New Jersey
N.J. city council president known as trailblazer for Black women in politics dies at age 86
Mildred Crump, a longtime Newark councilwoman and pioneer for Black women in city politics, has died at age 86.
Crump became the first Black woman elected to Newark City Council in 1994 and the first Black woman named council president in 2006.
“Throughout her life, Mildred broke barriers and was well-accustomed to being the first – both professionally as the first Black braille teacher in New Jersey and in her political career as the first Black woman elected to the Newark City Council and the first woman to serve as its president,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Sunday.
“A model public servant, Mildred deftly advocated for the most vulnerable in her community, working to uplift New Jersey’s women, children, senior citizens, families, and residents with disabilities. Her impact was felt around the world, which is why she was called Mother Africa. She will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to improving the lives of her constituents and will be deeply missed.”
Former Democratic Assemblyman Jamel Holley recalled Crump as a “true champion for Newark.”
“Mildred dedicated her life to public service, always advocating for the betterment of Newark and the greater Essex County area,” Holley wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Her passion for uplifting the voices of those often unheard will leave an indelible mark on both the city and the state.”
1/19
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo recalled Crump as “a strong leader, she was like the matriarch of the city and was a strong advocate and proponent for its residents.”
Crump was voted out of her post as council president in 2010, but her colleagues unanimously returned her to the seat in 2013. At 82, she resigned from her council position in 2021. At the time, she dealt with medical issues stemming from a fall the prior year.
Her seat was filled by her son C. Lawrence Crump, who remains on the council.
Crump became the first Black braille teacher in Detroit, her hometown, before relocating to the Garden State. She was also a founding member of the New Jersey Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., the National Political Congress for Black Women of Newark, and the Global Women’s Leadership Collaborative of New Jersey, dedicated to women’s issues in Africa.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
How to protect your NJ home from wind: Video
Here’s how to windproof your home to minimize damage, and what to do if a tree falls on your property as a result of the weather
A severe thunderstorm watch looms over North Jersey on the evening of June 12 after days of extreme heat.
Nation Weather Service New York declared a severe thunderstorm watch for numerous North Jersey counties including Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Morris and Sussex among other Central Jersey and New York counties. The watch is in effect until 9 p.m., according to the NWS statement.
In an hourly forecast from The Weather Channel for Paramus, there is a 74% chance of thunderstorms at 7 p.m.
High temperatures reached past 90 degrees in many parts of North Jersey on June 11 and June 12 as a heat advisory also remains in effect until 8 p.m., said NWS New York.
“Dangerous heat is expected to continue across much of our region through today, with several record highs likely to be challenged again. High temperatures are forecast to peak into the low to mid 90s across most of the area,” the National Weather Service said Friday.
A Heat Advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. across the state except for Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties.
PHILADELPHIA – Philip McPherson II, a 37-year-old from Riverside, New Jersey, was sentenced Thursday, June 11, to 78 months in prison for his role in a 2022 plane crash in Lehigh County that killed a student pilot, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Sentencing and charges for fatal Lehigh Valley crash
What we know:
United States District Judge John M. Gallagher sentenced McPherson to 78 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, a $4,300 special assessment, and $19,530 in restitution. Judge Gallagher also barred McPherson from working in the aviation industry.
McPherson pleaded guilty in October to involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obstruction of an administrative proceeding, and 40 counts of serving as an airman without a certificate.
The backstory:
Court filings show that on September 28, 2022, McPherson took off from Queen City Airport in Allentown as the pilot-in-command with student pilot K.K. and crashed shortly after, resulting in K.K.’s death.
Prosecutors said McPherson acted with gross negligence, knowing he was not competent to fly as pilot-in-command. He had two prior crashes, nearly a third, and failed a reexamination for his pilot’s certificate in September 2021.
McPherson voluntarily surrendered his pilot’s certificate in October 2021 and let his Temporary Airman Certificate expire in November 2021, acknowledging his inability to meet FAA standards.
He admitted to flying with passengers without a valid FAA pilot’s certificate between October 12, 2021, and September 20, 2022.
Investigators from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, FAA, and Salisbury Township Police Department worked on the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schopf and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marie Miller.
What we don’t know:
Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances leading up to the crash.
The Source: Information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
-
Sports1 minute agoJames Harden arrested in Houston on misdemeanor weapons charge after NBA playoff exit: report
-
Technology7 minutes agoBeware of hackers showing up pretending to be IT
-
Business14 minutes agoLos Angeles has one of the deadest downtowns in the world, according to a new survey
-
Entertainment16 minutes agoDGA’s board backs tentative contract with major studios
-
Lifestyle21 minutes agoLow-resistance tires could cut drivers’ costs while supporting environment in California
-
Politics29 minutes agoTrump prosecutor in L.A. pushing unusual public search for voter fraud before count is in
-
Science31 minutes agoNorCal braces for dry, dangerous fire season as SoCal faces typical conditions
-
Sports37 minutes agoCommentary: U.S. soccer makes stirring first impression, delivers big unifying World Cup win
