The Jersey City Municipal Council met on September 11, 2025, to consider a lengthy agenda that included introductions of rent‑control enforcement ordinances, public hearings on two major redevelopment plan amendments, a slate of traffic and parking ordinances, and a pair of budget amendments. The meeting was notable for the tabling of both the Journal Square 2060 and Fayette Broadway redevelopment plans after community opposition, the failure of a key budget amendment to provide additional funding for infrastructure hiring, and an extended public comment period where tenants from Portside Towers and other buildings detailed years of alleged code violations and demanded enforcement.
On Ordinance 25‑086 (Journal Square 2060 Redevelopment Plan Amendment)
On Ordinance 25‑087 (Fayette Broadway Redevelopment Plan Amendment – Puccini Project)
During the General Public Speaking Portion
Ordinance 25‑086 (Journal Square 2060 – Vote to Table)
Councilman Soleil moved to table after Councilman Rivera raised a fairness concern: several parcels within the redevelopment area were excluded from the zone‑3 remapping without explanation. Councilman Boggiano argued tabling would delay the entire plan for months. The motion to table passed 6‑3 (Soleil, Solomon, Gilmore, DeGeez, Rivera, Waterman in favor; Hewlings, Boggiano, Ridley opposed).
Ordinance 25‑087 (Fayette Broadway – Vote to Table)
Councilwoman Gilmore moved to table, citing the community’s loss of trust and the developer’s failure to secure a signed lease for Urcolano’s. Council members expressed concern about construction‑related street closures and broken promises. The motion to table passed unanimously 9‑0.
Budget Amendments (Resolutions 10.1 and 10.2)
The council debated two competing amendments to the 2025 budget – both would have transferred $1 million from the council’s contingency fund to various departments (including infrastructure, landlord‑tenant, and sanitation).
Other Agenda Items
And then you can see that. And um you really make Jersey City so moving over all your efforts. I also want to make more person coming up to letter more than part and sporting uh community with the trees because like you explained you wouldn't know this like this one has to know uh just want to appreciate your connections and these are going to support that uh connections that everyone else is so right. My colleagues have bashing a park school control. So much we're gonna be volunteering. Especially far participation was part of uh the park is still the agenda city. So much more appreciated by special. I probably do one. I will uh think you're looking at the balls. Um it may seem like something like minority on the outside, looking um what is something that's very important. Uh guys, I'm just I know medium leaves and a lot of emails as it relates to everything that's going on in the ball. Um what is truly annoying for the role so that we need some pride and the parks and you know a lot of a lot of you guys don't get the recognition you deserve um for doing this kind of word, so I'll probably vote aye. Thank you. Council person geez. Thank you for all that you do and for taking pride in our open space here. I brought vote aye. Council person Rivera. I mean both of you guys, both of these entities are amazing. You know, um, I want to speak a little bit about Van Voice Park. Uh uh I grew up playing baseball in that park, and uh there's an area where faces uh the local library and uh there was a director by the name of Priscilla Gardner. That woman hated us because in order for us to hit a home run over the the home run didn't count if it went over the gate, the home run counted if you broke the window of the library. So you know that was growing up in old Jersey City. I really do appreciate what you guys did with the park. Uh I proudly vote aye. And Council President Waterman. I want to congratulate you. I want to say thank you. Coming into office in 2013, um, trying to get Barry Lane Park finished. I know that was a tough decision because uh a lot of times you guys have to agree to where the funding goes. And I know that was a challenge, but we wanted to get that park finished, and you guys, you know, y'all seeing the you seen the hard work that was taken over the years, because when we took office, it was like almost 12 or 13 years that that park was under renovation. And so you guys had a lot to do with us really funding that park to finish it. And not only that, when I go around the city and I see these little side parks, I know you guys had uh voices out there to make sure some of these parks got finished. So we're in a day in time where people don't know the importance of sustainability and how important parks is for our quality of life. So I want to thank you for always being an advocate because we see it more and more without good green space. We are in trouble as a country. So thank you, thank you, thank you. And with that, I proudly vote aye. Resolutions 25-603 and resolution 25604 are you adopted unanimously. Congratulations. Thank you so much. On behalf of the Jersey City Parks Coalition, we couldn't do this without your support, Mayor Phillip, all the previous mayors, as well as the BA's office. We have so many people to think. We have forestry, we have infrastructure, we have health and human services. The list goes on and on. Um just to let everyone know in the audience, it's not just park restoration or protecting open space. It includes programming for our chief children, seniors, and for veterans. And without those grant dollars in your support, letters of support, we couldn't do this without you. So thank you so much. And could you just state your name for the record? M A H A YOS N A N D.