Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - January 22, 2025
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Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - January 22, 2025
The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 6:31 PM in the Council Chamber. All eight council members were present for roll call. The meeting included public comment on several tax abatement ordinances, debate on a convenience store regulation ordinance, and the passage of numerous resolutions and ordinances. The meeting adjourned at 10:03 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Ordinance 6F-a (First Reading): Adopted unanimously (8-0) to designate 15th Avenue and South 13th Street as a multi-way stop intersection (Central Ward). A public hearing will be held on February 5, 2025.
- Resolutions 7R1-a through 7R1-f (Temporary Emergency Appropriations): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for homelessness prevention ($500,000 HUD grant), firefighter turnout gear ($70,500), lead remediation ($400,000), health center support ($56,038), immunization grant ($215,627), and nurse workforce expansion ($306,955).
- Resolutions 7R1-g through 7R1-m (Purchasing Contracts): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for Jesse Allen Park improvements ($158,141.03), copier services ($1,625,500), healthy homes inspection services ($430,000), carpentry ($1,600,000), fire hydrants ($400,000), towing services ($330,000), and printed forms ($343,000).
- Resolutions 7R2-a, 7R2-c, 7R2-d, 7R2-e (Private Sales & Redevelopment): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for a 2-family home at 749 South 20th Street ($26,250), lot consolidation for an automotive service company ($7,586.74), third amendment to Lafayette Broad LLC redevelopment agreement, and funding/escrow agreement for Mulberry Commons.
- Resolution 7R2-b (Private Sale): Initially deferred, then moved and adopted unanimously (8-0) for construction of two 2-family homes at 312-314 South 20th Street ($50,000).
- Resolutions 7R3-a and 7R3-b (Grant Applications): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for NJDOT Local Freight Impact Fund programs for Avenue L ($1,384,953) and Raymond Boulevard ($4,574,591).
- Resolutions 7R4-a and 7R4-b (Finance): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for financial advisory services ($350,000) and confirming bond sale ($5,100,000).
- Resolutions 7R6-a, 7R6-b, 7R6-c (Law): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for litigation defense services amendment ($190,000 total), labor/employment services amendment ($285,000 total), and settlement of civil litigation ($425,000).
- Resolutions 7R8-a and 7R8-b (Recognitions & Condolences): Adopted unanimously (8-0) for recognizing and commending various individuals and expressing profound sorrow and regret for the deceased.
- Communications 8-a (LGBTQ+ Advisory Commission Appointment): Confirmed unanimously (8-0) for P. Elisabeth Wilks (term ending January 22, 2027).
- Communications 8-b (Newark Parking Authority Appointment): Deferred unanimously (8-0).
- Communications 8-c through 8-f (Ordinances on First Reading): Advanced and adopted unanimously (8-0) for a 30-year tax abatement at 40-46 Austin Street (East Ward), and multi-way stop signs at 16th Avenue & South 11th Street, 15th Avenue & Littleton Avenue, and 15th Avenue & South 11th Street (Central Ward). Public hearings on February 5, 2025.
- Miscellaneous 10-a (Raffle Licenses): Approved unanimously (8-0) for Saint Lucy's R.C. Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and Saint John Soup Kitchen.
- Added Starter (Interim CFO): Adopted unanimously (8-0) to appoint Benjamin Guzman as Interim Chief Financial Officer from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tax Abatement Ordinances (6PSF-a, 6PSF-b, 6SF-a): Multiple residents spoke in opposition.
- Lisa Parker (Lisa Mitchelson-Parker) criticized the city's structural deficit, lack of affordable housing, and alleged misuse of funds. She opposed tax abatements for developers, citing examples like High Park Garden and Wesley Towers, and questioned the use of Area Median Income (AMI) calculations.
- Deborah Salters argued that buildings are already constructed (e.g., 486 Market Street) but are presented as new construction, and that subsidies per unit ($93,000 for Kawaida Towers) are excessive. She demanded transparency on housing trust fund usage.
- George Tillman Jr. stated that residents are not against development but against tax abatements without compliance reports, local hiring, and minority contractor participation. He called for a mandatory process for projects that are 100% complete.
- Munirah El-Bomani requested an independent monitor and audit of tax abatements, asking about community benefits and return on investment.
- Nadirah Brown questioned the definition of AMI and noted that rent increased despite ordinances limiting increases.
- Alif Muhammad pointed out that one building was already built but described as "to construct."
- Donna Jackson and others criticized the lack of affordable housing and the displacement of lifelong residents.
- 440 Washington Street Conditions:
- Nasheedah Singleton and Deborah Brown described deplorable living conditions including lack of heat, hot water, broken elevators, sewage backups, and security issues. They requested the council cancel the tax abatement for the building's owner until repairs are made. Council members Gonzalez, Scott-Rountree, and Quintana responded, pledging to hold a tax abatement committee meeting on January 29 and to visit the building.
- Other Topics:
- Emily Aikens demanded transparency on the vacant Central Ward council seat and questioned why staff remain employed.
- Maryam Bey called for mandatory hiring of qualified Newark residents in construction projects and raised concerns about a PSE&G power plant in the West Ward, health hazards, and resident compensation.
- Shakir McDougall proposed a DPW app, criticized vacant properties, and questioned the enforcement of tobacco sales laws.
- Ché Colter urged better coordination with county and school board, and raised issues with police use of force.
- Latoya Jackson-Tucker appealed for unity and respectful dialogue.
- Opal R. Wright cited the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, asking for financial accountability.
- Cassandra Dock accused Mayor Baraka of mistreating DPW workers and called for his removal.
- Lamount Vaughn suggested a special emergency fund to abate hazardous properties and require owner repayment.
Discussion Items
- Convenience Store Ordinance (6SF-b): Sponsored by Council Member Patrick O. Council, this ordinance would prohibit new convenience stores within 500 feet of existing ones and increase fines. After debate, the motion to adopt on second reading failed (4-4), with Council members Gonzalez, Quintana, Ramos, and Silva abstaining. Councilman Council argued it was needed to change neighborhood narratives and promote commerce.
- Tax Abatement for 40 Austin Street (8-c): Deputy Mayor Allison Ladd explained that the project is part of a five-building development by the same owner, with affordable units in other buildings (one 100% affordable, one 50% affordable). Councilman Gonzalez noted that all affordable units are concentrated in the South Ward. Ladd stated the project complies with the previous inclusionary zoning ordinance.
- Third-Party Inspection Services (7R1-n): A motion to defer failed (3-1-3-1), and a subsequent motion to reconsider also failed, leaving the resolution unpassed. The council had concerns about code enforcement capacity.
- Towing Services for Trailers: Councilman Ramos raised the issue of tractor-trailers parked in residential areas, noting that the current towing contract only covers city-owned vehicles. Deputy Director Leo Carrillo agreed to look into expanding capacity.
Key Outcomes
- Tax Abatement Approvals:
- Ordinance 6PSF-a (486 Market Street, 17 market-rate + 2 affordable units, 20-year abatement) adopted 8-0.
- Ordinance 6PSF-b (209-213 Mount Pleasant Avenue, 19 market-rate + 5 affordable units, 20-year abatement) adopted 8-0.
- Ordinance 6SF-a (566-570 Springfield Avenue, 22 market-rate + 2 affordable units, 25-year abatement) adopted 7-1 (Councilman Ramos abstained).
- Convenience Store Ordinance Failed: 6SF-b failed on final passage (4 yes, 4 abstain).
- Third-Party Inspection Resolution Stalled: 7R1-n failed to defer, then motion to reconsider failed, leaving item unresolved.
- Motions Adopted:
- Profound sorrow/regret for Rev. Gregory Huggins, William L. Smith Jr., Eliza Morgan, Bernice D. Dowtin, and Barbara Wilson (all 5-0 with three absent).
- Request for NJ Transit to meet with West Ward council office regarding #31 bus schedule at West Side High School (5-0).
- Request for administration to provide status update on the stalled "Halo" development project on Washington Street (5-0).
- Appointment: Benjamin Guzman confirmed as Interim CFO (8-0).
- Upcoming Hearings: Public hearings on first-reading ordinances will be held February 5, 2025. The council requested a briefing on 16-year-old voting procedures for Board of Education elections.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, January twenty second, twenty twenty five. Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation by Imam Taood Haq of Nia Masjid. We pays you for all the numerous favors and monkeys for which you are showered upon us. Bless the leadership of the city, and that you would make it uh decisions, have them to make decisions that is going to be beneficial to us. 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. When your name is called, please approach the podium and address the council. Miss Bradley. Not appearing. Alif Mohammed. Appearing. No. No. Good evening. I sound like him. Good evening. Alif Mohammed. School. I'm going to go back to Philip's Ford, which we finally called Little Briggs, and I'm going to start there. What I'm going to have to do is I want to take my time, so this might take two different meetings. I can't do this, Mr. President, in five minutes or three minutes. So it's basically, I'm giving you almost the same thing I gave you before, but I want to start at the beginning. And I what I want to do now is I want to set the climate. At that time, I was team Baraka. I was probably outside of the person that didn't have a job or wasn't benefiting from it, their biggest supporter. I probably spent from 2014, 2018, 60, 70, 80 grand of my own money pushing team of Barack. So I was serious. So when this went down, I was on the team. I was a true believer. And then so it started at the Phillips Ford. It's a uh project that's been there since 1942. It's sitting there, and it was a deal came up. And I want to start at the beginning, that the deal would came up, and then I want to start it. I got called down this meeting that's at the end. Five, I got called down by Bear's office because they weren't happy on what I did with this thing. So that's the first, not the first time I got called down, but it was a real serious situation. And the conversation went like this. Why are you stopping this? I said, stop this. He said, Yeah. I said it's a bad deal. He said, This is the mayor's student. I said, it's a bad deal. He said, it's the mayor's student. It's a bad deal. Five times. He looked me in the eyes. He said, This is the mayor's student. I said, it's a bad deal.
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