Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - April 15, 2026

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at City Hall in the Council Chamber, starting at 6:33 PM and adjourning at 9:59 PM. The meeting featured extensive public testimony during the Hearing of Citizens, passage of numerous resolutions, and first reading of several ordinances. Council Member Carlos M. Gonzalez was absent; other members arrived late but were present for votes. Key topics included housing conditions, tax abatements, infrastructure, and public safety.

Consent Calendar

• Reports and recommendations from city officers, boards, and commissions (Fleet 216 Market Street financial statements, Joint Meeting of Essex & Union Counties meeting minutes and financials) were unanimously accepted (8-0).
• Numerous routine resolutions were adopted en bloc: temporary emergency appropriations for urban forestry ($75,000) and Ryan White HIV services ($679,332); rescinding a security contract due to bond failure; a state contract for catch basin castings; extension of elevator inspection emergency contract; a bid contract for reflectorized sheeting; and multiple contracts for violence intervention, youth mentoring, and youth services (all 8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Twenty-five speakers were listed; most appeared. Key themes and positions:

• Alif Muhammad endorsed candidates and criticized Council Member Louise Scott-Rountree, calling her an "aide to the mayor."
• Rodney Davis (mayoral candidate) questioned a claimed $700 million budget deficit (later rebutted by the Business Administrator as false), demanded pothole repairs, union jobs, and better camera angles for speakers.
• Jimmy McCoy (West Ward candidate) criticized Council Member Dupré L. Kelly for lack of response to senior issues and promised to organize renters and homeowners.
• Nadirah Brown challenged the city's public safety and affordable housing claims, demanded specifics, and proposed reserved parking for meeting attendees.
• Tanisha Garner (mayoral candidate) asked why a newspaper deemed her "not credible" and called for voter support.
• Lisa Mitchelson-Parker alleged mismanagement in property sales, particularly Kawaida Towers, and accused the council of favoring developer friends.
• Felicia Alston-Singleton thanked Council Member Scott-Rountree for responding to homelessness issues but criticized conditions at Georgia King Village (pit bulls, neglect) and urged revocation of tax abatements.
• Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins (Central Ward candidate) described deplorable senior housing conditions, lack of affordable housing for graduates, and potholes, and urged voter turnout.
• Rachel Jones detailed five years of unsafe living conditions at her Newark Housing Authority unit (leaks, electrical problems) and said management ignored her complaints.
• Maryam Bey thanked the council for a resolution honoring women, but called for accountability of slum lords.
• Jhamar Youngblood read a message from DPW workers alleging bad management, broken trucks, and unmet promises; he also presented the "North 30" plan for self-sufficiency and transparency by 2030.
• Marilyn Sowell described cyber harassment affecting her and her sister's health, requesting city intervention.
• Debra Salters (mayoral candidate) criticized council professionalism and police conduct, and called for systemic change.
• Donna Jackson took credit for securing retro pay for city employees and highlighted the stalled Villa Victoria project (194 affordable units planned since 2021).
• Lisa Gray (school board candidate) noted that only 5% of $287 million in COVID relief was allocated for tutoring, demanded transparency.
• Elijah Maq Morgano (veteran) decried "genocide by paperwork" - zoning laws that displace Black residents, and proposed a community land trust.
• Queen Dannisha Clyburn reported a $900 summer program fee at the Boys & Girls Club, a homeless pregnant 17-year-old, and lack of services from DYFS.
• Lamont Vaughan (at-large candidate) praised public safety improvements under the Office of Violence Prevention and called for continued progress.
• Cassandra Dock accused the mayor of fraud with city IDs and benefits, urged voters to force a runoff.
• Ché Coulter criticized school board layoffs of Black educators, the location of a CCRB meeting in Clifton, and complex financial deals.
• Latoya Jackson-Tucker (school board candidate) called for unity, defended Mayor Baraka, and said residents must work together despite divisions.

Discussion Items

• First Reading Ordinances (adopted 8-0, to be advertised for public hearing May 6):
  • 6F-a: 20-year tax abatement for Naimor 763 S Orange Urban Renewal LLC to build a 32-unit mixed-use building at 763-767 South Orange Ave (West Ward) with 7 affordable units.
  • 6F-b: Second amendment to Spruce Park Associates' tax abatement, extending the term to March 31, 2036.
  • 6F-c: Authorization for sale and redevelopment of city property at Block 3665 to Bergen Street Partners LLC for $316,800.
  • 6F-d: Lease agreement with South Orange NJ LLC for office space at $15,600/year for the Office of Violence Prevention.
• Communications Advanced to First Reading (adopted 8-0):
  • 8-a: 20-year tax abatement for Naimor S Orange Urban Renewal LLC at 753-757 South Orange Ave (36 units, 8 affordable).
  • 8-b: 25-year tax abatement for 1080 Bergen Developer Urban Renewal LLC at 1072-1078 Bergen St (66 units, 13 affordable).
  • 8-c: 20-year tax abatement for Marbim Holdings Urban Renewal LLC at 247-249 Stuyvesant Ave (11 units, 3 affordable).
  • 8-d: Ordinance amending Title XXIII to regulate parking of construction-related vehicles in residential districts.
• Resolution 7R2-j (Section 108 loan guarantee): Allison Ladd, Director of Economic and Housing Development, explained the $2.5 million loan from HUD for a community center and housing redevelopment by Alpha Alpha Lambda Community Development Inc. Council Member Ramos questioned protections against default and the use of CDBG funds. The resolution passed 5-0-3 (Bey, Quintana, Ramos, Scott-Rountree, Silva yes; Council, Kelly, Crump abstained).
• Added Starter 7R6-e: Settlement with Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin & Plaza PC for $84,524.79 for workers' compensation legal services, approved 8-0.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: Nearly all agenda items passed with 8-0 votes (Council Member Gonzalez absent). Resolution 7R2-j passed 5-0-3 with three abstentions. Motions later in the evening passed 6-0 (Quintana and Ramos absent).
• Rescinded Contract: The council rescinded the armed security contract with Unique Security & Consulting Services LLC (originally $9.8 million) due to failure to provide a performance bond.
• Debt Issuance: Approved sale of up to $50.8 million in general obligation notes (Series 2026) for affordable housing loans, special emergencies, and the PATH Home program.
• Grants Accepted: Accepted $679,332 in federal Ryan White HIV funds for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative (partial award for year 2 of 5-year program). Also accepted a $75,000 USDA grant for urban forest management and a $7,000 grant for distracted driving overtime.
• Property Sales: Approved private sales for redevelopment: Maiseo Enterprises LLC ($36,000 for a two-family South Ward home for Section 8), Jumpstart Newark ($67,050 for three affordable single-family homes in West Ward), and deferred Leveluxe LLC ($113,777 for market-rate homes) to a future meeting.
• Legal Settlements: Authorized settlements with Oracle America ($559,800) and Big Apple Elevator Service ($82,897.50).
• Infrastructure: Change Order #2 for Pequannock Aqueduct rehabilitation increased contract to $14.88 million; amendment for Virginia Street Pump Station engineering added $78,503.
• City Clerk: Authorized a two-year contract with Summit Information Systems for Archives Records Management System support and two additional scanners ($62,880).
• Ceremonial & Proclamations: Approved street naming for Faith Evans and Sport Maritimo Murtoense; declared May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month and Lupus Awareness Month; established a sister city relationship with Monrovia, Liberia.
• Motions: Adopted several expressions of sorrow and regret, and a motion to invite PSEG, Verizon, and cable companies to a special meeting about overhead wires.
• Public Rebuttals: Business Administrator Eric Pennington denied a $700 million deficit claim, calling it "outrageous" and saying the budget is ~$950 million and must be balanced. Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart noted that all windows at the Elizabeth Avenue building with children under 10 have window guards, and the city activated a "bad landlord list" online.