Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting - October 21, 2026

The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 920 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard, Newark, New Jersey. Council President Luis A. Quintana presided. The meeting included a lengthy public comment period, adoption and deferral of ordinances, numerous grant and contract resolutions, land-sale and redevelopment approvals, and council announcements.

Consent Calendar

• Approved reports from the Central Planning Board (minutes, May through August 2026) and NJIT financial statements as of June 30, 2026.
• Adopted Ordinance 6F-a on first reading, authorizing a lease with Bethany Baptist Church at 275 West Market Street for $30,000 annually in $2,500 monthly installments to provide senior services. A public hearing was scheduled for November 5, 2026.
• Deferred Ordinances 6PSF-a and 6PSF-b, the Livingston and Somerset affordable housing financial-agreement assignments to Tethys entities.
• Adopted Administration resolutions 7R1-a through 7R1-g, including: $3,131,050 in additional Ryan White HIV grant funds, bringing the cumulative grant to $5,852,494; a $119,372 public health infrastructure grant; a $10,000 hypertensive quality project grant; a $17,394 Greater Newark Conservancy grant; a $125,000 gift for grant-process efficiency; a $41,492,738 temporary operating appropriation for November 2026; and a $51,980 stormwater utility grant with a $49,543.44 in-kind city match. Councilwoman Jackson abstained on 7R1-f, the operating appropriation.
• Adopted Administration procurement resolutions 7R1-h through 7R1-k and the NOAA grant resolution 7R1-l: firearms and protective equipment state contract amendment to not exceed $950,000; tree services state contract not to exceed $1,400,000; hardware/tools/supplies bid contracts not to exceed $1,072,000; lead-analysis laboratory services not to exceed $110,000; and a $25,000 NOAA heat tabletop exercise grant.
• Adopted Economic and Housing Development resolutions 7R2-b through 7R2-f, 7R2-g, 7R2-i, 7R2-k through 7R2-n. 7R2-a was returned to administration; 7R2-h and 7R2-j were deferred; 7R2-k was moved forward after being deferred. These included private land sales and redevelopment agreements for market-rate, workforce, and affordable housing, a subordination agreement for Nobre Development, a 30-year tax abatement for Nevada Preservation's 306-unit affordable senior rehabilitation at 987-997 Broad Street, a $3,000,000 New Jersey Turnpike Authority contribution for Newark Riverfront Park Phase D improvements, and a resolution supporting South Seventh Development's Affordable Housing Trust Fund application. Councilman Ramos changed his vote to abstain on 7R2-n.
• Adopted Engineering resolutions 7R3-a through 7R3-c, including an elevator modernization change order increasing the contract to $338,050, a Safe Streets to Newark's Transit Hub contract with J.A. Alexander, Inc. for $736,880.65, and a five-ward paving contract for $4,597,736.23. Councilwoman Jackson abstained.
• Adopted Health and Community Wellness resolutions 7R5-a through 7R5-e, including a $1,000,000 HRSA grant extension, additional Ryan White funding, a $119,372 LPHIG grant, a $739,005 sickle cell grant, and a $10,000 Greater Newark HealthCare Coalition grant.
• Adopted the Mayor's Office resolution 7R7-a for visiting municipal court judges not to exceed $175,000.
• Returned 7R8-a, the 2026 municipal budget amendment, to the administration.
• Adopted 7R8-b, appointing Victoria F. Pratt as Municipal Court Judge and Chief Judge for November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2029, after amending the resolution to list the Office of the Mayor as the proper department.
• Adopted 7R8-c declaring November 2026 as National Family Caregivers Month; adopted 7R8-d recognizing and commending numerous individuals and organizations; amended and adopted 7R8-e expressing sorrow and regret, adding Eddie Osborne, Keith Pollard, Trinet Denine Williams, Raphael Rivera, Brenda Renee Folks, and Ali Kareem Glanton Mohammed.
• Adopted Water and Sewer Utility resolutions 7R12-a through 7R12-d: a close-out change order for emergency water main repair bringing the Montana Construction contract to $6,784,668.22, two valve inspection/testing contracts totaling $752,787.00 and $788,450.00, and a Pequannock sludge lagoon remediation contract for $5,919,420.00.
• Adopted add-on agenda items: 7R1-s (state contract for elevator maintenance), 7R20-s (private sale/redevelopment for an eight-unit affordable rental housing development), 7R2-pas (Healthy Homes Initiative support; Councilwoman Jackson later changed her vote to abstain), 7R2-qas (Affordable Housing Trust Fund support), 8D-as (ordinance establishing investigation and abatement procedures for illegal property conversions, first reading), and 8E-as (ordinance allowing construction in traffic zones to begin at 8 a.m., first reading).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Felicia Alston-Singleton promoted an October 24 housing workshop at Rutgers Law School with HUD, DCA, the City, and Legal Services, and urged the council to scrutinize HUD transfer agreements involving Livingston, Somerset, Zion Hills, and George King Village.
• Lisa Mitchellson-Parker criticized the lack of an adopted budget, alleged that $18 million has been allocated to City Hall elevators since 2017 while only one elevator works, and called for accountability and an end to what she called gentrification.
• Alif Muhammad paid tribute to former Councilman Eddie Osborne and criticized how Osborne was removed from the Housing Authority, urging officials to treat people with dignity.
• Latoya Jackson-Tucker demanded passage of the fossil fuel ordinance, described receiving a police accident report with her name misspelled, and asked for police accountability and follow-through from Councilman Crump's office.
• Elijah Morgano said he represents Lenape land, demanded a full accounting of every PILOT in the city, called for binding community benefit agreements with jobs and affordable units, and argued that PILOTs deprive schools of revenue.
• Marilyn Sowell described years of cyberstalking, her sister's medical devices being interfered with, and being dismissed by police when she sought help, asking the council to protect her family.
• Odesser Prindle, former aide to the late Mildred Coleman Crump, asked the council to name the council chambers after Crump, describing her lifelong service to Newark residents.
• Maryam Bey, a city employee and Newark resident, said she would not be intimidated for reporting workplace concerns, submitted documents about a young man she said was falsely arrested, and raised senior housing needs.
• Anthony D'Angelo, owner of Tony's Service Center, complained about illegal demolition and used-car operations near his business, praised Inspector Valerie Murphy, and asked the city to enforce code violations.
• Shakir McDougall urged the council to hold technology companies accountable for child safety and artificial intelligence, asking for corporate leaders to meet with Newark parents, educators, and officials.
• Lamont Vaughn criticized Newark Police conduct, citing the incident involving Sergeant Hernandez and a 14-year-old girl, pledged to continue recording police, and demanded accountability in the Justice for Wally Bay case.
• Munirah El-Bomani criticized the city for not having an approved budget, called for Business Administrator Eric Pennington to resign, and said affirmative action and housing/job disparity recommendations have been ignored.
• Reginald Turner described problems at 1060 Broad Street, a senior building, including bus parking from a Symphony Hall event blocking drop-offs, curfew changes, and what he said were escalating tensions; he asked for an investigation and a meeting with management and ownership.
• Nadirah Brown asked the council to create relocation assistance for tenants when landlords fail them, criticized health care treatment after a stabbing victim was denied timely X-rays, and called on residents to organize.
• Sara Crispin addressed young people directly, affirming their resilience and urging them to protect themselves, seek help, and reject the idea that they must become cruel to be powerful.
• Dr. Leah Owens, policy analyst for the South Ward Environmental Alliance, requested that File #251510, the Newark Fossil Free Future Ordinance, be placed on the agenda and voted on. She described the ordinance as prohibiting public investments in future fossil fuel facilities and banning new or expanded major sources of air pollution, and noted the Central Planning Board's failure to transmit a report within 35 days.
• Opal R. Wright spoke about the Dodd-Frank Act, focusing on financial market utilities, Federal Reserve balances, and notice requirements for proposed rule changes.
• Dr. Wale Idris said his organization's Felakuti program was duplicated by Newark Symphony Hall and then terminated after a disputed missed payment. He asked the council for partnership, proclamations, introductions to economic development partners, and a point of contact.
• Queen Dannisha Clyburn made demands for council meetings about youth programs and the "Monsters" performance dispute, warned of housing scams, and said residents are prepared to organize and petition for change. Councilman Kelly responded that he had tried to book the Monsters youth group, but an adult performer refused to step aside, and that his office had offered to meet.

Discussion Items

• Business Administrator Eric Pennington said the amended 2026 budget is expected to be introduced at the next council meeting, around November 4 or 5, after ongoing discussions with the state examiner. He said tax rates are expected to remain the same if the state accepts the submission.
• Pennington provided an elevator modernization update: elevators 2 and 4 were delayed but expected to be completed by the end of next month, followed by the remaining two elevators. Councilman Ramos asked for a full accounting of all elevator funds, and Councilman Crump asked whether the prior contractor, Big Apple, would be penalized; Pennington said the matter is being reviewed with legal counsel.
• Councilman Ramos requested information about municipal court judge terms and reappointments. Pennington said three holdover judges and two judges with terms expiring in the first quarter of next year are being interviewed by the judicial reappointments committee, and the council's judicial committee will be involved.
• During the Water and Sewer Utility vote, Councilwoman Jackson asked about the 11th Avenue water main break. The water director said crews are waiting on supplies, repairing other mains, and evaluating the pipe before restoring service.
• On Communication 8-a, the Summer Avenue Apartments tax abatement, the administration said the agenda incorrectly stated 25 years; the approved term was 20 years. The council advanced the ordinance out of communications with an amendment to correct the term to be submitted later. Councilman Ramos requested an analysis of abatement terms for similarly sized projects over the past five years.
• Councilman Crump told Dr. Owens and SWEA that the Fossil Free Ordinance would not be voted on that night but that he would work to place it on the next agenda.
• Council members directed a letter to Symphony Hall management about bus parking and also requested a meeting with management and ownership of 1060 Broad Street to address senior residents' complaints.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted 6F-a on first reading; public hearing set for November 5, 2026.
• Deferred 6PSF-a and 6PSF-b.
• Returned 7R2-a, 7R8-a, and 9-a to the administration.
• Adopted all remaining resolutions listed above, with abstentions as noted: Jackson on 7R1-f, 7R3-a through 7R3-c, and 7R2-pas; Ramos on 7R2-n.
• Advanced Communications 8-a (with a planned 20-year abatement amendment), 8-b, and 8-c to first reading; public hearings scheduled for November 5, 2026.
• Adopted add-on ordinances 8D-as and 8E-as on first reading with public hearings on November 5, 2026.
• The council noted the absence of members on several roll calls, including Councilwoman Scott-Rountree on 7R7-a and 7R8-a.