Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting – July 19, 2023

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on July 19, 2023, at 12:30 PM in the Council Chamber of City Hall. The agenda included multiple ordinances on first reading, public hearings on second reading for tax abatements and a capital improvement appropriation, numerous resolutions, and a lengthy public comment period. Key topics included affordable housing, tax abatements, firefighter deaths, special police officer residency, and slumlord complaints.

Consent Calendar

• Reports and Recommendations (items 5-a through 5-d): Approved unanimously.
• Ordinances on First Reading (6F-a through 6F-j): All passed. Notable discussions occurred on 6F-h (unconscionable rent increase) and 6F-i (rent control definitions), where Councilmembers Ramos and Gonzalez raised concerns about owner-occupied properties under four units and urged the administration to consider exemptions. Councilman Ramos requested a formal request to the administration.
• Resolutions 7R1-a through 7R1-ar (including emergency appropriations, bid contracts, grants, and sub-recipient agreements for violence prevention, HIV services, etc.) passed en masse with roll call votes.
• Resolutions 7R2-b, 7R2-c, 7R2-e, 7R2-f, 7R3-a, 7R4-a through 7R4-d, 7R5-a through 7R5-o, 7R6-a through 7R6-e, 7R7-a through 7R7-i, 7R8-a through 7R8-l, 7R8-n, 7R8-o, 7R9-a through 7R9-e, 7R12-a, 8-b through 8-f, 8-g, 8-h, 8-i (advanced and adopted on first reading) – all approved.
• Ceremonial street designations (7R8-a through 7R8-d) with amendments to dates.
• Special event fee waivers (7R8-e through 7R8-j, 7R8-p) passed.
• Appointments (8-b through 8-f, 9-a) confirmed; 8-a deferred.
• New cannabis support resolutions (7R1-as through 7R1-av) passed with some abstentions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 6PSF-a and 6PSF-b (30-year tax abatements for Halo development): Multiple speakers opposed, including Deborah Salters, Lisa Parker, and Donna Jackson. They questioned the AMI threshold (federal HUD AMI for Essex County at ~$112,000 for a family of four), argued that many Newark residents cannot afford units (e.g., 2-bedroom starting at $2,350), criticized the lack of parking, and stated that developers receive excessive perks while residents suffer from poor services and high taxes. Speakers demanded that AMI be lowered and that tax abatements be granted incrementally. Deputy Mayor Allison Ladd clarified that the AMI is statutory.
• 6PSF-c (Capital Improvement Fund appropriation): Speakers (Deborah Salters, Lisa Parker, Talisha Hunter, G. Cureton, Donna Jackson, Alif Muhammad) criticized the lack of transparency, called the fund a “slush fund,” and demanded detailed breakdowns. Some expressed personal hardship: Talisha Hunter, a homeless senior with a diabetic grandchild, pleaded for housing assistance. Assistant Director of Finance Benjamin Guzman explained the $7.38 million came from canceled bond proceeds and would fund elevator repairs ($2.5M), TV studio/audio ($1.1M), street resurfacing ($1M), police body cameras ($1.58M), and 911 system upgrades ($1.2M).
• General Public Portion: Over 20 speakers addressed a variety of issues:
  • Colleen Fields praised a church program for children and thanked council members for donations.
  • Deborah Salters and others expressed profound sorrow over the deaths of firefighters Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks Jr., blaming failed leadership and understaffing.
  • Emily Aikens raised concerns about unlicensed drivers, reckless driving, and child trafficking.
  • Linda McDonald Carter called for a public checkbook, disaster preparedness campaign, and ordinances for backup power, basements, and fire escapes.
  • Sakeenah Flournoy (founder of Harry and Helen Webb Connection) requested support for senior programs.
  • Opal Wright discussed the Dodd-Frank Act and urged compliance with uniform education laws.
  • Maryam Bay and Tracy complained about slumlords in the South Ward, citing lack of garbage cans and poor property maintenance.
  • Israel Segarra (president of Special Police Organization of NJ) argued that the city’s requirement for 20 hours of mandatory volunteer time for special police officers violates state statute; Councilman Ramos countered that the city asks for only 20 hours a year in return for the privilege of being a special.
  • Lisa Parker demanded investigations into the housing authority and city hall, criticized the lack of a medical director for the health department, and questioned funding for a hospital with endowments.
  • Talisha Hunter repeated her pleas for housing assistance.
  • Fahkeria Bradley thanked council members who helped her.
  • G. Cureton and others from Georgia King Village highlighted ongoing rodent, water, and security issues under slumlord L&M.
  • George Somers objected to proposed zoning amendments, arguing they would increase density, permit bars and massage parlors, and be a giveaway to investors.
  • Paul Agostini opposed accessory dwelling units (ADUs), citing safety and infrastructure concerns.
  • Donna Jackson criticized the administration for firefighter deaths, low pay for city workers, and the closure of shelter 224 Sussex Avenue.
  • Alif Muhammad (tenant president) reported lack of security at housing authority sites, a broken $675,000 machine, and urged council to allow tenant choice of management.
  • Eli Kwawkume (Georgia King resident) described recurrent rodent and flooding issues.
  • Jacqueline Peoples condemned the city’s treatment of the poor and questioned accountability for housing funds.

Discussion Items

• 6F-h and 6F-i (Rent control amendments): Councilman Ramos proposed exempting owner-occupied properties under four families to avoid hardship on seniors; Councilman Gonzalez echoed that seniors could lose properties. Both requested the administration consider explicit exemptions. The ordinances passed with some abstentions.
• 7R2-D (Subordination of reverter rights for Metamorphosis Development): Public hearing held. Speaker Sabrina Conyers said she was available to answer questions. Some residents objected to selling city property to out-of-town entities and not offering the same to Newark residents. Deputy Mayor Ladd clarified that the city is not providing funding and that subordination is typical for lender requirements. The project (six three-unit townhomes) was previously approved.
• 7R9-D and E (Special police officer appointments): Councilman Gonzalez noted that 15 non-residents were approved, but raised concerns about verifying residency. He asked for a procedure to check addresses before appointment rather than after. Councilman Ramos noted the declining number of specials and requested a new recruitment class. Deputy Director Sharonda Morris said a class is planned after the academy opens next year. Councilman Gonzalez’s motion to change the verification procedure was seconded and passed.
• 7R8-O (Appointment of Kecia Daniels as City Clerk): All council members spoke in support, commending her experience, professionalism, and historic role as the first African American woman to hold the post. Daniels thanked the council and her family.
• Motions from Councilmembers:
  • Councilman Kelly: Motion to send a letter to dockless vehicle companies about possible fines for operators who obstruct traffic; seconded and passed.
  • Councilman Ramos: Motion to schedule a public safety committee meeting to discuss the firefighter deaths and allegations; also motion to ensure that any special police officer found to be a non-resident (among the 83 approved as residents) be removed; seconded and passed.
  • Councilwoman Scott-Rountree: Expressed profound sorrow for Deacon Eugene Vick Sr., Boston Culder, and others; announced the Mayor’s Family Meeting (July 21) and Family Fun Day (July 22); motions passed.
  • Councilman Kelly: Requested a meeting with Coach USA VP Dan Rodriguez to discuss bus service (routes 24, 31, 34, 44) in the West Ward; seconded and passed.
  • Councilman Gonzalez: Motion to change procedure for verifying special police officer residency before appointment; seconded and passed.
  • Councilman Crump: Expressed condolences, thanked administration for responsiveness, and congratulated Council President McIver on her marriage; motion for code enforcement to investigate 42 Willoughby Street for illegal conversion; seconded and passed.
  • Councilman Council: Offered condolences and motioned for UCC to forward all court documents on illegal conversions and to not issue permits to anyone with stop work orders; seconded and passed.

Key Outcomes

• All ordinances on first reading (6F-a through 6F-j) adopted; public hearings set for August 2, 2023.
• Three tax abatement ordinances (6PSF-a, 6PSF-b, 6PSF-c) adopted on second reading and final passage:
  • 6PSF-a: 30-year tax abatement for 289-301 Washington Street Urban Renewal, LLC (238 market rate + 59 affordable units). Vote: Council (yes), Crump (yes), Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott-Rountree (yes), Silva (yes), President McIver (yes).
  • 6PSF-b: 30-year tax abatement for 289-301 Washington Street Urban Renewal II, LLC (288 market rate + 72 affordable units). Vote: Council (abstain), Crump (abstain), Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott-Rountree (yes), Silva (yes), President McIver (yes).
  • 6PSF-c: Capital Improvement Fund appropriation of $7,383,664 for five projects: elevator repairs ($2.5M), TV studio/audio ($1.1M), street resurfacing ($1M), police body cameras ($1.58M), and 911 system upgrade ($1.2M). Passed unanimously.
• Resolution 7R4-c passed: Extending revaluation from tax year 2025 to 2027.
• Appointment of Kecia Daniels as City Clerk confirmed for term June 21, 2023 to June 20, 2026.
• Councilman Ramos’s motions regarding public safety committee meeting and special police residency verification passed.
• Councilman Gonzalez’s motion to change special police resident verification procedure passed.
• Councilman Council’s motion on UCC enforcement passed.
• Public comment period closed; administration promised follow-ups on several issues (e.g., housing voucher for Talisha Hunter, firefighter investigation, special police residency).
• Next meeting: Public hearing on the city budget scheduled for August 2, 2023 at 4 PM (after the regular meeting).