Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - October 18, 2023

The Newark Municipal Council held a regular meeting on October 18, 2023, at 6:30 PM in City Hall. The meeting included extensive public testimony, council responses, and adoption of several ordinances and resolutions. Key topics included elevator crises in public housing, conditions at Georgia King Village, DPW staffing and equipment shortages, and tax abatement policies.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Emily Aikens (resident) criticized traffic law enforcement and safety for pedestrians, particularly children and seniors.
• Deborah Salters (warrior for the people) praised East Side Red Raiders football team, criticized racial divide and overcrowding at Eastside High School, and demanded action on deplorable housing conditions and tax abatements.
• Frederica Bey (South 10th Street Block Association) thanked Councilman Kelly for code enforcement support at 77 South 10th Street and expressed support for his reelection.
• Shakir McDougald (South Ward Bulldogs) invoked biblical teachings, urged transparency and accountability from the mayor and council, and called for referendum on political contributions.
• Rachel Bonds (100 Ludlow Street, Kretschmer senior building) described broken elevators since Christmas 2022, forcing her to sleep in the community room; asked for action on $500,000 that was reportedly diverted from elevator repairs.
• Irene Blow (100 Ludlow Street) highlighted recurring elevator failures, homeless individuals entering buildings, and called on council to address quality-of-life issues.
• Crystal Simmons (21 ESF Borden Elderly) thanked council for improvements at her building but requested more resources and communication from housing authority.
• Henry McGloin (963 Frill Heights) described deaths of residents unable to be moved from upper floors due to broken elevators, and asked for immediate elevator repairs.
• Latifa Covington (South Ward, 963 Frill Heights) raised elevator problems affecting her mobility after a car accident.
• Quawee Elmore (sanitation worker) cited ongoing equipment shortages, delayed new trucks (now expected February 2024), lack of proper uniforms, and safety issues at DPW.
• Mikil McElroy (shop steward, Local 617) reported DPW employees have not received 2021 retro pay, and that directors ignore requests for meetings on equipment and safety.
• Martha Rodriguez (union rep, Local 617) stated memoranda cannot fix safety issues; training is needed.
• Esperanza Jenkins (HSNH Outreach Services) described her grassroots nonprofit serving over 2,000 residents with food, clothing, and housing assistance; requested space and funding to expand.
• Alif Muhammad (housing commissioner) confirmed elevator issues: $500,000 diverted to RAD, eight elevator replacements voted but delayed. He criticized lack of security at Raymonds/Newark and urged council to hold housing authority accountable.
• Che Colter (South Ward) condemned predatory ticketing and towing, proposed phasing in parking meters in South Ward, and called for better technology for students, transparency in tax abatements, and sustainable systems for wealth transfer.
• Al-Nur Thomas (One Hood, OVP TR) described violence prevention work with youth, emphasized public safety, and asked council to recognize their efforts.

Discussion Items

• Council Responses: Council members addressed the public comments. Councilman Council noted permits are in for elevator replacements at 100 Ludlow and 963 Frill Heights, expected in early 2024. Councilwoman Scott-Rountree defended her record on responding to resident issues and condemned threats. Councilman Silva clarified he does not control school or rec scheduling. Councilman Crump requested written responses from DPW regarding worker complaints. Councilman Ramos called for engineering director to address elevator crisis and for DPW update on truck orders. Councilman Quintana criticized lack of elevator inspections and asked administration to address sanitation. Councilman Gonzalez moved to have housing authority officials appear at next meeting. Council President McIver reiterated that threats in the chamber are not joke and asked for order.
• Administration Responses: Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart reported engineering will check permit status on elevators and visit problem locations. He noted DPW memos on safety have been issued, new trucks expected November–February (5 diesel, 8 electric), uniforms are being ordered through a new state contract starting November, and retro pay is in the signing process. Melvin Waldrup (chief of staff to BA) added that DPW has filled recycling routes daily, and positions are being refilled. Director Wu (Engineering) explained citywide elevator issues due to COVID supply chain delays and shortage of inspectors; the city is hiring more elevator inspectors.
• Ordinances on First Reading:
  • 6F-a: School drop-off/pick-up zones (adopted, public hearing Nov 1).
• Ordinances on Second Reading/Final Passage:
  • 6PSF-a: Barbershop/beauty salon hours (Mon–Sat 6am–10pm, Sun 6am–8pm) – adopted.
  • 6PSF-b: 30-year tax abatement for 96 market-rate + 24 affordable units at 648-652 Raymond Blvd (East Ward) – adopted. Several public speakers criticized the abatement for not serving Newark residents (AMI levels too high).
  • 6PSF-c: Sale and redevelopment of 237 South Street (commercial – warehouse and coffee shop) – adopted despite public questions about transparency and appraisal price ($1.25M appraised, sold for ~$500K after environmental remediation credit).
  • 6PSF-d: Update on wreckers/boot regulations to set penalties and clarify rules – adopted.
• Communications Advanced to First Reading:
  • 8-a: Acquisition of 1160-1166 Raymond Blvd for $2.5M for a community resource center – adopted as 6F-b (Councilman Gonzalez questioned $285/sq.ft. price).
  • 8-b: Second amendment of redevelopment agreement for 442-476 South Orange Ave – adopted as 6F-c.
  • 8-c: Amendment to alcohol license 1,000-foot rule for place-to-place transfers in arts/education districts – adopted as 6F-d with amendment to waive 90-day requirement for restaurants in those districts.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinances Adopted: 6PSFa, 6PSFb, 6PSFc, 6PSFd, and first reading items 6Fa, 6Fb, 6Fc, 6Fd.
• Resolutions Adopted (all by roll call): 7R1a (carpentry contract increase to $2.5M), 7R1b (state contracts for auto parts), 7R1c (homeless shelter emergency extension to $5.39M), 7R2a (Waverly Yards plan referral), 7R2b (Central Ward redevelopment investigation), 7R2e (Jesse Allen Park Phase III), 7R2f (Greater Newark CVB budget), 7R2g (Mt. Prospect NID budget), 7R3a (Ironbound Little League turf field engineering), 7R4a (infrastructure bonds), 7R4b (extend property tax due date to Dec 1), 7R4c-d (UEZ assistance fund applications), 7R5a-b (COVID/STD grants), 7R6a-c (civil/workers' comp settlements), 7R6d (utility management contract), 7R8a-b (constable bonds), 7R8c-d (recognitions and condolences), 7R12a-b (water/sewer engineering contracts).
• Resolutions Deferred: 7R2c (private sale of two affordable homes in South Ward) – deferred; 7R2d (redevelopment agreement with 301 Morris Ave Partners) – deferred.
• Motions Passed: Councilwoman Scott-Rountree's motion for expressions of sorrow for Dewey Pete Cutino and Patrice McKinney's son; Councilman Ramos's motion for update on water shut-off policy; Councilman Quintana's motion on city park flags and Halloween parade; Councilman Council's motion for building inspection at 129-149 Chancellor Avenue.
• Next Steps: Public hearings on first-reading ordinances scheduled for November 1, 2023. Council directed administration to provide written responses on DPW issues, elevator permit status, and to have housing authority officials appear at a future meeting.