The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting opened with the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation by Rev. Dr. Johnnie D. Brooker. Council President LaMonica R. McIver presided. The agenda included ordinances on first reading, a public hearing and second reading for a 25-year tax abatement, numerous resolutions, and public comments. Key discussions centered on tax abatements, community violence intervention grants, affordable housing, and resident concerns about cleanliness, slumlords, and local hiring.
Meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024. Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation by Reverend Dr. Johnny D. Brooker, Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church. Shall we pray? Gracious God, we're so grateful and thankful for another opportunity to come together as your people. So now, God, we ask that you will tabernacle with us in this space that you call City Hall. God, we ask that you continue to touch all of our leaders. Keep us together as one body. And God, we pray that your presence will be made felt in this space. Have your way in this space. And God, we will give your name glory, honor, and praise, for certainly you deserve all of it. Do it like you do it, and we'll be so appreciative. It's in your name we do pray. Amen. In accordance with New Jersey law, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the Star Ledger, the Jersey Journal, and the public at large, establishing the date, time, and location of this meeting. In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on January 19th at the time of preparation and posted on the website of the City of Norway. Roll call, please. Council. Kelly. I'm here. Ray Mos. Scott Roundtree. Present. Silva. President McIver. Present. Council President, Council members. We are in the hearing of citizens portion of the meeting where each speaker will have five minutes to speak. When your name is called, please approach the podium and address the council days. They formulate corrupt practices and policies that only benefit them, the corporations, and donors they serve. Last week ended a six-day public hearing by the U.S. Coast Guard about the senseless death of two firefighters in a cargo fire. Failed to participate in the trainings. We will pay two unlawful death suits for the incompetence and negligence by the name mayor's appointee. Why is the school board president's son of a councilman that lied on his disclosure form for three years not terminated as president? Why wasn't Tommy Luna sworn in to see on the school board? Why was a boat taking the seat the council persons pick? The same people that appointed to these boards, work for elected to continue to give contracts and jobs only to their people. How many in the state of New Jersey? There's case laws in this regard that has been sent to the inspector general in Washington to investigate. How is that that council members in a part-time job make a hundred grand and hold full-time no-show jobs, making over a hundred and fifty, but not serving the interests of the people? Salaries exceeding 250,000 a year. That's a quarter of a million dollars to do nothing. Office of violence prevention. How are you giving Keisha Yuri a promotion? No, not one sustainable programming has impacted the community using 10% of the police budget for 24 hours of foolishness, ice skating, Broadway plays, Baddies University, Tits in Twerkin, 90K you gave them. Jerry got over 300K to record artists in every ward. The grant is not for this BS good feel moment. Why isn't this office being used to prevent crime for those in need of housing, food, and for survival?