Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting – May 7, 2025

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 12:30 PM in the Council Chamber, City Hall. The meeting was called to order with 7 members present (Council President Crump, Council Members Council, Gonzalez, Kelly, Quintana, Ramos, Scott-Rountree); Council Member Silva arrived at 12:56 PM, bringing the total to 8. The meeting adjourned at 2:26 PM. The agenda included multiple ordinances, resolutions, and public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Reports and Recommendations (5-a through 5-e): Approved unanimously by a 7-0 vote (Silva absent). These included Central Planning Board minutes, financial statements for Broad Hill Partners and 30 Clinton Renewal LLC, the City Clerk’s 2024 Annual Report, and North Jersey District Water Supply Commission minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public Hearings on Ordinances:

• Fulton Street Tax Abatement (6PSF-a): Debra Salters expressed concern that the 30-year abatement and 20% affordable housing are the “bare minimum” and stated the tax abatement committee is not in compliance. Alif Muhammad spoke in support, noting the developer received tax credits and went above community requirements. George Tillman Jr. raised concerns about the general contractor hiring out-of-state companies and urged compliance monitoring.
• Dockless Vehicles Ordinance (6PSF-c): Debra Salters supported the licensing but questioned enforcement, citing dangerous conditions and fatalities. Council Member Ramos replied that the police division will be the primary enforcement arm.
• Sherman Avenue Tax Abatement (6PSF-d): Debra Salters expressed general support for the 44-unit affordable project but asked about parking and potential deals with nearby lots. Director Allison Ladd confirmed one-to-one parking.

Hearing of Citizens (11):

• Fahkeira Bradley: Described an incident where police came to her door seeking another person, alleging civil rights violations and police misconduct.
• Debra Salters: Criticized the council for prioritizing undocumented immigrants over taxpaying citizens, citing conditions at 440 and Georgia King Village, and claimed she was barred from the State of the City event.
• Latoya Jackson-Tucker: Requested sponsorship for summer activities and expressed frustration with rent and community issues.
• Darnella Lee: Raised ongoing mold problems at 516 Bergen Street, alleging inadequate remediation and lack of press coverage.
• George Tillman Jr.: Called for a special conference to address affirmative action review and compliance, noting progress but needing more solutions.
• Ramon Luis Rodriguez: Complained about a torn, improperly illuminated flag at Elwood Park for over two years, thanking Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Clealess for quick replacement after his persistence.
• Gwendolyn Williams: Complained about parking congestion from non-residents and commercial vehicles in the East Ward.

Discussion Items

• Ordinances on First Reading (6F): Adopted 7-0 (Silva absent). Two ordinances: a 17-year tax abatement for a 224,900 sq. ft. warehouse at 58-108 Frontage Road (East Ward) and an amendment to require lead-based paint inspections for rental dwellings built before 1978.
• Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage (6PSF):
  • 6PSF-a (Fulton Street): 30-year tax abatement for a 396-unit mixed-income project (80 affordable units, 4,726 sq. ft. retail, 107 parking spaces) in Central Ward. Adopted 7-0.
  • 6PSF-b (Driving School Registration): Created new chapter for driving school registration. Adopted 7-0.
  • 6PSF-c (Dockless Vehicles): Licensing for commercial e-deliveries. Adopted 7-0.
  • 6PSF-d (Sherman Avenue): 30-year abatement for 44 affordable units at 60% AMI. Adopted 7-0.
  • 6PSF-e (Mulberry Street): 30-year abatement for 24 market-rate units, 770 sq. ft. commercial, 15 parking spaces. Amended to correct ward from East to Central, then deferred 7-0.
• Second Reading and Final Passage (6SF): 6SF-a (Lease at 169 Clinton Avenue): Deferred 8-0.
• Resolutions: All resolutions passed, mostly unanimously. Notable: 7R2-c (commercial garage at 236 Fabyan Place) adopted 6-2 (Gonzalez and Ramos abstained). 7R2-b and 7R2-d were deferred. 7R8-e (Recognizing and Commending) amended to reassign John and Mildred Cross to Council Member Kelly, then adopted. 7R8-f (Expressing Sorrow) amended to add Susan Cleary, then adopted.
• Added Starter: 7R1-g (as) Collective bargaining agreement with Superior Officers’ Association (SOA) for 2024-2027, fiscal impact $5,290,783.32. Adopted 8-0.
• Motions: Several motions passed 5-3 (Gonzalez, Kelly, Ramos absent):
  • Requesting Port Authority meeting on illegal taxi fares at Newark Airport.
  • Sorrow and regret for Brenda Anderson, Jim Flagg, Clara Clark Jenkins, Evangelist Doris Ragins, Sue Cleary.
  • Requesting street paving list, DPW equipment inventory presentation, and PSE&G repaving schedule for East Ward.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: All consent reports, ordinances on first reading, public hearing ordinances (except Mulberry Street deferred), all resolutions, and the SOA labor agreement.
• Deferred: Mulberry Street tax abatement (6PSF-e) and the Clinton Avenue lease (6SF-a).
• Amended: Mulberry Street ward corrected; recognizing and commending list amended; sorrow and regret list amended.
• Votes noted: 7R2-c had 2 abstentions; motions during public hearing had 5-3 margins due to absences.
• Next steps: The lead paint inspection ordinance and the Robert Treat Hotel tax abatement (advanced to first reading as 6F-c) will have public hearings on May 21, 2025. The Mulberry Street abatement will be heard at a special meeting on May 13, 2025.