Jersey City Municipal Council Regular Meeting – September 25, 2025

The Jersey City Municipal Council held a regular meeting on September 25, 2025 (note: the transcript references Wednesday, September 24, creating a date discrepancy). The meeting convened at 6:09 PM with all nine council members present. Two late items (Resolutions 25‑624 and 25‑625) were added to the agenda by a 9‑0 vote.

First‑Reading Ordinances

• Item 3.1 (tax exemption for Sussex Street Associates at 177 Grand Street) and Items 3.3–3.6 (parking restrictions, Lincoln Park, reserve parking, mandatory minimums for housing violations, Bright Street Redevelopment Plan amendments) were introduced. Item 3.2 was withdrawn. All introduced unanimously (9‑0).

Second‑Reading Ordinances

• 4.1 – Bentley Avenue commemoratively designated as Walter R. Lezinski Way. Public hearing closed; adopted 9‑0.
• 4.2 – Ordinance amending restrictions on Block 15801, Lot 5 (Jersey City Medical Center site) to allow sale/redevelopment.
  • Public hearing: Adrian Orozco (32BJ SEIU political director) opposed, citing lack of affordable housing and good‑job commitments; urged rejection or tabling. Edward Perkins opposed, citing displacement. Nevins McCann (city representative on Medical Center board) supported, explaining the hospital needs proceeds for a garage and the sale is separate from future development.
  • Council debate: Several members expressed concern that lifting the restriction would allow luxury development without affordable housing, and that the council lacks further leverage. Councilwoman DeGeece committed to amend the Grand Jersey redevelopment plan to require affordability. Council President Waterman clarified the vote is only on removing the restriction, not on the development itself.
  • Vote: Adopted 7‑2 (Solomon and Gilmore opposed).
• 4.3 – Mandatory disclosure for rent increases (ban on algorithmic rent‑fixing). Public speakers (Kevin Weller, Daniel Feldman, others) strongly supported, noting it creates transparency and liability under consumer fraud law. Adopted 9‑0.
• 4.4 – Clarifying that state‑level exemptions from rent control are limited to rent‑caps, not transparency requirements. Public speakers supported. Adopted 9‑0.
• 4.4 (second reading) – Ordinance 25‑100 was removed from consideration; Council voted 9‑0 to defeat it after introduction of superseding Ordinance 25‑105.
• Item 11.11 (25‑086) – Amendments to Journal Square 2060 and St. John’s redevelopment plans were removed from the table. Council discussion: President Waterman confirmed mandatory affordable housing exists in zones 1 and 3; future amendments for Zone 4 to add affordability. Adopted 9‑0.

Public Hearing – Exchange Place Alliance Special Improvement District

• 2025‑2026 assessment roll and budget. Speaker Kristyna Pirkovska requested clarification on why the Korean War Memorial was excluded from conservation work; Council President Waterman noted the city is already in a process to make the statue historic. Public hearing closed 8‑0 (Gilmore absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

Numerous residents spoke, primarily from Portside Towers, documenting ongoing violations (lack of 24/7 uniform security guards, missing resident superintendents, illegal rent increases, unsafe conditions). They urged enforcement of existing ordinances, particularly Chapter 218 (security) and Chapter 254 (superintendent requirements). Many referenced a 1991 variance requiring two superintendent apartments and the failure to comply. Others discussed:

• Birchwood Fairmont Senior Building: Pamela Aldburn, Monica Walker requested approval of a tax exemption to allow repairs (windows, elevators, plumbing, rodent infestation).
• Liberty Science Center land transfer: Esther Wintner questioned progress, lack of public reports, and whether a for‑profit developer is now involved on tax‑exempt land.
• 6 Stegman Place demolition: Francis opposed the process and proposed multi‑unit redevelopment, asking for consistency with single‑family character.
• 177 Grand Street tax abatement: Mark and Larry (Paulus Hook Neighborhood Association) opposed, arguing the developer already received density increases and the abatement is unnecessary.
• Glenn reported a warrantless police entry into his home and requested council assistance.

Key Outcomes

• All nine council members present; meeting adjourned at 9:38 PM.
• Votes:
  • First‑reading introductions: 9‑0.
  • Second‑reading ordinances: 4.1 (9‑0), 4.2 (7‑2), 4.3 (9‑0), 4.4 (9‑0), 25‑086 (9‑0).
  • Defeat of 25‑100: 9‑0.
  • Exchange Place SID hearing closed 8‑0.
  • Claims and addendum: approved 9‑0.
  • Resolutions 10.1‑10.7 (9‑0), 10.8 (8‑0‑1, Solomon abstained), 10.9‑10.14 (9‑0), 10.15 (8‑1, Boggiano opposed), 10.16‑10.20 (9‑0).
• Directives: Councilwoman DeGeece committed to amend the Grand Jersey redevelopment plan to include affordable housing and union outreach. Councilman Solomon committed to revisit Zone 4 of the Journal Square plan.
• Next steps: Mandatory minimum fine ordinance for housing violations will be up for second reading at the next meeting.