DUI Lawyers in Newark, NJ

Newark teens voted for the first time in school board elections on Tuesday after the city agreed to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for members of the board of education.

Voter turnout in Newark school elections is historically low, something advocates hope will change by energizing voters at a younger age. More than 1,800 newly eligible teens registered to vote by the March 25 deadline, according to the Department of State. This is about 28% of eligible 16- and 17-year-olds, based on an estimate from the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, one of the groups involved in the push to lower the voting age.

The new voters became eligible after a statewide student-led campaign to give young people a say in elections that directly impact them. Young people who voted on Tuesday said it was exciting to have their voices heard. Several high schools across the district served as polling places, making it easy for students who registered to cast their vote before or after school.

“It’s exciting because I feel like younger, like teens, we have a chance of freedom now or like we have like our right, and our opinion is heard,” said Iyanii Athony, a student at University High School in Newark.

“Honestly, it’s just a great experience to be able to vote … basically because it’s our school,” said Raevin Armstrong, who attends University High School. “…you know, you want to vote for your future.”

What first-time voters said

Usual voter turnout is 3%

Newark’s nine-member Board of Education oversees policies that affect the district’s roughly 40,000 students and approves an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion. During last year’s election, voter turnout was around 3% and no candidate running for a three-year term received more than 3,000 votes.

Newark Public Schools held voter registration drives during lunch periods at each of the district’s high schools and students organized candidate forums where students could ask questions of the candidates.

‘Let young people have a seat at the table, a voice in our other municipal elections.’ — Assatta Mann, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

At voter registration events in March, some students told NJ Spotlight News they were eager to vote but didn’t yet know enough about the candidates to decide whom to support.

“The most common criticism we hear is that people think that young people aren’t ready, or that young people are going to sort of sell their vote or aren’t exactly informed on what’s happening,” said Mussab Ali, former executive director of Vote16 USA. “But I think the response is pretty simple. When we talk to young people, and even if you did exit polling data today, I think young people know exactly who they’re voting for and they’re able to align their values.”

Other cities to follow suit?

Some other New Jersey municipalities are considering lowering the voting age in school board elections, including Jersey City and Atlantic City. Gov. Phil Murphy has endorsed lowering the voting age in school board elections statewide. State and local leaders supportive of the change have said they hope Newark becomes a model for other communities.

“We’re hoping that today serves as an inspiration, a motivating moment for local officials to go back and kind of finish the job,” said Assatta Mann, senior community organizer at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “Let young people have a seat at the table, a voice in our other municipal elections.”

Ali, who is running for mayor of Jersey City, said he thinks Jersey City will lead the way in allowing young voters to vote in municipal elections, not just for the board of education.

The governor’s office said the Murphy administration has updated the state’s voter registration and election systems in ways that make it possible for districts with school elections in April and November to incorporate younger voters.

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Hannah Gross

Education and Child Welfare Writer

Hannah Gross covers education and child welfare for NJ Spotlight News via a partnership with Report for America. She covers the full spectrum of education and children’s services in New Jersey and ... read more

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Ted Goldberg

Ted Goldberg is a correspondent for NJ Spotlight News with nearly a decade of experience telling stories about a wide variety of topics.

A New Jersey teen has achieved a rare academic milestone: acceptance to seven of the nation's eight Ivy League universities.

Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 3:55 pm ET

NEWARK, NJ — Angel Ortiz has a pleasant problem to solve: which Ivy League university should he attend after high school?

Ortiz, a senior at Newark’s historic Arts High School, knows he is interested in political science. He just needs to decide where he will study it.

According to the Newark Public School District, the teen has achieved a rare academic milestone: acceptance to seven of the nation’s eight Ivy League universities.

Ortiz was accepted to Yale University this week after having previously been admitted to Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Columbia University, Brown University and Princeton University (the only Ivy League school missing from his list is Cornell University).

Ortiz is still weighing his options and plans to visit several campuses before making a final decision.

Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“I had a feeling I could get into more than one Ivy, but never did I anticipate getting into every one I applied to,” said Ortiz, a 17-year-old first-generation Latino student from the Ironbound section of Newark.

“I’m still processing it,” the ambitious teen enthused. “When the notifications came in, I spent two hours walking around the kitchen in shock, while my mom sat there in disbelief.”

School Superintendent Roger León said that Ortiz’s academic feat is a “powerful symbol of what is possible for young people in Newark.”

“His story inspires us all,” León said. “We are incredibly proud of Angel, whose remarkable academic journey is a testament to our schools’ strength, our educators’ dedication, our supportive parents, and our students’ resilience.”

“Angel embodies the spirit of Arts High School. He’s creative, driven, and full of purpose,” agreed Arts High School principal Regina Sharpe.

“He has worked very hard and taken full advantage of every opportunity, both in and out of the classroom, and the result is something truly historic,” Sharpe said. “We are beyond proud of him and can’t wait to see the incredible impact he will make in the world.”

Newark Board of Education president Hasani Council called Ortiz’s achievements “extraordinary.”

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we congratulate him and wish him continued success as he chooses his path forward,” Council said.

The Newark Board of Education shared more details about Ortiz’s inspiring journey:

For Ortiz, the acceptances represent more than personal achievement. They’re a tribute to his family’s sacrifices and a symbol of possibility for his community.

“As a first-generation Latino son of immigrants, I know that avenues like college are much harder to access for people like us,” he said. “I hope that now, during my college life, and in my future career, I can be the best representation of my community and loved ones.”

Ortiz plans to major in political science and is considering a minor in American studies. Inspired by a love of world geography, current events, and civic engagement, he envisions a future as a lawyer, government official, or researcher.

Outside the classroom, Ortiz is deeply engaged in student life. He serves as treasurer of the National Arts Honor Society and is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the Peer Leadership program. He also participates in NJLEEP, a program that supports underrepresented students with college readiness and legal education. His proudest NJLEEP moment came in Spring 2024, when he advanced to the Debater of the Year competition for his work in mock Constitutional Law trials.

Born and raised in Newark, Ortiz is a product of Ann Street School and has flourished at Arts High School, where he is a visual arts major.

“Arts High School is so much more than just a school,” Ortiz said. “It’s a place where our Advanced Placement Literature class has developed an unprecedented comradery; where Visual Arts majors like me can freely express ourselves; and where we’ve built bonds that will last long after graduation.”

The son of hardworking parents from Oaxaca, Mexico, Ortiz credits their sacrifice and determination as key to his success. His parents, part-owners of two family-run pizzerias in Belleville and Phillipsburg, have instilled in him the value of perseverance and pride in one’s roots.

Despite his rigorous academic and extracurricular commitments, Ortiz still finds time to enjoy life—whether it’s sketching, reading Toni Morrison, cheering for FC Barcelona, or discovering new music. His playlist spans Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Paramore, Peso Pluma, and even My Chemical Romance.

As he prepares for graduation and life beyond Newark, Ortiz remains grounded in gratitude and purpose.

“To those who have supported me, I hope I can repay you through my efforts in college and beyond,” he said. “This is an amazing achievement—but there’s still so much more to be done.”

Inspired by Ortiz? There are plenty of other rousing success stories that have recently come out of the Newark Public School District – check out a few of them below (click headline to read the article):

Immigrant Success Story: Newark Teen Earns Full Ride To Harvard

From a tiny Brazilian village to the Ivy League, this high school senior is living proof that dreams and determination travel far.

Newark Teen Earns 'Once-In-A-Lifetime' Ivy League Scholarship

"Samuel Da Silva is an exceptional young man whose humility, curiosity and quiet determination have always set him apart."

Newark School Of Global Studies Senior Accepted To Columbia University

Reanah Bultron has made history as the first Newark School of Global Studies student to be accepted to an Ivy League university.

Newark School Speech, Debate Teams Win 5 State Championships

Each state champion received The Governor's Medal, a proclamation from the governor and a scholarship.

Newark Vocational Students Earn Medals At Leadership Conference

"Their success is a powerful reflection of the talent, determination and excellence that defines Newark Public Schools."

Newark High School Track Team Ends Season As National Champs

The "Fantastic Four" of the Malcolm X Shabazz High School's boys indoor track team have posted some dazzling relay times.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.

From blue-collar to blue-blooded.

A New Jersey high school senior and class valedictorian defied the odds — and his own expectations — by getting accepted to seven Ivy League schools.

Angel Ortiz, who attends Arts High School in Newark, was flabbergasted when he received acceptance letters from elite universities Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and Brown, as well as the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College.

The 17-year-old, who scored an impressive 1480 on his SATs and 34 on the ACTs, said opening his admission letters one by one with his mother was a moment he’ll never forget.

“I never expected something like that to happen,” Ortiz told The Post, explaining that he received his acceptance letter from Princeton in December and the rest in March.

“It was always in my mind that I could have gotten into one Ivy League, but multiple? I knew it was a small chance of happening but I decided to apply anyway ’cause why not? And so opening up those applications and seeing that my work was worth it and was good enough to be considered by these elite institutions was just incredible.”

Ortiz, who has a 4.3 GPA and wants to major in political science, credits his supportive parents and teachers for inspiring him at a young age to break out of his shell, forge connections and establish friendships with his classmates.

The Garden State youngster said he was a “reserved introvert” when he entered high school and now has a group of friends who have encouraged him throughout his academic career and served as a positive outlet whenever he needed a shoulder to lean on.

“My parents and my teachers inspired me to be the best person I could be, so that’s when I started to develop myself, trust people more often and become a more outgoing person in general,” Oritz said.

“I very much appreciate all the help I got from all of my friends. I love them so very much.”

When the teen isn’t busy hanging with his friends, creating abstract art and still lifes, reading fiction novels, researching history and geography or listening to Taylor Swift, he is deeply engaged in his student life, serving as treasurer of the National Arts Honor Society.

Ortiz is also a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Peer Leadership program. He also participates in NJLEEP, a program that supports underrepresented students with college readiness and legal education.

“It’s been quite a busy experience trying to manage all of those activities and being the best that I could be in all of them,” Ortiz, a first-generation Latino of immigrant parents, said.

“I’ve worked a lot throughout these past four years, not just on my academics and extracurricular work but also on my character and developing myself as a whole. I feel incredibly grateful that all these colleges were able to recognize my efforts throughout these past few years.”

His school, which named Ortiz this year’s valedictorian, called his accomplishments an inspiration.

“Angel’s acceptance to seven Ivy League institutions is a personal triumph and a powerful symbol of what is possible for young people in Newark,” Roger León, superintendent of Newark’s schools, said in a statement.

“His story inspires us all. We are incredibly proud of Angel, whose remarkable academic journey is a testament to our school’s strength, our educators’ dedication, our supportive parents and our students’ resilience.”

In addition to his friends, Ortiz credits his mother, who emigrated to the United States 23 years ago, and his father, who are part-owners of two family-run pizzerias in Belleville and Philipsburg, for empowering his studies and imbuing his impressive work ethic.

His mother, Madurina, is very proud and supports whatever school Ortiz ends up choosing to attend — but is quietly hoping he picks Princeton so her son can remain close to home.

“It was incredible. I was very surprised but I knew he could do it,” said Madurina, whose eldest daughter recently graduated from New York University.

“I wanted them to focus on school, and that’s all we asked, so this is the result. I’m so happy — my two kids are very, very good kids. It’s a gift for us.”

Ortiz is still weighing his options but plans to tour the prestigious institutions of higher learning in the coming days and weeks before making his final decision — which needs to be made by his 18th birthday on April 30.

The civic-minded student, who intends to pursue a career in law, is looking for a school that offers his field of study, a diverse community of students and academics, and an environment where he can share his perspectives and freely express his individuality.

“All of these colleges are very prestigious and offer a lot of what I want,” Ortiz said.

“But for now, it comes down to visiting the colleges, seeing what they offer, and exploring the community further in-depth to see where I fit in.”

The vaunted institutions that have opened their storied gates to the neophyte from Newark boast the nation’s stingiest acceptance rates — Harvard 3.6%; Yale 3.7%; Columbia 3.85%; Princeton 4.62%; Brown 5.16%; UPenn 5.38%; and Dartmouth 5.41%, according to Ivy Coach.

The only Ivy Ortiz did not apply to, Cornell University, has a 9.73% acceptance rate, according to the data.

Toni Yates reports from Newark, New Jersey with more on the initiative.

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- NJ Transit and partners have announced a new program to help homeless people around Newark Penn Station.

Newark Penn Station has for decades been a place where many people who have no home to go to gather. So much so, that community organizations bring help like food, clothing and assistance. The new program hopes to shift things to a higher gear. Not just offering help, but homes.

"Gateway to Hope" is a set of focused initiatives aimed at reaching, stabilizing, and housing residents in need near the station.

The effort addresses medical, housing and other needs to help those who need it.

"This important collaboration is another essential step in our quest to end homelessness in Newark," Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said.

The transit agency will work with various Newark-based city services that address the homeless crisis in the city. Prudential Insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Robert Wood Johnson signed on as a major partners.

Specific initiatives include:

A few years ago, Newark began building shelter parks - shipping containers converted into temporary living spaces with social services onsite. The Prudential company committed money to doing more.

Newark says its programs have over the last 2-years, reduced homelessness significantly in the city.

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