Jersey City Municipal Council Regular Meeting – August 20, 2026

This meeting of the Jersey City Municipal Council began at 6:07 p.m. and adjourned at 11:44 p.m., with all nine council members present for most of the evening. The council addressed a late-added resolution, introduced first-reading ordinances, held public hearings on data center zoning, community garden leases, the Journal Square Special Improvement District, and the 2026 municipal budget. After extensive public comment, the council introduced a budget amendment reducing the property tax levy increase from 15.5% to 15.15%. Note: The transcript indicates the meeting occurred on August 19, 2026, but the user-provided date is August 20, 2026; the summary uses the given date.

Consent Calendar

• No separate consent calendar was used. Routine approvals and unanimous actions were taken on individual items throughout the meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing on Ordinance 26-057 (Data Center Ban): Stephanie Stark expressed support for the ban but noted that co-location data centers are still allowed, calling the administration’s press release “political theater.” Brendan Clark urged the council to table the ordinance, arguing for regulation over a categorical prohibition and citing the state’s new cost-allocation rules and the potential loss of tax revenue. Jason Harley Berg spoke about energy generation and flywheels, urging caution.
• Public Hearing on Community Garden Leases (Ordinances 26-058 through 26-063): Multiple speakers, including Charlene Burke (acting president, Jersey City Parks Coalition), Jason Berg, Tina Knowles, and Erica Walker, expressed strong support for renewing the leases, emphasizing the gardens’ role as community gathering spaces and educational resources. They called for better city support and communication.
• Public Hearing on Journal Square SID Budget: Jason Berg asked about the number of districts and funding sources; the council allowed only comments, not a back-and-forth. The hearing was closed with a 7-0 vote (Councilmembers Little and Gilmore absent).
• Public Hearing on 2026 Municipal Budget: Over 50 residents spoke, many opposed to the 15.5% property tax increase. Key themes:
  • Fiscal transparency and blame: Yvonne Bolsonaro criticized the council for late budgeting and rising bond debt. Stephanie Starts called the process nontransparent and noted the mayor’s high compensation for inner circle employees. Kevin Davis used a magic trick to illustrate being “handcuffed” by the state’s MOU and calendar constraints.
  • People’s Budget vs. police spending: Ioannis Skoulidas, Isaac Jimenez, Zach Kourgialis, and others advocated for the “People’s Budget,” urging cuts to police overtime and funding for mental health response, right to counsel, and affordable housing. They argued that the police budget is “untouchable” while other services are slashed.
  • Right to counsel and tenant protection: Vicky Hernandez (Waterfront Project), Elizabeth Hurley, Hannah Colon, and Anna Bassett detailed the life-saving impact of legal representation for tenants facing eviction, pleading for full restoration of the $328,000 in funding. They noted that the proposed budget cut it to $160,000.
  • Police retention and staffing: Anthony Silver, a police officer with 11 years of service, argued that low pay and poor retention are driving officers away, and that investing in police is essential for public safety.
  • Homeowner and small business burden: Philip Petrizelli, Rosanna Petrazelli, Roxanne Small, and others described the tax increase as unsustainable, with many considering leaving the city. They called for a future cap on increases tied to inflation.
  • Infrastructure and services: Dion Patterson and Monique Andrews complained about uncompleted sewer work, damaged streets, and lack of traffic enforcement, asking why residents pay more but see no improvement.
• Public Requests for Hearings: Additional speakers addressed:
  • Portside Towers rent control: Dan Feldman, Susan Roca, Shannon Ray, Michelle Hirsch, and others reported that 1,035 days after the rent leveling board’s determination, they still have not been told their legal rent. They called on the council to use subpoena powers and require the housing preservation director to issue determinations.
  • School overcrowding: Renee Perna, Quinn Slatznick, and Patrick (PS16 parents) described severe overcrowding (PS16 at 200% capacity), with kindergarten classes of 35–40 students and pre-K students bussed out of the zone. They asked the council to advocate for short-term leased space and to require developers to provide classrooms.
  • Community garden destroyed by DPW: Dina Tsakrov reported that the Arlington Community Garden was accidentally mowed down by DPW workers after a false weed complaint. She requested better communication and city support for gardens.
  • Automated parking enforcement: Jack McKee and others supported resolution 26-511 for curb management cameras, noting they improve safety and generate revenue.

Discussion Items

• Addition of Item 10.58 (Resolution 26-534): Council President Ridley moved to add the item, which was approved 8-0 (Councilperson Gilmore absent). The resolution was then deferred to and passed 7-0-1 (Councilperson Little abstained, Gilmore absent). No details on the resolution’s content were provided in the transcript.
• First Reading Ordinances (Items 3.2–3.5): Introduced unanimously. These included a franchise ordinance for a right-of-way use, a bond ordinance reappropriating $3.4 million, a lease for a police substation at Newport Mall, and an amendment to the police off-duty program code.
• Second Reading Ordinance 26-057 (Data Center Ban): After public comment, the hearing was closed and the ordinance adopted 9-0. Council members Efros, Little, and Lavaro spoke in favor, citing limited land, energy and water concerns, and the need for industrial uses that create better jobs. Councilperson Little clarified that the ban targets standalone AI data centers, not co-located facilities used by financial or research institutions.
• Second Reading Ordinances 26-058 through 26-063 (Community Garden Leases): All six ordinances were adopted unanimously after brief public hearings and supportive comments from council members. Council President Ridley noted she started a community garden in 2011.
• Journal Square SID Budget: The hearing was closed and the budget approved 7-0.
• Budget Amendment Process: Council President Ridley explained that the state’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA) required the council to consolidate multiple amendment proposals into a single package. The compromise amendment, introduced as item 10.57, reduced the tax levy increase from 15.5% to 15.15% (a reduction of $1,384,772.37). It restored five of the 31 laid-off positions (later corrected to 11), funded a mental health first responders program, restored right to counsel funding to $480,000 (including a grant), added a senior bus driver, and reduced police overtime by $200,000. Council members expressed frustration with the state’s constraints but praised collaboration.

Key Outcomes

• Item 10.58 (Resolution 26-534): Approved 7-0-1 (Little abstained, Gilmore absent).
• First Reading Ordinances (3.2–3.5): Introduced unanimously 9-0.
• Ordinance 26-057 (Data Center Ban): Adopted unanimously 9-0.
• Community Garden Leases (26-058 through 26-063): Each adopted unanimously 9-0.
• Journal Square SID Budget: Approved 7-0 (Little and Gilmore absent).
• Budget Amendment (Item 10.57): Introduced unanimously 9-0. A public hearing on the amendment and final vote scheduled for August 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
• Resolutions 10.1–10.56: Various approvals, including several grant acceptances, a pilot program for automated parking enforcement (10.35, adopted 9-0), and appointment of a tax collector (10.49, approved 5-1-3, with Gilmore voting no and Griffin, Lavaro, and Ridley abstaining due to residency waiver concerns).
• Claims and Addendum #1: Approved 9-0.
• Next Steps: The council will hold a special meeting on August 26, 2026, for a public hearing and final vote on the budget amendment and the overall 2026 municipal budget.