Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - July 15, 2026
Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - July 15, 2026
The Newark Municipal Council held a regular meeting on July 15, 2026, starting at 12:34 PM and adjourning at 6:28 PM. The meeting included public hearings, ordinance adoptions, resolution approvals, and extensive public comments. Key topics included tax abatements, affordable housing, the 2026 municipal budget, and community concerns.
Consent Calendar
- Reports and Recommendations of City Officers, Boards, and Commissions: Accepted 7-0-1 (Jackson abstained).
- Resolution 7R1-a through 7R1-e: Temporary emergency appropriations for Broadway Park redesign ($4,500,000), WIOA workforce program ($6,527,010), operating expenses ($67,727,086), women's health outcomes ($109,300), and Summer Youth Employment Program ($1,550,293). All adopted unanimously (9-0).
- Resolution 7R1-f through 7R1-l: Various purchasing contracts including medical supplies, communication equipment, computer equipment, emergency leak repairs, concrete mix, and fire extinguishers. All adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 7R1-m and 7R1-n: Subgrant agreement for Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District ($3,000,000) and acceptance of Newark Literacy Initiative grant ($700,000). Both adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 7R2-a through 7R2-t: Private sale/redevelopment agreements for multiple properties; some adopted, some deferred (see details below).
- Resolution 7R3-a through 7R3-l: Engineering contracts and grant applications, all adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 7R5-a through 7R5-d: Health and Community Wellness grants and gifts, all adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 7R8-a through 7R8-l: Municipal budget authorization, ceremonial street designations, fee waivers, and recognizing/commending resolutions; all adopted 9-0 except 7R8-g returned to administration.
- Resolution 7R11-a: STEAM summer enrichment program at Marquis Bo Porter Recreation Center, adopted 9-0.
- Resolution 7R12-a and 7R12-b: Water and Sewer Utility change order and professional services contract, adopted 8-1 (Jackson abstained on both).
- Added Starters: Resolutions for gunshot detection, armed security contracts, and several EHD items were adopted 9-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Debra Salters: Questioned the increase in the tax collector's administrative fee from 1% to 2%, and raised concerns about enforcement of tax abatements and parking inadequacies in new developments.
- Lisa Parker (Lisa Mitchelson-Parker): Criticized 20-year tax abatements, argued that the Area Median Income (AMI) is inflated and makes housing unaffordable for Newark residents. Also opposed the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program, calling it a loophole for developers.
- Alif Muhammad: Opposed long-term tax abatements, citing corruption and lack of community benefit. Criticized the AMI levels and urged council to demand lower income restrictions (20-50% AMI) on new developments.
- Hellane Freeman: Expressed concerns about the city's budget, tax abatements, and lack of transparency. Requested more funding for code enforcement, sanitation, and public safety communication equipment.
- Maryam Bey: Raised issues about pension eligibility for city employees and lack of housing for re-entry individuals.
- Sheila Montague: Called for property tax relief, road repairs, tree canopy, affordable housing preservation, and community benefit requirements for large developments.
- Latoya Jackson-Tucker: Spoke about environmental justice and the need for funding grassroots organizations.
- John Goldstein: Criticized city policies for driving up real estate values and making housing unaffordable. Called for genuine public participation in zoning decisions.
- Quadeer Porter: Presented on the work of Brothers Building a Better Nation, a nonprofit providing mentorship and therapy for youth. Requested guidance on city funding processes.
- Ellie Kwawukume: Described poor living conditions at Georgia King Village, including mold, rat holes, and lack of repairs.
- Others: Several speakers addressed illegal parking, booting companies, slumlords, and the need for oversight of the Newark Police Department.
Discussion Items
- 6PSF-a (FBI Building Tax Abatement Extension): Eric S. Pennington, Business Administrator, explained that the extension was justified due to significant renovations. Public speakers opposed. Adopted 7-2 (Council and Jackson abstained).
- 6PSF-b (Special Improvement District Fee Increase): Adopted 8-1 (Jackson abstained).
- 6PSF-c (452 South Orange Ave Tax Abatement): Councilwoman Jackson voted no, explaining that the AMI levels are too high for Newark residents. Adopted 8-1 (Jackson no).
- 6PSF-d (518 S 16th St Tax Abatement): Adopted 9-0.
- 6PSF-e (Conceicao Homes Tax Abatement): Adopted 8-1 (Jackson abstained).
- 6PSF-f (Parking Ordinance): Councilman Ramos explained the ordinance targets commercial establishments parking on city streets. Adopted 9-0.
- 6PSF-g (Invest Newark Bylaws): Deputy Mayor Allison Ladd and Andrea Mason explained bylaw amendments. Adopted 8-1 (Jackson abstained).
- 6PSF-h (Accessory Dwelling Unit Program): Allison Ladd clarified that the program is limited to owner-occupied homes in R1 zones, with funds capped at $40,000 per unit and not for construction costs. Adopted 7-2 (Jackson and Ramos abstained).
- 7R8-a (2026 Municipal Budget Authorization): Public hearing held; many speakers criticized the lack of detailed budget information. Adopted 9-0.
- 7R8-b through 7R8-l: Various ceremonial and administrative items adopted.
- Added Starters - 7R1-o(as) (ShotSpotter Contract): Eric Pennington explained the need for gunshot detection services. Adopted 9-0.
- Added Starters - 7R1-p(as) and 7R1-q(as) (Armed Security Contracts): Pennington explained the extension of current contract and new bid award. Adopted 9-0.
- 7R2-y(as) (Community Benefits Agreement): After a motion to reconsider, a public hearing was held with no speakers. Adopted 6-1 (Jackson abstained, Ramos and Silva absent).
- 7R6-b(as) (Referral of Proposed Ordinance to Planning Board): Failed 3-6 (three yes, six abstained).
Key Outcomes
- Votes on Tax Abatements: All tax abatement ordinances were adopted, with Councilwoman Jackson voting no or abstaining on several due to concerns about AMI levels.
- Deferrals: Several private sale resolutions (7R2-b, 7R2-c, 7R2-d, 7R2-i, 7R2-n, 7R2-o, 7R2-p) were deferred to a future meeting. The pre-litigation settlement (7R6-a) was initially voted down, then reconsidered and deferred.
- Budget Hearings: A motion was passed requesting community budget hearings outside City Hall, minimum one per ward, with morning and evening sessions.
- Letters Requested: Councilwoman Jackson requested letters to the Governor regarding LIHEAP, utility assistance, and the Senior Freeze Program, and to the DCA Commissioner regarding Section 8 and LIHEAP processing issues.
- Traffic Enforcement: A motion was passed to consider creating an unarmed traffic enforcement unit to assist with traffic control and school crossing guards.
- Condolences: Multiple motions of profound sorrow and regret were adopted for deceased community members, including Eric Stokes, Bishop Loretta Paris Smith-Johnson, Jimmy McCoy, Reverend Alicia Fletcher, and Miguel "Jack" Rodriguez.
Note: The meeting adjourned at 6:28 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I all did these extensions 10 years, 15 years, 25, and 30 years. For what reason? When you haven't come up with a tax abatement extension for the people suffering in my community. Seniors dealing with HOA fees, the increased property taxes. Why are we not dealing with the people that are suffering instead of giving extensions to the people that already have tax abatements? When is a moratorium going to come in place over anything over five years to come back to the table and reapply? The city is broke. Where is this money coming from? When I become mayor, we become mayor. I'm still the mayor. Um did oh, both of these intelligent women came before you and asked and unanswered. Where's this money coming from? Why does the wealthy federal FBI get a tax abatement on the backs of minorities here in the city of Newark? How does that work? Where's my tax abatement? I have a letter here demanding a tax abatement. I'm going to present it to the clerk for each of you to have a copy, and I want to find out what office is given these abatements because I need an abatement ASAP. I don't have the money that the Nazi regime of the Trump administration has. Okay. But I know you don't know what this is about. You just got here. Why are you even considering this? And if you consider this and you pass this with this, yay, yay, yay, now we know where you stand and what you're about. And you must be getting something from the FBI, because we're not speaking. That's right. No one here. Oh, somebody gotta come up. Good afternoon, Eric Pennington Business Administrator. With respect to generally the questions that came about uh on this property, the applicant uh for the property clerm properties presented a request to extend the abatement. In order to extend an abatement, there are certain criteria that have to be met, one of which is that there is a significant uh renovation to the property or additions to the property. They have complied in all respects with the request for the extension, and those are the circumstances under which we have sought to have that uh approved. There have been general statements about the city needs money. This tax abatement is not a tax exemption. The it may be listed uh technically as an exemption, but it doesn't mean that they don't have to pay, they do. They pay a significant sum to the city. Uh indeed the payment will be uh equivalent to, if not more, than what it would be if they were paid under uh ordinary taxes. Uh to to address a couple of other issues quickly, uh there are requests here to indicate that the residents are not eligible for abatements, and that's just not true. Any new construction is eligible for a five-year tax abatement, essentially as of right. If a new construction comes before uh uh the tax assessor's office and asks for that abatement, it is essentially granted. It still has to go before the council, but it's essentially granted. There's also had been sort of a suggestion that Society Hill has not received an appropriate abatement. Society Hill received a 30-year tax abatement. That was more than 30 years ago, that tax abatement expired. They have the right, like anyone else to request uh an extension of that tax abatement, and if they comply and if they qualify under the terms of the long-term tax exemption law or otherwise, uh, it would likely be approved if it came to the council. That has not happened. Um so the suggestion that the residents of the city are are being mistreated by this uh extension going forward just isn't true. And if someone wants to present an application to extend an abatement, we consider it just like any other one. I'm happy to answer any other questions. Thank you. Roll call.
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