OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - February 19, 2025

Municipal Council — Wednesday, February 19, 2025
BodyNewark, New Jersey
SessionMunicipal Council
DateWednesday, February 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:26

Good evening.

0:27

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, February 19th.

0:34

Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and Invocation by Pastor Mike Ougala of the Rock Church.

2:58

One nation, under God.

3:02

Liberty.

3:22

Exalt you because you are good.

3:25

And your mercy is endures forever.

3:27

We thank you for this God having fathers unto you, God and unto man.

3:31

And we exit you will only glorify in this place, Lord Jesus.

3:34

Have your way God in our hearts.

3:42

Amen.

3:47

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.

4:32

Absent President Clark.

4:37

Council President, Council members, we are at the hearing of citizens portion of this meeting where each speaker will have five minutes to speak.

4:45

When your name is called, please approach the podium and address the council members.

5:07

Before I even start, my name is Alif Mohammed.

5:11

Pastor.

5:13

Pastor Patrick.

5:16

You said in the last meeting, I said you made a million dollars.

5:20

And you got up and say, I ain't making no million dollars.

5:23

And I know you know Beba that if you work for somewhere for 10 years and you make over 100,000, that comes to a million.

5:31

You know better than that.

5:32

That's a mean.

5:33

And then guess what?

5:34

I looked it up.

5:36

And I said, damn.

5:37

His first year he made 136,000.

5:41

And then the third year, you went up to 145,000.

5:46

I said, whoa.

5:47

Now when you became counselman, you took a hit.

5:50

You know, you dropped down low, but then you went and you know, you supposed to come to the house and get a job, but then you went back to board education, your old job.

5:58

So I'm not jumping.

5:59

You know better than that.

6:00

I don't want to pick on it.

6:01

You know I'm fond of you.

6:03

You know I spent two years with you.

6:05

And you know if I say something, I'm gonna prove it.

6:08

You know me better than any of these other jokers around here, because you knew me 20 years before that.

6:14

They thought I was some big drug dealer.

6:16

That's what they thought I was.

6:18

They thought I was a oh, the second biggest drug dealer, big gangster in the town.

6:22

That's what they thought.

6:23

And I'm telling you, they thought that because when I told them they was, they both looked at me crazy as hell.

6:28

So what I'm saying is I come on, bruh.

6:30

You can count, you made a million dollars.

6:32

You did good for yourself.

6:33

You're doing a little better right now.

6:36

Now, where's that?

6:38

Oh, he's not here.

6:39

The BA.

6:41

He says that I said, and it's so crazy because when I start talking, he starts writing, the count uh the clerk got to get this paper, this gonna get they they watching to see what I say.

6:52

And they always get it wrong.

6:54

I didn't say a Negro could not be governor, I said the Negro Ros Baraka that wears suits when sneakers can't be governor.

7:04

Because we know that we got Corey Booker, that's a Negro, and the Senate.

7:10

We know we got Hakim, that's the how uh silly man.

7:15

We had a vice president and a president.

7:19

So I know better than that.

7:20

But see what happened to y'all.

7:22

Y'all think Negro, I'm older than y'all, is a bad word.

7:27

In 1967, when I got my social security card, you had to sign up for it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Tax Abatement██████████████████18%
Affordable Housing███████████████15%
Procedural██████████████14%
Public Safety███████████11%
Miscellaneous█████5%
Economic Development█████5%
Election Process████4%
Public Health████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - February 19, 2025

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6:32 PM in the Council Chamber, City Hall. Seven of eight council members were present (Council Member Michael J. Silva absent). The meeting adjourned at 10:09 PM. The agenda included multiple tax abatement ordinances, property sales, grant acceptances, professional service contracts, and extensive public comment. Several ordinances sparked significant debate, particularly a 30-year tax abatement for a Paramount Assets development.

Consent Calendar

  • Reports and recommendations (items 5-a through 5-c) were accepted unanimously.
  • Consent resolutions (7R1-a through 7R1-j, 7R2-a deferred, 7R2-b returned to administration, 7R2-c deferred, 7R2-d through 7R2-g, 7R3-a, 7R4-a, 7R5-a as amended, 7R6-a through 7R6-l, 7R7-a, 7R8-a through 7R8-c, 7R9-a through 7R9-c, 7R12-a, and added starter 7R6-m) were adopted on votes ranging from 6-0 to 7-0, with some abstentions.

Public Comments & Testimony

Twenty-one citizens were listed to speak; several appeared and addressed the council. Key themes included:

  • Lisa Parker criticized tax abatements benefiting developers, lack of affordable housing, and questioned legal fees for a special election. She demanded a report on housing trust fund payments.
  • Felicia Alston-Singleton accused the council of lying and undermining residents, specifically regarding inclusionary zoning and the Paramount Assets abatement. She claimed non-compliance and threatened to report to DOGE.
  • Munirah El-Bomani demanded an investigation into the tax abatement program and oversight of funds.
  • Nadirah Brown asked where individuals who can't afford either affordable or market-rate housing can go and criticized city communication.
  • Emily Aikens urged the council to vote "no" on ordinances not benefiting residents and requested clear explanations of financial terms.
  • Debra Salters demanded itemized breakdowns of the $6 million revaluation budget and criticized the property selection process for developers.
  • Ché Colter urged supporting a resolution for state immigration law enforcement and involving the school board in tax abatement decisions.
  • Cassandra Dock accused black council members of perpetuating harm and called for accountability from Mayor Baraka.
  • Barry Brown shared struggles with mold in housing and lack of court support.
  • James R. Kern III, a Warren County commissioner, urged the council to support a resolution calling on Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin to enforce immigration laws.
  • Alif Muhammad expressed support for the Branford Place project, arguing it would improve the area.
  • Other speakers raised concerns about senior housing conditions, emergency preparedness, and the revaluation process.

Discussion Items

  • 6PSF-a (30-year tax abatement for 20-24 Branford Place): Director Allison Ladd presented. Public comment was sharply divided; many residents opposed the long abatement for Paramount Assets, citing lack of benefit, displacement, and insufficient affordable housing. Council Member Gonzalez asked about net payment after the "wrap." The ordinance passed 5-2, with Council Members Gonzalez and Quintana abstaining.
  • 6PSF-b (amended agreement for 18 market-rate units) and 6PSF-c (assigning 25-year tax abatement for 42 units): Ladd explained these are part of the same project (The Rise) with Queen Latifah, split into three phases. Public criticized the transfer of abatements. Both ordinances passed 6-1, with Quintana abstaining.
  • 6PSF-d ($6 million emergency appropriation for property revaluation): Business Administrator Eric Pennington explained the cost covers inspections of 53,000 properties over two years. Public questioned the necessity. The ordinance passed 7-0.
  • Communications: Ordinance repealing and reestablishing the Office of Homeless Services (8-a, 8-b) were advanced to first reading. Traffic ordinance (8-c) and bonding ordinances (8-d, 8-e, 8-f) were also advanced.

Key Outcomes

  • 6PSF-a: Adopted on first reading (5-2 with abstentions).
  • 6PSF-b: Adopted on first reading (6-1 with abstention).
  • 6PSF-c: Adopted on first reading (6-1 with abstention).
  • 6PSF-d: Adopted (7-0).
  • Resolutions: All consent resolutions and added starter adopted with majority votes, including approval of a $1,975,893.73 pre-litigation settlement for homelessness service providers (7R6-m).
  • Motions Adopted:
    • Expressing sorrow for Virginia Harris Wright (6-0, Gonzalez absent).
    • Requesting meeting with state legislators to discuss tax subsidies for homeowners (6-0).
    • Requesting a detailed report on the stalled "Halo" development project (6-0).
    • Requesting a status report on the roof at JFK Pool (6-0).
  • The meeting adjourned at 10:09 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, February 19th. Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and Invocation by Pastor Mike Ougala of the Rock Church. One nation, under God. Liberty. Exalt you because you are good. And your mercy is endures forever. We thank you for this God having fathers unto you, God and unto man. And we exit you will only glorify in this place, Lord Jesus. Have your way God in our hearts. 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. Absent President Clark. Council President, Council members, we are at the hearing of citizens portion of this meeting where each speaker will have five minutes to speak. When your name is called, please approach the podium and address the council members. Before I even start, my name is Alif Mohammed. Pastor. Pastor Patrick. You said in the last meeting, I said you made a million dollars. And you got up and say, I ain't making no million dollars. And I know you know Beba that if you work for somewhere for 10 years and you make over 100,000, that comes to a million. You know better than that. That's a mean. And then guess what? I looked it up. And I said, damn. His first year he made 136,000. And then the third year, you went up to 145,000. I said, whoa. Now when you became counselman, you took a hit. You know, you dropped down low, but then you went and you know, you supposed to come to the house and get a job, but then you went back to board education, your old job. So I'm not jumping. You know better than that. I don't want to pick on it. You know I'm fond of you. You know I spent two years with you. And you know if I say something, I'm gonna prove it. You know me better than any of these other jokers around here, because you knew me 20 years before that. They thought I was some big drug dealer. That's what they thought I was. They thought I was a oh, the second biggest drug dealer, big gangster in the town. That's what they thought. And I'm telling you, they thought that because when I told them they was, they both looked at me crazy as hell. So what I'm saying is I come on, bruh. You can count, you made a million dollars. You did good for yourself. You're doing a little better right now. Now, where's that? Oh, he's not here. The BA.

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