Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting – March 1, 2023

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 12:30 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Council President LaMonica R. McIver presided. All council members were present except Council Member Gonzalez, who was absent for some votes later in the meeting. The agenda included ordinances on first reading, public hearings, resolutions, communications, and a hearing of citizens. Several items were deferred, amended, or returned to administration.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance 6F-a (Lease of City-Owned Property to Non-Profit Corporations) was adopted on first reading with a unanimous roll call (all present voting yes).
• Resolutions 7R1-c and 7R1-d (Bid contracts for key duplication/locks and flags/accessories) passed unanimously.
• Resolution 7R1-f (Cooperative purchasing agreement for pharmacy) passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R1-a and 7R1-b (Temporary emergency appropriations for Doremus Avenue Port Newark Connect Project and 2020 COPS Hiring Grant cash match) passed unanimously.
• Resolution 7R1-g (Harriet Tubman Square Grant $2,000,000) passed unanimously.
• Resolution 7R1-h (HUD One-Year Action Plan $16,043,165) passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R2-e, 7R2-f, 7R2-h (Green Acres replacement land, affordable housing agreement for 11 supportive units, and Lincoln Park Neighborhood Preservation Grant) passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R3-a through 7R3-d (Engineering professional services, grant amendment, refund, and extension request) passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R4-a and 7R4-b (Petty cash funds and Local Finance Board application) passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R6-c and 7R6-d (Worker's compensation settlements) passed unanimously.
• Resolution 7R7-a (Support for Medicare for All Act of 2021) was amended and adopted unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R8-a through 7R8-h (Support for Lincoln Park Cultural District, St. Patrick's Day Parade, ceremonial street designations, sister cities with Abobo, Côte d'Ivoire, Autism Awareness Month, Board of Adjustment reappointment, constable bond) all passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R8-i and 7R8-j (Recognizing and commending; expressing sorrow) passed unanimously.
• Resolutions 7R11-a and 7R11-b (Green Acres supplemental funding for Broadway Park) passed unanimously.
• Communications 8A-8G (Appointments to Hispanic Commission, Commission on Homelessness, Commission on Status of Women, Taxicab Commission) passed unanimously.
• Communications 8H-8J, 8K, 8L, 8N (Tax abatements, peddling ordinance, job fair requirement, flood mitigation bond) were advanced to first reading with unanimous votes.
• Communication 8M (Clear zones ordinance) was moved out of communications without advancement due to needed amendments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Debra Mapson defended herself against earlier allegations, stated she never discussed land with the Council President, and provided updates on her work at the Riviera Hotel, helping residents relocate. She criticized some advocates for lacking resources.
• Colleen Fields described a degrading security screening at the federal building by Officer Ortiz (badge 266), accusing him of racial profiling and harassment. She vowed to continue her activism.
• Opal R. Wright read extensively from the Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, urging financial regulation oversight.
• Felicia Alston-Singleton praised district leaders Lisa Mitchelson Parker and Gee Cureton for advocating for residents. She criticized the council for lack of transparency on budgets, land deals, and slum conditions at Georgia King Village, Riviera Hotel, and other properties. She threatened to send evidence to federal authorities.
• Gee Cureton reported on the March 1 meeting at Georgia King Village with LM management. Residents described mold, rats, no heat, broken elevators, and abusive management. She accused LM of applying band-aid fixes. Council members Kelly, Quintana, and Scott-Rountree attended. Legal proceedings for receivership are scheduled for March 28.
• Deborah Salters criticized the council for failing to address real quality-of-life issues. She noted that two residents at Georgia King Village were hospitalized due to mold and a child died because no one was CPR-certified. She claimed the mayor blocked her from training police in CPR. She demanded documents on budget and Oprah requests.
• Munirah El-Bomani denounced violations of free speech and censorship by the city. She accused the administration of oppressing Black and brown people while honoring civil rights leaders. She called for permanent housing solutions, not shelters. She urged Senator Ruiz and others to enforce slumlord laws and demanded accountability for federal funds.
• Christopher Barrett asked for help with a case where he was assaulted (on video) but charges were downgraded to harassment. He stated the detective and prosecutor acknowledged an assault, but the court changed it. Corp Counsel Kenyatta explained the case is pending and requested a chronological timeline from Barrett.

Discussion Items

• 2022 Budgets for Special Improvement Districts (SIDs): Resolutions 7R2-b (West Ward, $500,000) and 7R2-c (Bergen Lyons Clinton, $410,425.56) were discussed. Public speakers questioned why budgets for 2022 were being approved in March 2023. Director Allison Ladd explained that SIDs had not submitted budgets on time; no city funds had been released. Council Members Gonzalez, Ramos, and Kelly debated the lag and the need for timely submissions. The budgets were approved unanimously after public comment.
• Private Property Booting Ordinance (6PSF-b): Initially deferred, the council reconsidered and amended the ordinance on the floor. Law department edits required re-advertising; the public hearing remained open until March 15. The amendment passed unanimously (8-0, Gonzalez absent).
• Tax Abatement Ordinances (8H, 8I, 8J): Three ordinances granting long-term tax abatements for Bruen Holdings (30 years, 115 market-rate + 18 affordable units), 10 Commerce Newark Urban Renewal (25 years, 88 market-rate + 22 affordable units), and Pilgrim Baptist Village (amending existing 30-year abatement for 305 affordable units) were advanced to first reading unanimously. Council Member Gonzalez asked if the amendment extended the period; Director Ladd said the period remained the same.
• Clear Zones Ordinance (8M): Due to extensive floor amendments, the council chose not to advance it but moved it out of communications for revision.
• Legal Services Contracts (7R6-a and 7R6-b): Corporation Counsel Kenyatta requested both items be returned to administration to obtain conflict-of-interest letters from attorneys. The council agreed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved budgets for Partnership West, Inc. ($500,000) and Bergen Lyons Clinton Special Improvement District ($410,425.56) for 2022.
• Advanced tax abatement ordinances for three developments (Bruen Holdings, 10 Commerce Newark, Pilgrim Baptist Village) to first reading; public hearings scheduled for March 15.
• Amended and adopted the Private Property Booting Ordinance (6PSF-b) and the Medicare for All resolution.
• Returned to administration two law department professional services contracts (workers' comp and litigation defense) for further review.
• Condolences and recognitions approved for numerous individuals and organizations.
• Motions by Council Members:
  • Council Member Quintana sponsored a resolution denouncing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other states for banning books on minority history; the motion passed unanimously.
  • Council Member Kelly requested a regret and sorrow for Judith Wright Evans; passed unanimously.
  • Council Member Ramos requested traffic studies, street signs, and lease renewal for Casperger Field; all approved.
  • Council Member Council requested UCC investigations of multiple properties for unpermitted construction and a letter of disappointment to Governor Murphy regarding appointments; both approved.
• Next meeting: March 15, 2023. Council Member Silva announced an Easter event on March 25, and Council Member Council announced a mystery trip for youth on March 25.