Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - April 16, 2025
Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - April 16, 2025
The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, starting at 6:32 PM and adjourning at 10:22 PM. All eight council members were present after roll call, with Councilor Council arriving at 6:43 PM and Councilor Silva at 7:25 PM. The meeting featured extensive public comment, action on multiple ordinances, and adoption of numerous resolutions covering budgets, property sales, contracts, and appointments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alif Muhammad criticized the mayor’s record on education, stating 70% of students are economically disadvantaged, and accused the administration of corruption and gentrification through low-priced property sales.
- Felicia Alston-Singleton advocated for tenant organizing rights, citing issues at Pilgrim Village and Georgia King Village, and called for a housing committee meeting.
- Lisa Mitchelson-Parker alleged election manipulation and called for support of candidate Gail Cheneyfield Jenkins.
- Munirah El-Bomani condemned the administration for failing to address homelessness and poverty.
- Debra Salters criticized the city for selling properties to outsiders instead of community members, stating the city is “working with developers and outsiders to enrich themselves.”
- Nadirah Brown raised concerns about the Sunshine Act, missing minutes, and called for transparency.
- Emily Aikens requested a full-time police officer at First Street and Orange for safety and addressed parking and traffic issues.
- Jamar Youngblood introduced “Newark 30,” a plan for city self-sufficiency and transparency by 2030.
- Czezre Adams sent condolences for a child lost in a fire, criticized the central ward representative’s absence, and condemned MAGA policies.
- Donna Jackson questioned affordable housing affordability, noting that incomes below $89,000 often cannot qualify.
- Muta El-Amin expressed safety concerns after receiving threats related to his activism and called for justice in the murder of Imam Hassan Sharif.
- John Morando questioned the value of tax abatements and lack of follow-up.
- Samuel Thomas argued for free market housing over rent control.
- Several speakers addressed the Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID) budget, criticizing a fence installed at Peter Francisco Park to manage homelessness and calling for mental health services instead of a police hub.
Discussion Items
- 6F-a (Dockless e-delivery licensing): First reading adopted 8-0. Councilor Silva thanked Councilor Ramos for addressing citywide safety issues.
- 6PSF-a (Joint Meeting bond): Public hearing held; adopted 8-0 after Councilor Ramos explained it funds capital improvements for wastewater treatment.
- 6PSF-b (Fulton Street 30-year tax abatement): Amended on the floor to remove contributions to economic development and affordable housing trust funds, then deferred 8-0.
- 6PSF-c (Newark Portfolio II 25-year tax abatement): Public hearing held with comments from Debra Salters, Donna Jackson, and others questioning affordability and the process. Adopted 8-0.
- 6PSF-d (Driving school registration): Deferred 8-0.
- 6SF-a (Homeless housing lease on Clinton Ave): Deferred 8-0.
- 7R2-b (Property sale at 605 Hunterdon St): Deferred 8-0 on motion by Councilor Council.
- 7R2-i (IBID budget): Public hearing held; Councilor Silva defended the fence at Peter Francisco Park, citing cleanup costs to taxpayers. Adopted 8-0.
- 7R2-j (Lower Broadway BID budget): Public hearing held; Councilor Ramos noted the district’s efficiency and under-expenditure. Adopted 8-0.
- 7R8-d (Expression of sorrow): Amended to add Camille Gibson, former wife of Mayor Ken Gibson. Adopted as amended 8-0.
Consent Calendar
- Reports and recommendations (5-a through 5-j) were accepted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Temporary emergency appropriations (7R1-a,b): Adopted 8-0. 7R1-a provides $79,807,676 for operating expenses through May 31, 2025. 7R1-b appropriates $2,459,450 for the Summer Youth Employment Program.
- Administration resolutions (7R1-c to g): Adopted 8-0, except Councilor Gonzalez abstained on 7R1-g (interpretation and translation services).
- Property sales (7R2-a,c,d,e): Adopted 8-0 for properties at 270 N 7th St, 217 Smith St, 92 Speedway Ave, and 48/51 Columbia Ave.
- Improvement district budgets (7R2-f,g,h,i,j): All adopted 8-0, with public hearings held for h, i, and j.
- HIV/AIDS service contracts (7R5-a to j): Adopted 8-0, totaling up to $5,293,120 in Ryan White funds for ten sub-recipients.
- Legal settlements (7R6-a,b,c): Adopted 8-0 for amounts of $50,000, $125,000, and $60,000.
- Professional services contracts (7R6-d to g): Adopted 8-0, including bond counsel, environmental matters, and per diem attorneys.
- Special police officer appointments (7R9-a,b): Adopted 8-0, appointing 78 resident and 9 non-resident officers.
- Gift from NJIT (7R11-a): Adopted 8-0, accepting five custom cabanas valued at $150,000.
- Water sewer utility amendment (7R12-a): Adopted 8-0, correcting budget code for HDR Engineering.
- Communications advanced:
- 8-a (30-year tax abatement for 69 Sherman Ave, 44 affordable units) advanced as 6F-b, adopted 8-0.
- 8-b (17-year tax abatement for warehouse at 100 Frontage Rd) advanced to first reading, adopted 8-0.
- 8-c (Lead-safe rental certification amendments) advanced to first reading, adopted 8-0.
- Motions passed:
- 7Ma: Sorrow for child in Astor St fire.
- 7Mb: DPW to present on equipment inventory.
- 7Mc: Sorrow for Mother Margaret Lucille Jackson.
- 7Md: Review flag replacement program.
- 7Me and 7Mf: Request meeting with Port Authority, taxi division, and union regarding illegal taxi pickups at Newark Airport.
- 7Mg: Investigate JMV Towing and Safeway Towing for illegal practices.
- 7Mh: Provide list of groups with parade/festival permits and outstanding balances.
- 7Mi: Review angle parking on Lower Broadway.
All motions and adjournment passed with 7-8 votes in favor, with occasional absences noted.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, April 16th. Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance in Invocation by Bishop Stefan E. Love, City of Love International. Liberty and Justice. We ask you, Lord, to give us listening ears that we may hear the community and our councilmen in the name of Jesus, Father. We say thank you, God, that your vision, your plan, your direction that you've given unto us as people and leaders, that God, you would orchestrate us to grow and to prosper and to be in good health, even as our soul would prosper. We say thank you for this meeting today, oh God, that it would come with wisdom. It would come with knowledge, it would come with understanding light and change. And Father, we say thank you now, and we give you glory and honor, and the people would clap their hands in Jesus' name. We pray, Amen. Can we take a moment of silence? 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 April eleventh, twenty twenty-five at the time of preparation and posted on the city's website. Here. Here. President. Present. Council President, Council members, we're in 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. The first speaker is Alif Mohammed. Appearing. Good evening. Good evening. Alif Mohammed core towers, Alif Mohammed, the president, the founder of Alif Mohammed in his school. A couple weeks ago, a couple months ago, a gentleman came from Warren Township, and he was saying at the end that our mayor that's running for governors should be here taking care of business. And what happened is you know, we have a school report. And let me explain to you about everybody know I'm in the school business for 30 years. The pandemic hurt urban America. I mean, it murdered urban America. And Leon is trying to find out to do the forced mandatory summer school to try to bring it up, but it hurt. But what I looked at was with a mayor for 11 years. His town, it says the economically disadvantaged in our high schools. In Baringer, 51% of the kids. And Arts High, 64% of the kids. In Central High, 67%. East, 71%. Malcolm X by 69%. Science High, 64%. University, 84%. Weakway, 63%, 73%. So in your town, mayor that you've been running for 11 years, 70% of the people, the kids are disadvantaged. You should be embarrassed. Should be embarrassed. Be embarrassed. Talking about governor. Look at these kids. It ain't 30% poverty rate. It's 70% that's disadvantaged. Okay.
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