Newark Municipal Council Meeting Summary - December 3, 2025

The Newark Municipal Council convened on December 3, 2025, to address a wide array of legislative items including zoning ordinances, tax abatements for affordable housing projects, budget insertions, and private sale redevelopments. The meeting also featured public testimony regarding housing corruption allegations and community planning concerns, followed by administrative announcements and a unanimous expression of condolence. Notable student participants from Mario P. Thomas Charter School were welcomed, and the Council addressed operational issues regarding elevator inspections and budgetary timelines.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinances on First Reading: Adoption of Ordinances 6A (Garden State CPACE program opt-in) and 6B (accepting land donation from Newark Housing Authority). A public hearing is scheduled for December 17 for final passage.
• Budget Insertions (Resolutions 7R1A-C): Approval of grants for the Brick City Peace Collective ($1M), the 2026 Anti-Violence for Out-of-School Youth Project ($2M), and enhancing the MLK Jr. Boulevard Corridor.
• Grant Applications (Resolutions 7R1D-G): Acceptance of applications for funds from the NJ Board of Public Utilities, 2026 Brick City Peace Collective, 2026 Anti-Violence Out-of-School Grant, and the Arts and Education District 2026 grant.
• 2026 Scheduling: Adoption of resolutions establishing pre-meeting/special meeting dates and the municipal holiday schedule for 2026.
• Holiday & Election Matters: Adoption of resolutions for the Annual Holiday Parade of Lights (7R8C) and matters regarding 2026 legal and printing services (7R8D-E).
• Commemorative Resolutions: Adoption of resolutions recognizing/comending individuals (7R8F) and expressing profound sorrow and regret (7R8G).
• Bid Contract: Adoption of a bid contract for Cedar Grove Reservoir saltwater improvements (7R10A).
• Librarian Appointment: Appointment of Miss Kimberly C. Clark as a trustee to the Newark Public Library Board (97A).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alif Mohammed: Expressed strong opposition and allegations of corruption against Mayor Ras Baraka, the Chief of Staff, and the Housing Authority. He stated he is pursuing criminal charges against city leadership for crimes against low-income, elderly, and disabled people. He detailed specific deals he obstructed (Roll Street, Spruce Street, Clinton Avenue, Burger Street) and alleged that the Mayor's allies (including his student and his wife's best friend) were involved in corrupt land sales at below-market rates.
• John Goldstein: Stated positions advocating for a legally binding community benefits agreement for the Iberia 2 development. He called for real affordability (30% of units), inclusion of 2-4 bedroom units, acceptance of housing vouchers, local hiring, a living wage, full cleanup of site contamination, public health assessments, and equitable public spaces. He argued the project as currently proposed lacks community benefit and would deepen inequality.
• Deborah Salters: expressed concern and confusion regarding the legal and budgetary procedures. She questioned the necessity of an exception to public bidding for the Office of City Clerk legal services (7R8D) and sought explanations for budget insertions for 2026 projects appearing in the 2025 budget year, noting the 2025 budget status was unclear.

Discussion Items

• Private Sale Redevelopment Applications (7R2):
  • Item B: Adopted to rehabilitate property for sale to an owner-occupant at 100% Area Median Income (AMI) or less in the Central Ward. Councilmember Gonzalez and Councilmember Ramos abstained.
  • Item C: Adopted for new construction of mixed-use buildings and a four-family home at market rate for first-time buyers in the West and Central Wards.
  • Item D: Adopted for new construction of two two-family homes (one market rate, one affordable). Councilmember Kelly proposed an amendment to define the affordable unit as 60% or lower AMI; the amendment was unanimously approved.
  • Item E: Adopted for new construction of a two-family rental home at 60-80% AMI and rehabilitation of a property for an office headquarters in the West and Central Wards.
  • Item F: Adopted as a resolution recognizing an application for the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Funds.
  • Councilmember Gonzalez Position: Expressed support for the administration designating the office of rent control to ensure affordable housing buildings are rented at the indicated rates.
• Elevator Safety & Inspection:
  • Councilman Quintana Position: Expressed deep satisfaction that the lack of elevator inspectors in the city is creating safety risks and summoning failures. He requested a dedicated presentation from the Department of Engineering and Administration at the next meeting to explain the shortage and the status of inspections for old vs. new buildings.
  • Councilman Gonzalez Position: Proposing the establishment of sharing agreements with surrounding towns to utilize their existing elevator inspectors for Newark projects.
• Election Logistics: Council President Crump clarified that the budget inserts for 2026 items were made in accordance with the law requiring grants received to be inserted into the current budget, despite the final 2025 budget status being a point of confusion for the public.

Key Outcomes

• Deferrals: Resolutions 7R2B, E (regarding the address 522.5), and 9B/C were deferred for further review or due to a scrivener's error regarding the address which was to be corrected retroactively.
• Amendments: Resolution 7R2D was successfully amended to specify that the affordable portion of the project must be at 60% or lower of the Area Median Income.
• Condolences: A motion was adopted (7R8G) to express profound sorrow and regret for the deaths of Jeffrey Rivers, Mother Watts, Pastor Joe A. Carter, and Frank Smallwood. The motion was unanimous.
• Council Announcements: Multiple holidays, toy giveaways, tree lighting events, and the annual holiday parade of lights were announced for the upcoming weeks. Councilmember Quintana requested a future meeting to address the elevator inspection backlog, with Councilman Gonzalez suggesting inter-governmental inspector sharing. Councilman Kelly announced a toy giveaway at Boiling Street Recreational Center on December 18. Councilwoman Scott Roundtree announced the Citywide Women's Holiday Gathering and a breakfast with Santa for children of incarcerated parents. Councilmember Bay thanked the visiting students and noted the appointment of Mayor-elect Andrea Hyatt and Mayor-elect James Solomon.