Jersey City Council Meeting – September 11, 2025: Redevelopment Plans Tabled, Budget Amendments Split, Tenant Advocacy Dominates Public Comment
Jersey City Council Meeting – September 11, 2025: Redevelopment Plans Tabled, Budget Amendments Split, Tenant Advocacy Dominates Public Comment
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.
Public Comments & Testimony
On Ordinance 25‑086 (Journal Square 2060 Redevelopment Plan Amendment)
- Charles Harrington (attorney for property owners of lots 15, 49, and 16) requested that those lots be remapped from Zone 4 to Zone 3, arguing that the change is minor and would allow zone‑consistent development. He stated the planning division did not recommend the change due to shape factors but said adding lot 16 would create a more rectangular parcel.
- Mike Vasdev (property owner associate) supported the remapping, stating the developer “is not going over 28 stories” and would comply with a 10% affordable housing set‑aside.
- Natalie Limon and several other community members urged a no vote, arguing that the affordable housing bonus incentivises high‑rise development outside Journal Square, drives up area median income, and that 10% affordability is insufficient. Speakers also noted that rent‑controlled buildings are at risk of replacement.
- Laverne Washington called the change a “no‑brainer” because it would bring affordable housing to the area.
- Russell Hoffman read an anonymous letter from a homeless 25‑year‑old man, highlighting the human cost of the housing crisis.
- Pam Andes distinguished between true affordable housing (rent control) and the “affordable” units tied to market‑rate developments.
- Chris Perez stated that the city’s current approach to affordable housing “really isn’t working” and urged more strategic solutions.
On Ordinance 25‑087 (Fayette Broadway Redevelopment Plan Amendment – Puccini Project)
- Michael Manzo and Natalie Limon described a history of community negotiations: the community supported Phase 1 (West Side Square) based on promises that the adjacent Puccini/Urcolano’s site would remain retail only. Limon alleged a “bait and switch” because the amendment would allow a 476‑unit luxury tower with 175 parking spaces and would demolish Urcolano’s, a vital community gathering space.
- Robert Fu supported preserving community institutions.
- Eugene Paolino (attorney for the developer) stated that Urcolano’s would be preserved in a historic building under a favorable lease (not yet signed), that the developer had committed to infrastructure improvements, and that the planning board supported the amendment.
- Arinder Singh Minhas (another developer in the area) criticized the amendment for not including a community benefit contribution comparable to the $1 million his own project paid.
- Edward Perkins and the community challenged the developer’s trustworthiness.
- Rafael Mangelbaum (developer) defended the project, citing a personal offer to help Urcolano’s, the pledge of 36 affordable units, and the public piazza.
- Megan Wilkie and Ivan Oraye supported the project, arguing more housing at all income levels is needed.
During the General Public Speaking Portion
- A series of speakers from Portside Towers (528 units) detailed 142 consecutive days of documented building code violations, including missing carbon monoxide detectors in 17+ units, lack of a required 24/7 uniformed security guard, absence of an on‑site superintendent, and failure to notify tenants of state‑found violations for over 200 days. They reported that the landlord (Equity Residential) had received fines totalling less than $2,000 on only four of 71,000+ alleged daily violations. Speakers urged the council’s newly formed Investigatory Committee (with subpoena power) to compel testimony from the municipal prosecutor and city officials.
- Daniel Feldman and others called for the passage of Councilman Solomon’s three enforcement ordinances (25‑098, 25‑099, 25‑100) to make fines mandatory and non‑waivable.
- Barbara Goldberg and Vany Asusa contrasted the enforcement gap: a small landlord fixes violations quickly under threat of daily penalties, while Equity ignores multiple legal mandates.
- A tenant from 429 Bergen Avenue announced a demand letter to their landlord for rent‑control violations.
- Ariel Lefkowitz (Humane World for Animals) urged a ban on pet‑store dog and cat sales, citing consumer protection and animal welfare.
- Mia Skengo and others discussed the Fairmont Hotel (Father Divine) senior building, noting that a 30‑year tax abatement had been tabled and that the owner (Ingerman Company) had issued 30‑day relocation notices to half the residents.
- Tina Knowles raised concerns about the loss of a small business on Jackson Avenue and a bus‑stop relocation affecting Curry Woods seniors.
Discussion & Deliberation
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).
- 10.1 (supported by the administration) initially received 4 in favor, 4 opposed, 1 abstention – failing to reach the required 6 votes. After a revote, the tally shifted to 6 in favor, 3 opposed, and it passed.
- 10.2 (an alternative) failed: 3 in favor, 4 opposed, 2 abstentions. Opponents argued that hiring engineers with only four months left in the year was unrealistic, that health‑benefit costs were not shown, and that the next council should decide.
Other Agenda Items
- First‑reading ordinances (25‑096 through 25‑100) were introduced, with Councilperson Hewlings abstaining on 25‑097. The three rent‑control enforcement ordinances were introduced on condition that the council hold discussions with the prosecutor and housing division.
- All second‑reading ordinances 25‑088 through 25‑094 (traffic, parking, disabled parking, franchise, and lease extensions) were adopted unanimously 9‑0.
- A resolution honoring the 30th annual Jersey City West Indian Caribbean American Carnival was adopted by acclamation.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance 25‑086 (Journal Square 2060 Plan) – Tabled (6‑3). Referred back to the planning division for further discussion on excluded parcels.
- Ordinance 25‑087 (Fayette Broadway Plan) – Tabled (9‑0). The developer was urged to finalize a lease with Urcolano’s and address community concerns before the next meeting on September 24, 2025.
- Budget Resolution 10.1 – Passed (6‑3). Transferred $1 million from the council contingency to departments including infrastructure, landlord‑tenant, and sanitation.
- Budget Resolution 10.2 – Defeated (3‑4‑2). Alternative allocation failed.
- Rent‑control‑related ordinances (25‑098, 25‑099, 25‑100) – Introduced on first reading with a condition for further stakeholder discussion.
- All traffic, parking, and franchise ordinances (25‑088 through 25‑094) – Adopted unanimously.
- Investigatory Committee (Portside Towers) – The committee formed at the August 20 meeting has subpoena power, but as of this meeting no subpoenas had been issued. The council committed to moving forward.
- The next regular council meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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