Good afternoon and happy new year.

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, January 7th.

Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and Invocation by Pastor Mamie Bridgeforth.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the republic for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Amen.

First Timothy two, one and two says, I exhort thee, therefore, that first of all supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks be made unto all men for kings and for all they that are in authority.

That we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.

Let us pray.

Father God, and we come to do today, and first of all, we want to say thank you.

Because Father, you have said in your word that absent of me you can do nothing.

And during twenty twenty-five and years succeeding to that, you have done marvelous things, O Lord.

Father, we thank you, O God, that we are here asking for wisdom.

Because you said in your word, Lord God, if any man asks wisdom that he should ask of the Lord, who gives to all liberally and adolescents.

Father, we acknowledge you in all our ways.

Because you said if we acknowledge you in all our ways, you will direct our path.

As we enter twenty twenty-six, we ask you to give this governing body the wisdom, the knowledge, the courage, the integrity to do those things, O God, that you would have done.

Because Father God, it is you, Lord God, that has kept watch over the city for all of these years.

Father, through the dark days, Lord God of Ken Gibson, Lord God who planted the seed.

Father God, through the days, Lord God of Sharp James, Lord God who watered the seed.

And Lord God, through the days, Lord God of Ras Baraka, Lord God, who is moving us forward.

It has been your hand that has been upon us.

So Father God, we ask that you will give this body wisdom, courage, integrity, and faith.

And Lord God, the ability and discernment to know the difference.

We submit this to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And in the name of all those who call God God.

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.

In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on January 2nd at the time of preparation and posted on the city's website.

Roll call, please.

Council members Bay.

Present Council.

President Gonzalez.

President Kelly.

Quintana.

Here Ramos.

Here.

Scott Roundtree.

Present.

Silva absent.

President Crump.

Present.

Council President, Council members, for the record.

I just want to note that Councilman Silva will be absent for today's meeting.

We are on page three of the agenda.

Ordinances on first reading.

Council as a whole to defer item six FA and B.

Roll call.

Council members.

Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Public hearing, second reading, and final passage.

6P SFA is an ordinance amending streets and sidewalks to include additional provisions for the milling and paving requirements.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard on this ordinance?

Deborah Salters.

If we can get an explanation of what this is, so that I don't have to stand up here and be lengthy in my question.

This is regarding providing uh uh how should I put this cost?

This is regarding costs, uh amending the uh ordinance to allow for costs and other um provisions regarding the um I'm drawing a blank on what it is right now regarding paving excuse me, I couldn't think of the word paving.

That's so that's what this matter is about.

I mean, we've gone over several times.

Uh and although I just stumbled over the words, that's what this is regarding, making sure that we have those that tear up the side the streets will provide the necessary paving, and if the city has to do it, they have to pay the city back.

Okay, so this is someone else paying us on their point.

Yes, this isn't yes.

Any other thank you.

Any other speakers?

Roll call.

Council.

I'm sorry, council member.

Yes.

Happy New Year.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Kintana.

Yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree.

Yes, President Crump.

Yes.

B and C are traffic ordinances involving Treadwell Street in the North Ward.

B is to remove Trevor Street on the north side and include Treadwell Street on the south side for street cleaning, and C is to prohibit parking at all times on the north side of Treadwell Street.

Is there anyone wanting to be heard on items B and Cone?

Uh public hearing is closed.

Roll call.

Council members.

Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Kintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

D is an ordinance authorizing and consenting to the transfer of property from Eastside Community Center Corporation to Mantena Global Care.

Sponsored by Council President Crump.

Second by Councilman Quintana.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard on this ordinance?

Yes, Deborah Salters.

So is this uh city property that is being transferred to someone else?

And is it of equal value?

Like in the reason for the transfer.

I guess this is okay.

So it's transfer property.

Ferry Street.

Eastside Community Center.

A nonprofit.

Okay.

So yeah, that would be my question.

Um, this nonprofit that this property is being transferred to.

Um, why we're transferring it to them.

Is there a cost to it?

Or is there uh some type of equal value that's being done here with this transfer?

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh next speaker.

No other speakers appearing.

Public hearing is closed, so I will answer the question.

Uh this is regarding uh property that is not city owned, um, but was uh given from the city to be a community center, and it is being transferred because the property has gone into some disrepair.

Um councilman Silva spoke about this last meeting, and so these new owners will be able to get it up to speed so that the seniors and all those that attend and go to this community center will have a safe place to play to do what they need to do.

I'm sorry, also uh the BA has something to say on this.

I think uh actually to just clarify further, I think I'm sorry I said uh Eric Pennington Business Administration to clarify further.

I thought the question was uh was appropriate.

It is not city owned, but it also has a deed restriction so that it will continue to operate in the fashion that it was, and we're gonna uh we need this ordinance in order to make that deed restriction continue with the property so that it will have the same continued purpose.

Yes, thank thank you.

Nothing changes on the what the the purpose of the properties used for.

Roll call council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, yes, Raymo.

Yes, Scott Groundtree, yes, President Crump.

Yes.

E is an ordinance amending the original tax abatement granted to 50 Mount Prospect Gardens, Urban Renewal LLC in the North Ward, sponsored by Councilman Ramos, second by Councilman Quintana.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard on this ordinance?

Mr.

President, uh Councilman Ramos.

I had made a few requests through your chair and the administration about cleaning up the site.

So with some some dumping activity.

I just want to thank um Deputy Mayor Ladd and the attorney representing the owner.

They did submit pictures that the site was clean as of um yesterday evening, and then I had also asked for an updated uh schedule as far as when the project construction is gonna commence and anticipated completion, and they did submit that as well.

So I'm fine with it at this point.

Okay, thank you, Councilman.

Anybody public hearing?

Uh good afternoon, good afternoon.

Uh Alif Mohammed Bless of New Year, everybody.

I mean, um Ramos, it doesn't say AMI or anything, it's just say affordable.

You anybody have an idea what do that mean?

I I hate status, Ms.

Mahama.

Can you lift the mic up?

I really am having trouble hearing you.

You ain't heard me in three years.

I'm trying to hear you today.

Oh boy.

All right, read the transcripts.

Anyway, um it says affordable, but it don't say you know what amount.

And you know I trust you, so I'm asking.

It's no it don't say affordable.

But if you say it's okay, you happy with it, I'm happy with it.

Ink trust a beautiful thing.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Seeing none other none.

Maybe the that's councilman Ramos.

Maybe somebody from the department could address the AMI.

This is the requirements, the inclusionary zoning requirement that's attached to the project.

And the project is literally right next to um Branch Rook Park.

If you drive down Mount Prospect Avenue before you hit the Belville line, there's a small parcel to the right-hand side.

That's that's where this um project is being proposed, but got approved many years ago.

Um, there have been a number of delays on the construction side, so hopefully at this point is finally gonna get built.

So thank you, Councilman.

Roll call.

But can um sorry, did you please department just address the the AMI issue as as far as the affordability?

I apologize.

I'm I'm I have trouble hearing sometimes with the problem, and I'm I'm a little harder hearing too, so don't feel too bad.

All right, only on my right side though.

Maybe it's my old age, I guess.

I don't know.

Somebody to be HD, it's coming.

This is true.

25%, 60% affordable, and 50%, 80% affordable.

So it would be like four units at uh 80, two units at 60, and one unit at 40 percent.

I believe that's uh more or less what it translates to, but it should be specified here uh so that we have a clear understanding of what we're approving.

Right.

I think Miss Good afternoon, Miss Daniel.

Good afternoon, Brandon Daniel, legislative coordinator, economic and housing development.

It's going to be 10 at 80 percent, out of it, 60 percent, and five at 40 percent.

Thank you.

Any other questions from the council?

I didn't quite you didn't hear it, you want to hear it again?

10 10 at 80 percent, 10 and 80 percent and five at 60.

I'm sorry, uh my voice is coming.

Yes, we have five is sixty percent, and five at forty percent.

But we have only seven units affordable.

I had the attorneys present.

All right, good afternoon, Jennifer Curl Perez of Camel Foley on the half of the applicant.

So the applicant, the person Ms.

Daniel was correct in that it was the percentages, not the number of units.

So this project is complying with the what the ordinance requires for inclusionary zoning.

So 10% of the units um will be at 80% AMI, five percent will be at 60 percent, and five percent will be at the 40 percent, and they were outlined in the original financial agreement, and it's stipulated.

I can pull it up, um, but they were outlined that way in the pro forma that was approved, and what's before you is an extension on the time frames because we had a delay with the water department with compliance review, um, but there has been no change.

They are going to comply with the occlusionary zoning ordinance with the 20% set aside at those percentages that are outlined in the city ordinance.

All right, thank you.

Yeah, that's uh that's exactly what I said.

They say 10 units of 20 of 20 or 10 percent or 20 percent is 50 percent of the of our weight of the correct and the and the we're talking the same language.

Correct.

I just wanted to clarify because I think there was confusion on the numbers, and what she Ms.

Daniel was referring to were the percentages.

Okay, thank you.

All right, all my all hearts and minds are clear.

Roll call.

Council members bay, yes.

Council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, President Clump, yes, Mr.

Yes, Councilman Gonzalez.

Yeah, I at one point in time I communicated with the deputy mayor uh trying to to see if there is a possibility of shifting the percentages of affordability.

Let's say instead of having the 50 percent uh of the units at 80 percent, that those 50 percent be at 60 percent of the uh AMI and uh and 25 percent be at uh 80 percent so that we decrease the number of units at 80 percent and increase the units at 80 percent.

I am I I am going to uh start working on the change to the ordinance so that we have let's say more affordable uh units at 60 percent and uh and less units at 80 percent.

All right, thank you, Councilman Gonzalez.

Uh next item F is an ordinance providing for the vacation of Dewey Street and Dimer Street between Hawthorne Avenue and Nye Avenue in the South Ward, sponsored by councilman counsel, second by council president Crump.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard on this ordinance?

I'll let it come because I just have questions.

Uh all right.

So when yeah, vacation.

I can I get an explanation of what this is.

Um vacation of Dewey Street and Demery Street between Hawthorne Av and Nye Avenue.

So can someone explain what this is?

Do you know before you vote on it?

Please.

Thank you for your comments.

Uh yeah, come on, come on up, uh Director.

Good morning, Council President, Council members, Dolores Martinez Wood and Director of the Department of Engineering.

Um, this is a well-awaited project in the South Board.

Uh for um this new university high school.

So we need to vacate the street to be able to be part of the project and make a cohesive building.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alif Mohammed Pastor.

Aren't we kind of crowded on Fabi and a couple of streets already trying to get across?

We all right?

Okay, amen to that.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

No other speaker appearing.

Public hearing is now closed.

Roll call.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana?

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Madam Clerk, before we go forward, uh.

Going back to SPF B and C.

Uh I meant to abstain on those two.

Yes.

Duly noted.

Thank you.

Resolutions.

7R1A through D are temporary emergency appropriations.

A is for the Drive Sober Grant.

B is Firefighters Grant.

C is TANF and SNAP benefit funds.

And D is for the WIC program.

Council as a whole to adopt A through D.

Roll.

Council members B.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana?

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

E and F are bid contracts from purchasing.

E is for the first aid kids.

And F is for firearms equipment.

Council as a whole to adopt E and F.

Rocco.

Council members B.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R2A is a private sale redevelopment agreement.

For new construction of two two family homes.

One home will be owner occupied.

And the other home will be rented at market rate in the South Ward.

There's a motion for council as a whole to amend the cost spaces to reflect $15 per square foot.

All right.

Roll call for the amendment.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council.

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Motion to adopt as amended, please.

Roll call.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R3A is a resolution extending the contract term for the Central Avenue Bridge.

Council is a whole to adopt.

Roll call.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana?

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree?

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R5A is acceptance of grant funds for the supplemental nutritional program for women, infant, and children.

Council as a whole to adopt.

Roll.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council.

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana?

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R8A is expressing profound sorrow and regret.

There's a motion to amend on the floor to include Reverend Dr.

Durr and Firefighter Fermin.

Madam Clerk, if I can, I want to add another name.

Um Marilyn Gaynor passed away.

And uh Thursday.

Yeah.

Uh I think I do have her information, which I'll provide later for the funeral.

But uh, you know, she was an assistant business administrator here in the city and was definitely uh uh someone who loved the city of Norwich and so uh uh we want to add her to its hour and regret.

Absolutely, my condolences.

So we're adding Reverend Dr.

Durr, Firefighter Fermen, and Miss Gaynor.

Council as a whole to amend, ROCO Council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, President Crump, yes, council as a whole to adopt as amended, please.

Rocco Council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, yes, President Crump, yes, B is recognizing and commending resolutions, council as a whole to adopt, ROCO, Council Members Bay, yes, Council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, President Crump, yes, 7R11 A and B are resolution resolutions from the Department of Recreational Cultural Affairs and Senior Services.

A is the lease for the Temple of Hip Hop and B is accepting a gift for the seniors' holiday celebration.

Council as a whole to adopt A and B.

ROCO Council members B.

Yes, Council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree.

Yes, President Crump, yes.

At its starters, 7R4 A A S and B A S are temporary emergency appropriations to pay the Department of Community Affairs.

Council as a whole to adopt A and B, please.

Roll call to adopt A and B.

Uh Councilman Gonzalez.

Yeah, on uh let's see the bonds are for 30 million dollars, but uh the resolution uh B is for 30 million 100,000.

So I believe we we need some language there indicating that it includes the issue and cost of the bonds.

Yeah, so uh good afternoon, uh Council President Council members mentioned to respond, acting director of finance.

Uh yes, uh councilman is your question.

The uh the additional hundred thousand dollars in the bond refunding bond ordinance is to also incorporate uh cost of issuance uh for any bond anticipation notes uh that we may sell.

Yeah, I I believe we should it we should mention it right here that uh that it includes the cause of issuance of the bonds.

Okay, uh to my understanding uh and I could confirm in the next few minutes that language is in the body of the ordinance itself, just not necessarily in the heading of uh of the ordinance, uh, but we do have uh, and I believe when when the ordinance comes in uh afterwards is also on as a communication, all that language is in there, but I could double check for it, but I'm uh I'm I'm hesitant to say, but I'm I'm pretty positive that information is included in the body of the of the this resolution and the ordinance is coming.

I think I did see that.

Well, that being the case, uh I believe that uh let's say we can move it.

It's a it's a matter of uh semantics, I believe, before than anything else.

Yeah, great, great.

Thank you, Director.

Thank you.

Councilman roll call on A and B.

A S Council Members Bay, yes, Council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, President Crump, yes, 7R8 C A S is declaring January Muslim Heritage Month, sponsored by Councilwoman Bay, second by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree, Rocco Council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, President Crump, yes, communications eight AS is a refunding bond ordinance for transitional aid.

Council as a whole to advance and adopt on first reading S6 FA.

ROCO.

Council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, President Crump.

President Crump.

Yes.

We are now 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 members.

The first speaker is Alif Mohammed.

Mr.

Mohammed appeared.

I slandered myself.

Okay.

Good evening.

Good afternoon again.

Good afternoon.

Alif Mohammed Court Towers.

Alif Mohammed President and founder of Alif Mohammed Navy School and Salam Olaykum.

I'm staying on this corruption thing, and I'm showing you a different avenue of corruption.

Some people is giving money or do like this.

But this is this is a unique situation.

There's a picture I put on here.

Some of you guys know who he is.

He's on the uh planning board.

Okay.

He was also on the housing authority commission for about seven years.

Uh how I got to know him because we sat together and we worked together.

And then I got a call from a um, oh, that's only say two minutes.

That's gone.

Hello.

Hello.

That's two minutes already.

It's gone.

They didn't start it at the end started at five.

What did you just do?

Four minutes and change, so you should be good.

Oh no, I'm not good.

Uh anyway, um got a call from a manager, and she had told me that Baez had threatened her because every year you know we have to recertify.

And bias is what you call a resident commissioner.

And the rules for resident commissioner is that you have to not be a resident, you have to be able to accept uh subsidies.

And um you can live in the housing authority.

Well, you for uh Trump, you can live in the house authority and be a illegal immigrant, but you can't sit on the board.

And what happened, the problem was that she couldn't find the green card and he was threatening her.

So immediately I called Victor.

I said, hey, this guy ain't got a green card.

So Victor said, Commissioner I've been looking for it too.

So I called MIDI immediately.

I said, Middle, we got a guy up there that's not even say a legal alien.

He can live in housing, but he can't get the subsidy.

His wife or whatever could get half subsidy.

So then I got another call where I found out that this has been going on for years.

It was three different managers, and every time a manager questioned it, they would be transferred.

And what I'm showing you is a uh a suit that wanted a suit that one of the uh managers uh filed saying stating what I said now.

Why I'm talking about him, because I ain't spoken about five years, I got a text from him, and it was talking to talk about it two weeks ago.

And this is one care, who his yeah, everybody knows he's the worst English in the world.

So at first I didn't know it was one about you snitched, so he's calling me a snitch, and I wanted to tell him a snitch is somebody when you down with you.

If I'm down with your corruption, I go tell.

I'm more of a whistleblower than a switch smidge.

And then he said, You gotta then this he said, in case you got something, person, maybe we can be able to talk and fix it.

Why he wanna fix it to me?

I ain't spoken to him in four or five years.

So I said, yeah, let's fix it because the feds would like to talk to you because when I was on a stakeout in Pennsylvania in New York on you, so they want to talk to you.

So he said, huh?

I ain't heard from him since.

I said I was on a stakeout on you, buddy.

So 80% of the things that I could talk about, I don't talk about.

I don't talk about.

But this is show you he was five years, he was going five years, and it was funny because I was watching you when they had to give him the five years, and you act like you wanted you couldn't read.

You was I use it, you know, thaw up because I asked, I said, who put him on?

And they said, Delors Lewis, I put him on because this is they told me, she said the Hispanics kicked him to the curb.

And so we picked him up.

I said, huh?

They said the same thing about Norma, that y'all kicked Norma to the curb, and the Barackers picked him up.

So uh uh what I'm just saying is that that's corruption.

He's illegal immigrant, so all of a sudden, we in the meeting, and I said something, and Victor said, Oh, he can't, he's stepping down, he's resigning because I put a lot of pressure with the feds on him.

He's resigning.

So many got to keep them happy.

So you put them on your planning board.

And he's the dumb and dumb person in the world.

That means y'all don't do no vetting.

That's what I'm saying.

And it's corruption.

But why he was there was because he was a yes vote.

How's it thought he called him?

You got to turn your phone back in.

I'm not turning the phone.

I'm using my phone.

Victor said, if you don't turn that phone back in because we turn our phones in, we all go into jail.

That's called corruption.

Walikamasal.

Thank you for your comments, next speaker.

John Goldstein.

Good afternoon.

My name is John Goldstein, 39 Madison Street, and I'm a proud member of Homes for All Newark.

President Crump, Honorable Council members, happy New Year to all of you, and best wishes for better times to come.

Today I want to express some concerns about city staff and hired consultants that provide reports to the Central Planning Board.

We depend on those staff members to review development applications to ensure that the proposed projects conform to city regulations.

The developers traffic engineer presented a traffic study that said that the additional 1,300 units would have minimal impact on traffic and parking in the area.

The lengthy study relied primarily on formulas having little correlation to the conditions on the narrow, busy streets and that part of the iron bound.

Some traffic counts were done on holidays.

There was no mention of the continuously double parked vehicles on those streets.

The city traffic experts never interjected the reality that we all know about the traffic in our neighborhood.

Holmes for All Newark hired our own expert to review the Iberia plans.

Several apartments in the proposed development extended over sidewalks and infringement on public right-of-way.

A stretch of hundreds of feet of retail space on Market Street has no doors to access the stores.

These were just a few of the problems with the developers plan.

And the only way we found out was because we had to raise thousands of dollars to hire our own experts.

Why didn't the city staff and all those expensive consultants bring up these issues?

Finally, there's been no comment from the city on the ongoing pollution of the Iberia site.

Ultimately, the state has to adjudicate environmental issues.

But it should be noted that the site is has been monitored for many years and is continually being monitored from a previous PSNG facility.

What happens when the cap is demolished during the construction of the new project?

As taxpayers, we're paying large sums for city staff and consultants to ask these questions.

Currently, they're falling short, and the only way that we can get those questions answered is by residents having to come up with huge sums of money to hire our own consultants.

It's just not right.

The site's been declared uninhabitable.

So here's what the dealers, residents get $3,000, an extra 500 if they leave early.

It's not enough to pay security and first month's rent on a new place, much less uh providing any kind of support uh on an ongoing basis for these very low-income residents.

For some reason in the agreement, the city was absolved of providing relocation assistance.

I think maybe the landlord didn't want to be dragged through more months of contentiousness, but it seems to me it's still that there's nothing that prohibits the city from providing relocation assistance for these very vulnerable residents.

This is how homelessness happens.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Deborah Salters?

Great day, Newark, Deborah Salters.

I'm gonna echo what John was saying because I was in that five-hour meeting about that that project site, and um I'm in that area.

It took me 40 minutes just to get from down by where they want to put the uh that new project from there just to get from there to Mulberry and Market 40 minutes on a regular day.

That shouldn't take any more than five minutes to get up the road, and now you're talking about inundating us with 1,400 more units with even less parking, right?

And I was in that five-hour meeting, and when we were trying to have our say, she kept putting our hands down, putting my hand down.

I put my hand up, she put my hand down, put my hand up, because they don't want to hear from the community.

Because we're giving you the facts because we live here.

We live here, we walk here, we bike here, we do everything here, so we know what the congestion is, but you don't really want to hear from the community because it's not going along with what you want to go along with.

So I stand in agreement with my other residents.

Uh, we don't want that project there.

Again, you have a New Yorker building things for New York.

This is Newark, New Jersey.

They need to respect us for Newark, New Jersey.

Don't come here and try to make us your city.

We are our city.

These are our people, this is our land.

If you want to come here, you come do what we say.

We don't want to be you.

We have a personality, we have a uh quality of life.

These are the things that we want for we the people, the Norkers, not the transplants who come in here and take advantage of what we have.

Now, on these on this agenda, I'm looking at the temporary appropriation for the budget.

So you have one for 10,500, and it says contract period from December 5th, 2025 to January 1st, 2026.

The next one says 600,000, 600,009 eight, budget year 26 from September 27, 2025 to September 6, 2027.

The next one, 473,315 from October 1st, 2025 through September 30th, 2026.

And I know I've asked these questions before.

When we come in the next year, we're in 26, and then when I look at um, and to my understanding that FY means four-year 24, that would be 7R1B.

Correct me if I'm wrong, to provide funds for FY 2024 assistance firefire grant.

Does that FY mean for that year?

For year 24, four-year 25.

So how are we doing this?

Is this money spent?

Is part of it spent, and now we're in 26 and we're gonna spend the other part of it because it doesn't make sense.

Because the temporary appropriation is coming from the year of 2026, but we're dealing with year 24-25, right?

And it's start the date started in 25, it's gonna end in 26.

Started in 25, it's gonna end in 27.

But it's on the agenda now.

So I'm trying to understand, and I've asked this before.

How is this money being spent?

Because we still have not recovered from the temporary appropriations from 2025 from the year 2024.

So, how does this work?

And I know we're having the fire cell with this 30 million dollar bond, you know, because it's an emergency, we have to pay bills and all of that, but I'm really trying to understand how this is being done.

So I don't know if you're gonna have finance talk about it, or I get something in writing because it just does not make sense, and it's something that I always ask.

Like if we're paying for something now, and the date is a year ago, leading into this year, like December 25 to January 1st.

So is that money spent?

Because now we're at January what, seven.

I just don't understand how this finance is being done.

Um there was something else I wanted to address.

Oh, why is Silver not here?

He's never here.

So why doesn't he just resign?

Because unless he's ill, like I said, but I got I received no answer about that.

But again, he showed up for the mayor's tree lighting, he showed up for different events, but for every meeting, he's not here.

It's not okay.

We need an explanation.

If he's sick, tell us so we know, because clearly he's not working for us in the East Ward.

I can tell you that.

Don't see him there.

We still don't have our parking decals.

We're still being uh uh fraudulently ticketed by the uh parking authority who does whatever they want to do.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Darnella Lee appearing.

Good afternoon.

Thank you for waking us up this morning.

Blessing our family, friends, homeless, needy, remedies, um.

I want to give a moment of silence.

It ain't nobody from the building.

We got a 99-year-old, a 93, two 80 years, and 250 six.

So that's good.

I'm gonna give a moment of silence for her son, Shabazz Bentley, my cousin man, Gloria Harton, she retired from Essex County College, 80, Maxine Wilms, 99, Professor Sandra Ann Blake Nees, 80, Evelyn Nelson O'Neill, 93, Gigi Roper, and Robert Lee Hall, he was a sheriff office for many years for the county.

I want to talk about Mr.

Spicer coming here and addressing the council and how I've been here all this for years.

And I want to thank you, Round Tree, because you were the only one that challenged them to ask a question about the cover up.

Because you come in front of my building in front of my door, you can lift it and see all the mold.

What I did, I taped everything that I tell y'all, I tell y'all about the dust.

I tell you everything, nobody listened.

But when he spoke about 98% of the building being filled, you got six empty apartments on my floor, the one next door to me with the mole, people going in and out, the same stuff that the people left that's hospitalized in the vista, the stuff still on the balcony, stuff still in there, nasty stuff in the refrigerator, across the hall, the lady that died, the in and out of there, the next door the guy that died.

You got three other apartments, they're not filled.

The COVID, everybody's coughing in here, COVID, the flu, everything is back up.

You would think that y'all would implement the masks, everybody was so adamant about keeping the seniors safe.

I want to speak about the security, but not nana waiting on confirmation.

We got a uh a situation to me that's fire has it.

So we got cameras all over.

The reason why the cameras were there, people were grown adults were putting furniture in with bag bucks and not reporting it.

So we got cameras on each garbage, each hallway.

We got cameras everywhere on every floor.

You can see what everybody's doing.

My concern is that the dope the garbage doors are being locked certain times, Monday to Friday on the Saturdays on the weekend, they should all be open.

You got people that we had depends.

I cleaned some meat, and that's there just like that in a matter of hours.

But the safety issue is that the fire extinguishes inside the garbage rooms.

So if they lock, they're locked.

We have a fire, would we grab?

Each exit.

We got fire inspections coming in here daily.

Y'all giving good reports.

Each exit except the third, you got alarms on it.

Everybody don't know to hold it.

Count the 20 in your mind, and it declit.

Seniors are panic.

Fire department came out, told him to take the locks off.

It's like I'm a bad person.

I tried to get it to the assistant manager.

I said it to the system manager.

I was having access to the manager, now I don't have access.

The things that was supposed to be done in my apartment that was covered up.

I need you to come back because you saw everything.

The partners that had the eviction letters on it from last year in December, those are all the apartments that's not done, round tree.

Upstairs leases, all the apartments that they rush pastors, they can rent them out, but they're mold infected.

Mr.

Spicer and everybody else know.

I'm not crazy.

I'm clever.

Felicia Austin, everybody said they thought Didi Lee, Darnella Lee, I'm Didi Lee for the people that's watching.

Was exaggerating.

I wouldn't exaggerate about bodies, about people dying.

If y'all hear me, I'm sick, but I do my healthy stuff.

We are supposed to be in a healthy, safe environment right now.

Because housing didn't pay for all the fully mold covering removal, they got the people now.

The thing they done loaded it back up, got the next back up.

I want to know how they didn't finish that work and they back, but you drop brand new floors, partners, everything that we're nothing was ever done.

Something is wrong.

So I know when I come to the mic, I be targeted.

So I now got a backup.

I come here after I went here.

It's been four years that Keisha Dangers removed the list.

North Calvin is going to give you 10 years to fight.

Federal.

I asked for you to put the list back, Miss Daniels.

Y'all could have saved a lot of lives.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Latoya Jackson Tucker.

Excuse me.

Happy New Year.

And good afternoon, Latoya Jackson Tucker.

Asalamalika.

So I emailed the clerk's office this paper again.

I've been bringing it down to y'all for two years.

I have been to the county.

School board meetings.

They have gone to Roger Leon.

It has gone to the Office of Violence Prevention.

It has gone to the Department of Public Safety.

So before I get into this, I just want to talk a little bit about UMDMJ real quick.

Me and my husband went there two days before the new year.

We were there for about 16 hours.

It is a crisis there.

It's a lot of homeless people that basically signs in and get banned so that they can have a place to stay.

And then also I noticed it was a lot of foreigner people.

And I you, I ran about a lot of things, but I don't, I didn't have a problem with the foreigners until that day.

My husband has my asthenious gravis, which is a muscle disorder.

He needed medicine.

We were sitting there, we watched all the Latino expanded people go in and out with the nurses that was the same kind come out there and call them.

That was after I called you, and you had the administrator come to me.

So my husband was sitting there, we was patient.

He was like, let me see what your activism could do.

I called Reverend Round Tree.

She had somebody come down there.

We sat for seven more hours and watched people go in and out while we sat there.

I'm not homeless.

I'm like, I'm a citizen.

I'm a North resident.

I'm from the Central Ward, and so is my husband.

So I had a problem with that.

Please do something about it.

I don't want to put anybody, it was very stressing with the people that actually worked there, and also the people that wanted to be serviced.

It was one lady that I know is a God-fearing woman, because you could tell how scared she was, but also very prayerful and very kind to people.

But they were making announcements that were very disrespectful.

They were checking people, like they was just doing things that they shouldn't be doing.

And I sent the video to y'all and also watched the uh mental health man not be dealt with when I know Robert Wood Johnson, Ruckers, UM DMJ handles all of the mental health needs in the state of New Jersey.

I have a problem with that.

Now getting back to this.

We have a lot of policy that's within our community that say things like that uh scrutinize us or punishes us for the things that we go through.

And we know we didn't start all this stuff.

We know we live in red line communities.

We we also know that we have a drill rap epidemic within our community in all urban communities.

It started in Chicago like 2012, it's 2026, is in here, they shooting up.

Um DJ studios, kids are getting cops are getting killed.

I have been so many places speaking about the culture of violence that we have within our children, with our children.

And nobody is doing nothing else about it.

So I'm like, Ms.

Bay, I came and you never ever seen this.

Maybe we could get some discussion started because I am a Central World resident.

When I have reached out to you, you have gotten right back to me.

I didn't, you got this today, so then you didn't know my concerns.

But I have been like practically begging people, putting my name, putting my children, putting my life experiences out there to save our children, to save our sons.

And nobody is doing anything about it.

We I've been to a community meeting that they have Utanum.

I really didn't want to go because our community don't understand that no matter who we are, we need to get along to be able to move forward, push the needle, whatever you want to call it.

And now onehood is having something tonight.

I urge y'all to send somebody from each one of y'all offices to that meeting and make sure that they publicize the meeting because they say call a number and you'll get the information.

I spoke to the young lady.

I don't have the information for the one hood meeting about public safety yet.

And then I have a problem with knowing that all of these different systems, the Board of Education, the police department, the council, the administration, everybody know what's going on.

But we sit in meetings and say stuff like more trauma, more money.

I have a problem with us really not getting to the root of what's going on with our children.

And then I'm I'm speaking up, the community looking at me like, what is she doing?

Because I know it's so many mothers out here that's going through the same thing as me.

I'm not responsible for my children legally anymore, but I'm still responsible for them.

I can't just throw my kids away and tell them to figure it out in a in a world where we have elected officials and a lot of leaders that have not figured it out yet.

So I'm begging y'all.

I'm before y'all again with this paper.

Let's figure this out together so our kids can stop dying.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Lisa Mitchison Parker.

Not appearing.

Maquira Bradley.

Not appearing.

Jeffrey Dyne.

I don't think I saw him not appearing.

Not appearing, no.

My apologies.

Benita Rogers.

Okay.

Appearing.

Can someone help pull the microphone down for her?

Thank you.

Good morning, Councilman.

I live in the South Ward.

And I'm here because of the problems of my having with Section A.

Um, this is the third time.

I went to court with them twice already.

Now this time they said they terminated me.

I'm 70 years old.

I've had my Section 8 since 611 High Street.

That's when I got my Section 8.

I've never had a problem with Section 8.

Getting a documents or anything else, and I have all my receipts.

It didn't pass.

So they told me I had three months to move.

So I found an apartment.

I have that paper or something.

Where they approved the apartment for the meeting move in.

And I moved there.

And all of a sudden, they're not paying anymore.

Why?

And they said I was terminated, terminated for what?

You all came out and inspected this house.

You told me I had to move.

I had three months to move.

Now all of a sudden I'm terminated for what reason?

Lack of documents.

First they said documents.

Then they said we couldn't speak with the landlord.

And then they said, because you didn't show us your voucher.

I've never had a paper voucher since I've been there, since I got on sectionary.

Never had a paper.

It was always in the system.

They never gave me a paper voucher.

Listen, I'm 70 years old.

I'm in and out of the hospital.

I have a bad heart.

I have COPD, and all this working against me.

And this stress here, I don't need, I gotta go to colleology tomorrow.

But with section 8, it's no talking to them.

And it's like they passed the book from this person to that person to this one person.

And I'm not getting any oh, I'm not getting any headway with them.

They still, oh, we'll get in touch with you.

When are you gonna get in touch with me when I get put out?

When the landlord says I have to go, I have to leave.

I've had my section eight too long, since 6'11.

For me not to know what I have to do.

I'm always taking care of my business.

And I'm thinking about I have grandchildren that live.

Where are they supposed to go?

I mean, it's bad enough for me.

I'm the make me off my house.

But with the stress that these people are giving me about my section name for no reason.

You want to take my section A.

No reason.

How did I move?

How did I get this paperwork if it wasn't for you?

And then he said, Oh, you're not in the system.

Something has to give.

I don't want to die and leave my kids where they don't have nowhere to go.

I don't want to die because I don't have nowhere to go.

But this is what they're forcing me to do.

I mean, it's ridiculous.

And it's not the first time.

This is the third time with section A.

And I live in the South War.

This is ridiculous.

I need some help.

Please, somebody help me.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for listening.

Thank you for your comments, Ms.

Rogers.

Somebody will come and speak with you.

Um, so please don't leave before the meeting's over.

Uh next speaker.

Barbara Gonzalez.

Barbara Gonzalez.

I heard, yes.

Oh, there we are.

Okay.

Appearing.

God bless you all.

Bless you too.

I want to give God glory, honor, and praise for allowing me to be here today.

And I want to thank every single one of you.

Allowing me to come before you to speak.

I know many of you know me.

It's Barbara, but many of you know me as Milagros Angels, helping the homeless and the needy.

And before I begin, I just want to say that this is the first time ever in all the years that I've been in the city of Newark, helping the homeless and the needy.

This is the first time that I've ever come before you ask for help.

Amen.

So I want to give God glory, honor, and praise for allowing me this opportunity to be here today.

I also want to thank Ms.

Round Tree, Quintana, Anibal Ramos, and Carlo Gonzalez.

Because throughout the years when I've asked for help, these other four council people that have helped me along the way.

So I want to say thank you.

I want to thank you for not ignoring me.

But I'm here today because I want to make an appeal.

This has been a nonprofit, a ministry that's been here in the city of North for almost 20 years.

There was drugs, alcohol, gang banging, and jail.

And when I came to Newark, my whole life changed.

When I first got here, I was told that nothing good happens here.

I believe that's not true.

It's not true because my entire life changed here.

And when I heard the voice of this man tell me, I'm gonna clean you up and I'm gonna send you back out so others can see what I've done for you, so that they too can come to me in their time of need.

My whole life changed since I've been here, even though I have not gotten the help that I was supposed to be getting.

With the same people from the streets that are on drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gang banging.

Those are the people that have been helping me throughout the years.

Nobody here has really helped me.

I asked for a building so that I can help the people.

ESL, GD, computers, rehabilitation, detox.

I'm still waiting for that building.

I've needed a place so that I can store the food, the groceries, the food, the toiletries, the medicine, have not gotten to help.

I have some receipts of the U-Haul trucks that I've rented.

I have receipts for storages, my own money.

Doing what the Lord called me to do.

The Bible teaches me in Philippians 4 13 that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And even though I've gone through struggles, I've been shot at, I've been threatened, my trucks have been blown up.

Last year I was in a hospital in a coma, in and out for three months, two heart attacks, nerve damage.

As soon as I got out the hospital, even though I was not, I was told not to come outside to do anything.

I've been out working for the people.

I had a truck.

And even in the church parking lot, the truck was vandalized.

I came over several months ago to ask for help.

I left these letters for every single office.

Only two office answered.

Carlos King Carlos Gonzalez and I believe Quintana.

The truck is still sitting there.

It needs a lot of work.

My truck is still there.

It's a 26-footer box truck.

Well, we get 24 and 25 pallets of groceries and anything else.

I do all my own contracts.

But I haven't been able to pick up what I need to pick up for the people because I'm busy paying yield shots and storages.

There's money for galas, there's money for parties, but there is no money to help struggling nonprofits or ministry.

I need help.

Thank you for your comments.

I want to leave these letters again.

Yeah.

Sylvester, if you can get those, but thank you for your comments, Ms.

Gonzalez.

I still have 27 minutes, 27 seconds left.

No, your time is expired.

Thank you.

God bless you.

Thank you.

If you'd like to see some receipts.

So we'll be here, so stay till after the meeting.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council President, Council members, before I end the meeting, I need to address the ordinance on the record.

Ordinance 6FA that was adopted today in first reading will be advertised in accordance with law, and a public hearing will be held at a regular meeting on January 21st or soon thereafter in the council chamber.

Council President, Council members, that concludes this meeting.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Is anything from the council?

Oh, Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

And to Miss Lee.

I know that I spoke to Miss Lee is here, but Miss Tucker stepped out.

So I'm going to address Miss Lee.

I think we have Latoya's number to reach out to her because she has sent us that information.

I think we might need to revisit.

I know that Councilwoman Abe and my staff have spoken to her.

So I don't know what we're going to do collectively, but she has been coming.

I've seen her live videos.

And I would like to see what we can do collectively to not have flyers come to us and we just don't do anything with it.

So again, I saw Councilwoman Bay's office and LaVar, so we're going to try to do something with the sister.

Yes.

And ask OBP to be a part of it.

Miss Lee.

I've spoken to the director of the health department on many occasions, and she has done what she had to do, as you know.

Um I guess it's time for a revisit.

I'm not sure how we can get that done, but I will reach out to your office, um, director Caitlin, and see can I schedule a visit along with my colleagues who would like to travel with me?

And I believe that that particular building is in your ward.

So I have made a couple of visits there, and times I did meet with management.

I met with even the director came to a meeting some time ago, and Caitlin has been on top of Director Alzberg has been on top of it.

But we do need to address for ourselves to be clear on the issues that Miss Lee is talking about.

And she's actually not the only one.

She's just the only one that comes to the meeting and talk to us about it.

So we're not going to disregard your comments.

Uh, Miss Director's here.

Along with any other at largest that would like to attend that meeting.

Um I gather I can give you the information on uh Marilyn Gaynor after my final comments.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Anything else from the council?

Councilwoman uh bay.

If I could just to um what councilwoman uh Scott Rowtree said, um Miss Lee, because we also are in the process of meeting with uh Director Spicer because those issues have been addressed with him, and we are going to do a little bit more investigation and try to see how we can mitigate it because we do understand and know your concerns that we've been to the buildings, and my staff and I have been to those buildings and have addressed those issues with the management and with director, and we're doing some follow-up.

Excuse me, Council Ray.

Uh Councilwoman Scott Round.

I think it's the mics that are low, because I know I talk loud, but um UMD and J.

Um someone addressed what's a clip place, and I get a lot of texts um about the emergency room.

So just for the record, I have spoken to uh the powers that be regarding uh the incidents, even staff have emailed and text me about some incidents.

So we are addressing right now the emergency room treatment, not just for uh the patients, but the homeless population.

So that's being addressed as well, and we'll be setting up a meeting in the next uh couple of weeks um to address that.

And I'm sure that some of my colleagues might want to come, so I'll let you know when that meeting is set up.

Thank you, Councilman.

Rather than have them come and tell us, we're gonna vote it in.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Anything else on the council?

Anything from the administration.

All right, we'll move on to motions.

I'll start.

I'll go the opposite way.

Councilman uh Kentana.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, there's something for the administration, Councilman.

I'm sorry.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Yes, just a quick clarification.

Karen Gaylord, executive director, okay, New York Workforce Development Board.

There was a commentary earlier regarding the confusion with some of the fiscal year grant um grants that are received.

I don't want to speak for every grant that's on here, but one of those was ours, and I and I wanted to comment about that.

The fiscal year is usually for a grant is usually based on the fiscal year of the grant tour.

So we're not talking about the city's fiscal year, and I just want to make sure that people are aware of that, because that would give you you know something to balance against.

Um the grants could be July to June, they could be October to September, they could be January to December.

Um in this particular year, um, there was a lot of confusion over SNAP and NGA grants.

Um the those grants uh we generally receive some indication early that we're gonna receive some funds and what the restrictions are for those funds.

This year, those that didn't happen.

The awards came like with no notice, so that delayed the process of receiving the funds and and delivering them here for approval.

Um, and so that may account for it.

And then uh in addition, this year, and it it not just this grant but others for other departments may be the same, they're coming with meetings to uh uh for the grant recipients to further define restrictions for the use of funds.

And if you have to have the meeting first before you can accept the funds, that delays the process further.

Uh and then in some cases, grants are extended because of those early-on delays.

And once there's an extension, when you see this a year later, it looks like well, why are we looking at something in 24?

And and now you're looking at a different year, 25 or 26 out years.

I hope that provides some explanation for the public as to why these uh months and years don't always line up.

Thank you very much thank you very much.

All right.

Councilman Katana.

Yeah, just uh just a note to say thank you.

So General Public to my colleagues uh last night at Essex County College.

Our children perform for our children for three kings epiphany event.

I just want to let everyone know that uh the appreciation is there's children, the children of our city, the diversity was there.

And it was just a feeling of getting thank you.

And you the folks that were there on the council, you what you you got the vibes of the young people.

You know, it reminded me that the three Kings event started in this room here, some 30 some years ago.

And you know, just bringing history to its place.

And then from here, we went on to Councilman Tucker's Center on Clinton Avenue.

I mean Elizabeth Avenue.

From there, we went to Symphony Hall.

And it has grown uh with the public schools and with the participation or wrapping a a toy for a child, letting them know that we appreciate.

I want to thank everyone who contributed our toys and and helped us through this effort.

Tomorrow we are going to continue.

There were some toys that were left, and we don't want to store them, so we're gonna go visit some hospitals in the area and uh visit some of the children in the city.

But again, to say it's that when you see the faces about of 1,600 kids that attended, that's how many gifts were given yesterday, 1600.

Uh that's the joy from the different wards of the city, all diversity, because we have to learn about each other.

So I just want to put that on record to say thank you to all our sponsors and to my colleagues and and the city of New York.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councilman.

Uh Councilman Kelly.

Uh none from Councilman Kelly.

Councilman Ramos.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just have a few motions.

Uh one one through your chair and the clerk.

Just an update from um the administration, whether it's code enforcement or or the courts.

Well, we've had uh numerous complaints filed against 255-259 Grafton Avenue, which is a one-family home uh located in the historic district, where you know they're definitely operating some kind of construction company out of that property.

They have construction vehicles parked on site and on the street.

Uh, we've asked the police division to um ticket uh those individuals who park overnight and have commercial and construction vehicles.

We've asked code enforcement, and I know the fire division had recently visited the property, and they've noted that most definitely has been converted illegally.

They've been getting away with this for probably about 20 years, so I would hope that there's some kind of update from the courts as far as fines that have been levied, any kind of corrective action that's been mandated.

Um second motion.

Uh we we had a few speakers who came here regarding um some traffic safety concerns on Lake Street between 2nd Avenue and Abington.

I received an email from one of the homeowners who've been here a few times and she's she's spoken.

She she got into another accident back and out of her property recently.

I know that I walked through the area with Director Wooden.

We had asked for some suggestions on traffic calming measures that maybe we can look at realistically in that area, and also for the police again to um step up their parking enforcement.

We do have people who park too close to the intersection there legally.

We have vehicles that sometimes encroach on people's driveways.

So if we can just get a report in anticipation for the speaker being back here, you know, she she they want residential parking permit.

Um we've explained that that's something that the city's evaluating and is looking to do in collaboration with the parking authority more regionally as opposed to just individual blocks, which just pushes the problem onto the next block.

The last uh motion on on my end is that we've we're in the process now with the state of New Jersey and and and some of the organizations they're they're doing the remediation connected to the construction of the new greenway.

Uh it's a nine and a half mile park that's gonna connect um Montclair to Jersey City, and the construction is actually starting in the city of Norwork in the North Ward along the old uh Conrail or North Norfolk Southern line.

Uh, we do have some problematic properties adjacent to this walkway, and and one of them is 879 Broadway.

Um, there's a lot to the left of that property that's right next to the greenway that's being constructed, and and this particular property owner has probably like seven or eight abandoned vehicles, you know, all kinds of debris uh parked on that property.

So I I believe in my conversation with some of the property owners there that that belongs to him.

So if we can send someone out, it's visible from the street.

So if you drive down Broadway and you look at the lot next to the social club that's there and the bar and and the uh auto body place, uh they're definitely um parking though, some of those cars look like they've been there a long time.

So if we can try to get that cleaned up in anticipation of this greenway uh project moving quickly.

That's it on my uh thank thank you.

Second for that motion.

Second.

Second by Councilman Scott Roundtree.

Roll call.

Councilmember's bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Councilman Gonzalez.

I just have a request of the clerk to see if we can work on that change to the ordinance.

Changing the say 60%.

Being 50% of the affordable units and 25% of the unit should be 80% instead of what we have now.

That's most that's still a motion, all right.

Second by Councilman uh Kentana roll call.

Council members Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

And Alex.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Thank you, Council President.

I have my partner with a couple of young uh individuals, a couple of young women, uh, Saida McKnight and a few other individuals to do an event called the main stage.

It will be happening in July.

But they're doing their final casting call on January 10th, 2026, from 12 p.m.

to 2 p.m.

here in this press room.

This will be the final casting call for the event that is to take place on July 2026.

Angels of Evolution, myself and a couple of other organizations are spearheading this event that will be held at the Kruger Scott Mansion.

On January 17th, from 11 to 3, Council President, I'm in acting and fashion.

There's an act uh actor's final casting call for this year for initials entertainment, along with the North Interfaith Alliance Communities Incorporating, who will be hosting the casting call for singers from all wards of the city to participate in upcoming stage plays, uh plays that have been written by Mike Pastor Mike Carr.

The monologue is has to be under two minutes.

If you sing, prepare one measure of a song, headshots and resumes are a plus.

No monologue, don't worry.

Uh sides will be available.

That is for January 17th, open casting call, Nord Citywide, to be out here again in City Hall in the North Press Room.

Expungement Clinic.

Everyone knows that during a particular season, um, I wanted to know how we could assist individuals with clearing their record of minor charges.

Uh, there's certain degrees that cannot be expunged, but I'll be holding another expungement clinic partnering with Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker.

This will be held on January 28th, 2026 from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the Temple of Hip Hop 55 Ludlow Street, North New Jersey.

This will be in partnership with Stonehouse Public Affairs and the New Jersey Office of Public Defenders.

If you want any further information, you're free to call my office 973 733.

Uh there is a couple of sorrow and regrets and a couple of birthday shout-outs.

Uh expressing sorrow regret for Valerie Crump, who was a long time resident of Renner Avenue, um, and uh born and raised in Newark, uh, grew up on Willoughby Street, went to Weekway High School.

No relation to council president.

They were calling me, council president saying, can you please let him know this must be his relative?

Uh that's like all the bays are related to Frederica and Amina.

Uh, however, we do express profound sorrow regret to one of our elders.

Um, she was a member of Clearview Baptist Church, and they sent her off very well.

So her name is Valerie Crump.

And then there's Estelle Renata Adams Wright expressing profound sorrow and regret.

I'm making this announcement because her sister is Valerie Adams, who does so much uh pertaining to the entertainment for many of our event.

She too is a disciple of Clearview Baptist Church.

So they had two individuals that were part of their ministry that they had homeward celebrations within four days of each other.

So we send our condolences to Valerie Adams and to the family of Valerie Crump.

And next on the list are two birthday shout-outs.

Councilman Crump.

Of course, we know Harvey Phillips, IIG.

He's celebrating his birthday, but there's somebody in the council chambers that's celebrating their birthday to that I gave birth to.

And his name is LaVar Justin.

Come on, I'm wishing you a happy birthday, son, because you were born on January 7th, 19 blank.

I'm not going to know.

And we saw some old pictures of you too when you were young.

So happy birthday, son.

Happy birthday, Harvey.

And to all of those born in the month of July, January, rather.

We wish you a happy birthday.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

Motion.

Second.

Second.

Second for the mo a second for Councilman Kelly.

Oko.

Council members Bay.

Yes.

Council.

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

We've got Round Tree.

Yes.

President Clump.

Yes.

Council McKelly wants to say something real quick.

Meet you.

Sorry, first go back to you.

I didn't.

The information for Marilyn Gaynor is Tuesday, January 13th at 6 30 p.m.

at her church union chapel.

Union Chapel.

It's going to be in the evening.

And for Dr.

Tommy Elder, we definitely want to send condolences to his him and his family.

I know that's Westwood all day long.

But he was in the Central and the South on South Sixth Street.

He was he's just been a fixture in the city of Newark for how long?

That's council, about 50 years.

Yeah, used to be a quartet singer, and then met my mother and became a preacher.

Lord help us.

But we do extend condolences to his very large family and thank him.

His family for sharing him with us for the homeless population, for those with food disparities.

Dr.

Durr did do his part.

Thank you so much, Council President.

And that's it for me.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Council McKelly, something real quick to add.

Oh, yeah, I just want to thank uh Councilwoman Roundtree for that birthday reminder and say happy birthday to Lavar.

Thank you, bro.

Um, and I also want to say uh happy birthday to Tasha David out of my office.

Her birthday is also today, January 7th.

So happy birthday to the Capricorns.

Yeah, happy.

All right, happy birthday, Tasha.

Happy birthday.

Eagles fly, Eagles fly.

Councilman uh Council.

Yes, sir.

Just uh a sorrow and regret for Miss Mabel Team Braswell, uh South Ward resident from Goldsmith, the Braswell family, uh also uh the grandmother of Amira who works here uh now uh in the mayor's office.

Her services will be 10 a.m.

uh at Transcend on uh Saturday to Saturday coming up.

Uh and uh also a uh motion uh to get an update on the Bergen and Nye Street uh bridge project uh from the uh DOT and uh what is occurring and happening with that.

Thank you.

Sir Second, second by Councilman Ramos Roll Call.

I think it was Reno.

Council members bay, yes, council Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Kintana, yes.

Yes, I am Scott Roundtree, yes, President Clump.

Yes, Councilwoman Bay No Motives.

All right, let me I got about 30 of them, so hold on.

No, sure.

All right, just a couple quick things I wanted to say.

Uh one, I just wanted to uh let me say it was a uh pleasure working with Councilwoman Bay on the uh we had a uh uh toys for tots as well as health and wellness event on uh it seemed like it was so long ago, but it was actually after the last council meeting uh at Citiplex.

I want to thank all uh for her and her team.

I mean, we worked well together and got a lot of great accomplishments.

My council colleagues that were able to come and support and be there, really appreciate it, and all the amazing sponsors that that helped us out from the devils to Girls Academy to the Vulcan's Pioneers, FOP, uh Superior Officers, University Hospital, RWJ Barnabas, and I'm gonna get in trouble because I probably forgot somebody.

The Delta Sigma Theta, I'd get in trouble if I didn't say that.

Um and and so many others that provided toys, we haircuts, we had uh uh health and wellness uh information as well as uh testing, uh health department, and I can't shop them out, got a shout-out Norpworks too, uh brought the van and you know helped provide information for uh employment.

So this was not just about toys, just about one thing or another.

It's about families and about trying to make sure that we can do something and help out families.

We even had haircuts, if I didn't mention that before.

And so I I just wanted to say it was a pleasure working with you, councilwoman.

I think we did a hopefully a good job and worked with our community to help support them during the holiday season.

Uh I also wanted to, that might have been it.

Yeah, I mentioned everything else.

Happy New Year to everyone.

May your 2026 be better than your 2025, and know that we as council members are always here to support and be here for the residents and for the administration for all those in the city.

God bless you all.

Thank you all.

Roll call to adjourn.

Council members Bay, yes, Council, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Tana, Ramos, Scott Roundtree, yes, Crump.

Yes.

All right, everybody have a great week.

Happy New Year.