Good evening.

On behalf of the governing body of the city of Pistake, we welcome you to the August 5th, 2025 City Council meeting.

In accordance with chapter 231, public laws of 1975.

Advocate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17th, 2025, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025-2026.

Said notice was published and posted on the City Hall Bulletin Board by the Office of the City Clerk.

Please be further advised.

This meeting will be conducted in person.

The Zoom stream provided is for viewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience.

On July 18, 2025, public notice and zoom instructions for this meeting were published in the Harold News and posted on the City of Passake website at WW.city of Pisate.com council agendas.

Instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda.

Please be guided accordingly.

Councilman Love.

Present.

Councilman Mayor.

Present.

Councilman Garcia.

Councilman Garcia, can you hear us?

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can, Councilman.

Thank you for being on the uh scroll.

And Council President Share.

President, shall we all please rise?

Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight and ask you to please guide us in the decision that will take place this evening.

We have the agenda that has been set before us, and we ask you to please guide us with wisdom as we make decisions tonight.

We also put up a special prayer, Lord, for national night out, Lord.

Let it be a night of joy, every enjoyment for the family that are attending tonight's event.

In your beloved name we pray.

Amen.

Of the United States of America.

Which stage one nation under God.

Thank you so much for joining us at tonight's important meeting.

We are a flattered so many of you who are here tonight.

We appreciate your interest in this great city of ours.

If you do not have a copy of agenda, it is available to you on the internet at www.com.

Uh the agendas are also available immediately outside these doors.

If you do assess us on uh the internet, you will find that all of the material which has been given to the council by the administration is available for you to see.

That includes resolutions ordinances, uh bills, etc.

Uh, all of that is available to you.

Tonight we know we have uh several items on the agenda which are uh of concern and interest to many people here.

Um, and we appreciate the opportunity to uh deal with those issues.

Let me share with you what we would like to do, um, which I think uh will hopefully facilitate the meeting.

I'm told that a large number of people are here on behalf of uh an ordinance regarding rent stabilization.

The council will hold its regular portion of the meeting in terms of uh the next item on the agenda being a mayor's mayor's update, which we look forward to as always, Mr.

Mayor.

Followed by that the council will have the opportunity to vote in favor or opposed to ratify the minutes of March 4, March 18, and April 1 of the City Council.

Following the council will have the opportunity to address two issues.

The first is an ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate number.

The second is an ordinance adopting chapter 231 rent stabilization on the rent stabilization ordinance as well as the ordinance um amending the designation restricted parking.

In both cases, the public is welcome to address the council at its leisure and pleasure.

There is no time limit.

We ask you to be on the ordinance, and if you are not on the ordinance, I will cut you off and respectfully ask that you get to the ordinance.

Um, after that is done, done the council will have the opportunity to uh proceed with the proposed ordinance.

If the ordinance uh for second and final meeting is not accepted by the council, the uh default the council will immediately go to discussion of item number 44.

And item number 44 is a written is a proposed version in response to the initiative petition listed as item number 44 on the agenda.

After conclusion of action on number 44, at that time, um we will then go to the regular agenda, uh starting with communications, which is regular numero eight on our agenda.

We ask you, please, if you have a cell phone to please put it on vibrate or off.

Number one.

Number two, this room is known for many things.

It's acoustics are not one of them.

Your voice will travel.

So if you're speaking to the person next to you or behind you, please understand that you're interrupting many other people in terms of their ability to listen and to understand what's going on.

Respectfully, if there's an item so pressing that you're facing it that you need to discuss, please be so kind as to come into uh the council uh area, the uh main area of the uh city hall and have your conversation conversations with those people, and then afterwards immediately come back and join us.

But we ask you please to respect other people who are trying to talk or trying to listen.

Um we are very excited about uh tonight's meeting.

Um, there are uh so many things that we can do or say in terms of the ordinance for uh response on the rent stabilization.

There is no time limit.

However, um, there is an opportunity for the hearing of citizens.

Uh, at which time everyone is invited to speak before the council for up to three minutes and three minutes.

Only two and a half minutes.

The clerk has a bill, which we notify that you have another half minute to speak.

And uh weatherly, is that about it?

Did we cover everything?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

So at this point, uh, we would like to impose on there, Laura.

We thank you for being here, sir.

As you're always here, and that is a great pleasure.

If you would like to share with the uh the community uh your report, you're up to thank you, Council President, members of the city council, and all who are present today.

At the beginning of the council meeting, I'm giving the opportunity to give a mayor's update as to what's going on around the city.

I wanted to share that we recently concluded our police junior academy with just over 200 participants over the last three weeks, and the last week had seven participants and volunteers.

This was the very first time that we have ever had a special needs component in the junior police academy.

It is believed that we are the very first city in the state to have created an inclusive component to the junior police academy and our junior fire academy.

I want to recognize and acknowledge uh police chief Louis Guzman and our fire chief Patrick Trenicos, who are here.

It was extremely important as I discussed with uh my colleagues in the city council that we would be more inclusive in our summer programs and recreation, and we want to thank the volunteers, especially those from the school that assisted us in ensuring that we had support for our children with special needs.

Our fire academy starts August 11th, August 11th, and again, I'll reiterate we will have the participation of children with special needs.

This is the very first year that we have done this.

We planned it over a year ago, and we're excited about the fact that it is now come to fruition.

We've had the grand opening of so many parks, so many initiatives, but we look forward in the next couple of weeks to the grand opening of our parking deck right across the street with over 31 spaces available to the public.

I say over 310, because council president, we are discussing some of the electric chargers as we look to go green here in the city, and we have quite a number on the first and second levels.

Also, going to share that our Gregory Avenue Restriping will be awarded during this meeting, which will uh result from Madison Street to Pennington Avenue being restricted.

Pennington Aven Equig Ab intersection traffic light is up and working.

Let me reiterate.

I think uh Councilman Love and Councilman Monk will be especially excited about that news as they brought that up a number of times.

The traffic light on Pennington Avenue AB intersection is up and running.

This has been a request from residents.

It has been pushed by council members just to uh give a little bit of information and perspective to those who are present.

We don't arbitrarily decide to put up traffic lights when requests come up.

We have a traffic study done where the police look at how many accidents have occurred on that particular corner.

We have the engineer come in and then we seek out funding.

So that's how we get so excited when we are approved with funding as well as justification or when we have to respond to compelling arguments in order to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

On Howard Ave, our drainage improvement project will be awarded during this meeting.

I wanted to share briefly that our Passaic County 2025 resurfacing program will include Broadway, Randolph, Paulison, and Pennington.

These are our Passaic County roads.

Passaic County Roads connect different municipalities like Main Avenue, which connects Clifton, Patterson, Passaic.

When you look at streets like Paulson that connect Clifton and Passake, I uh highlight this county resurfacing because we have with us, I believe, our deputy director, Passaic County Commissioner Sandy Lazara.

Hi, Sandy.

Thank you for being with us.

I wanted to share that with you.

All right, I wanted to share some additional parking that has been created just at the end of the spring and throughout the summer.

From Chestnut Street to Myrtle Ave, including Gregory Ave, from Exchange Place, Pennington Ave, Fourth Street, South Street, Virginia, Hemenry Street, Main Avenue Myrtle, High Street, Main Avenue, Paulison, Howe Avenue, Prospect Street, Grove Street, Passaic Street, State Street, Market Street, 6th Street, A Street, South Street, Market Street, 11th Street, 3rd Street, South Street, Virginia Street.

I share all those just to highlight every single ward from First Ward, Second Ward, Third Ward, Fourth Ward, has had increased and expanded parking.

We have included and added an additional 170 new parking spaces in some of our most densely populated areas in the city simply by restriping, going to angled parking, opening up new parking lots.

We're excited as we continue forward with this initiative addressing concerns of parking throughout the city.

I wanted to share that our second family festival begins this Friday at school number 11.

This Friday, our family festival.

It will last an entire week.

It is a tradition that we started a number of years ago, providing more family-friendly activities throughout the city.

That begins this Friday.

Also, our traditional car show begins on Sunday at 9 a.m.

at third ward park.

So we'll have our family festival at our second ward park and our car show at our third ward park.

Our car show was a very special initiative and program led by Mr.

Will Smith, a former employee known throughout the city.

We have had a memorial bench erected in his honor in third ward, and we will have the unveiling at the car show.

He was a friend and a supporter of all of the council members and someone that we care for dearly.

He passed on.

I wanted to share that on July 31st, through the work in collaboration with the assemblyman's office, our assemblyman of the 36th legislative district, the Summing Man Carey Share, who holds an uncanny resemblance to the council president of the city of Passaic.

We were able to bring motor vehicles to the city as we have done throughout the last couple of years to make it more convenient for residents, not just of Passake, but of the county and throughout the state of New Jersey to have access to real ID.

However, on the 31st, there was a statewide emergency declared because of an incoming storm.

Though we ended that a little bit early, we were still able to provide real IDs to everyone that made appointments.

We remind the public to visit our City Hall webpage to remain informed as we like to announce these far in advance to ensure that you have access to these programs and initiatives.

I also wanted to share that throughout the city you will see a brand new approach to pedestrian safety as well as traffic safety in terms of speeding as we have begun adding speed bumps throughout the city.

We added one to Summer Street right before Lexington.

There have been a number of streets and requests.

These are removable throughout the city, but they are a response to constituents to residents who have been concerned with the increased speeding that they have seen, not just in Passake, but throughout the county.

I wanted to share with the council members that we have had requests to explore opportunities for zone parking permits around the borders of the city.

That the zone parking permits that we have already implemented have drastically reduced the issues of people parking from other municipalities and taking away parking overnight.

The latest requests have been by Mattimore and Dayton Avenue, which we will refer to our police and our engineer for studies overnight.

Today, our Passaic Police Department participated in defensive tactic course in Passaic Police Academy.

15 officers have gone.

We are looking at about 80 officers going throughout the uh sessions.

I wanted to share that the brand new rubberized racetrack at Third Ward Memorial Park, as well as the new baseball field and the work in addition to all of that in collaboration with Passake County on the Covert and Bridge continues, and we are expecting to see that concluded by September going into October.

I wanted to share that we had a successful family camp out, Council President, members of the city council.

This is our third annual family camp out.

We had hundreds of families that unfortunately, because of lack of resources, don't always get those experiences that others share.

Where we held a citywide camp out at third ward with over hundreds of children that participated.

I wanted to thank our recreation department, our police department, our fire department that assisted us with the campfire, our police who kept us safe overnight, and all the families that are participated each year.

It has gotten bigger.

And it is our goal to continue to provide even more activities for our families.

You know, oftentimes, and we have discussed this that when September comes around, the teachers ask the children, what have you done in the summer?

Some children, perhaps in other areas and some more fortunate, even in our areas, draw pictures of traveling, maybe going to Disney World or going to their families' countries, but not every child has that opportunity.

The reason that we do family festivals, campouts, and so many activities like the ones that we're having outside right now, national night out, is to ensure that every child has an opportunity to experience a wonderful summer to the best of our abilities.

Obviously, we wish they can do so much more, but each year we have added so many more activities, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the county and receiving even more funds to ensure that our children and especially all children, no matter what their background, no matter where their level of ability can participate in the many programs that we have in recreation.

I wanted to share that we had a successful Peruvian um Independence Day with two Peruvian parades.

Uh, Council President, they went back to back out of the city without incident.

We were very excited to work collaboratively and ensure that things ran smoothly and that we continue to celebrate and acknowledge the wonderful diversity of this amazing city.

Uh, we also had the Puerto Rican flag raising that was held here at City Hall.

I wanted to share that our bike patrol continues to be a success around our city.

As many know, we have an SRO program, School Resource Officer Program.

And in the summer, many of the officers that aren't in the schools now go out into the streets.

We have been emphasizing community policing and greater relationships.

Officers on bikes are there to direct, to assist, to facilitate processes for our community.

And again, I want to highlight the amazing efforts of our officers to ensure that we maintain appropriate and good relationships with every resident, that they will know that they are welcome and that we are here to support and assist them.

The stadium at our uh Bovarini Stadium has been completed.

Activities have begun for the summer.

We recently had a soccer tournament, and we're excited about the continued efforts.

Next week, we will have the summer graduation for the high school students that continue their education.

The ceremony will take place in one of the additional schools to be announced, and we will be sharing all of their accomplishments.

With that said, Council President, I wanted to add just one more thing.

At a special meeting, Council President members of the city council on an initiative that I've been working on in the last few years with an organization called Thrive.

As you know, uh, we've had many parents concerned about adults with special needs, adults with autism, and the fear of them falling off the cliff as it's often referred to when they age out of the system and programs.

One of the concerns that we have discussed is what happens to them is their housing available.

There's an organization named Thrive, again, that in Red Bank, they are pursuing funding to create a development that provides affordable housing for uh neurodivergent individuals and those who are often referred to as people with special abilities.

They are presently pursuing 32 units, five of them satisfied affordable, but all of them for individual adults with special needs.

There's a similar program in Phoenix, Arizona.

I was able to have a Zoom meeting with them with Joyce Hunt from Community Development.

We recently learned that the division of uh families with disabilities in the state, as of right now, has only utilized 50% of the funding that was set aside for families.

There is a lot of funding available, and we are looking to further explore the potential of incentivizing or pushing forward through the city, a development that will address these concerns for families in the future.

At one time, decades ago, the state of New Jersey was identified as having the highest rate of children born on the spectrum than any other state in the United States of America.

This was decades ago.

So obviously begs the question today: what happens to them as they are adults?

Where are they working?

How are they transported around the city?

How are we addressing their concerns?

And I want to thank the council.

I want to thank the staff at City Hall for your efforts in ensuring that we continue to explore and meet or address the needs, not just of today, but of tomorrow.

I will update the council at our next meeting on further developments with that said, Council President.

That is my report.

If there are any questions, I'm more than happy to answer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, as usual, thank you for that amazing uh summary of of all the many initiatives that are going on.

I was fascinated.

Your last comments corresponded precisely to your first initial comments in terms of special needs and the city's dedication through your initiative of becoming inclusive uh in so many ways in so many areas is refreshing.

Any questions for the mayor?

Seeing none, uh, if we could go to remember number five of our agenda, please.

Approval of minutes from March 4, March 18, and April 1.

Are there any changes, modifications that need to be done to the minutes to make them appropriate and accessible?

Senior lights at this time.

Is there a motion please to accept the minutes of March 4, March 18, and April 1?

So move, Council President.

Second motion and second roll call, please on the minutes.

Councilman Monk Yes Councilman Love, Councilwoman Mellow, yes, Councilman Mayer, yes, Councilman Garcia, yes, councilwoman Colomb Montañez Council President Sheer.

Yes, the motion is passed.

We're up to room number seven on our agenda.

Ordinances for second and final reading hearing is required.

Number one, proposed ordinance 2491-25.

An ordinance amendment is the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate number.

Is there a motion, please to open public hearing?

Move it, motion and second.

Royal call, please to open public hearing.

Councilman Monk Councilman Love.

Yes, Councilman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colomb Montañez.

Council President Shares.

Yes, thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, the council is contemplating proposing ordinance 2491-25, which amends the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons for New Jersey license plate number.

Is there anyone who would like to address the council on this item and this item only?

Is there a motion, please to accept?

Yes.

Second.

Motion and second roll call, please.

Councilman Monk?

Yes.

Councilman Love?

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow?

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colomb Montañez?

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, that opens the hearing up.

Yes.

At this point, ladies and gentlemen, is there anyone who would like to address the council on this item and this item only?

Seeing no seeing no hands, is there a motion please to accept?

Moving.

Second.

Motion and second.

Royal call, please.

Councilman Monk.

Yes.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilman Mellow?

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colomb Montañez.

Yes.

Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Is there a maker of the motion, please?

So move.

Second.

Motion and second.

Raw call, please to move the ordinance.

Councilman Monk.

I was just for Clary.

I'm sorry.

Which orders is it?

Number one.

Yes.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colomb Montañez?

Yes.

And Council President Shea.

Yes, the ordinance passes.

Next, please proposed ordinance, chapter 231, rent stabilization.

Is there a motion, please to open public hearing?

So move motion and second roll call, please to open public hearing.

Councilman Monk.

Yes.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colomb Montagnez?

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, the council will be hearing testimony on adopting chapter 231 rent stabilization.

We invite anyone to address the council who would like to.

Uh, but we remind you that you must be speaking on the ordinance and only on the ordinance.

Is there anyone uh who would like to address the council, please?

Yes, sir.

By law, we do not require your address, but we do ask you for your name for the record.

My address too.

No, we don't need to address Mitchell Khan, uh Vice President and Director of Organizing New Jersey tenants organization.

Uh I would like to urge the council to support the uh the amendment to the ordinance.

Um, let me preface my remarks by saying uh one of the things that I've done.

I've been with the New Jersey Tenants Organization for more than 50 years, and I probably had my hand uh in the establishment of probably three quarters of the 123 rent control ordinances that exist in the state.

Uh and I think you've had an experience up and down with rent control.

Uh and uh I think this amendment is is long overdue.

Uh it's justified.

Most of the tenants in this room have been paying rent increases double and triple and quadruple and quintuple the inflation rate for many many years.

Totally unjustified situation.

I think that this uh ordinance will rectify that.

Uh, and I strongly urge you uh to adopt it.

Uh I'm not gonna take any more of your time, uh, but I am available to the council if there's any more technical stuff and advice that you need.

Uh so thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

Uh the council appreciates your enthusiasm, uh, but we would respectfully ask if we could please limit um such expressions.

Yes, sir.

Good evening, my name is Antonio Hernandez, and thank you for if we could ask you to speak a little bit louder, sir.

No problem.

Good evening, and thank you my tuning for sharing my testimony.

My name is Antonio.

My name is Antonio Hernandez, and I'm 23 years 23 years old, and I am a member of Make the Road, New Jersey.

I live in the SIG since I was five years old.

I moved here.

I live with my mom, they make three siblings, and we're currently paying about $2,000 of rent.

I mean, we'll have to split it so we will be able to afford the rent.

But my story isn't unique.

Thousand families in PASIC are facing the same challenges because vacancies have been decontrolled and the rents have gone up inconsistently.

I was happy to see that the city had stabilized the rent to six percent at the beginning of the year.

I felt recognized.

But as we all know, the rent has been a lot of whack.

Yeah, families are being a warned.

But after almost 20 years of derivation, the state tenants need stronger protection.

I'm here today to ask you to vote yes to stabilized rents at three percent and make a z control and support efforts to make sure Pacific tenants live with dignity and respect.

I have every intention is to build my life here in PC and stay close to my family.

I want to become a teacher of the state public schools as a science teacher.

That's why I joined EFRS this year to make SIG rent and housing more accessible and sustainable.

Thank you to the entire to the entire council for consideration, and thank you to all those who joined us today.

Have a good night.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Carla, and I'm speaking tonight as a neighbor, an immigrant and a representative of Lazo Samanica Unida and Fuerza Migrante.

I stand before you to raise the voices of thousands of hardworking Mexican families who live, work, and contribute to the city every single day.

We are not invisible.

Over 20,000 Mexican residents live in Passake.

That's more than 30% of the city's entire population.

We are not a minor minority, we are part of the heart and engine of PASAIC.

Our families began arriving in the 1970s, working in factories, restaurants, construction.

We stayed, built our homes here, raised our children, supported our schools, and contributed to the local economy in every way.

But we are also the ones who suffer the most from abusive rent increases.

I know families paying a thousand six hundred or more to live in apartments with mold, cockroaches, no heat, and broken plumbing.

I know elders and children sharing the same bedroom because the rent is too high.

A six percent increase is devastating.

A family paying a thousand five hundred would have to pay $90 or more each month.

Money that should go to food, medicine, or a metro car to get to work.

A three percent cap gives people a fighting chance.

We are not asking for charity.

We are asking for fairness.

We are demanding the right to live in dignity without fear or being pushed out of our homes.

Tonight, you have the power to make a historic decision to vote for families, not for greedy landlords, to tell this city that yes.

It matters who lives here and how they live.

On behalf of the Mexican community and all working families, vote yes for the three percent rent cap.

Vote for decency, justice in a city that values its people.

Thank you.

My name is Isena Coyoteca, and I am a member of McDermott, New Jersey.

I have lived in Passake for 21 years, and I moved to the United States with my family from Mexico.

I am a graduate of Rutgers University, and I commute to work in New Brunswick, but plan to stay in Passake for the long for the long run and build a family of my own here in Pasake.

I've watched first hand in the last decade how difficult it is for working adults to make rent here in Pasake.

I live with my parents and my three siblings.

It's six of us in total in a three-bedroom apartment.

Myself, the second oldest contributes towards the rent.

Living leaving too many of our families exposed to continue affordable housing.

Years ago, my family needed to move out of our apartment because the landlord was neglecting the neglecting and the rental increase was inconsistent.

And we wanted to avoid potential of inviction down the line because the rent was so unpredictable.

But when we started to look around, we noticed that because of the discontrol, we had to stay in the in our living situation.

That was hostile and ill-suited for us, much longer than we had would have otherwise.

Thank you for your time and for your consideration.

I'm asking that he please pace himself so that I am able to translate accurately.

Good evening, my name is Joaquin Hernandez.

I've lived here in the city of Pasake for more than 30 years.

I am very happy and grateful for that.

To live in this city, so diverse.

Now I'm here to speak about something that worries us families who are of low resources.

The issue that brings me here with my colleagues and other people from the city.

Is that we want a reduction in the increase of rent?

We know that the mayor, Hector Laura has worked on this before.

However, us hard working families feel that it is not enough.

So please, in the name of everyone here and all the families in Passake.

Take into consideration our proposal, this project.

Because that way we will be more comfortable.

Thank you for your attention and good night.

Maria Tenecaum Popito Martin.

Okay.

Good evening, my name is Mariela.

I am part of the group Make the Road New Jersey, and I've been living in the city of Pasaic.

I've been living here since 1995.

I've been here for 29 years.

And in the last 15 years I've been living in the same apartment.

Last year I was surprised by the owner of the property where I live with an increase in rent of more than 225%.

This was an increase that I could not afford.

And afraid of being evicted to the point where I developed depression.

I spoke to different agencies, including here City Hall, but I was told that I could not be helped because there was no rent control.

Here I was told to go to the family court in Patterson.

Where we did not receive any help or support.

For the same reason.

We did get assistance, but we were told that they could only give us guidance, not legal representation.

Okay.

Through a neighbor, we were connected with the organization make the road New Jersey, and they did help us.

You could share with the ladies that I need her on the ordinance.

I had to explain this because that's the reason that I'm here.

Um to please support this petition on behalf of me and behalf of all the people that are here.

And to please support uh vacancy control.

Gracias por su atención de Pasei, pido a ustedes que consideran y votan 3% para aliviar la pena de muchos ciudadanos.

And thank you on my behalf, but not behalf of everyone here.

Um I'm here tonight to urge the council to vote yes on the ordinance to stabilize rents at 3% and provide vacant vacancy control.

I want to start by saying thank you for considering an ordinance that directly responds to what so many tenants have been saying for years.

The rent is racing very fast, then our families can keep up.

As a teacher, I witnessed this first hand.

It's been really hard hearing from my own students that talk about having to work extra hours or even miss schools just to help their families get by, and I have many of those.

At first I thought I had to stay in my lane, just focused on my classroom, but when I started noticing students falling behind and not showing up at all so they could work, or when I got to peek into their homes during Zoom meetings during the pandemic to see dripping ceilings and crowded spaces, that's when I knew I had to step up.

That's why I became a petitioner to move the ballot ordinance forward.

I feel truly honored and ready to do more, and thank you, Mate of Road New Jersey, for making me part of you.

Since then I've seen just how powerful our community can be when we come together.

We have collected over a thousand four hundred signatures to push rent stabilization on the ballot.

I've watched my members go door to door, make calls, show up to meetings every Wednesday, Tuesday, doing the work with heart and determination.

And honestly, it's been both inspiring and emotional.

As you can see, I'm a little emotional today because this is not easy.

Because it reminds me that when our people are under a lot of pressure, we don't fall apart.

We rise, we support each other.

Ma'am, I'm going to ask you to speak to the ordinance, please.

Pasek took an important first step this year by passing rent stabilization.

But a six percent cap is still too high for many working class families, especially as wages stay flat while the cost of living rises across the board.

We need to do more to make sure my people can stay in their homes.

Voting yes tonight continues what the city marked, making Passaic an affordable, stable place to live.

The time to act is now.

Like I said, filthy rich off the backs of poor people.

So we thank you so much for your efforts in this matter.

Thank you.

Hi everyone.

The people united, we never be the final.

My family here, they study, they work here.

Uh councils, major, everything.

Uh we are here because the problem with the people is very uh much problem.

Uh very difficult for the people say PASIC.

Not only Posey, and around the country, around the world.

Uh this is why we are here.

My neighbors, my family, uh organizer voluntary with Coscha to New Jersey.

Uh we hear about the a lot of problems with the landlord, the landlords, uh respect the increase.

Um owners of the house increase about 400, 500, 200.

This is why stay here.

No, uh for same.

Uh take control, please.

Control the rents.

The people is the things is bad.

The money is the money is still not in the world.

A lot of people's notice.

My name is Timor Subclin.

I live in here in Passake Cura Street.

I need for help.

Take the resolution for increasing the landlords.

This is now this uh big problem in the city.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Laura and members of the city council.

My name is Adrian Orozco, and although I'm wearing blue, I'm here on behalf of uh 32BJ SCIU.

And uh so we represent more than 185,000 property service workers along the East Coast.

Uh, this includes 15,000 New Jerseyans and 160 people who call Passaic home.

Uh, some of these folks and those that live in the surrounding communities are here on my left.

Uh, first, thank you, Mayor Laura, Council President Sher, and the entire city council for your leadership.

Earlier this year, you passed the rent stabilization ordinance capping annual rent increases at 6%.

That was an important uh and necessary first step toward creating more housing stability in this city.

Uh, the proposed amendment before you tonight to reduce the cap from six to three percent, build on that progress and uh shows a deeper commitment to protecting tenants, especially working families.

Uh, we also want to recognize the broader work the city has done to make housing more affordable.

Under Mayor Laura's leadership, the SAIC has implemented an innovative housing strategy that encourages accessory dwelling units and could become a model for other municipalities across the state.

Still, the need remains urgent with 73% of Passaic households renting, and over 81% of those renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

Affordability is out of reach for too many.

In Passaic County, eviction filings have surged from 2600 in 2021 to nearly 6700 in 2024, displacing families who are essential to the city's functioning.

Our members, janitors, superintendents, maintenance workers, and security officers are the backbone of this community.

They help keep the state clean, safe, and running.

But rising rents are making it harder for them to continue living in the neighborhoods they serve.

Lowering the rent cap to 3% would help stabilize housing for these workers and their neighbors, reduce displacement, and strengthen the local economy.

And critically, this amendment still provides a fair pathway for landlords to adjust rents, especially through the property tax provision.

We respectfully urge you to vote in favor of this amendment tonight.

It is a continuation of the thoughtful and balanced housing leadership this city has already shown.

And that will help ensure Passaic remains a place where working families can live and thrive.

Thank you again for your time and the opportunity to speak tonight.

Good evening.

I'm Andre Berger, community organizer with Movimento Cosecha, and like everyone else in this room, I'm here to request that you pass this ordinance.

And this crisis is going to get much worse over the next few years as the federal government's attack on food stamps on Medicaid really start to hit home, and more and more families are faced with those kind of tough choices.

And of course, you can't solve all of the national problems, right?

They are contributing to this national crisis.

But what you can do right here in Passaic is to take meaningful material steps to ensure that the people here can stay in their homes to make sure that the people here are not priced out of their homes.

As the previous speakers have said, the legislation you've already passed is a fantastic first step, but 6% is still way too high.

6% rent increases will price people out of Passaic.

If you cut that in half, that makes sure that the number of families, working class families here, will be able to stay in their homes, stay in this community.

And you can do that, and you can take that step today.

Thank you.

Hi, Council.

Hello, Mayor.

My name is Dave Singer.

I'm a staff attorney at Volunteer Lawrence for Justice.

We're a small nonprofit that provides free legal services for people experiencing poverty throughout Essex County.

Uh for the last 10 years before being at BLJ.

I worked at the Legal Aid Society out of the Bronx office while I was there.

We had to uh adapt to the passage of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, a major statewide legislation that massively expanded the protections of rent stabilization.

I'm here to tell you that that law directly resulted in stronger community ties with stronger protections for tenants than even are contemplated here.

It allowed people to maintain their ties to the community, be supported by the community, also they may be the support persons supporting their community.

It had vacancy decont.

It had all the things that are in this bill and more.

I'm here to say that in my experience in New York City and also in Essex County, the landlords have been able to make a reasonable rate of return, as that gentleman speaker who is a landlord mentioned.

I think what I find most compelling about this ordinance is that it's grounded in the present struggles of actual people that are here filling these seats right now.

And the you've heard stories about rent being paid at all, other expense, you know, education, pulling kids out of school to work for extra hours at the job, cutting medications, maybe only fill them once every two times or two out of every three times.

That causes major morbidity in your constituents.

You may not think that 3% increase as much, and that it might be unfair to landlords, but neither are the cost of living adjustments to supplemental security income.

Just four times in the last 15 years would the SSI full have kept up with an increase over three percent.

So every year, as the callers for SSI don't keep up, more and more of that income is going towards the rent, and that is not fair, and that is that is pushing people out of the city.

I implore you to vote yes on this ordinance.

Thank you for your time.

Good evening, Mayor.

Good evening, council.

Uh, my name is Danilo Kirchner.

I live in Jersey City with 71% rent is actually quite comparable to Persaic.

Um I'm a part side tenant.

Um, and I've watched Jersey City fail and force rent control for years.

I'm here to provide perspective from this experience.

The difference between 3% and 6% isn't as much more than math.

It's the difference between protection and exploitation.

A 3% care protects tenants even when politicians fail, even when enforcement is non-existent, even when nobody's watching.

Why?

Because 3% is close enough to real to reality, as we just heard.

Umlords will not risk the legal fight.

But 6%, that's the sweet spot for exploitation.

It's high enough that algorithmic pricing software like RealPage that's being prosecuted by our attorney general can maximize profits by technically staying legal.

It's high enough that landlords will spend money on lawyers instead of maintenance.

Knowing the payoff is worth it.

We learned this the hard way in Jersey City.

In fact, I personally learned this in our apartment.

Before our rent leveling board decided that our buildings should have been under rent control from the beginning.

In the over 10 years we've been living there, increases typically were around 6%.

So I'm going to draw you to the ordinance, please.

Yeah, I'm talking about the 6% that you're currently.

You're talking about Jersey City.

If you could address this ordinance that's before the council.

Okay.

So then what we experienced there, when caps are too high, they become a target, not a limit.

Software programs literally advertise the ability to optimize rents right up to the legal maximum.

At 6%, you are not setting a ceiling.

You are actually setting the floor.

Think about it.

If you can raise rent 6% every year without justification, without improvement, without even fixing the heat, the AC, the MOAT we heard about earlier.

Why would you ever raise rent less?

The algorithm won't let you.

Your investors won't let you.

And 3% CAP forces landlords to actually compete, to actually maintain their buildings, to actually treat tenants as humans, not data points in a spreadsheet.

And we might hear today later.

And it's required to put up uh the buildings and to keep up the buildings.

So maybe then the referendum should add something.

How about half of the increases must go to maintenance?

I'm going to draw it to the I'm going to draw you to the ordinance itself.

Please.

I'm just offering another option.

Anyway, um, I'm at the end.

Anyway, uh, so what I try to say is don't give algorithms room to compete uh to operate.

Don't give uh exploitation illegal shield past the three percent.

Thank you.

Good evening, council members.

My name is Nicole Morella, and I'm co-executive director of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

I'm here on behalf of our coalition of providers, particularly those serving the Passaic community and survivors here in your city.

To put it bluntly, permanent safe, quality housing is the greatest need survivors of domestic violence in New Jersey have.

And yet the greatest barrier survivors face is the cost of rent.

The cost of rent is often prohibitive for survivors in the first place, as they're rebuilding their lives, often without any finances, income, or savings.

So imagine finally securing that appointment for apartment and safe housing for you and your children to find the rent go up above what you're able to manage.

One of our domestic violence providers serving the Passaic community here stated that the biggest barrier to financial independence and stability for survivors is rent prices.

Rent is exorbitant and rising.

Many of the survivors we're working with full are um many of the survivors working full-time and are not able to manage the high rent each month and are forced into very difficult situations, making decisions around paying for gas, rent, food, or child care.

Rent increases force survivors to move often, which causes instability and disrupts the support networks available to them and their children.

Rent stabilization helps ensure that survivors aren't priced out of neighborhoods where they have access to services, jobs, schools, and connections to their religious communities.

Rent control and stabilization helps break the cycle of abuse by keeping housing costs predictable and manageable for survivors.

Without it, survivors will be unable to sustain the cost of living and find themselves back with the abusive partner in an unsafe living situation or even homeless.

Affordable housing is critical for survivors of domestic violence in their children.

Please make sure it does not remain out of reach and pass this ordinance.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Cassandra, and I'm here as a community member and with the housing community development network of New Jersey.

As a housing justice organizing specialist, the network is a statewide membership organization whose members include tenant rights organizations, builders, landlords, municipalities, community development corporation, housing counselors, and more.

As a SAC native, I'm here today to stand in solidarity with a town that raised me, sheltered me, educated me, and fed me.

With New Jersey being the seventh most expensive state for renters, requiring workers to earn 39.99 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom, when in reality, the average garden estate worker earns 23.97.

The need for this ordinance couldn't be more urgent.

This ordinance represents the will of the people of Passaic.

Residents who are being priced out of their homes and communities.

We are in the midst of a housing crisis.

Rents are rising faster than wages, and families are being forced to make impossible choices between housing, food, and medical care.

Rent stabilization is not just a policy, it's a lifelong.

It provides predictability, stability, and a measure of dignity for working families, seniors, and low-income residents.

This ordinance protects against extreme rent hikes that lead to displacement.

Looking Hamas era Vencito.

Good evening, Council members.

Mayor.

I'm Kevin Weller, also from Jersey City, and I will stay on topic.

Our mayor never comes to our city council meetings.

And I've been to 60 of them.

So it's really important that you're here, and I'm really glad that you're here.

I'm also the first New Jersey plaintiff in what has become the largest real estate antitrust class action in American history targeting real page.

This becomes important because the ordinance that you perhaps will pass tonight will protect people from what the New Jersey AG calls the algorithmic rent fixing cartel.

I'm here tonight because Passaic is about to set a precedent that is important for every tenant in New Jersey.

When one city shows courage for a 3% cap, others follow.

When one city maintains a 6% cap that doubles rents every 12 years, it becomes a model for displacement everywhere.

I've learned exactly how rent exploitation works from fighting the largest rent conspiracy this country has ever seen.

And I'm here to tell you that a 6% cap is an invitation for abuse.

Let me be clear.

You have three choices, as far as I understand tonight.

Adopt the 3% cap, table it, and compromise at CPI or 4%, for example, what Jersey City does, which averages 3%, but allows some uh variability, or force a referendum that based on every precedent from Holbrook into Jersey City, you will lose by catastrophic margins.

Laurel, I understand, has said that his philosophy is opposed to rent control.

It could be that his uh his opinion on that has changed since he was quoted in the uh Bergen record in January of 2024.

But in either case, uh voters have a philosophy that is opposed to politicians who let families get priced out of their homes.

Just ask our mayor, Stephen Fuller, who two months ago couldn't win a COVID.

Sir, I'm going to call you to the ordinance.

The ordinance, okay, understood.

Let's do the math.

It's 6% back on the ordinance.

Annual increases, rents double as every 12 years.

The ordinance, if I'm not mistaken, calls for 3%, then let's address it.

But if it doesn't pass, we're at 6%.

And so that's what we're deciding.

We'll be passing if it doesn't pass, you'll have the opportunity to join us at another meeting where it will be discussed.

Okay, I understand.

But the consequences to passing this, so that people can understand and conceptualize it.

If their salaries haven't doubled since 2012, they perhaps would not want this to um, they would want this to pass.

It's important that it passes.

The landlord loud will cry that 3%, so we're back on 3%, will destroy investment.

And I would say that that's nonsense because the ordinance already has a hardship provision.

231-6, your ordinance.

Capital improvement passed through in section 231-5.

Any landlord who genuinely can't make ends meet with this passing, um, really has they already have legal remedies.

So what they don't have is the right to double rents every 12 years.

This isn't about good landlords versus bad landlords, which is another argument we hear when we're talking about passing an ordinance such as this one.

It's about why we have laws at all.

Why have speed limits if we trust all the drivers?

Why have food safety rules if we trust all the restaurants?

Laws exist to prevent the worst actors from poisoning the well for everyone.

And if this does not pass, whatever the percent will be, six percent currently, um, it poisons the well at twice the rate of wages going up.

Make the road collected over 500 signatures in days, and Hoboken rent control won 73% to 27%.

I hope that Passaic understands that it's no different.

73% of your city is made up of renters, and they will remember who stood with them or who chose to let rents double every 12 years.

Thank you.

Hi, Passaic City Council.

Hi, everyone.

Um, I'm Cameron, I'm a Clifton resident.

However, I grew up on Sherman Street.

My aunt lives right over there on Jefferson in those apartments.

Um, I'm here today with the Passaic and Bergen DSA to petition for a rent cap as well as vacancy control because the rate at which housing costs is rising in this area does not reflect the area's median income.

Rental and mortgage markets in this region are already out of the reach of many millennials in Gen Z.

How do you expect your most vulnerable populations to pay the rent without taking on two, sometimes three jobs?

Not only does a right and cap benefit every Passaic resident, it also has a potential to set an example for neighboring municipalities, especially my dysfunctional one.

Um as well as I mentioned before, I grew up on Sherman Street.

The progress you guys have made here in Passake has been incredible, even seeing it before my eyes this past couple of decades.

Um you had a lot of foresight to meet the moment where it's at it, especially developing Passake into a commuter hub, a hub of commerce, but now you're facing this rent crisis that is facing the entire nation.

The rent control having a cap on the rent increase not only protects the protects the average resident here, but it also cuts back on the burden of care that the city will have to face if we face another homelessness crisis or other crises, such as the after school after school care issues.

I've seen all the work you guys have done.

The home ownership market in this area is already a hundred thousand dollars over the national median for home mortgage rates.

So you guys are already as far as as far as um buying property goes.

You you guys are already making a lot of money.

Renting uh as it the rental market is the rental market is here for the lower income people as well as people my age who may not have the two three thousand dollars to rent out our own apartment on our own.

Um, now's your opportunity to meet the moment where it's at and ensure your constituents get accessible and affordable housing.

Umorlora and city council members.

My name is Asada Man, and I'm uh uh resident of the city of Pasake.

I'm a lifelong resident.

I was born and raised for the last 27 years.

Um, you know, proud um, you know, uh person who has come from a couple of generations of Pasakians, uh, the man family, and you know, we've all been renters uh for a very long time.

I have been living and renting my current apartment for the last 15 years.

Um, and so you know, I want to first start off by just saying thank you to you all for um considering this ordinance tonight, and also thank you for the earlier action you took this year.

Um, you know, I think it takes real courage and um leadership to take actions like this right now, and you're showing other municipalities a model and a roadmap on how to meet this moment.

Um, but you know, I am here on behalf of myself, my neighbors, and you know, just a larger community of Pasik tonight to urge you to pass this ordinance and to continue to take action and to go further to address this issue, right?

Um, and and to ensure that Passake residents have access to not only affordable but also fair and safe housing and the opportunity to not be pushed out by rising prices.

Uh, you know, we know that everywhere around the state, including here in Passake, residents are being squeezed by skyrocketing rents.

Of course, we've all heard about the utility bills, uh, but also health care costs, child care, groceries, and other basic needs.

Um, you know, on top of all of that stress, the reality is that many of us are also dealing with terrible living conditions in these apartments, right?

Um, anything from rat roach and fly infestations, broken plumbing and leaks and uh molds, myself included, over the last few years, uh over the last year and some change.

I've actually had to go continuously back and forth with my landlord requesting repairs to leaks, uh, mold, broken walls, broken windows.

Um, and actually, within that time frame within the last year, my landlord actually um gave me uh notice for a rent increase while also not addressing um addressing these issues or addressing any of my previous communications.

So, you know, I think that behavior speaks to the lack of respect generally and dignity that's afforded to the residents by their landlords.

Um, and bottom line, Passake residents deserve better.

You know, we deserve more.

Um, I think you would all agree that this is a beautiful and thriving community.

Um, it's a gem, and I'm proud to call it home.

Given the option, I'd love to call PASAC home for the rest of my life.

But you know, if action isn't taken to address this moment that we're in, this housing crisis, um, and you know, give renters reasonable protections.

I'm afraid that I won't be able to live here much longer, and I'd have to try to find housing elsewhere, um, which seems impossible.

There doesn't seem to be anything affordable um nearby and available.

So, you know, I just want to remind you all that um this matter is is very urgent.

I think um I've seen the number of homeless residents in Passake, even over the last few years growing, and that's extremely concerning.

I want to urge you all to think about housing, you know, um, as something that's a basic need, uh human right, and something that should be protected, um, not something to be profited off of.

So again, I urge you to pass this ordinance tonight, and I thank you for your consideration.

Good evening, Mayor.

Good evening, City Council, good evening, uh subwoman.

My name is Mon Francisco, a lifelong resident of the city of Pasake, 41 years accounting.

So I've been living here since the uh the last time the Mets won the world series.

Um I kind of find it very pathetic that uh a tenant has to work four to five jobs, she has to have a roof over his or her head.

Um from what I can see, this um this ordinance will help the tenants.

Um this doesn't pass, um your constituents who are right here.

Don't be two lateral damage, and so will you at the ballot box of course.

I'm going to keep you to the ordinance, please, sir.

Oh, I am within well within the ordinance, Mr.

Subwoman.

Not when you're speaking about elections.

You want to speak about elections, we can have that conversation.

Right now we want to go to the part of the ordinance to understand it better and its effects upon people, which is why we've shown everyone tonight the latitude that actually is desirable and beneficial.

Your constituents can't afford any more rent increases, Mr.

Sembleman.

Mr.

Mayor, they can't they can't afford anymore.

They can't do it.

Please pass this ordinance.

Please, um please do it.

I don't know what else to say to you, Mr.

Summerman, Mr.

Mayor.

City Council.

Please.

I I love Passake.

I've lived here all my life.

I've earned my college degrees while living here.

I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly this city.

Right now, this is in the ugly.

Please pass the ordinance.

Thank you very much.

Have a wonderful night.

Good evening, members of the city council, Mr.

Mayor, appreciate you all giving us the opportunity to be able to share remarks related to the ordinance.

I take it you all don't uh have many children making comments usually because in the in the name of inclusion, if you will, I'm gonna use this chair.

Uh my daughter thought it would be appropriate to uh share some remarks.

My name is Dr.

Enrique Noguera.

This is Eliana Nogera.

Hello, my name is Eliana Noguerra.

I'm going to fifth grade.

I attended Passake Gifted and Talented Academy.

Seeing my mom and the Passake community here today is so inspirational, not topic.

These families and my fellow community members are suffering from tremendous amounts of rent that they have to pay land rates.

The crucial part is that not all people are upper class.

The last thing I will say is that my friends are a part of this community, and sometimes I get scared that they might have to go to another town to live.

Please support the three percent rank catalog.

Good evening to all.

In 2018, I paid 1050 in rent.

It was increased by 700.

I came here to City Hall for support and was told they couldn't help me because there was no rent control.

In Patterson, there is rent control, not in Passake.

Right now I'm paying 1,750.

The landlord does not want to repair the apartment.

I live on the first floor and I'm paying the utility bills in the basement.

I don't I'm not allowed access to it in the 19 years that I've been there.

He told me to leave.

I've searched and rents are 3,000 and up, which is too high for a single mother.

I am looking for rent control.

I've come here for your help, but you haven't been able to help me.

So how is it that one home is three thousand dollars for rent?

I've always said it that New Jersey is for rich people, not for the poor.

I know your hearts because I know each of you.

And I know that anything you do is in the best interest of your constituents, or these people here today.

They are here to say, hey, we appreciate what you're doing for us, and we want to work with you to make this a reality.

Now we already know the reality of affordable housing.

It's tough.

It's tough.

And this mayor has made sure that any new buildings going up or opening up, that 20% of those apartments are affordable housing.

This may and council work tirelessly for this town.

I see it all the time.

So I just want to say this.

I know that ordinance 231-23 would not be on this agenda if it was not being considered to be passed.

So everyone who's here talking about how unaffordable it is.

You have a mayor and council right here that is going to work hard for you and make sure that you stay in the city of Passake and that it will always be your home.

So I thank you, Mayor.

I know again, I know your heart.

I know you'll do anything you can to help the people that are here with us today.

So thank you.

For those of us who might not be aware, the uh lady who just addressed us is Passaic County Commissioner.

Commissioner Lazaro, we thank you for being here, ma'am, and appreciate your taking the time out of your very busy schedule.

Good evening, mayor and city council team.

My name is Veronica Ortiz, born and raised in Passake.

Um I see a lot of people addressing this issue, and I want to address it as well.

Please consider the 3%.

I have a 92-year-old grandmother living in the same apartment for over 40 years, and this has been a constant issue.

Imagine the elderly, the elderly that cannot stand here to come and adjust this issue.

Let's remember that we are a community and we stand in one.

Please, let's consider this as my grandmother can't stand here.

Stand here and adjust her concerns.

Thank you.

And tonight I want to remind everyone that's in front of me.

In case you have forgotten or have not noticed.

The minimum that the city of Pase could do is to help alleviate this load on these families.

I assume some of you are Democrats.

We've always been told that Democrats are our allies and our friends.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No, excuse me, sir.

I don't need you getting there.

I need you to be on the ordinance.

This is my time, Mr.

Gary.

No, sir.

This is a council meeting where everyone is trying to restart.

I'm giving a context.

I could finish in one minute.

If you're on the ordinance, you can have as much time as you would like.

I am speaking of the ordinance.

I'm giving context on the point.

Very good, sir.

Then we look forward to continue speaking.

If you are really our friends and our allies, tonight is the time for you to show that you are on our side.

And that you're here for the working families and not for the corporations.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Sonia Kirchner.

I came from uh to New Jersey on an international assignment for a large chemical company 12 years ago from Germany, a country where rent control is actually the standard and where it does not determine your status if you rent or own.

Actually, maybe because rent control laws are in place there.

So I want to take you back to the time about 12 years, a little longer ago, um when I came here.

Um maybe someone was paying here in Passaic $850 for one bedroom, maybe $1,500 for two or three bedroom.

Some of you here might still remember those rents, right?

Um, under a six percent cap that's eight hundred that eight hundred and fifty apartment is now one thousand seven hundred.

That um 1500 place is now three thousand.

Same apartment, same neighborhood, same leaky faucet that may have never been fixed under the six percent cap.

How many of you could afford your home if your rent had doubled?

Yeah, how many could afford your home if your rent had doubled?

How many teachers, firefighters, and nurses sitting here tonight would have been forced out of PISAC.

Stand up if you think your salary doubled since 2012.

Whose salary doubled here since 2012?

Nobody, that's what I thought.

Now let's rewind and do that same journey with a three percent cap.

That 850 apartment would be about 1,100 today.

That 1500 place would be around 1,950.

Still an increase.

Landlords would still make a lot of money.

But families aren't destroyed.

Here is the brutal truth.

And the 6%, your rent doubles every 12 years.

And the 3%, it takes 24 years.

That's not just the number.

That's the difference between your kids finishing school here or being displaced in another district.

It's the difference between building a life and constantly running from rent increases.

You can stand up tonight and vote for the three percent.

You can stand up in November for the referendum.

You can sit down now and watch your community get priced out family by family until Passaic becomes a place where only the wealthy can afford to live.

We experienced that in Jersey City.

I have seen families leave, family after family, school after school, children after children.

The math is very simple.

It's your choice, but remember every year you wait that six percent compounds, the clock is ticking.

My name is Laura Sanoma.

I wanted to la personacame.

The person that was renting an apartment to me.

Sold the home.

It was sold in November, and in December, the new homeowner told me they were going to increase the rent.

So from December to January, the rent increased $500.

And I thought that was too much because I'm a mom with three daughters.

Now I pay $2,300 in rent.

For two people to pay that, it's too much.

Thank you.

I own these houses to give my children a better future.

I pay I work paycheck to paycheck.

I have mortgages to pay every single month.

I have a tenant here tonight.

I have multiple tenants from the Mexican community, but I have one here tonight.

Because I know her because I know she's working hard.

She has a family.

Every year for each of those tenants for each of those rental units.

Most of the people here tonight live in buildings.

I'll give an example.

King Arthur on Pennington Avenue is a 60, they pay a hundred, they pay 120,000 in taxes to this city.

That's a lot of money.

They pay $510,000 to the city of Passaic.

But they have 200 units.

Each of those units in one month, they collect enough money to cover your taxes while I have to wait four months.

When they have to do a roof repair, they have to pay 120,000 in roof and roofing.

120,000 if you take a divide by 60 units.

But if you want to take and make a one-size approach to the problem, I don't think that's fair.

There are landlords like me who care about our tenants, who our tenants respect.

We come to collect our rent personally.

I think the city council would be smart.

They introduced an 8% renting rent control.

They lowered it to 6%.

Let's see what happens.

What is the need to push now to 3%?

We know what Patterson looks like.

Nobody wants to live in Patterson.

Nobody wants to live in Newark.

Let's see what 6% did does for the city.

Let's give it some time.

Let's see what's happening.

Nobody should have their rents raised by 200%.

That's crazy.

Nobody should have problems with roaches and plaster falling on them and mold.

But the city has to have to have a system no matter what the rent is.

They have to have a system to make sure that people's rental units are inhabitable.

Why should you get more tickets for parking in the city while landlords who don't care of their tenants need you on the ordinance place?

While landlords who don't take care of their tenants get a freebie.

That's not okay.

Let the city figure out a system.

But pushing it after a few months from 8% to 6% to 3%, sir.

I need you on the ordinance.

Thank you.

I think we're playing with a big, big big hot potato that I think the city council should really really wait and see what happens with the six percent that I think might very do well for the city.

Of course, there are bann landlords, and of course, the new development that in the city where people come in and they are able to make prices at astronomical amounts because it's a brand new apartment.

Of course, that creates pressure on the rest of the market.

So I'm not sure how that's gonna be taken care of.

But I don't think the problem is all landlords are a problem.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

If you would like to take your conversations outside, that would be very helpful.

I have lived in Pass.

I lived in Passaic since 1989.

Unfortunately, two years ago I had to leave Passake.

Because the house where I lived caught fire.

I came to City Hall, I was given some sheets of paper.

I was told to go to Patterson, there I got some more sheets of paper, and basically I didn't get help.

Unfortunately, I didn't have renters insurance, which it's unfortunate, you know I know now.

I want to know why realtors are able to charge 3,000, 2500, 3,500 on a fee for themselves.

What is that?

Nobody knows that, okay.

If they ask you for 3,000, the realtor takes 2800.

Cash.

Cash.

Plus the rent of a month and a half.

So we're talking about 10,000 dollars to rent an apartment.

And that is what happened to me, and I ask if that's what's happening to others.

You go to a realtor and they have a fee that goes straight to them.

I have the security that the day that Pasik passes rent control, I will return to Passake.

Because I lived in Pasake, my family is here in Pasake, and we want to be here in Pasik.

You can all right.

So I'll do it in Spanish then.

So hi Daniel.

Um so my name is Jennifer Suarez.

Um my name is Jennifer Suarez.

I was born here in Pasake.

And um Soltera, I'm a single mother, and I was a victim of domestic violence as well.

I've lived in Passake Park and when I lived there, I paid 1,500 dollars that included light and utilities as well.

And Mr.

Joseph, who came here and is claiming to be a great landlord, increased the rent from 1400 to 1800 to 1900.

But but because I don't allow that and I'm a fighter and I know my rights, and I don't allow that.

Oh, so mama de siete niños.

And I am the mother to seven children.

Mr.

Daniel knows that I've always looked for employment.

My ex-husband used to work with you, and I worked with the Jewish community.

And in addition, when the other landlord was Jewish as well, but when Joseph came in, my child was born with high levels of lead.

And of course, it was not this landlord's fault.

It was the other landlord's fault because he did not keep up with the maintenance.

And thank God I was born here and I was able to help.

Um because my child had high lead, we were able to get uh free help in addressing the problem.

No, we got him free help to fix his house and apartment.

Oh, we got him free.

Oh, yeah.

Let me just specify that.

Windows and the whole apartment, also Joseph's.

Don't let me get at you right now here because we moved to them.

He provided us.

Um the state said that they were gonna provide us.

I'm sorry.

Um they said that.

The state said that they were going to cover the hotel states.

All right, but it's just to the point that where I'm getting that he's specifying that he's a great landlord.

Yes, he's a good landlord, but not a great landlord.

Okay, so I moved to 29.

I moved to a three.

I knew whether he's a great landlord or otherwise, I need you on the ordinance.

Just listen to me.

Okay, I know what you're saying.

Yes, Yosef.

I moved to another house that also has plomo.

That's his as well.

Your me ten que salida otra vez for my sihos.

And now I'm gonna have to leave again, and they're gonna fix that apartment as well, thanks to my kids.

Okay, yo tengo una yarda si tengo un drive, so, but I have a yard, yes, and a driveway and everything, but what's the cost?

My children, right?

And arregando los apartamentos.

And yes, he does wait for the rent and everything, but it's unjust that they keep increasing the rent like this.

So no es que no me fui sin pagal renta.

And yes, I owed rent, but I was social services.

All right, so no, I don't agree on the three percent.

I mean, I agree on the three percent, I'm sorry, yeah.

So that's my hello.

Hello, hi, good afternoon.

My name is Maria.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, okay.

Hi, good afternoon.

My name is Maria.

Nice to meet you, mayor, counsel.

I am a 23-year-old lady.

My mother is over there present.

I am the second person who's helping her pay the 23 hundred dollars for the rent.

I am very emotional right now, and it's insane.

Sorry.

I think the rental we're paying is too much.

Not so long ago, my living room was flooded.

One to two inches of rain in the second floor.

My couches, my son's toys, they were damaged.

I don't know how we had a flooding in the living room in my sister in my sister's room, and in my mother's room.

I contacted my landlord, showed him evidence that we had to get this fixed.

What did he tell me?

Oh, we'll go next week.

We'll go this week.

The week arrived, no one showed up to fix anything.

He told me, cover everything up, plastic bags, and you'll be good.

What did I do?

I had to throw my son's toys and some furniture.

I'm scared.

My mother's scared.

She told me let's let's pay rent.

I told her no.

She's one of the persons that she's terrified.

As many as them.

I was cleaning my room and I found mold in the windows.

Not just my window, ceilings, living room once again.

I texted my landlord.

Hey, look what I found.

Did you know what he told me?

He said I'm gonna send someone over.

Later that day, someone comes and buys white spray to paint over the mold.

And he says, leave it, it's fine.

I I am not safe.

I ma'am.

I'm I'm going to interrupt you for a moment.

Of course.

Your your comments are compelling.

They're disturbing.

Um, and they're making you nauseous the way you've been treated.

And I must tell you, you're not the first person tonight who has made me nauseous.

But the ordinance before us deals with many, many things.

Part of any ordinance is going to deal with the landlord fulfilling his or her responsibilities to the tenant.

That is the issue.

The issue.

I need to you to speak to the issue in terms of the amount, the size, the percentage of rent increase, etc.

I appreciate and all appreciate your coming here tonight.

Of course.

Thank you.

I'm not although you've done a wonderful job.

Thank you.

But I need you on the ordinance, please.

Of course, thank you so much for that.

Um the landlord sold a house, they increased the rent.

They did not fix anything, they have not fixed anything, and water continues to leak in my house.

23,000 is too much for a building or a house, an apartment.

That's not stable for someone to live in.

I just want you guys to reconsider that.

And hopefully, we guys, you guys have the power to do something, just like we are.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council?

See, no more hands, I'm all the closed.

We have a hand.

Second.

Good evening, council.

My name is Brendan.

I'm a lifelong, I'm a lifelong resident of New Jersey, and I'm here to talk about the three percent rent stabilization ordinance before you tonight, and what the delay in passing this will actually cost the community of the Sai.

Make the um economic in economic analysis shows that this 3% cap would return $4 million in money that's leaving the tenants, your citizens, and out of the city and being pushed elsewhere, out of the economy, out of everything, out of the restaurants, out of the businesses that support the city, and isn't being reflected by the local taxes.

This delay is gonna call every month to be just postpone this decision.

That's 333,000, leaving the community, going elsewhere, going to pass other laws, going into the landlords, some of which are now large mega corporations, not a local man.

He's grown up here hoping to make who grew up here and wants to make a living for his kids.

Sorry, lost my place.

The ordinance before you tonight's carefully crafted, it maintains all the existing hardship provisions of the ordinance passed earlier this year at six percent.

You have three options tonight.

You can pass it tonight, reject it, and force an expensive referendum that's gonna divide your community, or table it and watch another 330,000 per month flow out of Passaic.

Money that could be going to this to support businesses, help improve the city.

This petition the petition support in this ordinance was gathered way over 500 signatures in such a short period of time because people are desperate.

They need relief, they're coming to you hoping to get the relief that they need.

Every day, every day of delay means more displacement, more economic drain, and more families forced to choose between rent groceries and drugs.

Pharmaceuticals, I mean.

Sorry.

This ordinance stops that cycle tonight.

The question isn't whether you support tenants or landlords, it's whether you support Passage economy, or you want to keep bleeding the sake's residents.

Thank you very much.

Saying no hands, I'm on the close up public portion.

Second.

I'll take a motion and second road call, please.

Councilman Monk.

Yes.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mallone?

Yes.

Councilman Mayor.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilman Colomb Montañez?

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, just a moment, please.

Um right into a forty.

I think we're right to forty-four.

Okay.

Is there a motion, please to close public hearing?

We did that.

Movement.

We did that.

We did that.

Sorry?

We're on the ordinary on the ordinance.

On the ordinance.

Second.

Motion and second.

The ordinance uh this proposed ordinance we've been discussing tonight.

Um, and let me thank everyone for being here for taking the time to be here tonight.

Let me also apologize if I was too quick with uh anyone.

Um, I did not mean to be, but it's uh this is a heady responsibility when which one necessarily takes very heavily.

There's been discussion back and forth for quite a while on this ordinance, um, and the time invested by make the right and other organizations, which frankly I happen to be uh personally involved with myself.

The council's uh discussion on the matter uh and the mayor um have led us to uh a decision on our part, and there's a lot of uh agreement, I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong with uh make the road.

Um the council uh has a another proposed version in response to this initiative uh petition uh listed that we've been discussing.

So essentially what I'd like to do is to call for a vote with the understanding that there's been agreement by the city and make the road, and please correct me if I'm wrong, um, that there will be uh a few days, a few weeks, not more than a few, um, for this bill to be finalized.

So, what you're going to hear is a rejection by the council of the proposal and the understanding and the commitment of this city council and mayor if I may speak on your name as well behalf of the mayor and his administration and the city council that we will be back to discuss and hopefully finalize something which is uh positive and uh beneficial for all concerned.

That being the case, is there a maker of the bill, please?

This is a motion to deny, I believe.

Yes, for two you deny the second why are we denying it?

We are denying so that we can go in favor of 44 as has been discussed with uh parties involved.

So there's a motion to reject to reject, yes, yes, item two.

Okay, motion to reject councilman monk, councilman monk, yes, yes, yes, councilwoman mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilwoman Colom Montagnez, yes, and council president shares, yes.

Thank you.

The motion is denied, which brings us now to 44 an amendment, an ordinance by amending section 2231-23, rent stabilization of 2025 of chapter 231 rent control of the city of Passaic Code to reduce maximum allowable rental increases.

Um we have copies available uh for you if you would like to uh review the ordinance which is now going before the council and which I believe will uh pass.

It is a first reading, which means by law there must be a second reading at which time everyone here as well as friends, neighbors would like to join as well, um, so that we get the proper information and not rumors of information that may or may not be valid and true.

So you're going to hear a vote called by the uh behalf of my colleagues and the mayor um to accept the ordinance for set down on September 5th, second madam clerk September September 2nd, September 2nd, Council President Councilman.

I think it would be um good to mention that this is with the three percent for those that that's out there.

Well, she's send it out.

I'm gonna pass it out, but but we should verbally say that.

This is with the three percent.

That's uh certainly uh appreciative.

Thank you, councilman.

So the vote you're gonna hear is going to be to uh set the ordinance down for second and final reading at our meeting of September the second.

Um stay in touch with the city clerk's office if there's any change to that for whatever reason.

Um she will be able to communicate that to you.

That being the case on number 44, please.

Is there a motion please to accept for to set down for second and final reading at our meeting of September the second second motion and second roll call, please on 44?

Councilman Monk just a clarity.

This is a vote for to take it to the second reading and open for discussion in the second meeting.

Is that correct?

That is correct, sir.

Okay, yes, yeah.

Councilman Love, yes, Councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, yes, councilman Colom Montañez, yes, and Council President Sheer.

Yes, the motion is passed at this time.

The council will be taking an approximately 10 minute break.

We invite you to join us on the rest of the meeting, including communications, resolutions, etc.

And again, we thank you for your patience and your kindness to be with us tonight.

This meeting is in recess for 10 minutes, and also you know, me last year.

Oh yes, that's okay.

Is there a motion, please to reconvene?

So we'll motion, second motion, and second roll call, please to reconvene.

Councilman Monk.

Sorry.

Councilman Love, yes, Councilman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia Councilwoman Colom Montañez, yes, and Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Uh we're up to communications, please.

Remember numero eight, items three through nine.

Are there any questions with items three through nine, please?

See this time is in motion, please to accept three through nine.

So motion and second roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Councilman Colomontanez.

Yes.

And Council President Shear.

Yes, thank you.

We are up to all matters considered routine in nature.

Items 10 through 17.

Are there any questions, please on 10 through 17?

No lights at this time.

Motion is pleased to accept 10 through 17.

Move.

Second.

Motion and second roll call, please on 10 through 17.

Councilman Monk.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Councilwoman Colom Montañez.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

On 18 special vote.

Is there maybe the motion on 18?

Motion.

Second.

Motion and second on 18.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor.

Okay.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Councilwoman Colom Montañez.

Abstain.

Council President Shear.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh and it passes.

Number nine, remember number nine resolutions.

19 is a closed executive session.

Susie, do we need closed?

Thank you.

And thank you for your help this evening.

Um, Mr.

Fernandez.

The mayor uh stepped out, be back momentarily.

I'm sure members of the council.

Very good.

If we could please go into resolutions, talking about going from 19 through 41.

29.

20.

I'm sorry, man.

We're number 20.

Sorry.

20 through 41.

Through 41.

Are there any questions on 20 through 41?

No.

On 29.

Councilman.

Just are in regards to the parking garage.

Yes.

The final change orders for the parking garage, including uh $60,000 credit.

How did we do on the parking garage in terms of cost?

Did it come in what we thought?

Is it significant?

Yeah, so we we had set aside 14 million dollars and it came in at 13,662, 874 and 86 cents.

Um that additional funding was used to purchase uh charging stations that were not part of the original contract and certain services that for example the cameras that are not uh for the parking spaces, but the security for the rest of the building the staircases, so the the difference, whatever is left over there 14 million dollars is going to those items.

Uh so ultimately the deck when it's all said and done is 14 million dollars, which is exactly on point what we accounted for even with the change orders.

So it's it's very unique that we have a project of that size that hit the number that we anticipated.

Excellent work.

I know I speak for um all of my colleagues.

Excellent work.

When do we expect Mr.

Fernandez to have a grand opening?

That was my question.

So um, as the mayor discussed that his opening uh update, we hope that we have the grand opening sometime next week.

So we're very excited about that.

Parking deck, yes, looking at the second if we could give members of the council if we could give members of the council as much notice as possible so that they obviously can uh participate in the opening.

Number 32 is also associated with that number 32, councilman is also yeah, so 32.

We bid out we went out to bid twice for the rental space.

Uh we got a successful bidder that hopes to open up a restaurant in that location, and that's an item number 32.

Restaurant bar, right?

The bar sounds very funny.

I don't even drink it.

Uh you're right.

We could have went and closed the three walked up.

I think I could have used one.

Are there any other questions, please?

Seeing no nights at this time.

Is there motion please to accept items 20 through 41?

Motion and second roll call, please.

Councilman Love, yes, councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, yes, councilman Colom Montañez, yes, and Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

I forgot.

Um, and thank you all for reminding me.

We're on Roman numero six, please.

Hearing of citizens, in accordance with the open public meetings act, and JSA 10 call and 4-1 at sec.

The council opens every public meeting for comments of the public.

However, in accordance with NJSA 10 colon 4-12, nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit, prohibit, or regulate the act of participation in any meeting.

Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments in persons who communicate the senior material, make statements which are considered bias intimidation, in which a person intends to intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or makes comments intending to harass or speak any offensive language.

The person that makes these comments will relinquish their allowed five minutes for public discussion.

Is there anyone who would like to adjust the council at this time?

Yes.

Thank you for your patience.

Yes.

My name is Idalmar Roman, and I've been a resident of PASEC for Sani?

39, 39.

39 years.

I have two siblings with special needs.

They're 43 quaranty.

They are 43 and 47 years old.

And they still live in the city of Passake.

I want to give my appreciation to Mayor Laura.

The Department of Firefighters and Police.

And all of the people involved in elaborate inclusion de familias.

In the support of the inclusion of families.

With children with special needs.

It's important.

It is important.

With special needs.

No solo sean vistas aren't just seen and heard.

But they are in reality included.

Evaluadas and valued como parte de nuestra comunidad in PASIC.

As a part of our community here in PASAC.

I decided to say this in Spanish because I want it to be heard by both my community as well as everyone else here.

Um I really appreciate it.

I'm trying to get emotional because as a sister of two brothers, that this is this means a lot to me, and I'm hoping that families from now on can benefit from something like this.

Thank you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you so very much.

Anyone else like to adjust the council at this time?

Seeing no hands, I'm over close above the portion.

Motion and second roll call, please to close.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilman Melo.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colomontanez.

Yes.

And Council President Shear.

Yes, thank you.

We're up to the payment of bills.

Remember numero 11.

No, I no, I'm sorry.

Council President.

We're up to ordinances for introduction and first reading.

Okay, item 1042, a proposed ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by light New Jersey license plate numbers.

Is there a motion please to set down for second and final reading in our meeting of September the second?

Election and second roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilwoman Colom Montagnez.

Yes.

And Council President Shear.

Yes, thank you.

We're up to number 43, please.

The proposed ordinance submitting the designation of restricted parking.

For disabled persons, is there a motion please to sit down for second and final reading?

So meeting of September the second.

Move it.

Second.

Motion and second.

Thank you.

Roll call.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mello.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilman Colombanez?

Yes.

And Council President Shear.

Yes, thank you.

Number 44, please.

The proposed ordinance.

We did that.

Okay, so we're up to administrators' report.

Payment of bills.

Payment of bills.

Yes, sir.

I'll take this right sometime.

Payment of any questions on the bills.

No questions on the bills.

Is there a motion, please to accept the bills?

So move.

Motion and second roll call, please on the bills.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colombanias.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Administrator's report.

None at this time, sir.

Very good.

Thank you.

So Vernon seems to make please don't say.

I will tell you it is 20 to 10.

Is that right?

I think we did an excellent job.

Yes.

Some of us were planning to be here quite late.

All right.

We are up to the mayor's report.

Mr.

Mayor, sir.

No.

Okay.

Members of the council, any comments?

Did a good job, all of us together, I think.

All of us together.

Is there a motion, please, to adjourn?

Motion and second roll call to adjourn.

Councilman Loves.

Yes.

Council Windows.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer.

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colombo Danez.

Yes.

And Council President Shea.

Uh special thank you to Susie and to Matthew.

Um thank you for all your efforts.

Okay.

Council President, I think.

Did you comment here to be the permanent?

I'm not sure, Council, but you may want to consider that.

All I know is her office is still next to mine, and one house.

Thank you very much.

Good job.

Good job.