Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting – March 5, 2025

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on March 5, 2025, at 12:30 PM in the Council Chamber, City Hall. All eight council members were present (Council Members Ramos and Silva arrived late). The agenda included first-reading and final-passage ordinances, resolutions, reappointments, and a public hearing on a community benefits agreement. Key debates focused on tax abatements, affordable housing, transparency in city land sales, and the restructuring of homeless services. Several items were deferred or amended.

Consent Calendar

• Reports and recommendations from the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission and the Marriage License Bureau were accepted unanimously.
• Ceremonial street designation (Mario Garcia Way) and multiple recognizing/commending resolutions and expressions of sorrow were adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lisa Parker opposed the 20-year tax abatement for 768-772 Bergen Street, arguing that tax abatements benefit developers over residents and that the city has not rescinded abatements for stalled projects like the Halo building. She also criticized the lack of project labor agreements and transparency in land sales.
• Debra Salters expressed support for the Bergen Street project after extensive community review, noting the developer is a homegrown Black woman and the project includes a 24-hour daycare, which is unique in Newark. She later called for greater transparency in amendments to land-sale ordinances.
• Shakir McDougald questioned parking adequacy, affordable housing numbers, and the city’s need for housing data. He also criticized the community benefits agreement for 930 McCarter Highway, calling movie tickets a ‘joke’ and urging better negotiation.
• Alif Muhammad praised the water department and supported the green infrastructure bond, but called for prioritizing housing bonds to build 16,000 low-income units. He also warned about federal scrutiny of the Office of Violence Prevention.
• George Tillman Jr. repeatedly raised the lack of records showing Newark resident hiring on tax-abated projects, citing an OPRA request that yielded no documentation. He argued that the city’s resident employment policy is not being enforced.
• Munirah El-Bomani criticized the administration for failing to address homelessness despite millions of dollars, called the affirmative action review council “dysfunctional,” and urged council to prioritize housing.
• Lester McClendon presented a petition to bring an NBA basketball team and more entertainment venues (bowling, arcades) back to Newark.
• Barry Brown described unsafe housing conditions and requested relocation assistance.
• Daniel Karny (Society Hill homeowner) requested council support for tax abatement for his community and investigation into HOA fee abuses under the Structural Integrity Act.
• Opal Wright read citations from the Dodd-Frank Act but did not make a specific local request.
• Latoya Jackson-Tucker encouraged council to “shake the table” and advocated for a street naming for a long-serving crossing guard.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 6PSF-a (20-year tax abatement for PGH & Associates, 768-772 Bergen Street): Council members Gonzalez and Scott-Rountree voiced strong support, noting the developer is a local Black woman and the 24-hour daycare is a critical community need. The public hearing included both opposition and support. The ordinance passed 7-0 (Ramos absent).
• Ordinance 6PSF-b (Third amendment for land sale at 432-434 South Orange Avenue for St. James Health Center): Director Allison Ladd explained the amendment facilitates a federally qualified health center. Some speakers criticized lack of detail in the agenda. Council members assured the public the matter was previously discussed and documents are online. Passed 8-0.
• Ordinances 6PSF-c and 6PSF-d (Repeal and reestablishment of Office of Homeless Services): These ordinances move the office from the Mayor’s Office to the Department of Health and Community Wellness. Public speakers questioned the effectiveness of existing homeless services and demanded accountability for funds. Council clarified the move is administrative. Both passed 8-0.
• Ordinance 6PSF-e ($6 million bond for Newark Housing Authority rehabilitation): Deferred to a later meeting by unanimous vote.
• Ordinance 6PSF-f ($800,000 green infrastructure bond amendment for Clinton and Badger Avenue Triangle): Directors Guzman and Adeem explained the cost increase due to inflation and a principal forgiveness program. Approved 8-0.
• Ordinance 6PSF-g (Multi-way stop at 7th Avenue West and 2nd Street): No public comment. Approved 8-0.
• Resolution 7R1-c (Support for Urb’n Dispensary cannabis consumption lounge): Approved 8-0.
• Resolution 7R2-a (Private sale to GEJJ Urban Development): Deferred on motion by Councilman Gonzalez, who requested a summary of letters of intent for similar properties. Deferred 8-0.
• Resolution 7R2-b (Private sale to Yolanda Alonzo’s Love, Inc. for senior housing): Returned to administration (8-0).
• Resolution 7R2-e (Community Benefits Agreement for 930 McCarter Highway): The original CBA included $150,000 in movie tickets and $450,000 landscaping. Council members objected to the movie ticket component. An amendment was offered on the floor to replace it with a $150,000 contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the Path Home (plan to end homelessness). The amendment passed 8-0, and the CBA as amended passed 8-0. Council members criticized the initial deal and urged administration to negotiate more forcefully in the future.
• Motions: Motions passed to return to former recycling schedule (5-3), express sorrow for Franklin Frierson and three other individuals (each 5-3), and schedule an education committee meeting (5-3).

Key Outcomes

• Approved: 20-year tax abatement for 768-772 Bergen Street (7-0); third amendment for St. James Health Center land sale (8-0); homeless services restructuring (8-0 each); green infrastructure bond amendment (8-0); multi-way stop (8-0); cannabis lounge support (8-0); BALBA and MPANID budgets (8-0 each); CBA for 930 McCarter Highway as amended (8-0); numerous reappointments (8-0); ceremonial street designation (8-0); recognizing/commending and sorrow resolutions (8-0); settlement with United Community Corp (8-0); grant acceptance for health insurance navigator and sickle cell program (8-0); temporary emergency appropriations for safe streets and health insurance enrollment (8-0).
• Deferred: $6 million housing rehabilitation bond (6PSF-e); private sale to GEJJ Urban Development (7R2-a); civil litigation settlement for Denise Bradley (7R6-a).
• Returned to Administration: Private sale for senior housing at 398-406 Chancellor Avenue (7R2-b).
• Amended: Community Benefits Agreement for 930 McCarter Highway replaced movie tickets with $150,000 contribution to Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
• No Action: Requests for NBA team, entertainment venues, and tax abatement for Society Hill were noted but not voted.

The meeting adjourned at 3:52 PM.