saturday, June 25, 2022
Event Time: 11:00 A.M.
Official Street Name(s): Intersection of Johnson Avenue and West Bigelow Street
Ceremonial Intersection Name: John T. Jenkins Way
Sponsor: Council Member, John Sharpe James
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, Ordinance 6PDF-f, adopted on May 20, 2015, authorizes the designation of an intersection, etc. for honorary and ceremonial purposes; and
WHEREAS, Newark born and raised, the Honorable John T. Jenkins, was one of the most successful African-American politicians in the history of Maine politics. He became the first African-American elected Mayor of Lewiston, Maine in 1994 and later went on win several other elected positions in Maine, including the State Senate and the Mayor of Auburn; and
WHEREAS, a distinguished alumnus of Maine’s Bates College, Mr. Jenkins excelled in martial arts and upon his graduation toured Japan competing in the Karate World Championships, where he won the 1977 Championship in karate, in addition to three (3) other mixed martial arts championships in Karate and Jiu-Jitsu; and
WHEREAS, an inspiring and gifted motivational speaker, community organizer and skilled politician, Mr. Jenkins ended his foray into Maine politics after an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2018.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council does hereby authorize the honorary and ceremonial renaming of the intersection of Johnson Avenue and West Bigelow Street as “John T. Jenkins Way”.
2. The official name of the said streets shall remain Johnson Avenue and West Bigelow Street in their entirety.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the naming of the intersection of Johnson Avenue and West Bigelow Street as “John T. Jenkins Way”, for honorary and ceremonial purposes.