I owe you some information and I'm gonna get it to you.

But thank you.

But I do want to say prepared readiness.

For years we have came up in here and said, where is the prepared readiness program for the city?

And you showed that you had none.

People said to me, Oh, it's John James.

John couldn't even be there for the Southworth.

So we know OEM, he wasn't there through COVID.

He hasn't, he hasn't made a statement for COVID.

He hasn't made a statement about anything.

Why did we expect anything different in these streets?

We had what, an inch?

And y'all had salt piled up in the street.

People was like, dang, I got all this stuff here in my car.

Y'all had a whole week.

We had how many inches?

We ain't getting 33 this time, Pat, but you know what I'm saying.

10 years exact to the day.

10 years exact to the day.

Come on, Pat, help me out.

We had 33 inches in 2016.

We had 11 and you still couldn't do it.

10 years later, and you still couldn't be moving.

We had 22 inches later, so I apologize, Pat.

Because we didn't get better.

Yet, y'all still want to sit here and act like we're the stupid ones.

We're the ones that's speaking nonsense.

10 years later, you didn't have a prepared readiness program.

That makes me really question where's your fire alarms in the school?

Are they working?

Where's your escape plans?

If something was to happen to our residents, the seniors, Georgia King Village, where's your prepared readiness?

If something was to happen in these buildings, we couldn't even clean streets.

But yet in Khalif Thomas Town, we had eight brand new trucks with shovels on the front to come out here and say, Oh, we're in the lawsuit case and we're gonna um get those trucks to move.

And yet, people said things about DPW, but it wasn't DPW, it was the lack of equipment that y'all that y'all had.

And that one minute man, that didn't impress me.

That did not impress me.

Because if you had the staff that they needed in DPW, any equipment they had, and that like all hands on deck in 2016 when everybody wanted to take the jobs from the union and everybody in this place wanted to come shovel, that's all hands on deck.

You wouldn't have had no problem.

Or make a contract with Joey D, like y'all dumped the snow in the park.

Come on, Pat, help me.

You could have got trucks and put it in there and dumped them in the parks.

Or, or you could have opened the school lots up to Roger Leon.

Where is your partnerships?

But that's what we asked from you.

All we asked for you is the partnership with us, and we can get it done.

Because we know the people here can't get it done.

Y'all don't have the money because we're in a deficit.

Y'all borrowing already, probably from 2027 to put the budget into this year.

And I don't need everyone to come up here and say nothing to me about false advertisement lines and stuff.

You said Miss Parker was lying about that budget to come up that we two, 255 million dollars in debt.

250, but but we couldn't even remove snow, so we know we in debt.

Oh, I'm sorry, that's not even every princess.

We could not even remove snow, so we know we're in debt.

We just asked for the council to assist the advocates, back us up.

We know how to get the job done.

We'll have it done.

I will back you up if you back me up.

But I don't have I I could come in here kicking the doors down and kick your back in every time.

But you should know us very well by now is that we are here for the residents.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Happy Ramadan.

Gonzalez, I want to thank you for the years.

Congratulations on your retirement.

You were one of the few council members that asked the right questions.

You voted no or abstained, or you will be missed.

Good day, criminal cult that's running our government.

The same folks that lie still and cheat for their seats.

Amina Bay, how dare you?

You use your Sorale sister that is uh a board member in Society Hill.

She owns but don't live there and don't have no connectedness with the people in the community.

Um, to have the property manager get petition signed for you and no other central ward candidates.

The homeowners pay for a property manager, not to solicit signatures for you.

Why is your literature inside of the recreation calendar advertising the Valentine's Day thing?

All of that is quasi campaigning at the expense of my tax dollar.

This is this the signature of Team Baraka using every avenue to cheat to get elected.

As we celebrate Black History Month, what does Newark have to celebrate?

We lost two icons last year, Shaw James and Donald Bradley.

And now the mayor wants to install a 250 foot mural of his family member over in the South Ward.

Not an honorable mention to Shaw, Donald Bradley, or none of the other greats that came before all of these people got into office.

That's where the murals to go with all the greats in the South Ward.

Um take George Floyd's ass off City Hall steps.

That's your language, Ms.

Parker.

Seniors and residents.

If they didn't answer your call when you had no heat, no hot water, rodents, no elevators, didn't find your landlord that was slumlords, don't let them have your vote.

Don't let them put you on a bus, give you unhealthy food, raffles, prizes, to have a feel good time when your quality of life sucks.

12 years of nothingness, no career path, no employment, no enrichment for our young people.

Hell, they don't even care.

Your children aren't educated because they can't pass state exams.

A bankrupt broke budget while a mayor spends 25 million on executive protection.

Our citizens are not safe.

Guns and drugs rule out our communities.

The people they hire, our young folks dying in the streets, while the mayor lies, the crime is down.

I don't care about these political prostitutes that are elected.

I don't care if they're in a church, a master, anywhere.

As long as they are self-serving and not advocating and holding y'all accountable, they are wolves in the hen house.

As I celebrate Black History Month, I honor Councilman George Branch, Buddy Ghee, that said, never look down on a man unless you intend to pick him up.

Let me say this.

Anybody that wants to lie, cheat, and undermine all the work that's been done.

Hell, I had to go get petition signed to be a district leader, call people up, make connections.

But because of who you know and who you have strategically placed, whether it be in senior buildings to pray, PREY on seniors, and make them feel good, give them a little trinket and stale ass food.

It's wrong on so many levels.

This young lady came here for two years.

The two three people in the South Ward, four including Radh, didn't do Jack to help her.

Colleen Fields is living in Penn Station since y'all banned her from here.

Thank you for your comments, next speaker.

Nadera Brown.

Notera Brown, North, New Jersey.

Come up here.

Time is going.

Not sure what to say.

But I'm gonna go to this resolution.

Councilman Quintana that you authorizing.

But let's go back to August 2025 when Senator Brittany Timberlake did two pieces of legislation designed to bring the funding back for this same thing.

So why are we doing this now when this was done in August when the application reopened up in December for individuals to apply?

So if your individuals know TNS and GraySo can go apply for benefits and still get funding because those who receive social services can still get that parenting assistance.

But if we communicate and talk with each other, we might know the resources.

But guess what?

Been coming up here.

Don't nobody want to talk back.

But I loved how we presented that.

I mean, you know, but let's be fair, Council President.

Back in September, you did a legislation or ordinance to support the Immigrant Trust Act to protect immigrant communities in the state of New Jersey.

But yet last week you made a statement don't bring your problems to Facebook, bring them to us.

I've been coming here.

I gave you the legislation.

I emailed you, I put it on record.

No one, and to be fair, this was before Councilwoman Amina Bay, you never got that email.

To be fair, no one has answered.

Please, with the notes, don't come back later.

We can't bring up the names.

We can't tell you who we helped.

We didn't ask you for names, but who did you help?

Oh, it takes time.

It's always excuses.

It's just like the snow.

You thought it was just gonna go away.

You know, our mayor came out with this big yes, we in control, we're gonna know what to do.

And then as soon as the snow fell, we need many men, we need this.

What you just said you had it in the under control.

But the problem is not the snow.

Y'all just forgot.

Y'all moving bus stops around, taking away from people, they gotta walk miles away because you want to do construction and take away the bus stops, but you're not thinking about the people that gotta walk blocks.

The next bus stop down there, y'all drive, you get a city car, you don't understand.

So, how can you lead if you don't understand the people you leave?

The problem is I did a Facebook live because I am human.

I help many because it's in me.

It's not because of my job, so many people trying to be nosy.

Y'all don't even know 21 years ago.

Well, yeah, 20,000 five.

I worked for the city of Norwork, making 28,000.

Couldn't even make it.

But I had to move on to something better.

But I helped because I know the feeling of needing help.

But y'all sit up here, don't want to answer the residents.

This is the hearing of the citizens.

And to be fair, Councilman Silva, thank you.

You did reach out, but if I already asked others, I'm not gonna tie up other people's time.

Councilwoman Amina Bay is the only person when she came on, introduced her staff.

Who are your aides?

We can't even follow up and asking for help because some of y'all got rid of some, denied some, replaced them.

We don't even know who you are.

But yet the mayor wants to come up and have meetings in the community with the directors on his own agenda.

Y'all still haven't talked to the people.

So the residents, guess what?

May 12, 2026.

Y'all get a smack on the wrist if you bring them back.

Get the assignment.

Councilman Gonzalez, thank you for the years of service.

Thank you for bringing up the questions.

When I get in that seat, I'm gonna continue that too.

Because it's time.

I don't sit up here just talk.

I gave you the resolution to help me.

You ignored me.

Code enforcement been out 32 degrees.

It just got warm the last couple of days.

Oh, just put in the heater.

How can you when the wiring is not right?

I'm suffering in silence because I don't qualify for programs.

What I needed you to do was take this to another level.

Assembly, senators.

Let's bring up some legislation to help these residents.

But you don't want to do that, but you want to have a cigar party though.

You want to party, and that's fine.

But you gotta remember.

What are you here for?

I asked you three years ago, why do you service?

It's a paid position.

Some of y'all got in, but it might own councilmen, don't even want to help me.

But you better, you know, you take that up with your maker when you get there.

But I want to tell you this.

People are really suffering.

You only answer who you want to, what makes you look good.

But people are gonna make some changes this May.

Thank you for your service, though.

Have a good evening.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Miriam Bay.

Okay.

Good evening.

My name is Mary and Bay.

I am an investor in Norfolk.

I actually live in Newark, and I will continue to fight for our senior citizens here in Newark.

On the 28th of last month, I uh visited with the seniors at 1060 Kenneth Gibson Boulevard.

And they shared with me the issues that they have, and I emailed those concerns to the council members.

And I want to thank Councilman Silva, uh, your aide, um, Russell Thomas, because he responded to the uh the residents, and um, yes, we we have to thank when you do something, we have to thank you for it, you know, after acknowledge it.

So those residents that I spoke to, they were from 63 years old, 63 to 100 years old, you know.

And we have to do better by our seniors, you know, and that's one of the reasons why I constantly speak about these issues, because I live here and I see what's going on.

And he complained about the heat, roaches, mice, no blinds on the windows, dishwasher issues, gas in the apartment made them sick, and this as I said, this information was mailed to the council members.

Um also I want to mention that one of my co-workers mentioned to me today that she lives in the North Ward, and she mentioned that the um the signs for for handicap is being removed.

So I want to know if you guys could let us know is that actually true?

You know, that the signs for the handicap is being removed, you know.

And then uh the the other thing is is that Councilman Kelly, I did get a call from from your aide, you know, regarding some you know some of the concerns.

So thank you very much.

And um, because we have issues that we have to deal with, and one of the key things that I come up in, I talk about the slum lords, and for the during the snow, if you come on our block, you would see the slum lords didn't do anything.

They didn't, so why are they getting paid?

Right, you know, so they didn't even clean the steps off for for their uh residence and everything.

This is really getting to the point where I don't I really don't understand what's going on.

Are people getting paid off or what?

What's happening?

Because these slumlords are able to get away with hurting our residents, and that's all residents.

And just like the brothers and sisters that I work with in the prison system with these shelters and everything, that that the issues that they're dealing with in these shelters.

What why are we continuing to allow that?

What are we gonna do?

You know, I mean, well, yes, they can.

See, here's the here's the key thing.

Regardless of where we are, we can do things if we care.

The key thing is to care.

And if we care, we see the difference.

If we don't care, we also see the difference.

You know, so why don't we start caring for our residents?

And our senior citizens, as I said earlier, they shouldn't have to go through what they're going through right now.

People are taking advantage of them because of their age.

And the brothers and sisters who are coming home from prison.

One of the key things that they need is housing.

And a lot of the clients that I work with, one of the key things that they're dealing with is housing issues.

And what I do is I call down to the mayor's office so they can give me referrals where to send them to.

But there are things that we can we can make happen for our residents.

God has blessed you to be sitting up there to serve us.

And I work for the city, and I serve our residents because that's what I'm supposed to do, because the residents are paying me.

Okay, so that's what I'm supposed to do.

And I'm not doing it for the applause.

I'm doing it for the cause, because that's who I am.

And I'm not gonna be quiet about it.

We have to start doing better for our residents and stop paying, getting these slum lords to miss to mistreat our residents.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Appearing.

Sorry.

Yes, my name is Opal R.

Wright.

I reside at Vanderpool Street in Newark, New Jersey.

And I'm just recently I was just thinking of January 8th, 2025.

I believe there's a meeting where someone who attended their name was Aura.

And it was to me when I place all of my initials ORW, it's pronounced Aura.

But my understanding with her concern was uh whether or not we're going to receive jobs or uh, and I was trying um to figure how are the um the pennies since it's discontinued, how are these pennies going to be collected?

Can we be donated up to four cents?

That's one cents, two cents, three cents, four cents, and when they're collected, finally they are they should be placed in a um like a government fund for the disadvantaged so that we can maybe we can be able to um change the quality of life uh before uh just watching them melt.

I think they said they're gonna destroy, be destroyed, but if we can receive receipts that would somewhat proof that we've donated to um a fund where we can use uh in each city, each uh each uh resident uh citizen could be able to apply for assistance from that um from that uh donation of those those pennies.

Could we um I just uh also the government has I've noticed there's a um sort of uh a question or we're waiting for the twenty dollar minimum uh that's our minimum wage, and so example is New Jersey.

We're waiting for almost four dollars and five cents on that twenty dollar minimum wage again if there was a uh some way if our government could fund uh the corporate not the corporate but the companies that are hiring these employees, and maybe we could qualify maybe over hardship or whatever uh the questions on these, you know, on the qualification that to be qualified for the balance, and this would end our waiting for a governor to agree or disagree with employees that we're not it's not the time for our minimum wage.

If it's in the law, we should be able to receive it.

Now, I was um also I would like to ask that my concerns with our implementing the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in Title One, which is the uh financial stability, there are prudent uh prudental regulators, which uh would be the Secretary of Treasury, the Board of Governors, Comptroller of Currency, the director of the Bureau, there's that's the uh Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

There's also the Commission, Security and Exchange Commission, there's also the corporation, uh which would be the um the federal uh depository insurance corporation and the commodity future trading commission, housing, federal housing, national credit uh union, uh administrative board, and when uh we talk about the um the funding uh in Title One, it's non-bang financial, so that means that we would be able to use the loans for um I guess investing or investments, investment products.

Thank you for your comments, next speaker.

Reginald Turner, Reginald Turner, not appearing, Muta Elamine Muta El Amin appearing, peace and blessings to all.

My name is Muta El Amin.

I am a lifelong Newark resident.

I come here today to address cultural erasure, but before we do that, justice to Wali Bay, all praises are due to God through which all things are possible.

Ramadan Mubarak.

Happy Black History Month.

Black History Month is a time to honor the people, the sacrifices, and the history that shaped black life in the United States of America.

That's why flags matter, because flags tell a story about who we are and what we are honoring.

Let's be clear.

This is not an attack on Pan Africanism.

Pan Africanism has its value, it has its history, it has its meaning.

But black history month is about black Americans, our ancestry, our struggles, and our contributions to America.

Here's the issue.

The red black and green America on the red rack and the red black and green pan African flag was created by Marcus Garvey in two in 1920 through the through the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

Its purpose was to promote global black unity and solidarity amongst people from African descent worldwide across nations, cultures, and continents.

That is a powerful important idea.

But black American, but black Americans are more than just a global identity.

We are a distinct people with specific historical experiences here in the United States of America.

The freedmen's flag associated with the Freedmen's Bureau and the Reconstruction era beginning in 1865, represents formerly enslaved black Americans who were transitioning from slavery to citizenship.

Its purpose was not global symbolism, it was legal recognition, protection, nation building within the United States of America.

It represents emancipation, reconstruction, black self-governance, and foundation black Americans leave, often unpaid and unrecognized for American democracy and wealth.

Imagine an Italian family come to an flag raising ceremony to represent their culture, and when they arrive, the mediator raises a German flag.

Would that be acceptable?

Of course not.

Not because Germany has no culture, but because it erases the specificity of the Italian history.

We blur the lines between African heritage and black American history.

And that's what and when that line is blurred for too long, we also erased the people.

The people who built America's infrastructure, who fought in every war on these soil, who shaped America's music, labor movement, laws, and culture.

This is how kosher cultural erasure happens, not through hostility, but through substitution.

Honoring the freedman's flag during Black History Month doesn't reject Pan-Africanism.

It simply says this is about a moment that black Americans and our can our contribution and American was made for.

She was not able to get child care assistance because the applications were closed, so she was paying out of pocket.

Three weeks ago she lost her job, and two weeks ago her home caught on fire.

But now she's not able to go out and look for a job because she doesn't have anybody who's able to provide she doesn't have child care.

And she's not able to pay for child care.

Helping her as much as I can.

The state has told us over and over again that there's no money for child care.

But they prioritize giving this money to a corporation that makes a lot of money every year with other events, and best familias poorest in New Jersey instead of using it to help poor families in New Jersey.

Necessitamos un cambio de prioridades.

We need a change in our priorities.

We appreciate Councilman Kintana for uh introducing a resolution that will support the need for child care.

And we're asking, we need all of the council people to vote yes in favor of this resolution.

Buena snowstead in Los Povers de New Jersey.

The resolution number is 26020.

Thank you, good evening, and we hope that you will think about poor people here in New Jersey.

Thank you for your comments.

Donna Jackson appearing.

That's where you're gonna need it at not in here.

Donna Jackson, tired of the nonsense.

So let's get to it.

Lies, lies, and more lies.

You spent about 15 million on snow removal.

It costs to scoop up that snow down in the East Ward.

You did wrong to all of us in the West and the South World.

I didn't care.

You didn't call Joe D, because ain't none of y'all got the nerve.

The county rolls was horrible.

Still can't cross the street at speedway.

80% of the students at speedway are handicapped.

No, I ain't say how how y'all doing.

Nobody cares.

A hundred and ten.

Let's do facts today.

Bring Mr.

Pennison in.

Because if he called cross me today, me and him gonna have it out in that hallway.

I got bare money right here.

11 million dollars in debt.

Your paperwork, January 2026.

You asked for 232 million dollars now this year to cover January, February, and March, some nonsense core started, and y'all continue the nonsense.

We have no approved budget because I went to Trenton.

Fight me if you wanna.

Keep saying that we liars here.

So I done went down already.

And I done met with Tessa and others, because they know my work, been going down there 20 years.

So I know them.

My father walked these streets with Tom King to get housing.

Clinton Hill area.

My dad, who passed in 87.

So I know whose shoulders I stand on.

My mother with 31 years at Westside High School and 20 years at Blessed Sacrament and five years at St.

Mary's.

Talk to me.

Who should does I stand on?

That's why y'all don't bring that mess to my house.

That's why y'all don't send the threats to me, because I'm not playing.

You got all your gangsters, mobsters, and people out here threatening and intimidating people.

You better stop it because we tired.

Our sons are tired, our daughters are tired, and they watch it.

They watching.

I'm Mama Donna, I'm Donna, I'm Miss Jackson, I'm all of that.

Why you yelling?

Now they understand why.

Y'all stop Pop Warner.

Pam has got to pay three, four, five, six hundred dollars per kid to do football and cheerleading.

Y'all did that.

Y'all did that.

There's nothing free anymore.

These grandparents who got these grandkids, they don't got 300 per kid to do no damn football.

They don't have it.

How dare you put that on the shoulders of these coaches and pop water that's so dedicated?

Sean McRae with uh Zook crew basketball.

Who got these kids in their house?

You ain't got no kids in your house.

You ain't feeding no kids every day.

You ain't walking no kids home from practice, and neither is your street team.

Where they was at last night with the shooting that didn't say, hey, I'll wait.

Where was the safe passage last night?

I'll wait, and I said it, because I can.

Because all these programs are built off of my back, my partner back, and several other of us who did this 20 years before this got here.

VCC paperwork came through to work.

Over 10,000 claims before y'all even thought about getting that money.

We did it for free.

Because it's called commitment.

I spent nights in UMD and J hospital before all this nonsense came with parents.

With their kids on respirators, life support.

Didn't know if they was gonna make it.

Facts.

The mayor's office budget.

300, 300, 3.5 million dollars for salary.

But then the Negro got 4.9 million for miscellaneous in his office.

What you doing with that 5 million, Raz?

Oh, let me now let me help you out, Raz.

You got about 15 million, maybe a little bit more in your election coffers.

Bring that money back for all the money you done stole, bruh.

Bring it in here.

You do not have the right to put the employees of this city who are the lowest paid employees in this city, who are not civil service, have no protection.

That's why they gotta kiss y'all behind.

That's why the man gave you 10,000 dollars, because he knows he ain't gotta fix nothing.

All these damn LLC boys contribute to all of you, and you don't hold them accountable.

The blood is on your hands.

You have killed these seniors.

You killed them.

This mold and this expected in every building out there, including the new one you built.

Y'all killing them.

You did it.

You killed these kids.

You let them live in these apartments that are better than hell is the blood is on your hands.

I know you didn't enjoy my comments.

Next speaker.

But y'all better find my money.

That's what you better do.

And Raz, you better bring that check over here tonight.

Thank you, Ms.

Jackson.

Next speaker.

Can we please get a little order so we can hear Mr.

Vaughan?

Thank you.

All right.

Lamont Vaughan 408, Springfield Avenue.

Um, let me begin tonight by saying Justice for Wally Bay.

Um, Justice for Wally Bay, and we need to say his name, Wally Bay.

Wally.

At the previous council meeting, I asked the members of the council to uh, we understand that the claim is the attorney general has this specific case.

Um, but what I asked was that you guys, as a counsel would reach out by way of resolution or letter, uh pressing upon the attorney general that the family of Wally Bay and the people here in this community are really looking for answers in this uh this diabolical shooting.

Uh, this was not a regular situation.

Um, you know, there were people present at the scene of the incident uh at the time of the incident.

I won't speak about some of the things that I've heard from those people, but this was not normal.

This was not right.

Uh and this officer certainly shouldn't be suspended with pay.

Um, because what that literally means is that the city is then incentivizing the murder of our people in the streets and giving the cop a vacation after he's murdered somebody in the city.

And if he is convicted and tried and all of that other stuff, God willing, these things happen in the interest of justice.

But if he is, he will then now have uh collected a dime off of the taxpayer uh off of the city of Newark's residence uh over the course of waiting for that process to fully play out.

Um, so that that's not justice right there.

Uh, I've seen cases come before this council where people were suspended without pay, uh, went through the process and were then uh found uh not liable and giving their job back with back pay.

Uh that can happen here as well.

And so we're calling for some immediate justice here for this officer, as well as for you all to reach out to the attorney general and impress upon them the importance of releasing that footage.

Secondly, uh at the previous council meeting, uh Councilman Crump, you responded to something that I said on the microphone about the ice, ice walks in the city and not sidewalks, right?

Um, you know, your response in brief was that you know the residents of this city should be bringing these types of things to the council.

Well, I had to yell in the audience, and I understand that that's against the uh decorum here in the chamber, but if the council isn't going to afford me or any of the residents who come here and speak the opportunity to rebut what it is that you guys comment on after we walk away from the microphone, the only other option left to me to correct the record, at least, is to yell out from this audience.

And if you guys are bold enough to put the police on me for doing that, exercising my First Amendment right in this council chamber, and listen, I remember a time when we were against police in the council chambers.

I remember a time where we were against the police coming up to members and residents in this council and approaching them in an aggressive way, asking them, get off the that's not this is a democracy.

You gotta probably do that because you want to go home early, you don't care about hearing of the citizens and responding to this is a democracy.

If people, if the people, if you work for the people and the people want to hold you here at work, they have the right to do that.

And you do not have the right to sick members of law enforcement on them.

And I'll probably ask for an additional five seconds too, uh, like everybody else.

Um listen, I'm I mentioned before that I am running for council member at large here in the city of North.

I can tell you today that the day that I get on that council seat, slum lords are out of here.

And any council member that won't stand with me on that issue, I will try to get you out of here too.

Uh number two, uh again, three seconds extra.

Um housing has been the number one issue in this city.

Listen, we need to address those homeless shelters.

They are out of control.

But we have a sister in this audience, 75 years old, Miss Ellsworth.

She is homeless.

Please, somebody out of you nine.

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

And Diane.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Ann Gry.

I live on Boston Street.

There's been a lot of talk about black history.

However, I am part of the history of Newark.

From 1966 to 1986.

The city of Newark built no new housing.

Boston Street and Richmond Street.

Um Councilman Bay, Councilwoman Bay, excuse me.

I know you're new.

Um you probably don't know how my name is pronounced, but I know you got all my emails about the snow plowing, and I sent you pictures.

I'm on Boston Street.

Yes, we started the history.

Everybody else.

We didn't get tax abatements.

They got 20 years.

We finally got five years.

So when I emailed you about the plowing, and the response was you contacted or your office contacted Society Hill and said that the street had been plowed.

I don't live in Society Hills.

Half the street, it's society hill, the other side.

Yes, they have plows.

So they come, they plow, and on my side, it's all piled up.

I'm at the end of a dead end street.

I am tired of shoveling the street.

I'm getting a little too old for that.

I can't climb over the snowbank to get across the street to shop right to get any prescriptions.

Couldn't get my car out.

That was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Finally, Thursday evening, someone in the community contacted Sanitation directly.

Said in two hours we'll be there.

Twenty minutes later, twenty minutes later.

Plough was out there, and I had we had already told them.

I know I had told you where they could pile the snow.

They could have taken the snow off the whole street and piled it at the end.

And it would have been fine.

That is a safety issue.

I am very, very happy that no one on that street needed any type of emergency services.

I know that we can do better as a community.

I also wanted to mention to Reverend Councilwoman Roundtree, because I see you all the time at this every senior meeting.

Vince Lombardi, senior center.

The sidewalk is so badly cracked that even good weather, it's risky.

Now I'm pretty mobile, but a lot of the seniors have walkers, have kings, balance issues.

That becomes a serious safety issue.

I mean, I can get your contractor to fix the sidewalk.

So as we move forward, when you look at your vision, sometimes things come up.

We knew the snow was coming.

We knew.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Chain Colter.

I believe he's here.

Yeah.

Up here.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of North.

Good evening.

Good evening, municipal council.

My name is Che Coulter.

I'm a father citizen, resident, and worker.

First, I want to surrender ten seconds of my time for Conrad Wally Bay and the other gentleman that uh transitioned up in the weak way section.

At this time, we'll do that.

I shall from the Coulter family and the Wright family, we'd like to wish our members of our family and the New York community a blessed Ramadan and for the Christians in North to be comforting to the Muslims during this time of Ramadan.

To the municipal employees, male and female, who are doing a good job and genuinely care about good service.

We appreciate the good, the good municipal employees who come in every day to work hard.

Even if they don't have the benefits that they need, even if they're being caught in the bureaucracy and the bureaucratic deep swamp that has pre that has proved invaded and pervaded all of the legislative functions within the government of the city that I love, North New Jersey.

Municipal employees hold on to the ship because we might need to steer it a new direction.

I was in a senior building on Broad Street, a little bit across from Lincoln Park.

Oh, peace and love.

And me and this brother had some intense discussions before in the Golden Chamber, but now we've come full circle to meet as citizens, regardless of our pain and struggle.

But those seniors who spoke to me in Spanish, we had a cup of coffee, and they said, Shay, what's going on with the meeting being streamed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole.

Now, my challenge to you is to y'all nine is I'm gonna give the municipal language ordinance to these candidates behind me that are running.

I'm not running this year.

I want to give it to them.

I want to add fuel to their civic fire, to their prophetic fire, to bring the change in North that we need.

K through eight academic infrastructure is failing.

Our kids right now need more opportunities for our boys and girls than we've ever needed before.

Don't make Trump an excuse.

The office of employment and training with one stop must also include innovation.

It should be the Office of Employment and Innovation.

Muta and Lamont and to the others at large.

The seniors said Gail is coming.

Like a roaring lion.

I don't know what they were talking about, but that's what they said today.

Gail is coming.

I'm not sure what that means, Silver.

Good job on the I saw you out and about, stepping out of the Cadillac on a good foot, telling us what to do with that snow.

That's the that's the silver we like, the proactive silver.

Going into the at-large, the four at-large representatives, y'all have not been vocal enough on our fiscal budget.

We have seniors that are struggling.

We have um Section 8 residents who are struggling because of their economic status.

At large, we need y'all to become much more vocal around the things that matter.

In Philadelphia, when I was 19 years old, I got involved with an organization called Avenging the Ancestors Coalition.

And guess what, Councilwoman Roundtree?

We found bones at the site of the White House in Philadelphia.

Trump tried to remove and shut the shut it down.

The lead lawyer who was from my um college, Cheney University, got it appealed, and the National Park Service is supposed to put it back on.

We have to go back to court, but this morning, Mr.

President, they put a gate around it.

We're going back to court in another 10 days.

They got a real good female lawyer on it, but North also has bones of slaves underneath Rutgers University, prudential, all around downtown.

And y'all never acknowledge them with a drum.

So I support everything that Muta said earlier.

You will not dilute our blood payment.

We've already paid it in blood.

We've been overtaxed.

We oversweated.

We built this nation.

So the Board of Education and these tax pilots, and I heard Big Sister Deborah Salters in my earshot.

What is going on with the North Board of Education?

They have no school board members negotiating the repayments on the big development deals.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're in trouble and we gotta wake up.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you for your comments, next speaker.

I believe I saw Miss Yes appearing.

Good evening, everybody.

Thank the Lord for waking us up this morning for blessing our family, our friends, the homeless, especially home, the homeless, the needy and our Freminis.

I'm gonna uh say a quote before I start with my complaints, since all I do is complain.

But I need all of y'all that come, the activists, and everybody that comes to the mic to understand why we not getting answers.

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on him not understanding it.

I want to give a moment of silence for my nephew, Wally Jackson Jr.

He passed yesterday in Mexico.

So I'm waiting on safe travels for him to get here.

He grew up and was raised down in Dayton Street and traveled around the world.

He was born in 97.

He died February the 17th of 26.

He was sick.

He was a miracle.

His name was OG Wah or the Wizard.

And that he was when it came to rapping.

He traveled all over just to get North on the Mac.

So why?

I love you.

That's why I didn't meet you at the Mobile Building at 7, because that was what I was supposed to do at that meeting.

Okay, so I want to speak about we being targeted at the meetings.

To the officers in the back, the reason I took the picture because your cameras are on.

I need the cameras to stay on at all times.

Not this meeting that I missed my name called.

I was answering this, but the prior one.

It was a young officer in here.

And his camera was off.

And I said, Why your cameras office should be on?

Well, this young officer gave me three tickets.

And I want to put it on the record.

I'm not gonna say their names.

Um I'm coming taking my aunt.

I was so nervous, I told him it was my niece.

Taking my aunt to work.

She worked at Ruckets over there to security, so I'm coming from Bergen Street, head and over.

I live at 516 Bergen.

On my way coming back, I'm sort of the rugged, whatever.

If anything's wrong, you know, they stop, you know, they ain't got nothing to do.

I did my hand and proceed.

With my windows up, she got tinted windows.

As I get about with Mahama Ali Avenue and Bergen, it's a car to substance park, car 413.

You got a guy, they come in across and they make a U turn.

Real quick, reckless.

U-turn to come.

I thought it was the car behind me, but instead of the car behind me, I didn't know it was me.

They raised up so reckless, I tried to get out the way and I was right at my driveway.

I turned left, 516 Bergen Street, where it said don't enter right there.

I'm thinking it's gonna be the other car, so I moved out, so we hit my sister's car.

The other car went on, and he said, pull in.

I rolled my window down, all windows up, it wasn't secure, you got it safe.

Make sure you're safe before you approach your vehicle.

I'm yelling out, what's the probable cause?

Why did you stop me?

What's the probable cause?

He jumps out after he decided to run my plate because it took a minute.

The tickets say 1109.

I think this thing started.

I had my sister on the phone at 1106.

Make a long story short, because the timing is going.

However, he jumped out, asked me for my license and registrations.

I gave the, he said he's not taking it.

Take it out.

He was black, y'all, made me nervous.

He was black and out of control.

The Hispanic one, I tried to make laughter out of it and asked him, was he related to Quintana when his last name was Gonzalez?

He laughed.

I told him you were being irated.

Why you acting like this?

I pulled in my driveway.

The moral to the story, that tickets say Roll Street in Bergen.

I was in my driveway because it said do not enter camera there, camera here.

My sister on the phone telling me it's a thing.

They stopped me, asking what's the public cause, because the plate is on the other side.

I did a job since the 26th of getting a ticket.

I went around all different police departments, chills with the place, and I seen other people.

I take pictures.

The tickets, one is $55, one is 55, one is 131.

My sister was on the phone telling him she worked.

She worked with cops.

She didn't know that was wrong.

My niece used to work for the courts, asking why they didn't give me a warning.

So I got a failure for the lights, failure.

Didn't do anything wrong, but it was in my sister's name when they stopped me.

So I gave him my license.

The tickets are all in my name.

They can't approach our young kids like this.

They angry, they need training.

I want this all dismissed.

Wow.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Not appearing.

Latoya Jackson Tucker.

Ms.

Jackson's appearing.

Latoya Jackson Tucker, Asalamaleko, Ramadan Mubarak.

I got my keymar on, so I'm not going to be cursing or doing none of that stuff.

I'm sure all of y'all seen on that video with my son and the North Police.

Well, not North police.

Not just North police, but B O N.

So for those who don't know, B O N is the county, the sheriff officers with borough officers from North.

So I came to y'all yesterday.

I didn't have this on, I ran out because I didn't want to miss an opportunity because my son been telling me how he's been targeted by the North police.

So what they doing now, because we have technology, they have drones.

So if it's a high crime area with shooting or drugs, they get the flood of drones where people can't see them, our young black men, our community members, whoever it is, and they get to watch the community.

And basically, if you were a person, usually they told me, because yesterday, as I left here, not even 15 minutes, I was called by somebody that said they got your son on Broad Street and Parkhurst.

So I ran lights because I know a lot of police, and I would have just said, I'm getting to my son.

I got faith.

So I ran lights through, drove through buses, all types of stuff to get down here.

When I got down, yeah, I seen them banging my son around, shoving them.

So I immediately, maybe like two minutes into what y'all seen when it started for the 25 minute tape, they was doing that to him, and I was yelling, but also trying to get my phone together before an officer said I couldn't do it.

And I know I could record because two years ago, I basically, I'm an honorary member of the Department of Public Safety.

You was there, you took pictures with me.

I got perfect attendance.

It was very important to me that I sat through those sessions of, you know, the sent decree programming and understand how the North Police Department operate because I have loved ones.

I got people, community members that I know that are officers, and you want to respect them.

I, you know, I'm from Stratford and Clinton Avenue.

We in our culture, we say F U C K the police.

That's how our community feels because of the various reasons that we have.

You know, it's by design for us to feel like this.

So I get down there, my son yelling, mine said I got a gun.

I don't got no gun.

Now they're trying to lock me up for wandering.

In the last two weeks, he has been locked up six different times because of community.

He knows people.

A lot of times I see people from the city that look at me some type of way because I'm still on Clinton Avenue, Avon.

These are my people.

These are my community.

Like I can't stray away from the people that I know because I'm dealing with the North Police Department, or I'm dealing with these various organizations because before this, I was community.

I was part of the village.

So how dare I feel like because they could the course room is not right that I stray away from them.

My son, he came home with his policy that parole is not even actually supposed to send an offender or incarcerated returning citizen back to the same environment that they got in trouble in.

But I couldn't afford for my son to go, because I've been down here, I'm broke, I'm homeless.

I mean, I've been getting help doing stuff, but I could not afford for him to be away and not get the support that he needed.

And not only that, live in a shelter in another town in a suburb or something where he might not get treated right.

So he came back home to his mama.

We haven't been speaking, my bad, for you know, allowing some time.

But when he came back to me, because he knows I fights for him, he's been telling me illegal cavity searches.

I asked last night.

The South Ward captain, is that legal?

Do they still do stop and friss?

He answered me, but one of the side bar.

And that's the like I have never heard no house N I G G A, sugar honey, ice and tea.

Like what I heard.

Everything that my son said to me, it was confirmed by the captain of police, basically like wanting my son to work with him.

Do y'all know what that means?

When people work with the department, I'm a female.

So I get that off, but a man that done did time coming back to work with the department and then being put on paperwork.

Like, will y'all pay for his funeral?

Will the department of public safety pay for his MF funeral?

If he worked with them.

Like we have a lot of people within this room that operate in these different facets, and when they dealing with this stuff and sitting at this table, they're not telling anybody that the policy and laws do not fit the description of the trauma within our community.

Please get it right.

I'll have a battery in my back.

Thank you for your comments.

Not yet.

Next speaker.

Cassandra Doc.

Okay.

First, I'd like to say thank you to all those who yeah, Cassandra Doc, first of all.

And let me thank all of those that came before me that contributed to Black history and some of the things we get to enjoy today.

Also want to say condolences to Reverend Jackson and his family.

Cousin, I see you left, but congratulations on your retirement.

Then it's got to be something.

At the hearing of ice, you had the nerve to say to the director of Homeland Security.

You talked about judgment, you talked about blood being on his hand, and you talked about hell.

You know what he should have told you?

If I go to hell, you'll be there when I you either gonna be there when I get there, or you're gonna be on your way.

Because if blood is on anybody's hand, La Monica, it's on yours.

Because before there was a Renee Good or Alex Pretty, there was a La Monica MacIver.

Because those were ice officers that you assaulted.

In fact, the blood is on your hand because you encouraged Renee Good.

You encouraged Alex Petty.

You made them think, hey, I'm a congresswoman.

I fight them.

So can you?

You better thank your God.

You here to tell about it because they're not.

You talking about judgment.

This is how you know she don't go to church, she don't read her Bible, and she don't go to nobody's Bible study.

Why would he be judged for the officers that killed somebody else?

Because according to the word of God, we're gonna be judged on our own work.

Is that right, Patrick?

Yeah, you know.

Is that right, Louise?

Yeah, y'all know.

You know, Revelations tell you that judgment?

Really?

And then let me go here with our governor.

Because all y'all talking about immigration, undocumented, like every all you black Negroes.

All you want to talk about is ice.

Immigration.

What the hell is wrong with y'all?

When you got black Negroes and landlord tenant court being put out every day.

The governor, Mikey Sherrell has the nerve to have a website if you see something, report something.

Okay.

You know what I want y'all to do?

Those of y'all at landlord attended court, go on that website and tell the report illegal activity of you being put out of your home.

Landlord putting you out.

Report that right on that site.

How dare y'all?

And then Alison Ladd, how dare you?

How dare you talk about four, five houses that are being sold?

Then you had the nerve to say, oh, one of the requirements is you have to be a developer that have experience.

Really?

Oh my god, you almost made me call you something.

Really?

Really?

How so?

So let me let me let me let me just think of who's gonna get this, right?

Because if they gotta be experienced, right in development, right?

Won't be no new residence.

That's for damn sure.

How could they be experienced?

How?

Why wouldn't this Negro on the second floor with his black behind?

Why wouldn't he give residents an opportunity at those houses?

Give them an opportunity to become experienced in development.

The blood is on your hand, black woman, black man.

Not talking about you Puerto Ricans and Brazilian.

I'm not talking about y'all, I'm talking about black woman, black man, black man, black black man, and you black woman.

The blood is on y'all hand.

Every day y'all lay out it like, yeah, Mina, because you went over to 24 hours apiece, and you had the nerve to talk about what you do at New York Emergency Service.

Do me a favor.

Do me a favor, baby girl.

Go down to landlord tenant court and stand in front of the courts the same way you stood on that stage and tell them about the services that you offer.

Help somebody that day.

Instead of always telling them I don't have no money, I don't have no money.

And I'm gonna tell you something.

And Hakeem Jeffries, you black, you black, you black, you know what I want to call you, but I'm not gonna do it.

Stop it.

Stop it with this ice, stop it with this immigration, stop it with these undocumented uh uh immigrants, stop it.

And y'all made them think that we can't farm is let's stay there.

What the there's a letter.

What the like we need them the farm.

You know, we had that clean and green program, them brothers that came out of jail was happy to learn how to farm.

Do that at the federal level for them.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Shaquille Moore.

Shaquille Moore.

Is there Shaquille Moore?

Appearing.

Good evening, esteemed members of the City Council and distinguished guests.

It is with great respect that I stand before you this evening.

First, I must acknowledge the invaluable work the City Council and your many partner organizations have done to combat homelessness in New York.

The programs currently in place, whether it's emergency shelter provision, outreach initiatives or the tireless efforts of social services, demonstrate a commendable commitment to those in need.

For this I extend my sincere gratitude.

Yet while the progress made so far is praiseworthy, I stand before you to voice a concern, one that I believe requires urgent attention.

I speak not just as an occupant of one of our city's emergency shelters, but as someone who firmly believes that to truly address homelessness in New York, we must begin by affirming the most fundamental truth.

The humanity of every individual, regardless of their background, their ethnicity, or their personal struggles.

Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

I was to share an experience from earlier this year that has weighed heavily on my mind.

On January 23rd, 2026, I attended a meeting where Director of Shelter Services, Mr.

Louise Galerio, addressed a room full of individuals, people like me seeking shelter and hope.

I raised a question that could spark a meaningful dialogue on how to improve the conditions in our shelters and the services provided to those who rely on them.

But instead of a thoughtful response, I was met with mockery.

A cruel sarcastic joke was made at my expense.

I was assured that I would receive a phone call and an apology.

As of today, that phone call has yet to come.

This isn't merely about my personal experience.

It's about a larger issue that impacts all of us.

If those in positions of power, those who have the ability to shape policies and influence lives, are willing to mock the very people they're meant to serve, how can we be certain that they will carry out their roles with the empathy and integrity that this city so desperately needs?

This is not just a matter of a single isolated incident.

It speaks to how we as individuals facing hardship are often treated.

Inside that very shelter where I was mocked, there were survivors of domestic abuse, both men and women, people with law degrees, college degrees, individuals displaced due to religious intolerance, those ostracized for their sexual orientation, asylum seekers and refugees, people battling mental illness, addiction and trauma.

Many were former foster children, others simply people who found themselves on a path they never anticipated.

And yet, despite the vast array of experiences and backgrounds in that room, we were all treated as though we were invisible.

When public officials mock those they serve, when they dismiss our struggles, how can we trust them to faithfully serve us in any capacity?

New work must be a city that respects all of its residents, those with homes and those without.

Every person facing hardships deserves to be treated with respect, with empathy, and with dignity.

What I ask of you, New War, is that we do not merely offer a roof over someone's head, but that we treat them as full and valuable human beings.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for your comments.

Next speaker.

George Tilling Jr.

Appearing.

Ms.

Doc, please do not shout.

Good evening, George Tillman Jr.

Good evening.

Newark resident, former senior program analyst in the mayor's office of affirmative action and candidate for Central War Council.

I appear before you tonight regarding statutory compliance, municipal enforcement obligations, and the economic consequences of non-implementation of the council's own enacted ordinances.

Under the Faulkner Act, this governing body exercises legislative authority on behalf of the people of Newark under NJ SA 40, colon 48-1 and 2.

Municipalities possess broad police powers to enact ordinances necessary for the protection of public welfare, economic stability, and community development.

This council used that authority to adopt binding local hiring and affirmative action ordinances requiring Newark residents' employment participation, minority contractor inclusion, and compliance oversight in connection with development projects receiving public approvals and economic incentives.

Once enacted, those ordinances are not discretionary guidelines.

Under established principles of municipal law and administrative governance, ordinance carried the force of power and must be implemented in good faith.

Failure to meaningfully enforce them raises seriously concerns under New Jersey Constitution, Article 1, Paragraph 1, guaranteeing equal protection and due process.

Article 1, paragraph 18, protection, the rights of citizens to petition government for redress, and federal protection under 42 USC and 1983, which provides remedies where constitutional rights are violated under Color of State Law.

When local hiring laws are enacted to protect residents, but enforcement mechanisms are not applied.

The practical results is unequal access to equal opportunity.

Over approximately the last decade, Newark has experienced unprecedented development activity, including projects supporting through tax abatements and long-term financial agreements under long-term tax abatement exemption law, NJSA 40A colon 20, where abatements are granted, the municipality assume heightened responsibility to assure that public benefit obligations are honored.

Based on development volumes and workforce ratio, failure to rigorously enforce resident hiring provision has resulted in loss of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 jobs per year.

That should have been accessible to Newark residents.

At prevailing wage and skilled labor rates, that represents hundreds of millions of dollars in annual loss of household income.

In addition, procurement and subcontracting patterns suggest that such as much as a billion dollars annually in contracts may have flowed outside Newark rather than circulating through Newark based and minority-owned businesses.

Increase housing instability, high risk of substance abuse, greater vulnerability of homelessness and incarceration.

These outcomes are not abstract.

These are foreseeable economic consequences of poverty.

When legislative protectors are not implemented as intended under New Jersey SEPTA Act.

Employees who disclose or object to practices they reasonably believe violate law protected or protected from retaliation.

My federal action asserts that when concerns regarding enforcement deficiencies were raised, corrective measures were not implemented, and retaliation followed.

This action seeks accountability under federal and state law.

But more importantly, it seeks recognition of economic harm experienced by Newark residents over an extended period.

This is not about personalities.

It's about governance.

It's a distinction between familiarity and fiduciary duty.

Public officials serve as trustees of municipal authority under federal law.

The authority must be exercised for the benefit of public, not selectively or informally.

Leadership requires enforcement, transparency, measurable compliance.

The solution is grounded in law.

Independent compliance orders, public reporting benchmarks for local hiring percentages and workforce development.

Restoration of meaningful oversight authority.

To the council, I respectfully urge commitment to statutory enforcement.

And to the residents watching.

Poverty is not an evolution, but a calculation of government conspiracy conspiracy against the people.

It is often a simulation of effective policy.

Thank you for your comments.

And policy decisions by your comments.

Next speaker.

We have the legal council president, next speaker.

That concludes the hearing of citizens.

Thank you.

We are on page four of the regular agenda.

Item six ordinances on public.

I'm sorry, before we get to that point.

Anything from the council.

We're going to uh council Council McKelly.

Just a quick update.

First of all, I just want to um thank all of the people who made us aware of what was going on at 658 Sanford Avenue.

Um we did a follow-up and a check with them yesterday.

Council Prez, you you were on those calls as well.

Uh the tenants are put into a hotel until the end of this week.

So we are dealing with them through with code enforcement and everybody.

So it's there, they've been fixing the apartment, and we're waiting to see.

I know councilwoman Roundtree has been involved with the residents as well.

So as a team, we have been all dealing with them, making sure that the residents are taken care of.

So once again, I want to thank uh Queen and Felicia and all of the people who brought that to our attention so we were able to deal with it very fast, and um the situation is being dealt with.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council.

And one more thing to uh Mama Bay.

Um, I still we still need to meet, and and we're gonna set up that meeting.

Um, you definitely have some some great concerns that concern me as well.

So uh we're gonna be dealing with that ASAP as soon as we can get up both our schedules to lock in.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Kelly.

Anything else from the council?

Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I just want to piggyback off of what Councilman Kelly said because when Queen and uh the individuals were talking about uh the tenant from 658, I actually text because they told us they were gonna fix this problem um within two days, and they put they literally did put them up for two days.

Uh, Ms.

Queen is correct, they did not pay for that first day.

Um, but we spoke to them after our conversation yesterday, and so while she was speaking, I text the resident to see whether she's satisfied, had they taken care of the problem, and based on the text I got from her, about maybe 30 minutes ago, she said that she was satisfied.

So I think we should follow up just to make sure they're not the only residents in that building.

Nope.

Um, but she did say the one that we have been communicating with.

Um also in reference to the crack sidewalks and Vince Lombardi, uh director, and whoever's in charge of overseeing that property, would you please uh make sure that's inspected because that is a liability on behalf of the city if someone behold residents accountable for sidewalks in front of their houses and they can't get insurance.

So you want to look into that.

In reference to the individuals that um come up to the microphone.

Uh and I know we all get put into the melting pot together.

Uh, even on social media today, someone called and said they were trying to reach my office.

This homeless situation, situations that um one of our residents had come and she says that she's in between between.

She makes just a little bit too much to get the help and not enough to be able to live.

Um, I believe um that we should go all the way to the end of the road uh with our residents to make sure that we've done everything we possibly can to assist them.

I might put some of these residents that are speaking at the mic in contact with individuals that I pray will assist them.

And if they don't, they know they have to call me back and let me know.

So we're going to continue to hold them accountable.

I'm hoping that one of the residents that spoke today, that the young lady that was supposed to help her did, and if not, then we need to talk to her tomorrow morning and see what else we can do because she assured me, and I don't want to start calling names because everybody's business is not everybody's business.

But if it's an individual that said they were going to do something within the last seven days and it has not been done, then I need to find out why.

Because it was a conversation.

So that part.

And um that's it, Council President.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Count Councilman uh Gonzalez.

If I may uh I just wanted to suggest that we had a meeting with uh Mr.

Olero regarding what happened in this uh in that meeting and uh and what is uh what is happening with the let's say the homeless population in the city and the and the homeless shelters in the city.

So no let's let's do something next.

For the record, I forgot about that part.

We need to go back and revisit the services that are given to these home the the homeless population when they get there.

I know that I don't want to put just say that these people are uh the money for the bed, uh, but but they are people that are now calling me saying they're not getting services, so we need to visit.

We put a lot of money into the services and the care.

And it's a shame that someone will call me and say, I've been here for a year, I'm trying to get out.

I have a young lady that has never worked a day in her life, that's 39 years old, that just had a baby, and she's like, I've never even worked, but nobody's even asking me, how can they help me go any further?

And so we've got to look at the programs, we've got to ask for data, we've got to follow up, especially with the ones we're putting all this money and voting on.

So these we that's what we do.

We vote on it.

We vote on money for them to do services, and we have people in shelters for two years or a year.

So we for the record, I think that council colleagues at large and where those shelters are in the city ward council people.

We need to review what's going on at Miller.

We need to review again what's going on at Two Truth Poor.

I'm getting pictures of the type of food.

I know Director Eulerio did address.

He definitely addressed the pictures I said about the food.

One of the shelters were not allowing people to even bring in that baby, they were like, You can't bring no food in.

But then they have food delivered by Uber.

So those things are just unacceptable.

And he did address, address it, and I do believe some signage would have.

And I want to address this to the toy, because um, Councilman Woman Bay, you and I have were set to meet with her, and we've got the follow-up she's doing.

She's still, in spite of all she's going through and what she's going through, still being productive.

Um, I want to congratulate you on your business with the hair and still pressing your way through your purpose with your pain going on.

So we're going to have to set up that meeting as soon as possible.

Uh regarding, I want to read this.

I don't have time now, but I like what you said, and I probably will read it before the meeting is over.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Council President.

I'm sorry, thank you, Councilwoman.

Councilwoman Bay.

Uh, thank you, Council President.

Um, I know that we're all you know happy that the the weather is warming up and we're getting a little reprieve from the snow, and it definitely was a very challenging situation, but just wanted to just make sure that it was clear that every call, every text, every email to me personally and to our office has been responded to, every single one.

And we made sure that we contacted the proper authorities, and everyone has been doing the best that they could to make sure that there was a proper response to every resident inquiry.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Uh Councilman Ramos.

Yeah, just real quick.

I know Ms.

Bain made a comment about the handicap parking signs were being removed, so if she can just give us some details, that it could be a whole host of reasons why a sign was removed from a particular property, but just curious to see what what happened in the instance that she referenced.

Thank you.

So get the information from Ms.

Bay regarding the removal of the uh sign.

Thank you.

Uh anything from the administration.

Uh Melvin Waldrup, uh Chief of Staff, Office of the Business Administrator.

Uh just a few things.

Uh first, uh, in terms of uh snow.

Uh yeah.

Come on.

Ms.

Doc.

Ms.

Doc.

Well, let's let's speak.

Everybody else gave you the opportunity when you spoke not to interrupt.

Right.

Please.

It was a difficult uh snowstorm.

Uh, but again, I'm not here to deny the reality of the people who experience challenges with the snowstorm.

One of the things that we have to do is uh review what went right, what went wrong, and we have to correct what went wrong so that it's not repeated again.

Uh so that's it with respect to snow.

If uh directorem is here and he wants to say anything more about that, uh he's welcome to do so.

But we'll be doing an after-action report again to determine what went right, what went wrong, and we need to correct what went wrong because we should not be repeating uh that again.

And I walk a lot in the city, so I experienced a lot of what you experienced in terms of stepping over snow banks, okay.

So that's what I want to say uh with respect to uh the snow.

Uh with respect uh to the budget.

It's customary when you start preparing a budget, you normally get more requests in than you have money uh to fund.

But again, we can't submit a budget with a deficit to the city council.

So we're in the process right now of putting together a uh budget, and when that budget comes to the city council, it will be a balanced uh budget.

Uh expenditures will or revenue will cover the uh expenditures.

Uh also I would like to uh just uh commend uh Mr.

Uh Youngblood.

Uh his uh comments were uh you know very appropriate with respect to transparency, and what I would encourage him to do is that we will be submitting a budget to the city council, and hopefully, uh Councilman Gonzales, that will come very soon in a few weeks or so.

But when that budget is submitted to the city council, what I would encourage you to do is to come and ask those types of questions because again, the budget is one of the most important things that local government does, and that needs to be transparency in that.

So I would uh encourage you to come and participate uh in that process.

Thank you.

Come on now, Miss Doc.

Ms.

Doc, you know better.

Please, just please come on.

We've been doing so well.

Let's go before counsel.

Sure.

Uh good evening, Kenyatta City of Lord Corporation Council.

So I know there has been uh a number of comments and reference to slum lords.

I think that's something that we all agree on, and the fact that you know we can't let these folks get away with some of the things that they're doing to the people that live in this community.

Um, as you know, um it's no secret we have gone over, we've gone after some of these landlords for a number of things, including issues with moles and leaks and holes in the walls and elevator issues and you know, rodents and things of that nature, as you know, improper windows and things of that nature.

Uh tomorrow the mayor will be signing an executive order in reference to uh you know another way to combat this issue when it comes to uh slamlords going after the worst, going after the worst landlords there are in the city.

Uh, we're gonna create a list and it will give us an opportunity to stop them from getting tax abatements, uh, you know, pilots and things of that nature.

So he'll be doing that tomorrow at 10 o'clock.

And then I also recognize that there was some comments about the um the hundred dollar homes recognizing that that's another way that we are trying to move forward with helping folks with affordable housing.

We know that there's affordable housing crisis uh in the state and of course in the city, and as a result of that, uh you know, we've done a number of things, including, of course, you know, simple things that we've done from sometimes on IGO and um you know different things on Section A housing and things of that nature.

Uh, but this situation here is it's a specific opportunity for North uh uh developers to get involved with providing affordable housing for the people within the city.

Um all of the deeds have to have a uh 50 percent uh area meeting minimum minimum link income uh when it comes to rental of the properties for 15 years, all of the deeds have to have that as a requirement, or the key the houses will be taken back.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Uh I uh uh uh uh you want to go first one okay.

All right, uh Deputy Mayor.

Asalaam Lake Sandra.

Uh you know, I I I came, you know, I was the baiting rather I should come up here, but I think it's important that I come up here because I was actually accused of a crime tonight, and I want to clear that up.

And especially I want to clear it up, and I know I'm facing y'all, but I'm really talking to my mom because y'all got my mother involved into this foolishness.

And my mother's 77 years old.

I married my stepfather last year.

I don't know how long I got with her.

And uh to get her involved into this political foolishness just like really just pisses me off.

But I've never went to Brother Mohammed and asked him to make a deal with me.

Not one time.

It would actually be a quit pro pro for me to go to him and say, hey, you drop your lawsuit, and we'll drop such and such.

That never occurred.

As a matter of fact, I did what I always do, because I'm trying to be peacemaker here, and I'm still trying to be peacemaker with Brother Mohammed, who actually is like a father figure to me because I've known him since I was a baby.

And to see this vitriol and the things that he's saying and stuff, some of the stuff that he's just making up just really disturbs me.

I went to him based on me and the mayor have a conversation and said, listen, let's move forward.

Brother Alif is the one who said that I just filed a lawsuit, I'm gonna drop the lawsuit.

And I said, I don't have anything to do with that.

I can't tell you what to do.

Whatever you want to do with that is on you.

But we're moving forward.

Let's move forward.

You know what I'm saying?

That's that's what I wanted to do was to make peace.

Let's move forward.

Whatever was going on, let's just move forward.

Not this, let's make a deal.

I don't know what he's talking about.

He did say something about the investigation.

I said, I don't have nothing to do with that.

If you've done that, that's on that.

Let it go.

I have nothing to do with that.

I don't have anything to hide.

I'm a transparent individual.

And I don't like my character to be assassinated on this mic.

And I really don't like the nonsense that's going on.

That now my mother is responding to this foolishness.

So I'm asking my mother, to be honest with you.

Ma, please.

Your son is big enough and strong enough.

I've been a union leader in the city.

I've been arrested in the city.

I'd have been maced in this council speaker.

I done did a whole lot of things.

I'm old enough to handle the business that comes to this mic myself.

I don't need you to get involved in this stuff.

But I do need individuals to correct the facts.

Brother, I already like to talk about tapes.

I'll tell them to show you a tape where Rakma Hamman said, let's make a deal.

I bet you you can't produce that.

Because I never said that.

And so if you're gonna come up here and you're gonna say something like that, just tell the truth.

I don't have anything to hide.

I am upset that him and the individual, because it is just one individual that he's upset with, can't get together and make peace.

I think this is just nonsense.

That's what we going on.

We assassinating African American developers' characters, we accusing them of crimes.

We got like we got folks up in here just saying some of the most ridiculous things.

Some of the most ridiculous things.

In black history month, by the way.

You know what I'm saying?

Some of the most ridiculous things.

Like, some of this nonsense got to stop.

If you don't like somebody, you don't want to support them, you don't want great.

I've been in campaigns before.

I have no beef with Gail.

As a matter of fact, I want to be clear because I don't know what he's talking about his face about Gail.

I asked Amina doing the campaign.

Do not, we are not gonna disrespect Gail.

That's not what we're gonna do.

Run a positive campaign.

I've known Gail since 1995.

I'm real close to Gail.

I'm not here to turn around and cause these type of confusion.

You do not have to support me.

You don't have to support Amina, you don't have to support the mayor.

We also have a right to defend and run and get people to support us.

That is what democracy is about.

And then the in the clown show behind me that want to just keep on screaming out.

You know what I'm saying?

Because they don't want the truth.

They want their truth that they want their opinions to go on without you saying the truth.

It's just gotta stop.

And the public gotta understand that.

Election time is here.

People are running for office.

You have a right to run for office, and we also have a right to run.

Steve Olimar used to say to me all the time, everybody got a right to run.

What you don't have is a right to win.

And we're gonna make sure that we win again.

All right.

Councilman uh Kentana.

Mr.

President, in terms of what the corporation council indicated about the slum lords, there was a great meeting yesterday.

Uh with the central war.

Councilwoman Bay, my friend.

Ms.

Bomadi, I'm sorry, Miss Bomani.

Can you please stop talking so that we can hear?

And and and councilwoman uh round tree.

And we listened.

And you know, sometimes people don't, you know, there was, and I and I commend the administration for that executive order.

Because we heard last night uh the human cry of people who live at Tunavada and and uh via Victoria, and we listened.

So, you know, in terms of we were listening, but I'm excited that that executive order is taking place uh and shutting some of these places and and and dealing with the tax abatements, whether we have to revoke those tax abatements so that the people of the city can have a quality of life.

You know, the other thing um a little trouble, you know.

I fight for issues, not only here, I fought for issues around the National League of Cities, not for just one group or every single person around the country.

I stood up for CDBG grants, and we cannot get caught up if I want to sponsor a resolution.

I have a sponsor of many resolutions on this body, but it's not we can't make this about I don't do something for, but I'm doing it for this group.

No, I believe in the city that I love, and I believe in the diversity of the city.

For someone to put me in a situation that I'm only looking to do help somebody, and it's not so.

I I stood when some of you were not around with CDBG grants that were being cut around the country.

I stood that charge, Councilman Tucker and others, but I'm not gonna let people try to take advantage of just hearing me like I'm only trying to help some parents that want to have child care for their children.

That's important to us, and I know the homeless situation, and we you know, I know the homeless situation at a different level.

I have thought dealt with issues with homeless issues at the National League of Cities and advocated.

I have dealt with a lot of issues that concern us, but I'm not gonna be allowed to be taken that I'm just gonna do something for some group.

I believe that I got elected to serve every single citizen of the city, and regardless of where you come from, or regardless of what ward you live in, but I'm not gonna let my name be put around like that.

Look, I I take stance.

Sometimes I've been controversial on issues, but I say to you today that I was that resolution was given to me, I didn't create it.

Citizens came before us to give us these concerns.

So I just wanted to clear the record and put my and and and and protect my name and my my integrity, and I will take that anyone who doesn't want to understand that that's okay.

But I have integrity.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councilman.

Anything else from the council?

All right, but before we get to the moving on, uh no you you Mr.

Alamine, you will be removed from the chambers for yelling out like this.

You know you're disrupting the meeting.

You will be removed from the chambers.

All right.

Do you want to be removed from the chambers?

Because that can be arranged.

That can be arranged.

You know what?

Officers, please remove Mr.

Elamine from the chambers.

All I ask is just for you to let the process go.

No one interrupted you when you spoke.

We're conducting the business of the city.

And let's let have it done.

I'm gonna say two other things I want to mention.

One, I I think it's uh I'll use the word ridiculous to think that we don't care about our seniors.

We care about our seniors.

You may not see it, it may not be on Facebook, but I can tell you for almost four for four weeks in a row, I've been dealing with two Nevada.

I've been at that building three weeks in a row.

I've met with the owner, the management, the the tenants, everyone to try to help alleviate the issues that they're having.

To say that we don't is ridiculous.

It's absolutely ridiculous because we don't do things the way you want us to do it, that's a problem.

We all can work together, but we may not all have the same path that we've got there.

But I can tell you that everyone up here cares about our seniors, and so that's absolutely ridiculous.

Second thing I'm just gonna say is somebody mentioned somebody uh in Penn Station.

I won't throw the name out because I think that's their business, but I will say this.

I received a text message regarding that matter.

I called uh the director, uh homelessness.

They went out, they went to see her.

In fact, I got a picture of them with her to see that they were taking care of doing what they needed to do for her.

So, you know, you you people say certain things but don't know the full story, and so that's the full story about what happened with that matter.

With that being said, and Ms.

Doc, I mean, come on, Miss Doc, it's Doc.

We're not gonna keep going in and out like this.

We're not.

Let's go to the agenda.

We are on page four, the regular agenda.

I have six ordinances on public hearings, second reading, and final passage.

Six P SFA is a refunding bond ordinance authorizing the issuance of 30 million one hundred thousand dollars.

Is there anyone present wishing to be heard on this ordinance?

Yes, Deborah Salters.

Is this the 30 million that we are paying back that we owe in March?

And can we get an explanation of what's going on here?

So if the if Mr.

Guzman or whoever finance can get up here, and I don't know why y'all are so mad.

Really?

When we're asking questions, you blow up and get mad.

And then you start talking about us attacking your character.

We're not attacking your character.

You're our public servants.

You work for we the people, we pay your salaries, your raises, your cars, your gas, all of that.

But you get mad.

No one's attacking your character.

I asked the question because your actions show what your priorities are.

You can't tell me you love me and then treat me like trash.

Actions don't match.

Don't get upset.

Fix it.

We've been saying the same thing for years.

But y'all get mad, and then you say you try to work with the people.

So I'm sorry, Miss Ms.

Uh Salters.

Salters.

We're on this ordinance right now.

Yeah, and I asked the question about the ordinance.

So okay.

When you finish.

And what so I want an explanation about the ordinance?

But y'all can't be getting mad either about what we're asking you.

It is your uh duty to respond.

So we'll have a response when you finish, but Miss Dock, before you get up, I was gonna ask Mr.

Guzman to come up and explain it.

No, no, wait a minute.

You want to speak first?

All right.

Um, because I just want to know if this is the 30 million dollars that Mr.

Baraka talked about in the article where he said he needed to borrow it so that he didn't have to raise taxes on the residents, um, because he said the average salary in New York was 36,000, and I spoke about that then, saying if that's the average salary, then why when it comes to affordable housing?

People you saying that the minimum you can make is 45,000.

So I need to know if this is what that 30 million is this is the same 30 million.

Because what I don't want to happen is for you keep the furring it, you're not voting on it, then come May 13th, if just he so happened to win, and then he wanted uh go forward with raising the taxes, because then it would be all BS.

Because I want I want the BS to be up front.

Is this the 30 million that was in the article, Larry?

They said he needed to borrow so that he did not have to raise taxes, like the rest of the municipalities have already did.

Um, because Joe, it started with Joe D.

I know we don't like to talk about him.

I know some of you do, you know, the the Negroes, I know you're scared of him, you're afraid of him.

And so you don't want to address it, starts with him.

These taxes started with him.

So is that the 30 million, Larry?

Or anybody else?

Thank you.

That got the nerve.

Ms.

Jackson, if you want you coming.

Okay, all right, Eric.

Mr.

Guzman, Director Guzman.

Uh good evening, Council President, Council members, uh, Benjamin Guzman, acting finance director.

Um, to the question as to uh this 30 million one hundred thousand dollars, the borrowing, is it to pay back the state loan, which is due on March 3rd?

Yes, that is correct.

We are doing a three-year bond anticipation note to be able to spread out the cost of paying this uh 30 million dollars to the state over the next three years.

That is the smallest impact that we can't do it in for the city of Norway.

Otherwise, we would be required to raise that 30 million in the 2026 budget.

As to the second question as to whether or not that's what the mayor was referencing.

I cannot answer to that because I do not know the specifics as to what the mayor was speaking to.

So I am not aware of that, but I can't say that this is to pay the 30 million dollars that the city owes the state of New Jersey, which is due on March 3rd.

Thank you, Director.

Ms.

Doc, please, so we can hear, you got us in the worst position we could ever be in.

We have not made the bond payment at the county, which means the bondholder is going to be owning part of this city.

We have not confirmed whether or not we're gonna do this 30 million dollar bond, and that might not hold us either, because you just asked the state for some more money.

So if we don't make this payment on March the 3rd, thank you for clarifying that, young man.

Because you know, Mr.

Pennington would have got up here and say, Oh, no, no, that's not for that.

No, you know, Miss Jackson, you're wrong, and Lisa Parker and uh Deborah Salters and Cassaram Dadok and Munier Bonani and uh uh uh Jahad uh George Tillman, thank you, amen.

Y'all don't know what y'all talking about, denial denial denial now.

We're gonna refund the bond that y'all done used 15 times, and I don't know when we're gonna pay that.

I guess my granddaughter, who's now four, I guess her children's children will still be paying for this.

And then we don't have a 2025 budget approved, nor do we have a 2024, and if you don't believe me, go on the state website yourself.

Do it now, do it.

It's no money there, none.

People of North, we better be outraged.

We have no money.

Y'all talking about rolling over the retro pay in the 2026, you ain't even got 2025, you don't even know what 2026 budget look like because you ain't did 2025, and these people still wait for their money.

You borrow money from the county to pay the uniform check.

Oh, trust me, Donna's on top of it.

So, how much more money we gonna keep borrowing?

How long we gonna stay in the deficit?

And I get it.

Y'all got this slick move, approving budget here, emergency appropriation.

Y'all got that from Corey, because y'all don't know nothing about that.

I get it, because he's a slickster.

He left us in this deficit.

Sharp James left $600 million on the table.

Cory Booker spent that daggone money in two years, and boy, thunder and lightning could come through here right now on what he spent it on.

Come on, y'all.

How many more budgets?

How many more bonds?

How many transfers?

Y'all gonna kill these people when that reval comes out and these two budgets get passed.

These people don't understand that you guys have truly given us the shaft up the shaft.

That's for you, Larry.

Because I know I didn't I was gonna cuss, but you know, in the spirit of Black History Month, and my dad and mom is watching.

I know I have to watch that now.

But y'all gotta do better.

Y'all gotta admit, you had to admit that you gotta roll the retro pay over.

It took us to squeeze the blood out you for you liars to say that.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Y'all know what treason is.

This is this is treason.

No other way to describe it.

Treason.

You bonding off the city assets to pay your budget with all this money that you've been flying around the city.

Like I said in the beginning.

Grass robbed the bank, and you all drove the gateway car.

And this is this is criminal.

And if the people of North vote y'all are all back in office, this sign yourself in the sand isala.

Don't do it.

Because this is insanity.

No other way to describe it.

Insanity.

And you don't even have a uh a plan on how to avoid this.

Y'all.

Because you're in charge of the budget.

You could strike out.

So let me tell you what some places you need to strike out.

Strike out is executive protection.

I guarantee you you'll get half of the half of this bond you want to pay off.

Strike out uh deducting your salaries that y'all increase.

And you're doing nothing on behalf of the lifelong residents of this city.

Who lifeline is in this city?

Nothing.

We ain't got nothing against you trying to go for the immigrants or whatever.

But how about the indigenous northwest of this city?

You got nothing.

And then you want to get mad.

And you want to talk stop about people coming up here telling them that you're no good pieces of crap.

Because that's what you are.

Crap.

Democrats.

And if you vote for these Democrats, demonic cracks.

Again, you just go sign yourself in a saying of solemn locus.

Because you're gonna be underwater.

Like you are now.

You can look up there like you want.

You can ban me from the uh speaker.

Cause she's gonna get it.

The person who uh removed my name.

You're gonna get it.

The lawsuit is just gonna keep piling up.

Y'all gotta get it.

And then another thing.

Go collect the debt from these corporations and these developers.

And almost in the billions.

Probably trillions.

We're the laundry list uh uh uh shock me at of all these corporations owe us money.

You are disgusting.

You are a travesty, and there's nothing to say good about none of you.

You are disgusted.

Next speaker.

Saying non-public hearing is now closed.

Roll called council members bay, yes.

Council?

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

Yes, Silva, yes, President Crump.

Yes.

B is an ordinance authorizing the First Amendment to the original tax abatement granted to Cathedral Park Associates LP for an affordable housing project in the North Ward.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard on this ordinance?

Well, Deborah Salters, okay.

So looking at this, right?

It is saying until August 31st, 2043.

Huh?

Huh?

And is it truly affordable?

Like we talked about.

That should be 30% of the person's income taking care of their housing and utilities.

Is this the truly affordable?

Or is this the uh buzzword to make it look good and say yes?

2043?

Why?

Someone needs to explain this.

I mean, I've read this like several times.

Uh the housing assistance payment renewal contract, renewal contract for an affordable housing project located 147, 153 Clifton Ev, 92 Mount Prospects, designated, okay, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

2043, though.

I need an explanation for this.

And how affordable is it?

Because that's important.

We're gonna find out who sponsored it.

Uh, First Amendment to the original tax abatement.

Granted.

Okay, so this seems like the amendment to the amendment.

An extension, you know, so I need this like a mix of a word salad up here, but that 2043 is really resonating.

So can someone explain this and how this is going to benefit the residents of Newark?

Next speaker.

When I look at uh the council agenda, and I see and hear a beatman, beat man, abatement.

Listen to the residents in the community who come before you and say, they never get an abatement, they never get in the bait, man.

And the elder that spoke earlier said that I believe at one time they did a small little abatement thing for them for five years.

Five years.

Why couldn't she get 17 years?

Why couldn't our people get the 20 and 30 year tax abatements that have been doled out by the city council over the course of years?

Basically, what I'm getting at is I think the city council, somebody on the council who's the lawyer brain and the reader and the writer, you guys need to get together and really really, really sit down and go over all these tax abatements that are being doled out on this city dime and revisit them.

And like the sister just to see how they actually benefit the residents in this community.

If these things don't, how is a 17-year extension?

Meaning they had a it's not being mentioned uh as to what the original uh uh uh uh tax abatement was that's now being extended, but 17 years from the original, like God, that gotta be at least 30 years now.

We talk about right, 40 years.

What are we talking about here?

Do uh listen, we understand this is the business of the city, but the people are the city.

So the business of you guys of the elected officials, as I said earlier, is that you work for the people, period.

Not for these people is getting 30 year abatements, not for the corporations, not for I would have to agree, Doug.

Listen, I helped to lock the doors of the prudential center.

Yes, if the picture still exists, is I I was right there, one of the ones to put the chain on.

They owe us money.

The people who owe us money with it's so hard about going to get the money we owe, giving the residents of this city tax abatements and taxing these people.

I mean, it's just fair questions, and we deserve the people deserve answers to those questions.

Seriously.

To sit up there like you're just mute means like you're just sitting there like next speaker.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Mr.

Bond.

See, you don't like that, right?

It's crazy.

Exactly.

We get that.

Oh, I don't want to go.

Okay.

We're doing all these tax abatements under the guise of development.

Not one developer has poured into this city.

You guys don't even know, especially that boy over there in the corner, because he don't.

And for the seniors that offended for me calling him boy, y'all gotta take it on the chin because you have no idea the damage that has been done in this city by this boy.

He's the worst mayor the city has ever had.

He has driven us into financial ruin, and we still continue to give the LLC boys everything.

During the snowstorm, I need to ask.

Not picking on the North Ward, was the front of this property shovel?

Did we write any co-enforcement violations?

I know we didn't.

Does this property owe any water?

Does this property own any taxes?

Because see, before you guys vote, you need to know that.

Because one thing for sure, and two things for certain in this city, the LLC boys get taken care of better than anybody.

And Larry, no disrespect.

You will talk about the seniors and y'all loving them all you want.

But it's owners like this.

And the rest of them across the city, particularly those that own multiple buildings.

That put our people in this position.

Not just the seniors, the families.

But I can't, you know, fault them because the mayor.

He allowed it.

We don't enforce any regulations.

Everybody in code enforcement, not civil service, they don't know the law, they don't know the code.

So when they write it up and they go to court with the LLC boys, they able to say, oh, Donna's not certified, because Sandra's not certified.

Deborah's not certified.

I don't even want to pick on Jerusalem.

I'm sorry, I just want to because I love her.

Amin is not certified.

A neighbor's not certified, and it gets dismissed because there's no certification.

There's no grounds for it to stand.

We're talking about we don't have money.

If we was writing the proper tickets with all this stuff going on, I told y'all guys a little while ago.

When the last time we wrote a do not block the box ticket.

Because you can't move around this city.

How dare us the right one?

Let's get some real revenue.

But I want to know.

Any of the buildings, and I'm not just picking on this one.

My brother over there in the North War.

Do they owe us any money before this is granted?

And if they do, you're not gonna give them a waiver payment.

They're gonna pay in full.

We need the money.

Y'all getting ready to kill these homeowners out here.

Y'all know what these taxes are gonna look like?

Because the taxes in Irvington tripled in six months.

And it's gonna be worse with the rebound in North and y'all know it.

So stop playing games with people's lives.

You're really hurting these seniors that own these homes.

Thank you for your comments next speaker.

I guess what I'm trying to understand is if they had an abatement, and throughout the years of them having the abatement, did it benefit the tenants that live there?

So why if we at the end of the abatement?

Because they said when they originally got it, they only need it for those years.

Why do they need another one?

You gotta make the people, including myself, understand it.

Like, are you trying to make me believe that they need the abatement because they need to keep the rent down?

Because I'm not gonna believe that.

Because every year the rent goes up 5% or whatever uh the percentage is so Larry, you the president?

That's what you are, right?

You need to explain so that we can understand, providing you know, not providing you know, because if you don't know, don't say nothing.

Don't say one word.

Let the sponsor talk.

Why would they need it, Larry?

Why would they need an extension?

Why would they need more years?

How is the tenant benefiting from them having more years?

Because normally sometimes when you get the abatement, it's doing the development.

They developed already.

It's there.

So please, you got to make people understand because when you don't do that, it makes those of us that's so aggravated.

That's why I love Trump being in office, because he aggravates y'all the same way y'all aggravate us.

Because he is the last Don.

So I you gotta explain it, Larry.

For the audience that's listening, for those of us that's sitting here, for those of us that came to the mic, explain why these this person that owns this, because they're not developing nothing.

It's done.

And then take a go over to the residence and ask them, hey, how the tenants, how would you feel about the developed uh the owner getting another 17 years?

Ask them, do they think he or she or them deserve it, Larry?

Go ask them.

Well, you know what?

They ain't gonna be award.

Gaza was going out, because I was go over there, speak the language, if it's a majority of the Hispanics that's living there, ask them and then come back here and tell me, cousin.

Okay, tell me.

I need to know.

Go ask them.

Go ask them, Silver.

Go ask them.

Not them.

I don't need them.

I need jaw.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

I learned the people who's sponsoring this bill.

Who's sponsoring this abatement?

Which one of y'all?

Which one of y'all?

Say I.

Raise your hand.

Oh, lift them up.

And what is the purpose of the amendment?

And who is the developer?

Who's the owner?

And does he fund you any of y'all campaigns?

And why are you going all the way to 2043?

Who?

Which one of y'all?

Is it Rainbows who said we was gonna do an assessment on tax abatements?

To figure out if they uh, you know, keeping up with their uh uh agreement that's under a 20, 30 year tax abatement, is it really affordable?

Because I don't think any uh things affordable here in the city of Newark.

What's affordable?

What are you calling affordable for new workers who are living in poverty?

What do you call affordable?

Anybody answering?

Where's uh what's the lady at?

Where's her assistant at?

Anybody uh well you say after we speak, you gotta say who's sponsoring this because you don't give so many people tax abatements.

Look at Georgia King, tax abatement and money.

What was that?

172 million and look at the conditions, the spires, black man, and all these other chancellor, these astronomical tax abatements, and none of y'all ain't done to stop talking about transparency, will you?

Because you're none of y'all ain't doing that, and you don't have nobody to do it.

Like Donna said, there's no real life inspectors here.

This is just a travesty.

It is really, it is it is a travesty.

That's why when people come here and say, Come on, Trump, come on in, come on, Haba, come on, pay a bondy, come on, come on, hard accepting uh uh second tabby, come on in here, Ms.

Bamani.

Please speak to the ordinance.

This ain't speaking to it.

How are you gonna you gotta stop the slabby for real?

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Say none public hearing is now closed.

Administration, Mr.

Good evening, good evening, Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development.

In regards to the uh ordinance before you in September of 2023, uh, this developer entered into an agreement with HUD for a housing assistance payment renewal contract for a period of 20 years.

That extended to the Section 8 assisted payment programs for the tenants until August 31st of 2043.

Um, per estate statute, if a developer is um can agree to continue the tax exemption for um any LLC for state or federally funded subsidized housing projects, as long as they are in compliance with the state or the federal government at any time if they are out of compliance with the state or federal government program, they we have the right to terminate the exemption of our end, and the state and the federal government can terminate the agreement on their end as well.

This is a fully 100% affordable project um building, and everyone in the building is a section eight recipient.

Thank you, Miss Daniel, Mr.

President, uh Councilman Ramos.

Yeah, I I had um raised the issue about whether there are any pending violations with uh North Municipal Court.

We we did check there were some complaints about the elevators.

I did get uh an update that there was um replacement done with with the elevators in the building.

There were some inspection issues that the city typically is delayed with.

Um, but but but some of the matters that the residents had reached out to us about have been addressed as far as uh we know.

So thank you, councilman.

Anything else from the council?

Uh councilman.

Uh just receive a a call from uh someone indicating that uh they are waiting for the inspection from the engineering department, inspect the elevator inspector.

That's something that we have discussed here many times and have requested that the city uh there's a contract with the towns around us so that we can have the those inspections done on a timely basis.

Is it it's not happening?

It's uh it's delaying uh let's say construction, delaying rent collection on those buildings, delay a occupancy on new construction, so a lot of people are losing a lot of money because we do not have inspectors to go there and inspect the elevators.

I believe it's best due that we do that.

Thank you, councilman.

Anything else from the council?

Hearing none roll call.

Council members bay, yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana?

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

C is an ordinance providing for a CAP ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a CAP bank.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard in this ordinance?

So let's do this before somebody comes up.

I know we do this every year, but uh director Guzman, you can give a brief explanation.

Good evening.

Uh Councilman, Councilmember's uh Benjamin's mind acting finance director.

Uh the uh cap ordinance they have before you night uh statutorily, any municipality in the state of New Jersey is only permitted to increase their appropriations, which is the expenditures, by two percent over the prior year's expenditures, which we had budgeted in 2025.

Uh this ordinance allows the municipality to increase that up to a maximum of three percent, and then I'm sorry, three percent or three and a half percent.

My apologies.

Uh and then if we do not increase it up to that maximum amount with of the the new or higher amount, that difference we're allowed to bank for future years.

That bank then, whatever particular year is only valid for a three-year period.

So after three years, whatever was banked that was not used will be canceled out.

That enables uh us, the city of New York and any municipality of the state of New Jersey to be able to meet its requirements as far as expenditures for uh services and uh any other uh costs for the city.

Thank you, Mr.

Guzman.

Anything from the council?

All right.

Public hearing?

Council President Oh, I'm sorry, Councilwoman Scott Brown Tree.

I I just wanted to address uh oh yeah, Mr.

Vaughn, um, when he was talking about the tax abatements for the residents, and um, I think some of us for sure up here that have sat um with residents in this city.

We went over to Society Hill to try to address even with Ms.

uh Parker that was entitled um with K of Nanyan or whoever the developer was to give them 30 years.

My concern then became so they want an extension for the residents there.

What happens to the new homeowners because they didn't get the benefit of those 30 years.

So we are looking into it.

We're working with um, we haven't sat with her yet, but working with the tax department and some of my colleagues, and we are going to revisit that.

It just has not been set on the back because I believe our residents, especially our seniors.

Um, the little money today, a little couple hundred dollars, is just really not enough.

And I don't know how we're going to get this done, but at some point, um, but we do have to go to the state, but we definitely, as lawmakers for the municipality, you have to see how we can fix helping our homeowners, especially our new homeowners, be able to benefit from an abatement as well.

So it's not falling on deaf ears, because myself, uh, Mike Silva, Andrew Pray Kelly, um that well, I know myself and Councilman have had uh some conversation, but myself and now councilman council, which sit on the tax abatement committee.

We'll definitely have to revisit that.

But the enlarged candidates, we all went over to the central ward.

Now we have councilwoman and meeting bay, but then this affects the whole city because the people that own houses in the whole city, new homeowners every day are coming up in the whole city, young people buying houses that don't have the benefit of those tax abatements in the whole city.

So there's there's something that we definitely have to put on record and into law to benefit um homeowners as well.

So it's not gonna fall on deaf ears.

Thank you so much.

Mr.

Vaughn, thank you, Council President.

Uh I'm sorry.

Yeah, if I may Councilman Gonzalez.

Yeah, the statute provides that they say if you buy a new home, you have a tax available for five years.

Five years.

Let's say you cannot have a tax available for more than five years as provided by the statute.

In buildings, it's different.

In buildings in this a high prices is different.

The law allows up to 30 years tax abatements.

So that's why they say the homeowners cannot benefit from the 30-year tax abatement because the law doesn't allow it to happen.

Right.

That what could happen is that let's say the state changed the statute, and then we have to follow the statute.

But until that is until that happens, we have to grant five years to the homeowners and 2025 and up to 30 years, depending on the length of the mortgage to the for the buildings.

Thank you, Councilman.

Public hearing is open on 60 SFC.

So Mr.

Goosma Hart.

Mr.

Guzman, you already came up and you spoke about this.

And I think I heard you say 2% or something.

You gave a percentage, did you or did you not?

Right?

The issue I'm having is you verbally said that, but it's not written here.

So, you know, we have a slick mayor, very slick, very slick with what he does.

So I need for any for them to before you take the vote on this, you need to put that percentage in here, like he said.

Because this reminds me of something Chris Christie did when he was in office.

I just can't remember all the details of it.

But I know Chris put the 2% or he put some type of cap.

And so you you seem like you mirroring what you saw big guy do.

And if you are, do like big guy did.

Put that 2% in here, Busman.

Because it's not here.

You know?

Because you'll be gone.

And just here somebody getting them Chanel bracelets.

I don't know who.

But somebody getting them.

Um now.

If it's if the state, if you go on by state laws in terms of um residents not being able to get the same thing as developers, and this why I have a problem with us not being involved in our state assembly and our state senators' elections, because most of us in here don't even know who's ours is.

Yeah, okay.

Well, speaking to the ordinance because I'm talking about I'm talking about the previous one.

You're right.

But you know, I'm just trying to throw that in there real quick because I missed it on the other.

All right, Lap.

Thank you for your comments, next speaker.

Is that in there, Guzman?

Yeah, Deborah Saltis.

I will agree with Ms.

Doc.

Um, we need all of the transparency we can get.

So a lot of things are said verbally, but if it's not written, it's not done.

Okay.

So we need to see that before you all yes, yes, yes, around the board.

Because you'll say yes to this, but it's not in here.

He mentioned two percent.

We need to see the two percent.

You amend stuff on the floor all the time.

So you can amend the wording and all of that before you vote yes for transparency, since you care for us so much, we want to see it in writing.

Thank you, Max Speaker.

All the laws are buried.

Donna Jackson.

2% increase allows up to 3.5.

It's a lot of money.

Thank you, Councilman Gonzalez.

You said allows up to 30%.

So stop doing it.

Stop doing it.

It says allow up to.

Y'all jump in at 30.

Right?

The boy in the corner got y'all doing that.

I get it.

It's election time, so let's let everybody come on in for free, and nothing for the residents.

A new homeowner only gets five years.

I kind of sort of get it.

Don't really get it, but I kind of sort of get it.

Okay.

Because some of these developers, they're not going to live here.

So I understand.

I understand.

But what I don't understand is how the complex is out here when you're giving all this money away to everybody else.

So I have to stop you, Ms.

Jackson, only to say that the capital is the board.

I was talking about caps.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yes.

Okay, the cap.

Okay.

I'll go back.

No problem.

I got you, Lamb.

Council McCrone.

Okay.

So when we're talking about caps, and we're talking about 2%.

I'm using your budget paper.

Mayor's office salaries, $3.5 million.

Other expenses, 4.9.

That's $5 million.

What are the other expenses?

And if you think we're gonna sit in here tonight, especially me, and let this boy over there in that office use another 3%, 3.5% on that 4.0 on that $5 million, y'all crazy.

We don't know what that is.

If it's only $3.5 million to pay the staff over there, what is he doing with this other $5 million?

There's no breakdown, and it's y'all paperwork.

Budget, caps.

Let's go to the Department of Engineering.

We just said we don't have nobody over there.

How the salary is two million dollars?

Who we paying?

Who we paying?

And then the other expenses are 2.8.

How are the expenses in these departments already double what it costs to pay the staff?

And then now we could do 3.5 more percent.

Seriously.

So because it's not clear, because we have concerns, because this cap ordinance is scary, because like he said, up to 30.

It's a problem.

Now, thanks for the clarification, Councilman Ramos, in terms of what that building does, because that makes a difference.

Makes a difference.

Why isn't some of the other ones that are alleged affordable units offering the subsidy?

I mean, it's just a legitimate question.

Because what you need to get into these other buildings where y'all building all this nonsense, that that Washington Street is gonna be empty forever.

Because New York ain't coming over here to live in that.

Definitely not.

But we have to be careful with this cat.

Because you guys need to find out when we're gonna get this retro pay money that we were supposed to pay last year.

Amen.

Thank you for your comments, next speaker.

Y'all over the budget.

First of all, you shouldn't be over no budget, period.

Y'all don't even have you y'all incapable of doing anything for the city of New York budget, period.

Cat, whatever you gotta do, there needs to be an independent monitor over our whole budget.

Period.

This ordinance shouldn't even be uh uh voted on by neither one of y'all, it should be a no budget for y'all.

That's the ordin should be it should be calling on an independent monitor, which we had well uh uh before Murphy came in and took took it away.

Say say speak to the ordinance, go ahead.

Yeah, I see a hand going up like you wanna what you miss Bomani.

So is there anybody out in uh the world that's listening?

Take our budget up out of their hands.

We are in a budget crisis, whatever they trying to do here with this ordinance, they are incapable.

I don't even know why people listening to what you're what you responded about, and what he come up here and and discuss along with everybody else, the tax assessor and everything, you're incapable of New York City budget, period.

So, residents, at the sound of my voice, put a petition in for uh uh independent monitor over our budget, period point blank, you should have no input or uh nothing, because you're incapable, and don't get mad because we say you're incapable, because look at the state of uh of our city far as the budget.

So all of this this bull crap about capping and this, this is this insanity 3.4.0, whatever you want to uh call it.

You don't even have this little uh word salad that he came up here and talked about as uh of Lisa says, Come on, so this is President Trump.

Come on, come on, uh uh Trump administration, come on, Bondi, come on, hobba, somebody thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Uh anything from the council?

Well, well, what I will say is the legislation that Mr.

Director Guzman, what Director Guzman said is in the actual legislation of this ordinance.

And so I will therefore say roll call.

Where's the two percent at Larry?

Council members Bay.

Yes.

Council.

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Kintana?

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silver.

Yes.

President Trump.

Yes.

D is an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into a five-year lease agreement with Norwick Beth Israel Medical Center for the rental space within City Own property to provide a food pharmacy.

Sponsored by councilman counsel.

Second by councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

Is there anyone wishing to be heard in this ordinance?

No, it's real quick.

Real quick.

What will bet Israel?

Okay, you know what we call it.

Death Israel.

What will they be doing that will be killing us over at 110 Williams Street?

Because they're gonna kill us.

So what are they doing over there?

Huh?

Who ought the that's wait?

What ward is that?

That's your what, Mina?

Is that the central?

That's your ward.

What are you allowing death is real to do inside of 10 Williams Street?

I like to know.

I'm gonna sit back, sweetheart, and you gotta tell me.

But you knew this was coming when you got here, right?

You already you was ready for this because you already know.

This was coming.

You know it.

But I just want to know.

They don't do well over on Lions Avenue.

They don't do well on Maple.

They stole our school, and they don't do well on Maple.

Why are you letting them inside one to do what?

Oh tell me the service, Mina.

I'm gonna sit down.

Tell your sisters of service.

Thank you for your comments next speaker.

Deborah Salters.

So I saw yesterday that the director came up and she explained that they would be doing some type of counseling and things like that.

But then Gonzalez asked, if it if they're not paying, then why is this in here?

Like there was supposed to be some things fixed in here.

Are they paying a dollar or are they paying $10?

You know, usually when you say they're renting space or something, you know.

So I watched the whole thing.

So when it said lease agreement, but she said they weren't paying anything.

So has that been rectified?

Because the paperwork looks the same from the meeting yesterday when Gonzalez asked the question about if they're not paying, then why is it this way?

So can somebody clarify that?

Has that been rectified?

Thank you.

Comments next speaker.

Um the hesitation is the entity that we're partnering with.

We got a lot of issues going on over there as we called it death Israel.

However, this is going to be in conjunction in addition to the WIC program.

Which needs to happen because I know expecting mothers that were coming into WIC several places.

St.

Michael's UMDJ, the health department.

They used to have like bagels, etc.

juice for the young ladies and the children.

So this is going to be an addition to, I think it's a good thing.

The concern is the lease time.

Robert Wood Johnson has millions.

They should be donating something to our health department.

Got a few things over there we need.

We did some renovation.

We need a little bit more.

I'm just saying.

I'm about people being real community partners.

We do need that food.

We do need that kitchen.

We do need the educational piece with these new mothers who really don't know, don't understand.

I hope in this nutrition thing, we're gonna talk about breastfeeding, because I know they do do that over there, but I hope since they're coming in, they're gonna help us with that.

Because we need to have those kind of conversations.

Need to have the conversation, the real conversation about formula and what it's doing.

We need to talk about mothers coming in there that are hungry while they're expecting and what they're eating.

So I hope that we're gonna watch and we're gonna monitor what's going on with that.

The WIC program is a good program.

I think we pushing the formula too much.

Personal, also research, also research.

With all that we were just going through during the pandemic, all the stuff we saw about the formula.

We need to really start talking about breastfeeding, but we also have to let our mothers know they got to be ready to breastfeed.

Because if you don't have the right nutrition, so I'm not gonna throw it all with the bath water because it's Beth is real, but we just want to watch it, and we need it, and hopefully we can incorporate with the WIC program, strengthen that, and just make sure that they're eating better at home.

I know they give the fruit, the beans, the milk, etc.

etc.

But we also need to help the mothers understand how healthy they need to be to get their children through because our uh you know, our infant stuff and our young kids, as we see with the test scores and all that, a lot of that stuff also has to do with nutrition and how we raising them at home, and we need to help with this with the nutrition and education as well.

I'll come over and do two classes for free.

The third one I had to charge you at least $12.

Okay, we can work that out.

Thank you for your comments.

Next speaker.

Saying none public speaking hearing is now closed.

Anything from the council, Council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, silver, yes, President Crump, yes, resolutions 7R1A through G are temporary emergency appropriations.

A is for the Ryan White HIV aid services, B is for Arts and Education District, C is for community policing, D is for Capital Equipment, E is for the Branch Brook Park Station Pedestrian Safety Program, F is for the Mulberry Street Bikeway and Engine Pack program, and G is for the pension funds.

Council's a whole to adopt the A through G.

Roll call council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, Silva, yes, President Crump, yes, H through K area.

Mr.

President, Councilman.

I had requested some information on the Branch Rook Park uh pedestrian improvements, and I I haven't received anything.

I know the clerk did um send a follow-up, so you could um just reiterate that I need that information.

Madam Clerk, sir H through K are purchasing contracts, H is for the public safety video surveillance equipment, I is for tires and tubes for our fleet vehicles, J is for the armed security guards, and K is for the municipal court collection agency.

Council's a whole to adopt H through K.

Roll call council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, over yes, President Clump, yes, 7R2A is a private sale for new construction of a two-family home and a new two-family home and a single family home to sell at market rate in the central and south wards.

Council as a whole to adopt, roll call, council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, Silva, yes, President Crump.

Yes, B is new construction of a three-family home consisting of one owner-occupied unit and two units will be rented at market rate in the South Board.

Council's a whole to adopt.

Roll call.

Council members bay, yes.

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

Yes.

C, there's a motion to defer by Councilman Ramos.

Second by Councilman Gonzalez.

Roll call to defer.

Council members Bay.

Bay.

Yes.

Council.

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

The defer.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Mr.

President.

Councilman Ramos.

Yeah, I had asked for this to be deferred yesterday.

First first reason was that I didn't have any familiarity with the developer and how they were selected for the property.

And then my second issue, which is a more important issue, is that the address that they note as the corporate address for this company is actually a one-family home on Grafton Avenue, which is the property that we get the most complaints about in the neighborhood.

And I want to thank the administration that had code enforcement out there yesterday.

We've we've been complaining about this property for at least a decade.

I'm not sure what's happened with many of the violations that have been issued and how they were adjudicated in the court system.

I know the corporate council shared some information with me earlier.

Um but but it's ironic that this entity which wants to build uh a brand new multifamily home in the city has um decimated a historic property in the neighborhood and made it into a construction business and and the folks from code enforcement who went out there today along with the HC saw for themselves uh what the residents and the neighbors have been complaining about for for over a decade.

So I just want to note that for the record, yeah, you councilman count uh corporation council.

Sure.

Uh so just for the record, Kenyatta store City of North Corporation Council.

I do want to thank the councilman for uh giving us the information yesterday.

Uh we did check the court records.

Uh this the property owners here have been a repeated um warrant status pay it warrant status pay it.

I'm gonna ask that the council uh require them to come here before the council before we move forward on this to give us some details about what's been going on at the property and more importantly, what's their plan for this new location before you all consider approving it?

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you next next matter, D is new construction of a two-family home with one will be sold at 80% AMI and one will be sold at market rate in the South Ward.

Council as a whole to adopt roll call council members bay, yes, council, same Gonzales, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, Silva, yes, President Crump, yes, E through I are introducing budgets for various business and special improvement districts.

E is for the Ironbound Business Improvement District, sponsored by Councilman Silva, second by Councilman Quintana, F is for the Mount Prospect Avenue Neighborhood Improvement District Management Corporation, G is for the Newark Downtown District Management Corporation, H is for the Bloomfield Avenue Lower Broadway Business Improvement District, and I is for North Alliance Incorporated.

Council's a whole to adopt E through I with sponsors, please.

Roll call.

Council members Bay, yes, Council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, Silva, yes, President Clump, yes, Jay is an agreement with a government entity authorizing the execution of a fifth amendment to the Riverside Avenue Site Tolling Agreement.

Council is a hold to adopt.

Roll call.

Council members bay, yes, council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, Silva, yes, President Crump, yes, K is requesting the Newark Central Planning Board to consider an amendment to Title 41, zoning and land use regulations regarding the fossil fuel ordinance sponsored by Council President Crump, second by Councilman Kelly, Roll Call, Council Members Bay, yes, Council, yes, Gonzalez, yes, Kelly, yes, Quintana, yes, yes, yes, Ramos, yes, Scott Roundtree, yes, Silva, yes, President Crump, yes, L and M are investigating areas in need of redevelopment, L is for property in the East Ward, and M is for property in the North Ward.

Roll call council members bay yes council yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes Silva Yes President Crump Yes 7R3A is a professional services contract for the Riverfront Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Program Council's a whole to adopt roll call council members bay yes council yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes Silva Yes President Crump Yes 7 R4A is stipulation of settlements for tax appeals council's a whole to adopt roll call council members bay yes council yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes Silva Yes President Crump Yes 7R5 A through I are contracts with sub-recipients to provide housing assistance to persons with HIV aids A is Catholic Charities B is Essis County C is Edge New Jersey D is Isaiah House E is Integrity F is Beth Israel Medical Center G is Irvington H is Positive Health Care and I is Catholic Family Community Services Council's A whole to adopt A through I Roll Call Council Members B Council Yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes on all and I abstain on B as in boy B as a boy Scott Rounttree Yes Sova Yes President Clump Yes J is acceptance of grant funds to provide for Ryan White HIV A's related health and support services council as a whole to adopt roll call council members bay yes council yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes I was a yes she said yes Silva Yes President Crump Yes 7R8A is a resolution of support supporting the reinstatement of funding for the New Jersey Childcare Society Sponsored by Councilman Quintana second by Councilman Ramos Rocal Council members Bay Yes Council Yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes Silva Yes President Crump Yes B is recognizing and commending resolutions Council is a whole to adopt Rocco Council members Bay Yes Council Yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes Silva Yes President Clump Yes C is expressing profound sorrow and regret and we have several motions to amend this item on the floor including a motion by Councilman Kelly to include the honorable Reverend Jesse Jackson second by council as a whole second is a motion by Councilman Quintana including former mayor's aide Louis Lopez wife a Wilda Lopez also Miriam Serrano and Hector Splovita Second by Councilman Council Third is a motion by Councilman Council to include Joelle Joey Washington retired recreation leader and Irmer Chavis Mother of Danya Hoffman second by Councilwoman Bay and a motion by Councilman Kelly to include hip hop artist Mike C which was second by Councilman Quintana and finally a motion by Councilwoman Bay to include Marie Gironda University High School teacher second by councilman Scott Roundtree Council is a whole to amend roll call to amend council members bay yes council yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes to amend Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes Silva Yes President Crump Yes Now Council's a whole to adopt as amended with sponsors please roll calls to adopt as amended Council members bay yes Council Yes Gonzalez Yes Kelly Yes Quintana Yes Ramos Yes Scott Roundtree Yes

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes to amend.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Now Council's a hold to adopt as amended with sponsors, please.

Roll calls to adopt as amended.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R9.

How A is the appointment of special police officers?

Council is a hold to adopt.

You want to do something?

You do a motion at the end.

It's not a motion.

I need to amend something.

I was trying to get your attention.

Oh, I'm sorry.

So um we can we can add it to the end in motions if we can.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

I'm sorry, continue.

Uh 7R9A is an appointment of special police officers.

Council is a hold to adopt.

Roll call.

Council members.

Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R11A is accepting a gift of three minibuses.

Council as a whole to adopt.

Roll call to adopt.

Council members.

Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

7R12 A through D are professional services contracts for the water and soil utilities.

A and B or engineering services.

C is for pumps and filters at the Pequanic Water Treatment Plant.

And D is for engineering services.

Council as a whole to adopt A through D.

Roll call.

Council members Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Kintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Sova.

Yes.

President Crunk.

Yes.

E is a bid contract to provide Cedar Grove Reservoir Fence.

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.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Communications.

Item 8A is an ordinance amending multi-way stop intersections by designating 18th Avenue and South 13th Street as a multi-way stop sign intersection in the South Ward.

The motion to advance to first reading.

Sponsored by Councilman Council.

And second by Councilman Kelly.

Roll call.

Council members bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva.

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Pending business on the agenda.

Item 9A is an appointment to the Central Planning Board as a Class 4 member, Mr.

Andre L.

Speak.

Council's a hold to adopt.

Roll call.

Council members.

Bay.

Yes.

Council?

Yes.

Gonzalez.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

Quintana.

Yes.

Ramos.

Yes.

Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Silva?

Yes.

President Crump.

Yes.

Council President, Council members.

That concludes the agenda for this meeting.

Thank you.

Uh, let's do uh anything from the council.

Yes, I have to have one thing.

I'm sorry, I think I heard Bay first.

Oh, head, council.

Okay.

No, I just wanted to um ignore this isn't motion.

This is a motion, just anything before we get to motions.

Okay.

Before we get to motion, anything from motion?

Anything from the administration?

This announcement, no motion.

All right, we're going to do that next.

I want to start because I always end up last with councilman.

So we'll start with councilman.

Silva first.

Motions.

Yeah, uh, I don't have a motion, but if uh Melvin, if uh I'm gonna need an update along with Director Redding over there, uh Director Redin and the mold remediation that's taking place at Ironbound Stadium.

If we can get an update on that, because I have hockey not playing, I have the boxing closed, and this whole thing started.

And here we are, mid-February, and the facility is still closed.

So if in the email, I can just get an update on what is going on and if there's a projection on when uh the rink is going to open again.

That's not a motion, right?

That's not a motion.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilwoman Scott Roundry.

Yes.

Um, I'm on um thank you, Council President.

Sincere condolences, um, profound sorrow and regret for uh assistant director, Keisha Raspberry, the transitioning of her dad.

Um, I think it's on city website, all of the information, but her father passed.

And then uh expressing profound sorrow and regret for Dorothy Ann Livingston.

Uh, we want to um express profound so she was uh matriarch of the Grayson family.

I do have a few announcements, as always.

Well, I guess they're having another meeting in the back, so I'll just wait.

Should I start?

Can we close the door so we could kind of hear what's going on?

Thank you.

It's actually in the chambers.

Thank you.

Uh a couple of our young women um are from the McKnight Muhammad family.

Um Saida McKnight is actually putting on an event um in July, and she's doing another casting call at the Tip of Hip Hop on Saturday between 4 p.m.

and 6 p.m.

I'm sponsoring uh this event in July, but she's casting individuals to model for hair and for fashion creativity.

So that will be taking place on February 21st, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m.

this Saturday, that is.

Temple of Hip Hop 55 Ludlow Street, New York, New Jersey.

Uh, for further information, you can call 973-733-3794.

Um, I will once again back at the time of having our Newark Citywide Women's Meeting, hosted by our First Lady Lee Late First Lady Linda Baraka, along with myself and councilman of the Central Ward, Amina Bay.

This will be happening on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026.

This normally our meetings are at 6 or 7.

This meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.

at the William Mobile Ashby Community Center, 695 Bergen Street, New York, New Jersey.

They will be doing headshot photos, resumes, workshops, and there will be some information from the YMCA from a young lady named Helen that will be bringing information regarding programs.

Speaking of black history, we will be hosting our third annual along with Mayor Baraka, myself, North Interfaith Alliance, and the Department of Recreation, and Bishop Ronald Jones Interfaith um organization, continuing to move North forward, remembering our past, embracing our future.

Uh as I stated, Mayor Baraka is the host.

We will have Junius Williams to a historic uh presentation along with Adorian Mary Thomas representing our millennial uh population, but represent our youth.

I guess speaker will be Minister Hilton Rawls III.

Here's our keynote speaker.

That will be on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

If you're interested in tickets, there are no there's no cost.

It'll be held again at the Robert Tree Hotel, 50 Park Place, North New Jersey.

Um I have several tickets left, and you can call 973-733-3794 on that same day.

Tickets were given out back in January and December for the City of Newark.

Maybe Rasboracka's 38th Annual Sing in Praise of King.

Uh celebrating the life of Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King on the same day, February 25th.

Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The event is from 7 to 9.

We will have civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump as the keynote speaker.

Performances by City of North Brotherhood Ensemble, Mia X, Rich Talbot, and Vincent Bohan.

Um all previous issued tickets.

All previous issue tickets will be honored.

This is taking place also on February 25th, 2026, which is next Wednesday.

Again, the doors open at 6, and the program is from 7 to 9.

Location Symphony Hall, 1020, Mayor Kenneth Allen Gibson Boulevard, North, New Jersey.

Mayor's 6th annual, no, sorry, six statewide agenda meeting for the black agenda will be held in Montclair.

The host pastor will be Bernadette Glover of the St.

Paul's Baptist Church.

Speakers will be Mayor May Warren again at Dorian Thomas.

The mayor of Montclair, a beautiful young lady named Miss Joseph, who has about five titles.

I'm just not going to even mention them all, but you do want to join this.

I think there were three more.

This one, the seventh and the eighth.

I'll announce the seventh and the eighth at our next meeting.

And the rest of my announcements will either find on my page, or you will see it City Hall or on the city website.

Council President, Sister Tucker, gave us a paper.

And as I get ready to close my remarks, thanking my colleagues, thanking our mayor and administration, but most of all thanking the residents.

Sometimes people don't put stuff on Facebook.

We're not on social media.

We're not doing things as Ms.

Bay said for the applause, but for the cause.

So I just want to thank you all.

I'm thanking you for coming to the mic.

I'm thanking you for expressing yourself.

I'm thanking you for your passion you have for the residents because the truth of the matter is it's none of us, but there's a whole lot of other residents, and the city is inclusive of over 400,000 residents.

So while we are talking about who's not doing what, I'm glad to know that you have ideas that will help improve the quality of life for our residents and your concerns.

So thank you so very much to our speakers, and thank you for North for letting me uh be of service to you.

Um Toya gave us this, Miss Tucker.

And I think it's very important uh that I share this in my closing remarks.

Um, Council President, uh the young lady gave us something.

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in my community.

She says it is my personal approach that creates the culture.

She says, as a part of the village, I possess tremendous power to make my community life miserable, my community life miserable or joyful.

She says I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

She says I can embarrass or empower, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated.

And my community humanized or dehumanize.

So Nork, I wish you the best in this holiday season that we're celebrating our faith and our beliefs.

And as we go forward, may God continue to bless all of you until we see you again.

God bless you, and thank you, Council President and my colleagues, for your service and for your collaboration for the improving the quality of life for our city of New York residents.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

So Councilman Kelly Roll Call.

Councilmember Bay.

Yes.

Council.

Yes.

Gonzalez absent.

Kelly.

Yes.

President Clump.

Yes.

Councilman Kelly.

Thank you, Council President.

First of all, I just want to start off by saying the happiest birthday to my colleagues.

Yes, my brother, my frat brother, just a good good dude.

Reverend Pastor.

Councilman, Father, Husband, Mr.

Patrick, Old Council, Mr.

Parker, I call them.

And I'm just saying happy birthday to you, brother.

Also want to send a happy 18th birthday to my daughter who turns 18 today.

And also I want to send a happy birthday to Akbar Cook from Westside High School, who turns half a hundred, as my grandmother used to say, half a hundred today, 50 years old today.

Um, and also uh to SB who does a lot of work um similar to New Direction in Jersey City, which actually spills over here in Norfolk, New Jersey.

Uh yes, and um I wanna make sure that all of our seniors in the West Ward.

If I know most of you registered, I can tell from the bus loads that we have it coming in the morning from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at Westside Community at Westside Park Community Center.

We have our senior love day there, the love day brunch, which is tomorrow on the 19th, 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

Um, I know a lot of uh residents from St.

Mary say they can't wet wait because we seem to give out the best gifts.

So they're coming to fellowship, dance, and and and just have a good time.

So if you're a Westwater, we will be at the West Side Park Community Center from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

tomorrow.

And lastly, I just want to say um happy Ramadan Mubarak to all of my Muslims and my Muslimas and and um happy Lent to all of our our believers out there and just have a great evening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I don't think there's a motion.

All right, great.

Uh thank you, Council McKelly, Councilman Council.

Oh, yes, sir.

Uh Wednesday, March 11th, 2026.

Uh we will be hosting uh an iftar at the William Mobile Ashby Community Care Center, uh 695 Bergen Street.

Uh for uh all of those who are in this season uh of Ramadan.

We encourage you to come out uh and uh share with us on that evening.

We ask that you please uh bring your prayer rug.

Uh for more information, call 973, 733-375-3.

Uh again, we just want to wish uh everyone uh a blessed Ramadan season uh as well as uh Linton season for those that uh continue to uh lift up uh the mandates in which we follow uh in order to continue to be blessed by God.

Uh wanna uh continue to thank uh all of those uh residents in the South Ward as well uh that continue to uh reach out around issues about uh quality of life uh and about the uh work that is being done in the South Ward.

So I just wanted to thank all of those residents who continue to be engaged, uh, who continue to uh help uh ensure that this city and specifically the South Ward uh continues to be uh a great place to live.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman, Councilwoman Bay.

I also wanted to um wish my Muslim community uh very happy Ramadan.

I am a blessed Ramadan.

Um we are sponsoring our very first our inaugural Central Ward uh Iftar, our breakfast on uh the 26th of February, next Thursday at the Priory at 233 West Market Street at 430, as Councilman Council says, just bring your prayer rug.

Um, and also bring your appetite.

And so we are wishing everyone um Ramadan Mubarak.

I also wanted to wish council uh councilman counsel a happy birthday, and also just thank the residents of two nevada and Villa Victoria that came out to the tennis meeting um last night, thank the you know, my council colleagues and everyone that came out to address the concerns of the tenants, and just wanted to reiterate that we are on it, and we are gonna make sure that all of their issues are addressed and that they are taken care of and their quality of life is of the utmost importance to us.

Thank you.

We're good.

Uh thank you, councilwoman.

Uh let me wrap up real quick.

So uh a couple things I want to first of all, I want to wish uh uh councilman council, my my brother, a happy birthday.

You know, uh it's a beautiful thing to make it another year.

Um you you know those that don't sit up here don't understand but the sacrifices that you do every day I appreciate it, we appreciate it.

You know the residents who are out in the community appreciate it.

That's all I just wanted to wish you a happy, happy birthday.

And I hope I know it's late now, but hopefully, if you didn't do anything, you can do something later, or you know, you know, our South Ward First Lady got some plans for you tomorrow or the next day.

I I hope you enjoy whether it's actually on your birthday or days before or after.

Just just you know reflect and be thankful.

Um because I know we are thankful for you.

Uh I wanted to also uh uh say uh uh happy Ramadan.

Uh I am uh my office is hosting a IFTAR on March Friday, March 6th.

It's going to be at uh the Temple of Hip Hop.

Uh second annual one.

Um as everyone else said, please bring your prayer rugs.

Um we uh we and we're co-hosting it with University Hospital.

So uh please come out and break fast.

Uh additionally, uh oh, I mean I do have one motion.

Let me say this for uh this is uh back in October had a motion regarding October 1st uh requesting that the Department of Engineering investigate the property at 13 Hector Street, and if warranted, prepare the necessary documentation for the immediate demolition of the property and cite the owner.

This is a property that uh brought to the attention of the administration prior that's leaning on another property, and it really is a safety and hazard.

I've actually been to the property several times, and it's my hope that the uh director or interim director of engineering uh will actually do something uh about this.

Um because like I said, it is a public safety issue, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Other thing is uh, I don't know about you, but for Lent, I'm trying to give up sweets.

I got four pieces of pound cake from the from the yard at my house right now.

No coffee oh and if y'all have had that yard pound cake from Kai.

Yeah, I don't know what that's that's called a sacrifice.

So my hope is that my wife has eaten most of it, if not all of it, and the kids.

But uh you know, whatever you do through this Lenten season, you know, I I always pray, uh I pray every day, but even more prayer for for our city, for our residents, for our community, for our state, and for our country.

Um let's let's just look at for each other, pray for each other, and support each other in a positive manner.

With that being said, let's let's adjourn.

Roll call to adjourn.

What did I do?

I had a mo oh I had a motion.

Oh, dang, I had one.

You had a second for the motion.

Second by councilwoman Scott Brown.

Roll call.

Council members Bay, yes, council.

Gonzalez absent Kelly.

Yes, Tana Ramos absent, Scott Roundtree.

Yes.

Yes.