Good evening everyone. We are on the record. Today is Wednesday, the 20th day of May in the year 2026. This is a regular meeting of the Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a scheduled 6 p.m. start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 6:04
p.m. May I have a roll call for the commencement of this meeting? Council person Brooks, >> present. >> Council person Zupa, >> present. >> Council person Ephro, >> present. Council person Little >> present. >> Council person Gilmore is not here yet. Council person Singh,
>> I'm here. >> Council person Griffin, >> Council Person Labaro, >> and Council President Ridley, >> here. >> We have eight council members in attendance at 6:04 p.m. Can we kindly
rise for a moment of silence, please? Efy Battalion Chief Brian Scotch Thank you very much on behalf of Council President Ridley and the members of the municipal council in the ordinance with New Jersey public laws of 1975 chapter 231 the open public meetings act also
known as the sunshine law. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the posting on the bulletin board of the first floor of city hall. The annual notice which is the schedule of meetings and caucuses of the municipal council for the calendar year 2026 and filed in the office of the city clerk on Tuesday,
November 25th, 2025. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the agenda of this meeting was similarly disseminated on Friday, May 15, 2026 at 5:56 PM to the mayor, municipal council, business administrator, corporation council, and the newspapers and posted on the city's
website so I can certify as to our total compliance with the Sunshine Law. Okay. On to our first reading ordinances, if you allow me to read them into the record. Item 3.1, city ordinance 26-029,
is a franchise ordinance granting permission to 24 Bright Street LLC's, its successors, and assigns to construct private improvements within the 204 square ft of Bright Street public right ofway adjacent to lot 37, block 14106
on the official tax m assessment map of the city of Jersey City. Item 3.2, 2. City Ordinance 26-030 is an ordinance authorizing an easement with Exchange Place Alliance District Management Corporation regarding a park
to be located at 95 Morgan Street. Item 3.3, city ordinance 26-031, is an ordinance of the Jersey City Municipal Council of the City of Jersey City, amending chapter A350, rules of order of the city, excuse me,
of the Jersey City code to establish the Tuesday prior to caucus meeting as the deadline to distribution of the municipal council meeting agenda. And item 3.4, 4 city ordinance 26-032
is an enabling ordinance of the municipal council of the city of Jersey City amending chapter 122-2 public assemblies permission required hours of hours excuse me hours and conditions of operation to change the permit hours
during the 2026 FIFA World Cup for related events. Council members, just note that as per the caucus meeting, there were some edits to item 3.3. If council person
Labara would just like to go over the edits, they're pretty straightforward, but it is part of the discussion that happened during the caucus. And we call them edits because the ordinance hasn't been introduced yet. But before you vote on them, I would just like council person Labaro just to briefly state what
was edited. >> Sure. Thank you. Thank you, Sean. Um, so the edits take into account the input from the city council from Councilwoman Little um rather than originally said 14 days preceding each council meeting um
and changes it to the 12th day preceding each council meeting on your normal Wednesday schedule uh for for a council meeting. Um that would end up on a on a Friday. And and then the additional change which is kind of a domino effect of the the change to the 12th day is
that the agenda meeting um rather than being convened I think originally it read on uh a Thursday or something to that effect. It says uh the city clerk of Jersey City shall convene an agenda meeting at 12:00 p.m. on the business day immediately succeeding the dead
deadline for the submission of agenda items. So on your normal schedule of a Friday um I mean sorry of a Wednesday council meeting uh that submissions would be due on all on a Friday um 12 days in advance of that council meeting and the agenda meeting would happen on
the subsequent Monday the next business day at 12:00 p.m. giving it sufficient time for the clerk to be able to also from 12:00 p.m. till 10:00 a.m. to be able to co compile the agenda um from the agenda meeting and be able to release it to the rest of us, the city
council, members of the public, the administration, and everyone. Um so those are the changes if anyone has any questions. Then before anybody asks any questions, just for the record, I want to mark Council Person Gilmore present at 6:05 p.m. So we now have all nine council
members present. I just want to say thank you, Councilman Lavaro, for taking our concerns into consideration and I'm happy to support this. Thanks. >> Mike, excuse me. There we go. I know I also spoke to the um
the fact um of having the promp um in the meetings. Well, not having uh making it available for um depending if they will be available. Yeah. So, so the agenda meeting was never the original council rules of
order was never contemplated at all frankly. So, this inclusion of the agenda meeting was um only intended to really set the time um and the date, right? So for um when it would be included, it was uh after consultation with the council president and the city
clerk about that in terms of how to make sure that that that timeline all worked. Uh none of the rules change with regard to the agenda meeting nor nor does it change anything else with regard to late minute items or anything else. It just uh doesn't impact any of that. So the
agenda meeting um whoever is convened normally for that um that that would all be uh still uh continue in that way. Now um the the agenda meeting is done with the
uh who sits at the table on that is uh includes the the clerk and the council president and members of the administration um and the council president prom when the council president's not available. Uh, I heard the council president say in the caucus, I just watched the video that as council
president prom uh that you'd be welcome to attend. I won't speak for her on that, but uh um I I would assume that that stands and that that would be an open invitation. >> Yeah. No, I I mean I know I was just figuring if we were like changing things
and kind of like a unwritten rule, right? um it's kind of like an unwritten rule. So that's why you know I had brought that up. >> So So just for um historic purposes, agenda meetings are done as a courtesy.
They're not something that is required by our form of government. So that's why you never really seen it in our chapter A350. Just so you guys all know that. Um so we do have it now. Um do have them.
Um, I think it's important to have them. And I think the council, Councilman Labaro went over all of the edits. And if anybody else has any questions, let's ask them now. So, we can try to take a vote to intro for introduction. Hearing none, council members are going
to be taking a vote for introduction on items 3.1 through 3.4. Council person Brooks. >> I for introduction on all. >> Council person Zupa. I for introduction. >> Council person Efos. >> I for introduction. >> Council person Little. >> I for introduction.
>> Council person Gilmore. >> Introduction. >> Council person Singh. >> I for introduction. >> Council person Griffin. >> Hi. >> Council person Labaro. >> I could just take a minute and I know I already spoke on this but just you spoke to the amendments but just for the general public you understand what the
entire ordinance does. Um, it basically amends what's called rule five of our rules of order and it sets a very clear and predictable schedule for how matters reach this city council body. Uh, agenda agenda items will be submitted if this should pass on second reading will be
submitted 12 days before each meeting. An agenda meeting the next business day uh will decide what gets on the agenda ultimately. And the the agenda will be in our hands, the city council, but also in the administration's hands, the public. um by 10 o'clock on Tuesday
before caucus which is six days prior to a normal Monday caucus. Um today that is uh much less and so this uh hopefully um will provide us all the council administration as well as
the public more time to be able to review. Um, and I want to say it's a better ordinance tonight than it was when I first drafted it. And I thank my colleagues, Councilwoman Little particularly and the city clerk and council president um for for all of their inputs in making this uh work. Um,
I'll close with saying this. On first reading, I served on the council for 10 years, six as its president. In that time, I came to believe that the strength of this body depends on time. Time to read what is before us. time to
ask questions, time to hear from the people we serve before we vote on their behalf. Um, this ordinance does not change what we do, it simply changes when we do it so that when we arrive at the deis, we have the time and have had the time to do our work. So, thank you
all colleagues for introducing it. I respectfully ask for your support on second reading and um I vote I. Council President Ridley >> I for introduction >> items 3.1 through 3.4 four are introduced unanimously 90.
Before we move on to our second reading ordinances, I believe our the city council's intentions are to defer to resol um item 10.3, resolution 26-286,
and it's a resolution honoring the St. George and St. Shenuda Coptic Orthodox Church Robotics Team. Councilman Zupa, I believe um you have the resolution in front of you, but before we ask you to read it, I need a
motion to defer to item 10.3, city resolution 26-286. >> Motion second. >> Who made that motion? >> Zupa did. >> Thank you. That didn't sound like Zuper. And the
second I got really thrown off. Bolando. >> Thank you. By council person Lavaro. On the motion to defer to item 10.3. Council person Brooks. >> Hi. >> Council person Zupa. >> Hi. >> Council person Efos. >> Hi.
>> Council person Little. >> I. >> Council person Gilmore. Council person Singh. >> Hi. >> Council person Griffin. >> I. >> Council person Lavaro. >> I. >> And council president Ridley. >> I. Motion carries 90 to defer to item
10.3, city resolution 26-286. So, Council Person Zuber, if you would be so kind as to read the resolution into the record. >> Yes. Thank you, Sean. This is a resolution honoring the St. George and St. Chuna Coptic Orthodox Church Robotics Team. Just on a personal note,
I' I've got to know several of the young adults uh seated to my right uh over the years. is very proud of all of you for your accomplishments and and thank you for all the public service you do for our community, community service you do for our community. Uh the council offered and moved adoption of the following resolution. Whereas the city
of Jersey City is pleased to recognize and commemorate the academic achievements of the St. George and St. Chitta Coptic Orthodox Church Robotics Team. And whereas team 10997 from St. George and St. Church is the first cop Coptic Orthodox Church team to participate in the FIRST robotics
competition in Jersey City's history and providing a unique and valuable opportunity for local youth to participate in competitive robotics programs. Whereas the F FRC is a globally recognized and highly competitive robotics program designed to give young people the ch the chance to develop teamwork, problem solving
skills, and perseverance by tackling meaningful challenges. Whereas as a rookie team, they face several challenges on its journey to building a fully functional and competition ready robot, which as an aside is fully functional and uh fun to play with. We play with it before the council meeting
is here in chambers. Uh whereas team 10997 overcame early obstacles, technical issues, and adversity deliver to deliver an appearance in the finals, finishing second in its second ever competition. And whereas the team was honored by its peers with the rookie
all-star All-Star award and event finalist award. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jersey City as follows. That the city of Jersey City hereby recognizes the St. George and St. Chun Coptic Orthodox Church robotics teams for its achievements and awards at the first
robotics competition, Mid-Atlantic District. Okay, we're going to report again as long as they approve the resolution. Right. All right. With that being said, Council Person Brooks. Hi, Council Person Zupa.
>> Hi. >> Council Person Efos. >> Hi. And I would love to see a demonstration of that super cool robot up there. Congrats, >> Council Person Efos. You missed it before the council meeting start. You even had the city clerk participate in their demonstration. I did catch a
couple and I did miss a couple because of my height. >> Okay, now I have FOMO. Sean, thank you. You >> told me. >> You know what, Council McGriffin, I should have, but Zup is not too bad himself. >> Council person Little.
>> Um, I have FOMO, too. Uh, but I want to say congratulations to the St. George and St. Shannuda robotics team and I happily vote I. >> Council person Gilmore >> I. >> Council person Singh >> I and if you can stay here for next four
hours after the meeting I would love to do that. Congratulations. >> Council person Griffin. >> Hi. Congratulations guys. >> Council person Lavaro. >> Gentlemen. Uh congratulations.
Um I know very well how much work it takes to put you put into that as I shared with you. Uh my daughter is on the questionable engineering robotics team. Um and I know there's some long hours and late nights um that you put in to do that and you had to balance that
with your regular school studies and everything else that was going on. And I'm sure you've you've all made your parents and your family proud and your community proud. Um so team 10997 uh go blue alliance. Go Red Alliance. I don't know which one it was, but I'm sure you did both. Uh, congratulations
on your your victories and your your accomplishments and looking forward to your continued success and hopefully Houston next time for the World Championships. Good. Good luck. I vote I, Council President Ridley.
I vote I and I just want to say congratulations and this uh you know represents the greatness that is here in our city and I'm very proud of all of you and what you're accomplishing at such a young age.
>> City resolution 26-286 is approved unanimously 90. Congratulations guys. Yep. So, we got >> uh before before we uh ask them to come up and say a few words, we do also have
a few words on behalf of the mayor uh by our deputy mayor, Kesha Podar. >> Uh good afternoon, council. Deputy mayor Kesha Podar. Uh just wanted to quickly add to all the congratulations on the behalf of Mayor Solomon. Um I uh on
behalf of Mayor Solomon uh I do hereby commend I congratulate team 10997 for their outstanding achievements and for bringing pride, inspiration, and opportunity to young people throughout our city. Congratulations. This thing is awesome.
if you can just identify yourself for our court reporter and just spell your name for us. Uh Corolla Nashed. Um good evening everyone. My name is Cored. I am the head coach of team 10997. And on behalf of our robotics teams, I
want to sincerely thank Mayor James Solomon, Tom Zupa, and all of the council members and everyone here at city council uh for the incredible honor and recognition. We competed in first robotics competition, an international high school competition where students design, build, and program
industrialsized robot robots uh to compete in engineering challenges. Through this program, students gain hands-on experience in engineering, programming, manufacturing, teamwork, and leadership. Our students are from St. George and Sanuda Coptic Orthodox
Church and attend multiple schools across Jersey City. These schools are include Dickinson High School, County Prep, Innovation High School, St. Peters Prep, McNair Academic High School, and we also have one student from Bayon High
School. Uh we are proud we are proud to bring together the students from all the different schools along with the mentors that supported uh and contributed a wide variety of skills and experience to help support and grow our team. Uh at the Mount Olive competition here in New Jersey, our team
earned both the rookie all-star award and the finalist award, which was a huge accomplishment for a firstear team and something our students worked incredibly hard to achieve. Many schools and communities never get the opportunity to have access to a robotics program like this. So being
able to build a fully functional competitional robot and represent Jersey City and St. George is something we are extremely proud of. A lot of the schools I mentioned earlier, they actually don't have a first robotics team. So we were we really wanted to bring that to our our kids here uh in Jersey City and St.
George. We also want to thank our priests and our church family at St. and George Nanuda Coptic Orthodox Church for supporting us throughout this journey. And finally, above all, we want to thank God for guiding us and blessing us with this opportunity. Thank you all again. We are truly honored and grateful to be
here tonight. Thank you. Hey, the students want want to talk. I know one one wanted to say some remarks. If you can just identify yourself for our court reporter Khalil. B I S H O Y K H A L I L.
>> Thank you so much. >> Um good evening everybody. Um, my name is Rash Cle as you guys know and I'm honored to be standing here today in front of everyone and um, I'm the head captain for the team
and I'm incredibly honored for all of you and given us the opportunity to show our work and show our robot that's uh, hopefully in the corner. And um I'm extremely honored to say that we've won both finals and the rookie all-star
award at Mount Olive, which is to note Mount Olive is like a very important and they've been doing it for 30 years and the fact that we've got rookie all-star is big to say to say the least.
um from a small group of uh teammates from all different teachers from all different students and different backgrounds. Um we basically didn't know anything. Me personally, however, I I came from FTC. I had a few I had a few
experiences with robotics and other stuff, but coming into FRC, I didn't know much. But with the help of our mentor uh Kiro and other mentors like Bezo um he helped us they helped us
greatly in um developing our skills and um the biggest thing in my journey in FRC I would say is um the fact to never doubt yourself because throughout the journey it was very hard to do stuff
sometimes and we felt at a point where like We couldn't do it. But at one point, we relied on our faith with God, relied on resilience, and we got through at to the end. Finally, I want to thank
you guys once again, and thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Masio Filo M A S I O F I L F I L and I'm the co- captain of team 10997. The robotics team representing St. George and St. Shut Coptic Orthodox Church in the first robotics competition. Uh first and
foremost, I would like to greatly thank uh our mayor James Solomon, city council Tom Zupa and all the council members for giving us the opportunity to and recognizing our team to share our journey today. As a rookie team, we we faced a lot of challenges throughout the
season. We have to learn how to build, wire, and wire, design, and program an entire robot from scratch while also balancing school, church, and our personal lives. There are many moments where things went wrong. Mechanical system failed, wiring problems appeared
unexpectedly, and programming issues. We forced us to completely rethink parts of our robot. At our first competition, Centennial, we faced we we struggled a lot and finished 33rd place. Even though this was this was this was
disappointing, our team refused to give up. Instead of getting discouraged, we came together even stronger. We spent long nights redesigning mechanisms, improving our intake and shooter system, tuning our autonomous mode, and making our robot more reliable.
We also received support from other teams along the way such as team 3314 mechanical Mustangs in Clifton, New Jersey, who helped us improve our our terror shooter and team 97 9015 questionable engineers in Jersey City
who helped us redesign our intake system which made a huge difference in our in our robots performance throughout through through our setback through every setback. We learned how to how important perseverance, communication, and trust in in one in another truly
are. All the all the hard work paid off at Mount Olive competition where we where we completely turned our season where we completely turned our season around by finishing second overall in the competition. And also we won the
rookie all-star award. Going from last place to our f at our first competition to becoming event finalist at our next competition showed what can happen when a team refuses to quit. Being a part of team 10997 has changed my life. As an electrical lead in one of the mechanical
leads, I learned technical skills that I never thought I would learn at my age. But more importantly, I learned leadership responsibility and how to work through adversity with with others. This experience showed all This experience showed all of us that robotics is not just about building a
robot. It is about building confidence, friendships, opportunities in a future for students like us. On behalf of team 7997, thank you again to our mentor, coaches, church, family, supporters, and the city council for giving for believing in us and supporting us journey. Thank you and have a good
night. >> Good afternoon. My name is Anthony Hennon. Uh, I just wanted to once again thank the mayor and city council on behalf of me and my team for allowing us to be honored on this beautiful Wednesday. If you told me in September that I would not only be but co-lead the
first ever Coptic Orthodox Church team, robotics team that would win rookie allstars award, play second at the Mount Olive District, and earn a spot at Lehigh University. I wouldn't have believed you. At the beginning of the season, we were honestly just playing around, getting to know each other, and
even throwing balls at each other during meetings. Everything felt new and uncertain, and none of us really knew how far we would we could go. We were still learning how F FRC worked, figuring out how to build and improve our robot and trying to grow
as a team. There were long nights, stressful moments, problems with the robots, and times where we felt like things just wouldn't come together. But little by little through hard work, teamwork, and determination, we just kept improving. Looking back now, it is
crazy to see how far we came in such a short amount of time. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Ruiz Gerggas. R E W A S E G I R GIS. I just wanted to say a few words on how the first robotics competition helped me grow personally. I
learned so many physical skills, but it also helped me to work on my teamwork skills and especially patience. There were times where I wanted to give up, but I realized everyone was sacrificing and I wasn't the only one. Once I saw the robot working, it motivated me to
complete it. And I can't even lie. Though there were times I might have not enjoyed it, like messing up instructions and redoing it to bonding times, learning how to drive the robot. I will say I miss it drastically and will do anything to go back. Lastly, I just wanted to say thank you to my team,
coach, my church, and the city council. >> Want to speak? >> Don't say that. >> I figured. >> All right. All right, I think it's time for the council and the robotics team to take a nice picture.
Gave him that game, right? I would say Oh, thought like countless hours of robotics competition come in handy here. >> What was the robot? >> Yes, they're all charged.
>> All right, on to our second reading ordinances. Our first second reading ordinances is item 4.1 city ordinance 26-027. It's an ordinance amending chapter 218 multiple dwellings of the Jersey City
Municipal Code to require disclosure, transparency, and accountability and ratio utility billing systems. This is a public hearing on this ordinance. Any member of the public wishing to be heard, please come up to the podium and state your name for the record. And
please spell your name for the record if I don't know you. Ark Boils. Good evening, city council. I'm here tonight to urge you to support ordinance 2627. Right now, thousands of renters across Jersey City are facing a financial black
box every single month. When it comes to their water, sewer, and trash bills, they hand a slip of paper that essentially says, "This is the number. Pay it. Don't ask questions." This happens because of a system called RUPS where the landlord takes a giant
master utility bill for an entire building and divides it up among tenants using some formula. The problem isn't necessarily the system itself. The problem is the absolute lack of transparency. Tenants have no way to verify if the math is right, if they're
being overcharged, undercharged, or accidentally paying someone else's bill. The ordinance is a common sense fix. It simply requires landlords that use rubs to show they're working. It mandates that each monthly bill clearly state the building total utility cost, the formula
the tenants share at administrative fees. You may hear push back tonight claiming that this is too difficult or creates an ownorous administrative burden on landlords. Let's be entirely clear. That argument is a total pretense. The corporate billing vendors
who manage utility bills and usually do so for many landlords already have all of this data sitting in their software systems. Showing it to the tenant requires a one-time formatting update to an template. Once that's done, the
system does it forever. There's no ongoing monthly labor. In fact, at my building, tenants already being charged an extra $4.92 every single month just for the privilege of being built. Even my credit card company doesn't bill me for billing
me. The American Apartment Owners Association explicitly teaches in their RUB seminars that transparency, showing what is built and how it's calculated, is the key to a successful rubs program. This ordinance simply codifies that industry best
practice into law. Finally, let's be clear about who this affects. It doesn't burden our local mom and pop landlords. It strictly applies to buildings using rubs, which are almost exclusively owned by massive corporate landlords. It's basic consumer protection. It gives our
residents the right to understand and verify their own cost of living. I urge you to vote yes on 26-27. Thank you. Our next speaker, >> Ivonne Bolson. I am not a landlord, but
I'm going to say since the last 8 years, my personal PSNG bills went up. And where was my ordinance? As an example, I have my PSNG building here bill right here. And for the month of May, I used
$25 worth of gas, but PSEG built me an extra $61 in carrying charge called monthly charge, delivery charge, and balancing charge. The same thing applied to my electric bill, an additional $142
in addition to um the utilities I I use. So basically speaking what's happening in the state of New Jersey we're paying for green energy and it's a lot and I can see the lands on point of view. If they don't pass this on to someone else those bills will eventually become
condos cuz they're losing money. All these buildings like 75 Liberty Avenue St. John's apartments, they were all rentals. And because of New York City rent control laws, which says you can't pass on a tax increase to a tenant who's under rent control under the consumer
price index, which I think is a privilege for them that I don't have. We have privileged tenants that right now we're having the same problem with this. We these these bills that I am receiving on my PSNG bill are all green energy
problems. And all these people who want green energy are now paying the bill for it. And I understand the landlord's point of view because I'm going tell you, they will take these buildings and they'll make them into condos. And I'm so sick and tired of the city council
always running around and trying to do something just for tenants who are excluded from tax increases that I have to pay to buy their votes. That's what it's all about. Buying someone's votes. Now, if you want to take and let them get the
tax increase that I'm going to get, which they are excluded from, fine. But it's an example of one particular group getting a special privilege and I'm going to call them instead of rent control tenants, I'm going to call them privilege tenants that I don't receive.
So when you start to fix their problems, I want you to go to Trenton and fix my problems because I am tired of having these additional costs on my electricity and my gas. I mean, if I use $25 for gas for my house, then why should I have an
additional $61 attached to it in terms of carrying cost? Because you know what? I don't believe in this bringing energy stuff, but I'm paying for it. That's exactly what the landlords are doing. They got to figure out a way to how to pay for these green costs that are attached to our PSNG buildings uh bills
all the time. That's what it's all about. You want green energy? Well, then pay for it. Thank you. This is still a public hearing. Our next speaker, you can just spell your name for the record and I will not start the time
until you until I'm ready for you. >> Hi, my name is Mera. M E R A Jaffrey J A F F R E Y >> Hey, thank you. >> Um thank you for this opportunity to
speak and hello to all the council members. Um I'm here to urge the council to support the RUB's transparency ordinance. The ratio utility billing system is a flawed system.
Let's say hypothetically that I'm a sustainable-minded tenant who lives in a studio apartment and who conscientiously turns off all energy usage unless necessary? Why should I have to bear the energy
costs of my neighbor who has a family of four and who may or may not be as energy conservative? What financial incentive would there be for me to conserve energy? Aside from the ethical side, which is also important,
the ratio utility billing system was contrived to help landlords sherk their financial responsibility of maintaining their own rental properties by placing their own hallway energy costs onto the
backs of their tenants. This type of billing system leaves tenants in the dark about what they are actually paying for. I was under the impression that these types of shenanigans which are actually making more and more
tenants leave ended with the last mayoral reign. Do the right thing and pass the rub's transparency ordinance. Thank you. The next speaker, >> Alisandre Manduca. >> I'm sorry I didn't get that. You speak
very fast. It's Alice. >> Alisandra Manduka. >> Okay. >> Um like to thank the city council for hearing us today. Um so as energy and gas prices are rising along with the
cost of everything else, our bills are coming under higher scrutiny. Um people are trying to tighten their belts wherever they can and the current ratio utility billing system uh is extremely opaque and leaves people vulnerable to
exploitation by their landlords. um opens them up to be searchcharging tenants for public areas uh unrened units and uh I believe tenants uh deserve a right for transparency
uh in their utility billing and I am in favor of the council passing uh this transparency. >> Thank you. Our next speaker. >> Hello. My name is uh Zach Cordales. >> It's really hard for me to hear. Can you
just spell your name for me? >> Zach Corales. Uh that's K O U R G I A L I S. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh so yes, I am an urban planner uh greatly concerned with addressing housing costs in my city and
throughout the country and addressing all the added fees uh loopholes and scams during this new guilded age of ours. And so I'm speaking in support of this ordinance to disclose and regulate ratio uh utility billing systems. If we want to talk about good governance, if we want to talk about common sense
reforms, this ordinance to me is a no-brainer. It protects a tenants rights to transparency uh and to a fair transaction which should be respected. Any law that empowers tenants, empowers the many uh requires transparency and accountability on the part of the rich,
the powerful, and the few is something I support. Tenants should only pay the energy that they have used uh and be provided with the with itemized monthly statements on their energy so that they are not being scanned with any kind of extra fees uh with loopholes to pass on
vacant unit or common energy uh common area energy fees onto them. I understand that an outright ban on racial utility building systems is somewhat preempted by the state currently along with other common sense reforms like banning broker fees and uh and regulating LLC's. Uh
that will be have to that will have to be dealt with at a later date. Uh but for now, you can grant the average tenant, indeed the majority of people in this city their due diligence um and and pass this consumer protection measure so that they can know that they're what they're paying for and
contest it if uh they're being overcharged. If a loophole exists, if a lack of transparency exists, someone is going to exploit it unless we the public act to correct it. Uh with that, I urge you to vote yes. Thank you. Before you go, before you go, one second. First
name is Zach, correct? >> Yes. >> And last name, can you just spell your last name up one more time because you went fast. >> Sorry. >> K O U R G I A L I S. Thank you so much.
Next speaker. This too. My name is Zakarola Morphoanis. First name Z A H A R O U L A. Last name
M O R Foxtrot. O G E N I S. >> When you said Foxtrot, you lost me. So sorry. Just give me the letters. I'm sorry. M O R F O G E N I S.
>> Thank you so much. >> Always. Thank you. I'm here to provide I suppose the human factors consideration when it comes to this ordinance. I live in WB. I have for maybe three years now,
graduated from NJCU. I work as a therapist supporting the people of New Jersey with severe mental health issues. I first moved here 13 years ago to Jersey City while escaping domestic violence and the sanctuary opportunities
and community that I experienced here helped me rebuild my life. I have a new home, a new profession, and a new desire to contribute. So, as a citizen and a clinician, I'm urging the
council to pass these ordinances and increase transparency in the Rubs system. Now, tenants deserve transparency, and we all know that we need fairness in how utility bills are calculated, and nobody needs to be confronted with a blackbox
algorithm when they're trying to calculate their monthly expenses. And families should not have to guess whether their bills are fair, if they're being charged for different square footage for the common area. This adds up quickly. An extra charge
here, another fee there. We all know monthtomonth working people are already stretched thin by rent and by the rising cost of living. These expenses they mean the difference between stability and falling behind, between staying in your
community and moving somewhere else. Over the last decade, I've watched families who have lived here for generations get pushed out of the city that they built. Do we really want Jersey City to become a place where the people who serve this city can no longer afford to live here? Where the people
who've lived here for generations have to get pushed out further into neighboring counties? I work in healthcare. I've had patients ask me to not be discharged back to Hudson County because of affordability concerns tied to issues exactly like
this. I have patients asking me to be discharged to Essex County to Payic, but not to their home county of Hudson. As someone who found sanctuary here and calls it home now, that breaks my heart. So, as Jersey City continues to grow, we
should be making it more affordable and accessible for the people who call it home, not harder to survive here. Thank you all very much. >> Our next speaker Good evening. My name is Barbara Goldberg. I'm a Jersey City resident and
I support ordinance 26027. Right now, Rub's utility bills are a black box. Here's the number. Pay it. No explanation. This ordinance simply requires landlords
to show their work. Even the American Apartment Owners Association says transparency is the key to a successful rub rubs program. The burden is minimal. The billing
company already has this information. It's a onetime formatting change. And if there's any doubt, tenants at my building are already charged $4.92
each month just to be built. The data is right there. Please vote yes on 2627. Thank you. >> Our next speaker.
>> Hello, my name is Sylvia Mayer. Okay. >> Honorable members of the Jersey City Council, I stand before you today to urge your support for ordinance 26-027, a common sense measure to bring
transparency and fairness to utility billing through rubs ratio utility billing systems. For too long, tenants have received bills shrouded in mystery with no clear explanation of how they charges were calculated. This ordinance
shines a bright light into what has been frankly a black box. Under this proposal, landlords using rubs will be required to disclose detailed information on each bill. the
exact billing period, the total amount charged to the landlord, the allocation metrics used, and a clear mathematical breakdown explaining how each tenants share was derived. It will also require
disclosure of any deductions for common areas or commercial tenant tenants, separate administrative fees, and contact information for both the utility provider and billing vendor. This level of transparency empowers
tenants to understand and verify their charges, fostering trust between landlords and renters. It prevents overbilling and disputes born from confusion while maintaining the landlord's ability to recover
legitimate costs fairly. Passing ordinance 26-027 is not just good government governance. It is a necessary step toward protecting Jersey City renters and ensuring
accountability in rental practices. I respectfully ask you to approve this vital ordinance bringing clarity, fairness, and integrity to utility billing in our community. Thank you.
>> Next speaker, Daniel Feldman. I wanted to dispute uh or bust the myth that regulating ratio utility billing is somehow radical or untested. Um you know that idea doesn't survive even one minute of research. West Hollywood
prohibits rubs in rent stabilized units. Santa Monica prohibits rubs in rent stabilized units. Mountain View, California voted in 2023 to phase rubs out of its rent controlled stock. San Jose's apartment rent ordinance treats utility paths throughs as rent. Oakland
has prohibited rubs for use. Montgomery County, Maryland has a detailed rubs regulatory regime. Minnesota passed a statewide rubs law that took effect in 2025. In October 2025, the California Attorney General settled an enforcement
action over the use of utility fees as quote shadow rent increases end quote. That is the official legal fa uh phrase used by a state attorney general. Shadow rent increases. That's the practice that the next ordinance you will vote on 2628
is designed to prevent. At the state level here in New Jersey, Assemblywoman Katie Brennan has introduced three related bills, including one that recently advanced out of committee. Now, what would be unusual about Jersey City is not the proposed regulation, but what would be unusual is the absence of one.
Tonight, this council can align Jersey City with the jurisdictions that have already acted. I also wanted to uh speak to a point that another uh speaker had uh made and had uh suggested that uh this or these ordinances uh rose from a
group of privileged tenants. Um I respectfully um disagree with that idea. I think that transparency and understanding what I'm paying for. So when I pay
120 140 180 130 $140 every month just varies and I don't know what I'm paying for. Um I think it's fair to ask for transparency just to understand what I'm paying for how it was calculated. I think that's very reasonable. I don't
think there's any sort of privilege that's involved there. I think with some automation, it should be pretty easy to implement that on the landlord's side. So, I really, really, really hope you all vote um both on this ordinance 26-027
and you know, the next ordinance 26-028. Thank you for bringing it um to uh second reading. Um thank you for your time. Thanks. Our next speaker. >> Hi, I'm Susan Roa. Uh, good evening,
council. When I walk into the local grocery store, I know exactly what I'm paying for. Per pound, per ounce, per apple, per quart. Items are clearly labeled for the consumer. It's not a clandestine system of calculations unknown to the consumer. In fact, at
checkout, I get a detailed receipt so I know exactly what I purchased and how much each item was. That's a fair methodology, but that's not what's happening on the rubs charges. What exactly are we paying for? What did we
exactly consume? Our fair share, perhaps some other allocated to the restaurants or the daycare on the ground level. There is no explanation of prices, no labeling, no details, just a little sticker shock every month. The opaque
system of charges has to stop. I urge you to support ordinance 26-027, which is a common sense measure to bring transparency and fairness to the ratio utility billing system. Under this proposal, landlords using the RUB system
will be required to provide detailed information on charges for each tenant and exact mathematical computation for how much each tenant bill was and how it was derived. I respectfully ask that you approve this vital ordinance and help
make rub charges as easy to read as my grocery receipt. Thank you. >> Our next speaker. >> Hi, my name is David Wilson. Um, I want to thank you for considering this, for introducing this resolution, considering
this ordinance, and I want to urge you to vote for it. I'd like to tell you a quick story. About 30 years ago, I was living in a one-bedroom apartment in a different city where I used to have a combined gas and electric bill that was about $25 a month. And I'm not asking
you to go back to that, just so you know. Um, one month I got a bill for $1,750. And took me a minute, you know, to react, but then I looked at the bill. It had detailed, you know, meter readings. I
went checked it against my meter. Had absolutely nothing to do with what was on the bill. I called the utility. I told them what happened. Turned out they had crossed my account with, you know, with a commercial. I don't know what the heck they were doing that used up that
much electricity, but the main thing was I was able to see what was going on and I was able to address it. Um, we're now in a situation where, you know, rubs charges jump around like like a cat on a hot tin roof
and you really have no idea whether is it is there just a mistake is we have no idea what's going on. Um, and it's just basic that we should have that kind of transparency. So, I'd like to urge you to vote for this. Thank you. >> The next speaker.
>> Good evening, council members. My name is Sonia Keshna and I'm a Jersey City renter. I'm here to urge you to support ordinance 26-027. Like many tenants in this city, I've received props utility bills with no explanation, just a number and a demand
to pay. When I asked my landlord how that number was calculated, I was stonewalled. No formula, no breakdown, no accountability. Just pay it. That's not billing. That's
a black box. Ordinance 266-027 changes that. It requires landlords to show tenants the actual utility cost for the building, the allocation formula, how each tenant share was calculated, any fees tacked on, and who to contact
with questions. This is information tenants should have always had any time. This isn't radical. It's what an honest bill looks like. Your electricity bill shows this. Your water bill shows this. We should we should um why should a
landlord rubs charge be exempt from the same basic transparency. And I add again as a small business owner, I'm totally used to writing honest bills. Like it's it's not a question. No customer of mine would accept a dishonest bill or just a
bill with just an amount. When tenants can't verify their bills, landlords can charge whatever they want with no fear of challenge. This ordinance give renters the tools to check the math. Nothing more or nothing less. Jersey city renters deserve to know what they
are paying for. Please vote yes on 2627. Thank you very much. Our next speaker, Anilo Keshna. Uh, good evening. I want to speak today
in support of ordinance 26-027. It is important and necessary. Right now, many residents receive utility bills that have unexplainable jumps and are impossible to verify. We are charged through formulas that most tenants never
see using calculations we cannot understand based on data we have no access to. Personally, I do not agree with the way my building allocates some of these charges. Square footage does not consume water. So when utility costs
are heavily tied to artificial baselines instead of actual consumption, many tenants understandably question whether the allocation is truly fair. But the larger issue is this. Until there is real transparencies,
tenant cannot even evaluate the system properly, let alone challenge it substantially. We cannot determine whether changes are accurate because we cannot see the underlying numbers, common and commercial area allocations, fees and
the actual utility bills. This ordinance addresses that problem. Now I can hear some landlords already saying that it is too cumbersome, too complicated, too expensive. If these charges are bu are being
calculated correctly already, then this information already exists. And with a modern billing software, property management systems, producing itemized data is not an impossible admin administrative burden in 2026.
And frankly, if landlords believe this level of transparency is too difficult, then maybe the long-term solution is even simpler. require actual unit level metering. Smart meters with remote reading
technology exist. Many buildings already use them. They provide actual consumption data instead of estimates and formulas. In many ways, technologies like that make rubs increasingly obsolate altogether.
But regardless of where this goes in the future, we need transparency now. Is this ordinance perfect? Far from it. But it is far better than the current situation where tenants are often expected to simply trust and without
meaningful visibility into charges uh and how they are determined. And importantly, this should be a win-win. Landlords frequently say they build fairly, accurately, responsibly. If that is true, and I hope it is, then
transparency should not be feared. It should be welcomed because it removes doubt and builds trust between tenants and property owners. >> Transparency protects honest landlords. >> That's it. >> Thank you.
>> Next speaker, >> Jessica Bran. Uh, first I just want to say to President Bridley and the council, really excited that you guys brought this in for introduction, that it's up here for a vote. This is a good ordinance and I think I thank you for
considering it. Just wanted to tell you about a tenant in my building who spent over two years trying to verify his utility bill. He filed a public records request with the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority and obtained 12 months of
master sewer and water bills. Now, he used this exact formula his landlord disclosed in his lease. The bills from the billing service came in 40 to 60% higher than the formula produces. H, that's weird. Should just be math. He
emailed the billing service four times. He escalated to the CEO. He reached the executive vice president of billing on her mobile phone. She told him, quote, "The property has instructed us not to discuss the billing with you." End quote. And hung up. In October 2025, our
landlord sent every tenant an email announcing they would begin counting common areas as 15% of building usage instead of 5%. With retroactive rebates, this sounds like a deal, but that email is a tacid admission that the prior figure was wrong. and that tenants had
been overcharged for years. No city agency caught it. No regulator audited it. One tenant with a spreadsheet and some math skills caught it. This is what the current system depends on. The hope that no one will do the math and the certainty that no one will help them if
they try. Ordinance 26-027 places the calculation on every monthly bill and 28 makes the overcharge recoverable through the rent leveling board. Please vote yes on both ordinances and support transparency in billing. Thank you.
>> Next speaker. >> Evening Kevin Weller from MREF tenants tonight. So I'll use my time to represent the landlords. Ordinance 26027 is just common sense in life. When you're asked to pay for
something, you get to know what you're paying for. You go to a store, you get a receipt. We heard that earlier. If you're making a business transaction, you get an invoice. Why then when it comes to cost associated with your home, if you're a renter, should it be any different? You already see across this country
situations where landlords have been caught hiding costs or charging junk fees. These situations almost always have to do with avoiding transparency. We actually see that attempting to avoid transparency is at the core of most illegal charges. All this ordinance does
is force transparency that every other business transaction on this planet already has. These requirements make sure essential utility services are not accidentally marked up. This transparency helps both the tenants
and the landlord. In fact, it could help save the landlord millions of dollars. Let's all remember that rent control continues to be the default in Jersey City. If while a landlord is reducing the rents to come into compliance, but due to a clerical error, the landlord
accidentally increases the rubs for the tenant by that same amount. That kind of accidental rebucketing of money could be looked at as trying to get around rent control. Given the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act applies whether or not there was intent,
this ordinance would help landlord not accidentally move money around, at least related to rubs. There was a landlord in California that just had to pay over $40 million for making that mistake. Let's help the landlords in Jersey City avoid that. You could almost title this ordinance
the save the landlords ordinance and I would still support it. When the vote comes tonight, I'm asking for two things. Pass it and then make sure on the day after it takes effect, the people it was written to protect actually have it in their hands. Thank
you. our next speaker. >> Good evening. I'm here tonight, Michelle Hirs. I'm here tonight in support of ordinance 26-027, agenda item 4.1. This ordinance is really about one simple idea. If
landlords use rubs to build tenants for water, sewer, and trash, maybe other utilities, tenants should be able to understand how those charges are calculated. Right now, bills arrive each month. And the tenant and the message is
basically here's your bill, trust us. But tenants don't need a detective, an accountant, or even a Ouija board to figure out their utility charges. They shouldn't need those things. This ordinance simply requires landlords to disclose the information and formulas
they already know and use to generate our bills. It's not some massive administrative burden. The billing service providers already have the information and in many cases it's just a matter of adding it to
the invoice template once. At my building, we already pay almost $5 a month just for the bill to be created, which is a whole different junk fee levied on tenants. So, importantly, this ordinance affects
buildings using rubs, not other buildings with uh single meters per unit. And the rubs buildings are generally large corporate landlords. It's certainly not every multif family property in Jersey City. It's a common
sense transparency measure and I urge the council to support it. Thank you. >> Still a public hearing on city ordinance 26-027. Any member of the public still wishing to be heard, please come up to the podium and state your name for the record.
>> Motion. >> Motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 26-027 was made by council person Gilmore. May I have a second? >> Second. Second by council person Zupa. On the motion to close the public
hearing on city ordinance 26 days 027. Council person Brooks >> I. >> Council person Zupa. >> Hi. >> Council person Ephro. >> Hi. >> Council person Little. >> I. >> Council person Gilmore. >> I. >> Council person Singh.
>> Hi. >> Council person Griffin. >> I. >> Council person Labaro. >> And council president Ridley. >> I. Motion carries 90 to close the public hearing on city ordinance 26-027 for final consideration and adoption of
city ordinance 26-027. Council person Brooks >> proudly vote I. >> Council person Zupa >> I. >> Council person Ephro I vote I. And just briefly want to say uh I hope we can count on the support uh council
colleagues for both this ordinance and the following which uh helps clarify and we'll get to this in a bit but helps clarify uh for rent controlled units where uh these rubs charges lie which would be as rent um so that 260 can
continue protecting people. Uh but on the amendment to chapter 218 before us right now, just want to express my gratitude to uh the tenants that brought this to our attention. I think this is a really an example of how community
members come to us as elected officials with an issue that they are facing in Jersey City, tell us to do something about it, and we can do something about it. So I'm really grateful that this is, you know, at least one small step of an example of exactly this kind of feedback
and relationship that we want to build between community members who are facing problems like a lack of transparency in their housing costs and us as a city being able to do something about it. And then just to, you know, stay on the theme of transparency, which I think we
heard uh very eloquently spoken about by so many uh residents tonight, um both uh homeowners and tenants alike. Um transparently, when we first started looking into this, we were looking for how to ban this practice entirely from
the city. Uh but it it appears that we would be preempted by state law if we attempted to do so as Jersey City. Um and so you know other folks uh who spoke tonight mentioned that this has been done the a full ban of th this system um
seems plainly unnecessary uh and ownorous to tenants um it's it's un Connecticut uh ruled rubs illegal for residential multi-unit properties. Other places other municipalities have banned it across the country. Um and so we'll
be talking with our allies in the state uh about what we can do in that regard, but we didn't want to wait for that to happen. And so we are doing the next best thing, which is turning the lights on rubs, making sure that it is clear how these charges are being made and
making sure that tenants have that power of the knowledge in this case to be able to know exactly where the buildings are coming from. So, thank you to the residents bringing this to us for working on this legislation with us. Thanks to my council office, Zeke and Zeu, for putting this together, to my council colleagues for your support,
your feedback throughout this whole process. Um, and I proudly vote I, >> Council Person Little. >> I want to thank all the advocates who came to us with concerns about rubs. I want to thank Councilman Efos and his ward D council office for their
leadership on this issue and bringing this forward and all my council colleagues as well. And I am happy to vote I for this common sense transparency measure. >> Council person Gilmore. >> First I want to request some ventilation
in here before I pass out. Um but I just want to thank Jake. Um this this is it's needed. It's common sense. Um and any landlords who were operating in an
appropriate manner, this doesn't really affect them. I I I just don't understand um why this will be problematic for anybody. You're essentially asking for transparency and you're asking for proof
on what you want somebody to pay. Um, so Jake again, good job. I proudly vote I. >> Council person Singh. >> I vote I. >> Council person Griffin.
>> Yeah. Um, Councilman Efos. Thank you. I I just want to say, you know, after looking at rubs and and and what's going on, it's um it's basically landlords being lazy because if I'm using 70% of the electricity and my neighbor is using
30, there's no reason why we should be splitting it down the middle 50/50. Um and like I said, Monday, I I think we need to be pushing for more transparency. I I think um you know people should on a monthly basis get what is known in business as a bill of
sales, right? If I'm paying facility fees, if I'm paying for parking, um you know what my water bill is going to be. Um so, you know, I think um you know, the more we move forward, the more you know, we we can um be transparent um as
a city and um you know, just just have everything open in the air. So, so the conversations can be had and continue to be had. So, I vote I >> Council Person Lavaro. >> Yeah. I'll begin by just thanking Councilman Efos um and his team um for
bringing these ordinances forward. Um and I especially want to thank the tenants um who helped uh shape this and bring this to the council's attention. Um this is what good policy looks like. um when tenants bring a problem to the council and then the council is able to to address that. So congratulations
Councilman Afro and your team. Um I also just want to give a shout out to our law department. I'm sure you had some role there um Sarah and her team. Um and uh glad that we if we can bring some transparency and accountability um to utility billing across our buildings
here in Jersey City and hopefully this will um bring some relief to our tenants here in Jersey City. I probably vote I. >> Council President Ridley. >> I vote I. And congratulations to Councilman Efos on passing his first
ordinance. >> City ordinance. >> City ordinance 26-027 is adopted unanimously. 90. On to our next second reading ordinance and last one. Item 4.2, city ordinance 26-028,
is an ordinance amending chapter 260, rent control of the Jersey City Municipal Code to regulate ratio utility billing systems in rent control dwellings. This is a public hearing on this ordinance. Any member of the public wishing to be heard, please come up to
the podium and state your name for the record. And I see you, Von. >> Yes. Normally I don't come up twice on a similar ordinance. It's a waste of time. But since um my councilman wants to go to Trenton and make sure that pass, I would like to know when will he go to
Trenton for my problems? Because my PSNG bill, which is $325, only $74 is that is electrical and gas combined. The rest of it is all fees the state puts on the bill that we have to pay. So when will you represent me in
terms of what I have to pay? And when I use the word privilege, let me say it very clearly. The board of eds going up 17%. The county is going up 14%. Now one rent control tenant will pay that under the Jersey City rent control ordinance.
So that is a privileged tenant. It's not privileged to me. So I would want to know when will you represent me on my PSNG bill? And if you want a copy of this, it's right here. $325 of which I only spent $49 on electricity
and $25 on gas. But $325 is all these fees the state put on my bill, which everyone receives. It's not just me. When will you go down to Trenton and say this is not fair to Ivonne Boler? I want to know because
worry about everybody else, but the regular tenant who pays these bills, who pays your salary increase, no one represents me at all. So when you go down there and talk about their problem, there's uh $251 that I did not use on my
bill. That is fees on my PSN electric bill. Give it up and gas bill. $251. That's a lot of money considering the fact I only use $74 of services of gas and electric for the
month of May. So when you start talking about their rights, remember in the back of your mind my rights. Thank you very much. >> Still a public hearing. Our next speaker, >> I Michelle Hirs
speak for more than 500 households in our two buildings. On November 3rd, 2023, the Jersey City Rent Leveling Board ruled that our buildings have always been subject to rent control. Two and a half years later, our landlord
continues to bill tenants every month under a ratio utility billing system that has pushed thousands of us above the legal rent ceiling. It's happening with no rent leveling board approval, no
verifiable formula, and no access to the underlying bills nor data of true per unit usage. Here's a fun fact. My landlord reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it collected more than $93 million in rub charges
from tenants nationwide in 2024 alone. That figure is from their own 10K filing. Their third-party building vendor, Conservice, which has its own problems, shamelessly posted on its corporate Instagram that in a single
month, it saved its landlord clients $5.5 million. The post compared those savings to the price of 345 high-end jet skis. Yep. When us tenants requested the
underlying water bills, we received in writing, quote, I'm unable to provide you with that information. When we pressed conc, as you heard before, their executive vice president of building told a tenant directly, quote, the property has instructed us not to
discuss the billing with you. If there could be negative transparency, that quote would be it. In October 2025, our landlord quietly emailed tenants admitting their common area allocation had been wrong for years and promising
rebates. That email, however, was devoid of any information that would help us understand how a promised rebate might be calculated. A few tenants asked, they didn't get an answer. Ordinance 26-028 places rubs charges where chapter 260
already says they belong inside uh rent for rent controlled buildings. And remember, if any landlord can demonstrate that they aren't making a fair return on their building, they have a remedy. They can file a hardship
application. What do tenants have as a remedy to negative transparency? we have nothing. So, I'm very proud that the council has already voted to approve ordinance 26-027, which makes the math visible on every
bill. Please also vote yes on this ordinance. Thank you. >> Our next speaker, >> this is Kevin Weather. Ordinance 26028 is a clarification. That's all it really is. For decades,
the rent control ordinance has defined rent as the price for the use of a housing space, including any charge paid by the tenant for any service in connection with the housing space. Water, electricity, trash, sewer, all of
these are services. They've always been rent under this ordinance. What ordinance 26028 does adds is one phrase. The phrase is including but not limited to utility fees, however calculated. That phrase does not change the law. It
restates the law in plain English that no one can pretend not to understand it. So why is this clarification needed? Because some landlords have been treating these charges as if they were outside of the rent definition and outside of the cap. And when tenants try
to enforce the existing law, those landlords drag the case out for years over what should be a one paragraph question and answer. The path to actually using the protection has been so slow and so expensive that for most tenants, it has not been real protection
at all. For small landlords, this clarification changes nothing. If you have been treating rug charges the way the law has always said you should, you keep doing exactly what you are doing now. For larger landlords with deep pockets, the only thing that changes is
this. You can no longer wield the legal system as the actual rule. Natural rule is the ordinance. This clarification means the next tenant who walks into the bureau or into a courtroom does not have to spend 3 years arguing whether a
utility searchcharge is a charge for a service. The ordinance levels the playing field with one simple sentence that clarifies what was always obviously part of the law. The opposition is going to call this language too broad. It's broad because
the workarounds are inventive. Narrower phrasing leaves the next workaround open. We'll also hear or may hear the landlords will just fold these charges into the base and tenants will lose. Well, folding them into the base is the
protection. Today, the landlords act as if those charges sit outside the cap and grow without limit. Under tonight's clarification, they sit inside the cap and grow the way every other piece of rent grows in this city. Thank you very much.
>> Our next speaker. >> Hi. Uh my name is Zakarola Morenis and I'm here just to speak briefly on the ordinance amending chapter 260 which regarding rent control. If we're going to apply these protections when it comes
to cracking down on the opaque and exploitative use of the rub system in multiple dwellings buildings, we really need to apply that to rent control buildings as well because if we're not
protecting the most vulnerable of our citizens, then what I mean, what is any of this even for? As it stands right now, without the ordinance, it creates a loophole for landlords to drive out their rent
control tenant by increasing the charge of the rubs and the utilities. Um, so I'm just asking us to maintain some internal integrity and vote yes on this ordinance as well. Thank you all. >> Next speaker.
>> Yes, I have a question. I got a couple calls for some tennis at an affordable housing apartment building and they rent was like $6.99 700.
Lady that runs the building told them now they rent can go to 1,800 the level or something. Is that something new going on they can change? It was a it's a it's a affordable apartment building in our area. I was talking to the lady
now and she said the rent level now is 1875 and the people's rent that was like 7006 something is jumping triple >> I need to talk to about this >> is this pertaining to this ordinance >> yes it's the same thing I'm asking you
>> Mr. I'm happy to have my council office talk to talk to you offline. >> I appreciate it. Thank you. >> This is still a public hearing on city ordinance 26-028. Any member of the public wishing to be heard, please come up to the podium and state your name for the record.
>> Second. >> Motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 26-028 was made by council person Gilmore, seconded by council person Zupa. On the motion to close a public hearing on city ordinance 26-028. Council person Brooks.
>> Hi. >> Council person Zupa. >> Hi. >> Sorry. Council person Efos. >> Hi. >> Council person Little. >> Hi. >> Council person Gilmore. >> Hi. >> Council person Singh. >> Hi. >> Council person Griffin.
>> Hi. >> Council person Lavaro. >> Hi. >> And council president Ridley. >> I. Motion carries 90 to close a public hearing on city ordinance 26-028 for final consideration and adoption of city
ordinance 26-028. Council person Brooks >> I and congratulations Councilman Efos. >> Council person Zupa Efos, thank you for your leadership on both of these ordinances. because of rising energy costs and other costs that are outside
the control of this municipal council uh including PSEG, it's important that we protect tenants and do what we can with within our rights as a city council. Uh but we should certainly be advocating for our with our state legislators to uh do the same thing at the state level in
Trenton. I vote I >> council person Efos. Uh just again extending thank you to the community to attendance that um helped build this and thank you very much to our law department for working on both of these to um landlord tenant office to housing
preservation for uh supporting these. Uh it means a lot to have the administration as a partner in building all this together. So, um, thank you to council colleagues again for this basic clarification to make sure that code 260 very explicitly and firmly continues to
protect, uh, especially in these cases of these, um, charges that up until tonight have been nontransparent at all. Um, and uh to uh Miss Balser, you have my word that I will lobby Trenton to uh
fight these data centers that are hiking up our utility costs, which is one of the main drivers, if not the main drivers of these skyrocketing energy rates that New Jerseyians and Jersey cians are facing. So, you have my word um that I'm fighting for all of us.
I'm voting I Sean Council person Little >> I and congratulations to all >> council person Gilmore council person sing >> I vote I and congratulations to your
team councilman Afro um all of you have worked really hard on this so thank you and I vote I on this >> council person Griffin >> uh yes as a homeowner miss BA I feel Wos. Um, and and Pam Johnson from our
office. Um, well, she's there already. Um, we'll we'll take your information and we'll work we'll work with you and we will definitely advocate for that because advocating for you is advocating for my mother, my aunts, other homeowners, and
myself. Um, and when it comes to this this particular ordinance, uh, I vote I. Thank you, Jake. Council Person Lavaro. >> Congratulations again, Councilman. And uh thank you to everybody who came out
to speak and advocate. I vote I >> Council President Ridley. >> I. >> City ordinance 26. >> City Ordinance 26-028 is adopted unanimously. 90. on to our public request for a hearing.
Everybody watching at home and everybody in attendance, I'll be calling the number and the first name of the individual. With that being said, 5.1 Leverne. Two weeks ago, I told you I need help in my community. Right now, I need police
back on the street on MLK, Ocean Avenue. We got a bunch of young kids from age 7 to 15. I don't know who's selling them fireworks, but they ended up walking a bunch of like 30 or 40 young kids as young as about seven years old. No older
than 15 or 16. I try to talk to some girls and boys and there's no cops around. None. We need our police back on our streets on in my hood. I don't know about nobody else's, but in mine, I need them back out there. council
really serious. It's getting warm and the past two days has been I these little babies got these fireworks this long running up and down ocean waving in in MLK Ocean and it's horrible. I don't want nobody to get killed. We already had a killing out here last week. We
don't need this. It's getting more need of babies out there and they in groups 30 40 young people. We got to do something. I'm listening all this about rent, this, that, life. But what about souls? Them babies out
there, them souls, them kids. They need help. That's why I do what I do out here with after school programs and summer programs. We got to do better. We got to do better.
We need Barry Lane. We need a pool across the street. We had a pool there years ago on that lot. Councilman, right? That big lot. We had a big pool over there. Right be even before we built Barry Lane. We haven't got the Harmony Street pool. We ain't got
Montgomery Street. We ain't got no pools in our hood. They got the the public schools done turned to private pools. You got to pay to go there. It's getting more. The baby was in the park and the little water that was
coming out of the shop. I got five grandkids and I got 500 kids that look up to me and want to do things. That's why I do what I do. We need help.
All this is good. What's going on, but what about them babies out there? Do we care about them or we going to let them get killed out here this summer? Thank you. Our next speaker Danielle, give me give me one sec, Miss
Leverne. Miss Leverne. Uh, so my office, we we met with um, Director Ambrose and we did um, address the fireworks issue with him. Um, and you know, we we told him we don't want to, you know, we we want to we want to see these kids out
here um, being safe. Um and and so the conversation was, you know, about confiscating because we don't want to see our we don't want to see our young children getting locked up for having fireworks, but we do want to see it be addressed. >> Yes. >> All right. >> And can we get back out there?
>> Can we get the police back out there? >> Yeah. Foot patrol and everything is going to be back out there. >> Oh, thank you. >> Our next speaker, 5.2, Danielle see her. Next speaker, 5.3, Joseph.
Next speaker, 5.4, Amy. Next speaker, 5.5, Josh. Next speaker, 5.6, Six, Charlene. And before you come up to speak, I just want to make a little announcement. On to your left, there is a light. No, no, no. On the podium, there's a light. It
was purchased by Arjiman, who is coming up to show you how to work it out of her pocket. >> Thank you. I will never take credit for something that I didn't do or purchase. So, she's
very well aware of our budget crisis and she was nice enough to do that. >> I have to thank you for that because this is important to a person like myself who needs supplemental lighting for reading things. But, I really
appreciate that. >> I didn't start your time yet. >> Yeah. Listen, when you make a request like that and it's small thing, but when it is actually satisfied, it it makes a world of difference. Honestly, >> that's why I gave it a written speech
today. So, excellent. But thank you. >> Okay. Uh firstly, I just wanted to mention about historic preservation. This weekend is a powerhouse tour. So, if you have the opportunity to reach out to the Jersey City Landmarks and do a
powerhouse tour, um you'll learn about its history and certainly what it could possibly become. So, I'd like to say that. The second thing I'd like to thank everyone who made a difference in getting the spray parks on for the heat
because it makes a difference to have the spray parks working when parents are dealing with cranky kids and having them run around. They're exhausted by the end of that and they go to sleep. So, thank you for that too. Uh the other thing I
wanted to mention is that one of the things looking at you know we get a lot of social media about the budget. I would like to suggest to the council that you suggest to the administration that perhaps vacation time off on a
voluntary basis without pay might be something that you suggest to the administration. My husband worked in a hotel and when it was slow, they offered their employees vacation time off and some of them went to visit their
families. They'd take a week or two weeks. We're coming up to Memorial Day, the summertime. Maybe there's some people who would like to take without pay Fridays or Mondays to make a longer weekend and it would help to reduce some
of the costs. So, I really would like to make that suggestion. Uh, the other thing I'd like to discuss or suggest to the council to address the way you did this evening about the utility bills for renters is perhaps you
might go back to the planning department and ask them to look at two things. The increased density for the R1 zones that are throughout the city and also the accessory dwelling units. I just
participated in a Lake Street project in front of planning and the building that was built is 150 ft long. And then behind that is an accessory dwelling unit which only has 3 feet to allow
firemen to get to the very back of that building. You know what? Maybe it needs to be amended that if you have an ADU, you need to have five feet to allow the fire department to to use their equipment, their hoses, and get down a
corridor. But whatever it is, it really needs to be looked at. And I suggest to all of you that you perhaps redirect it back to planning to look at what the last administration did that isn't
working. Thank you. Charlene, may I briefly say thank you for that? Um, yeah, Lake Street is on our radar. Um, we met with residents uh really concerned about this. So, we've been talking with the administration about it and we have a meeting with uh HDC to talk about ADU policy um in
general, I think next week on the books. So, I know Councilman Zupa and I are are working on this issue. Um, yeah, I'll reach out to you to make sure you looped in. Okay, our next speaker 5.7 Esther.
Evening council. Uh, I have not prepared my remarks, so I apologize in advance if this is a little bit all over the place. But what I'd like to bring up this evening is the issue of the Liberty Science Center. It has been and Scitec
City in particular. It's been eight years since we did this transfer of wealth from public to semi-public private. And uh what we were told at the time was that uh at some point we were going to start receiving
um monies from this project. A school was supposed to be built was not built yet. I went to the count the county last year and got that back in motion. They put out an RFP, so we got that back in
motion. City council um passed a resolution to contribute $2 million a year toward that school. This is money we don't have. So, we don't have a school yet. Uh we don't have money once the school goes up yet. There is the uh the building that's
going up over there. Residential building that's being built. Um Scholars Village was a residential community. >> Sorry, Esa. Can you please use the mic? >> Scholars Village
um was a residential community intended to house scientists, entrepreneurs, and students engaged in innovation work. From their website, it looks like it's just regular housing. So I have a lot of I have a few questions and I can't do it
all in three minutes. Um but now we have private developer on property that is owned by a nonforprofit and so I would like to understand if that private developer is going to pay property tax. Uh we were also told at the time when we
were opposing this project um if there was any recourse on that. It was actually Councilman Lavaro who said that uh if shovels were not put in the ground within 3 years that uh the land could revert back to Jersey City, which
I think that it should at this point. It's been 8 years and um there's been no followup. I've been to the JC meeting asking for a follow-up. The JC committee has the right to request information about the
project. when I um I questioned that they had never done that. So there's been absolutely no followup on one of the biggest transfers of wealth that this city has done uh where we just gave away 16 acres of property, sold a bill
of goods to the public, no followup, and all we have is a private um is a developer who's putting up housing in a manner that was not presented to us. No school, we can't afford it. We have no
revenue that we were promised. It's been eight years and we were supposed to get this revenue. We've got nothing. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker 5.8 Edward is not here. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.9 Gina.
Good evening. Justice for Drew. Um, I told y'all a little while ago that these are the last few times you'll hear from me. I'm leaving Jersey City. It's too expensive. It's taken a toll on me living here. I came here 12 years ago and bought a
building and I'm leaving without that building because this is something I haven't even told any of you all in all the struggles we've been through. and I owned a building here. It flooded with sewage seven times the first year I lived there because of our combined
system and our complete failures. When they opened up the street on Maple Street to see what was going on, they found that there were places where the city pipes were completely gone. There was just roots. So, I'm I'm just too tired, right?
Because I've been fighting for the bare minimum for 12 years. And Jersey City is now tied in third place as the most expensive city to live in the United States, tied with Boston,
right behind LA and New York. This is not sustainable. We cannot continue to rely on international real estate investors who continue to treat our city like an
investment, like a financial investment where they can benefit, where they're getting margins, where they're getting guaranteed profit. This is a city. People live here. And I know I'm preaching to the choir a little bit here for some of you, but
there are some of you who continue to avoid my eye contact and don't ever look up when I speak because you know how much you participated in the gentrification of this city. Yes, I'm looking at you, President Ridley.
So when you when you work with people like Steven Fulip, this is what you get. You get an unlivable city where people are leaving because the quality of life has gone downhill. I'm not leaving because of the people. I will miss the people dearly. I just spent the afternoon with my niece who lives on
Staten Island. I have to leave her. And I worked for the city, by the way. I worked my butt off for this city. I worked for free. I use my own car. I have my own cat rescue. I've been working my butt off for this city for no money. I've been paying for it out of my
own savings. And what's the end of that? I'm leaving. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.10, 10 Tina. >> Hey, yes, my name is Tina No. Yes, I'm speaking for myself and yes, I do watch
work for education at Gear Mall. I noticed that every time I speak the counselor at large leave. I'm going to keep watching the video and see because every time I come up and speak, I see she leave the chair. I guess it's because it's nothing about downtown. I guess it's nothing about Georgia C
family. The reason why I see that she leave, but it's okay. I'm still going to continue to talk every time until I see them help get some type of help for nonprofits. First of all, justice for Drew. Justice for Drew. I'll call you right
back first. And I want to also do like a silent moment for the ones who we lost in our community. I see we still struggling in silence in my community. I went through something a couple of weeks ago in my safe spots because of this election and what's
going on. I realized it's not about helping the community. It's about the money and how you get moved up and up and up and up and up. Because if it really was about the community, these nonprofits would be able to grow and we wouldn't be able to be sitting here
complaining about what's going on in our community. It really hurt me so deeply and me carrying such so so such so so much stuff on my shoulders of what I do for the community. Every Wednesday I come and talk about nonprofits
to the point that some so many of my friends and families told me they was going to help. they was going to support, they was going to do this, they was going to do that, they was going to do this, they was going to do that to the council, to the mayor, and all that. So now I don't believe none of y'all to the point that I will continue to do
what I have to do and continue to ask my friends them for the money and my family because I realize my community is still let letting me down with these nonprofits and not helping out. It's very hard for me to run a nonprofit and trying to help out the community and
give out flyers and pass out food and bring stuff up to the hospital all by myself and walk around the community too. As you know this education gmore, you see me. I'm not out there voting. I'm out there in the community. But we all know what carry on and what happened
if you doing this type of stuff. You don't get enough support in your community of this. But I do want to thank Educational Gearmore. I do want to thank Mike Griffin. I do want to thank Jerry Walker because y'all did come to
me and tell me it's time to help out nonprofit. This like a big load off of me because it was bothering me to the point I just told my friend I just wanted to give up. And port side y'all too for thanking me too. Thanking y'all for also bringing clothes to our community because y'all see it. It
shouldn't be the people in the community help me. it really should be the leader and the mayor. So, I want y'all to realize and try to think about the nonprofits and really start helping them out, please. Thank y'all. Our next speaker, 5.11, Danielle, see her.
Next speaker 5.12 Austo you Austo. Oh thank you Austo Penaranda. Uh good evening. Uh in a couple of weeks we will be celebrating Pride Month and of course the World Cup. I've spoken about that
before. Uh one of the events that's coming to Jersey City is called Flag Cities and their main sponsor is Goya Foods. Um, I don't have an issue with Flag Cities. I'm a big World Cup supporter. But I do have an issue when the city of Jersey City, the city that I
call home, is rolling out the red carpet to an anti-LGBTQ plus multi-million dollar corporation known as Goya Foods. This is not rumor or, you know, social media comments. This is documented proof that anyone can go on their cell phones.
There's been a long history that Goya Foods is anti-LGBTQ+. I asked uh newly elected Mayor Solomon to just ask Goya Foods for a public statement on their stance on the LGBTQ plus community. Whether they support us or
not, that is their right. But since he requested that Flag Cities be free to all the residents, that means everyone's going to go in there and spend money, World Cup food, and the whole bit. Goya Foods is going to take their percentage of that money
and fund the current administration and every single elected official that is trying to take the rights away of the LGBTQ plus community. And there's something wrong with that. How can one of the most inclusive cities or the inclusive city in the country roll out
the red carpet to an anti-LGBTQ plus multi-million dollar corporation and not ask? So, the mayor did not ask. I talked to the mayor of Newark. He did not ask. I called the media because I I have worked
for three uh state governors in the past in my career. And they don't want to rock the boat because they have their free media passes to the World Cup. So, they did not write about it. Only one did. Jordan, who's I think still in the room. Thank you, Jordan.
So my ask tonight is, is anyone on the city council willing to simply ask Goya Foods, what is your public stance with the LGBTQ plus community? That's it. And then make it public because we should
know because you were talking about transparency with fees and bills. We should know where our money is going to go. And I've worked for this family. I know the Goya family. I've been to their home and yes, they they do have a tendency to lean that way. But if the
corporation is going to take money from our residents and the 1.3 million guests that are coming, and then go attack us by supporting the very elected officials, including our president that wants to take our rights away, you have
to see there's a problem with that. So, I'm asking you if there's anyone that can send that letter and get a response. Thank you. Thank you >> Austo. Austo, thank you so much for making those comments. Uh I am happy to ask
Goya for a public statement on this. Uh Goya operates one of their facilities. Um it might be a management part of their facility operates right on the edge of Ward D which I represent. Um and so this is particularly important uh for
me. So, I'm I'm happy to make a a public uh inquiry for a public statement on on the record from them. >> I I will also reach out to them. Um I I'm happy to send that letter, email, whatever. Um and ask them for a
statement on the record, but I I won't be surprised if I don't get a response, but I will try. Our next speaker 5.13 Rochelle she's not here. Next speaker 5.14 Eliza.
Next speaker 5.15 Ivonne. My comments has to do with two Opra's I request from the city. This is in reference to the Franklin Street closure or the March se uh 11th meeting at the timeline of two
um 16 which is the meeting that took place. Former council candidate and attorney Katherine Healey said city studies show that emergency response time will be slow between 1 and 5 minutes. That is shocking and that will
go through knowing will put the community at risk. She was referring to the Franklin bike lane. Then there was a comment by Councilman Zuper at timeline 29 where he said I reviewed the study done
by the union and the actual data from the pilot was reviewed and the data from the pilot shows less of an impact. So what I did is I asked for a copy of my Oprah of what um Healey was talking
about and Councilman uh Super I want I want a copy of it and I asked for the do the fire department have it and the the Oprah said they don't have it. So then I redid my Oprah and I said, "Is there any department in Jersey City that has this
information?" And what I got back from the city said, "The city offers a public safety communication, conducted a search, and no response was recorded. This is closed." Now, I said all departments, not public safety. The
reason why I request this is because Bayon Hospital announced they are laying off nearly 1,000 employees, which is the first step to closing a hospital. As Katherine Healey said, a 10-minute ride is now 25 to 30 minutes. How could
someone suffering a heart attack, a stroke, or an asthma attack arrive at the medical center if they live in the southern part of the city? Now I basically wanted to know what Healey and again Councilman Zooper referred to. I
wanted that information and this city government under Stalum administration is telling me two times the information does not exist. So either not to attack you Zupra either you're lying what you said and I don't think you are or the
city is hiding from me. I should not have to ask over and over again for the information about street closing and bike lanes. I should that information should be on the city's website. Number one, but if I don't get it, I'm going to
attack I'm going to go to the to the prosecutor because there's no reason why I cannot get public information from the Solomon administration. I want to know what is it said about the street closing. What was in that information?
That's all I ask. I'm a citizen. I've been paid a lot of money in taxes for a very long time. >> Thank you. >> I will go to the prosecute if I don't get it. >> Ivonne, the the fire union can did a study that wouldn't be under a city
agency. You can probably just call the union president and get a copy of it. I do want to note it's it's Jack Collins. I I want to note though that that study included what Manhattan Avenue being having a bike lane too which was not the current iteration of of the design but
that's probably why the city didn't give you that study because the union is does not fall under Oprah for um for a city agency. Our >> next speaker 5.16 Jonathan. >> Thank you. Uh good evening. I'm a ward
day resident and I'd like to discuss the resolution voted down two weeks ago on 417 commun site. Uh last fall development was a really big issue in the Wday council race. I'd like to thank the council president who worked with city planning
and they held multiple committee meetings to gather feedback on what residents want for the site. I don't think it's fair or transparent to throw out that input and only listen to two people testifying against revisiting the plan. I think the city should add more housing in an area where renters are
getting priced out and the city needs more tax revenue from projects like this. I read an article from one of council member Gilmore's committee meetings back in 2022 where at that point June Jones who testified two weeks ago, she said that she was okay with the number of units in the old proposal but
17 stories was the problem. So here's my question for the people who opposed the resolution. The current zoning allows for 17 stories and opponents hated that. And now we're calling it, and I quote, carefully crafted. Right now, it seems like no developer wants to build 17
stories. But will that always be the case? Or is the plan just to block any project and hope the property owner eventually gives up? I'll also note that the 2021 ICO, which limits the city's ability to trade affordable housing for givebacks. The new developer proposal
increases the percentage of affordable units. It decreases the height, but it takes out the rec center. And I think the public should be able to give feedback on what the proper trade-offs are. I agree the proposal has issues. I I do want more commercial space. I'd love to make it taller and maybe take
out some parking so we can make it more affordable and maybe get the rec center back. That's why we need to update the plan. If people have a vision for this land, they should share it publicly instead of poking holes. And the planning board is the proper form for everyone to have a say. That's what it
is. It's not a rubber stamp. In contrast, doing nothing, that just means 17 stories stays in the books. My ask then is if we could please consider reintroducing the resolution at a future meeting so the city can fix this plan and get the project right. Thank you.
Our next speaker 5.17 Ivan good evening council. I am also here to strongly urge you to intro reintroduce the resolution for 417 community avenue. First of all, I want to thank uh
Councilman Supa and Ephros for their quick response h regarding my cons concerns on moving this resolution forward and I truly appreciate it. So this site is very critical and the redevelopment plan should include at
least 17 stories which the current zoning already allows by right. So remember this is Jersey City. This it's in the name. It's not called Jersey sober. So there's absolutely zero reason to oppose or downsize this project.
While I completely agree that we must ensure workers are are treated fairly and compensated for their work because installing this project helps no one and right now it serves no purpose to and remains a light on the neighborhood. So
I please I please urge you to clear up any concern regarding the workers rights and safety so that we can move forward with this project. Remember building enough housing officially is crucial. Somebody mentioned earlier about LA and
Boston some of the most expensive cities in the nation and you know why? Because they don't need build enough housing. So Jersey City is also a very desirable place to live. You have to take that into consideration. So it's impossible
to leave here if we keep stalling our downsousing projects. So for example, cities in Japan remain affordable and desirable because they build enough housing to meet that demand. And closer to home here in our country, we see
places like Austin and San Diego who have prioritized building housing and rent in those places actually have remained below the national average. So, I also was in Japan a few months ago and it was incredible seeing how
flexible zoning and not kicking the can down the road when it comes to building housing makes a city so much better. So, I think it should be one of the top priorities for any city. And in my view, the only people who tend to benefit from very
restricted housing supply are the ultra rich homeowners and landlords who will have less competition. building cost keeps increasing, whether it's due to Trump's tariffs or poorly taught city ordinances that make building more expensive than it already is. So when we
start getting so picky when it comes to every housing project, all we do is end up with zero affordable units. So this is not just me saying politicians both at the state and federal level have brought this to as a concern because we need to increase housing production and
make the process more efficient. Governor Cheryl has also been a huge advocate for this. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker 5.18 Phillip I'm sorry Sean uh Yvon you live in W B
correct? Um I did get your email. I will respond and um I I apologize my colleagues got to you before I did. Um but um thank you for coming and and sharing your views and uh I look forward to talking with you more about that.
Thank you. >> Next speaker 58 Phillip members of the city council I want to thank you for allowing me to speak. topic again. Today's inconsistency based on
enforcement of laws. Looking back in retrospect, I want to digress. Last week, I last fornite I say that um council president really never respond to none of my letters, email that is still a fact. But I neglected to say
that her office uh did in fact reach out to me and asked me to give them some clarity. I in March I wrote a letter to her with with the entirety of my complaint and the relief I was seeking. A copy of
that letter was also sent to Gilmore's office and to to his aid and two other people as well to Karen and Snow. Their respond still have not been a response from Ridley.
She also said that I should give her a copy of the email. And I said, I'm not going to give you just a copy. I give her a hard copy of that letter. Still no response. Want to show that you you were dishonest. Here is a copy of a
lawsuit I have. Your name is on it. It was uh done January 2023. There were 14 months in discovery. You didn't ask a single question and just the basic question. What is your name?
What is your job? How long you been on your job? That's the basic question. Really didn't ask none of those questions. She didn't answer none of those questions. Of course, also there's a question of law. How does a black man can have a permit license from Jersey City in bonding insurance? And the police was called to put him out of
business. What municipal law would allow for that? That happened. Still no answer. This matter is still in court, by the way. So, you see, you're being dishonest. And again, to Zuba and Ephro and Little, uh, y'all are just a bunch of two-faced hypocrites. See, cuz I
raised the issue repeatedly on the issue of inconsistency based on race. So, I mentioned me as a black person and some other white people. The moment I say white Jews, everybody jump up. Well, we can't call them white Jews. And I'm going to say it again. They're white and they're Jews. You can call
what you want to call them, but that's really what it is. So, but EPO was have to be a two-faced hypocrite to sit here just now and say that but if you have an issue, raise it to the council and we'll address it. You address the um 0227 that
that's your ordinance, but you have not addressed the issue of the inconsistency of the laws been enforced. Let me say it again. When I had the bill on the corner of uh Fulton and Jackson, all policing was enforcing building departments, fire
departments, all kinds of people's there enforcing it. But when the white Jews are in the building right now, the police on April the 13th was standing there protecting them. >> Thank you, Philip. >> Inconsistency. >> So, uh, Mr. Carrington, I will first
talk with corporation council, but um I have the email right in front of me where I responded to you in 2022, but since you're saying there's still an open lawsuit, um I'll talk to corporation council before I reforward that to you. But there's a string of emails and I have them all in front of
me. So sometimes I feel like when people get up to this mic, they think that what they because they said it on the mic, it makes it true and it's not. So, I will gladly send you all those responses if that is okay with corporation counsel, but like you said, there is I don't know if there's pending litigation. So, I
will forward all of that to corporation council and they can handle it how they see fit. Our next speaker 5.19 Stephanie. >> Oh u when it comes to the topic of vision zero I've observed the community
has become pit against each other. It's born and raised versus transplant bikers versus drivers. Instead there are systemic forces that we should be turning our attention to. freight hauling trucks, delivery services, the collective government's failure to work
together. You would think having the largest port on the east coast would be a benefit, but the port is purely extractive. It leads to more traffic on roads and nine on surface street like St. Paul. Causes not only traffic issues, but contributes to air
pollution. 85% of the goods that leave the port are by truck. Um, there are plans to deepen New York Harbor to 55 ft to accommodate larger container ships. That would mean more freight and more freight trucks. The city, county, and
state need to get together and acknowledge if the port is going to grow and the city is going to continue to grow, things are not going to work well if we don't have an intervention. Hunts Point in the Bronx could be a model for this. They're building more direct access to
the highway for trucks, leveraging barges, and building more rail use. Uh, delivery vehicles from Amazon, UPS, Beldor, similar block crosswalks across the city. Why don't we have micro hubs like New York City? Let trucks park in a
centralized place. Use carts or bicycles to move them the last mile. Downtown Jersey City gets more packages than any other neighborhood, and I contribute to that problem. So why don't you tax me? Minnesota and Colorado have implemented fees on all deliveries. In Colorado,
it's 28 cents. In Minnesota, it's 50. And clearly with exceptions for food, medicine, baby formula, and Colorado is generating about 90 million a year. Now, for for us to sell kind of the safe
street vision, you have to give people a place to go. Um 61% of Jersey City households have a car and I think we have to acknowledge it's because you need a car for basic survival in Jersey City. We've celebrated the new Target opening up on 440 and you know Jersey
City Times noted that people were going to the Newport Target and this is a great alternative. You still need a car to get to route 440. When the only solution is a big box store, it's harder for the community to see the value in safer, walkable
communities. There's no reason we can't open up small marts that create jobs, create taxpayers, create sales tax. Finally, parking is an issue. It's a blocker on vision zero projects. It's a blocker on
some of these apartment projects. The city has spent a quarter of a million dollars on towing. You need a place to put cars, unfortunately. >> Next speaker 5.20. Kevin. So few meetings ago and a meeting before that I kept talking about an Oprah I
filed while I finally got the results back but it got me thinking I finally a couple months ago I got around to going to the Tina Null's uh senior bingo uh because even though I'm 37 years old apparently I'm an ulter now uh which is
a Yiddish term for an old man. Uh, so while I was at Ulta [ __ ] or bingo, uh, when somebody would yell bingo, especially after like the first ball was called, that was me. Um, they would always say trust but verify, and they would check everybody's cards to make
sure they actually got bingo. And that's how I feel about Oprah. You got to trust but verify. So, I got uh the resumes back for the city council staffers. And it went against my hypothesis I had before I saw it because first I thought
uh that you were just hiring all your friends and they weren't qualified. Um and okay, you hired your friends but they mostly are qualified. So I created uh in Chad GPT a uh rubric for grading uh the hires uh based on how skilled
they are constituent services uh and writing legislation and special talents and knowledge of the community. uh seven out of nine offices uh rated at above average or better and two rated at exceptional. Uh and I made sure I had
very stringent standards and I had it scan the resumes uh for city and state legislative staffers all over the country. Um so that was actually a high note. Um the only concern I had is there was one person who was a little too qualified. U there's the county director
of parks. He's also a legislative aid. Um, so I don't know how people can play multiple characters. It works on Chappelle's show, uh, because you have Lil John, you have Rick James, you have Ty, uh, Clayton Bixby and other great characters. I don't know if it works so well for government. I think if you're a director level position, it's already
enough having that job. And then put more jobs on top of it's already too much. Uh, so I have one minute left. I just want to say I think you guys should be quicker as a city at responding to Oprah's. I'm not blaming anybody individually. I think there's some efficiency things uh government can do
like technology to automatically redact stuff so you don't have to manually go through and take everyone's phone number out and email uh as well as responding to people's emails when they ask for a status on an Oprah uh because I filed an OPRA o over two months ago uh for emails related to parking policy heard back
couple weeks after that saying we need two more weeks then I waited a month I said what's the status and like main source I was looking out the front door I didn't hear back. Uh, Councilwoman Ridley got it cuz she has great taste in music. She likes Camp Low as well. Uh, Geishi Suede from Camp Low used to live
in my neighborhood in the Bronx. Um, then I also emailed a month after that email asking for my status and I still haven't heard anything. So, I need to stop looking out the front door. Kevin, so basically what you're saying is we have the best aids in the state,
arguably in the country. >> And and not to make this a competition, but um who were the two that ranked exceptional? >> Your time is up. Nope. Nope. Nope. This is not a question and answer. >> I just let you off the hook. >> Sean is having none of
>> even though you were hitting me with Oprah stuff. So, just remember, you're not the only one that files an OPER request in Jersey City. We did 6,000 OPER request last year, and we're on record to break that.
So, be patient with us, Kevin. At least you are getting a response. That's >> right, Sean. >> I fight for my office. No one's going to tell me I can. You guys do a great job, Sean. >> With that being said, next speaker,
5.21, Ryan. Is Ryan here? >> Oh, he's not here. >> Not here. >> 5.22. Noiah, if I'm saying that correctly. >> Oh, >> no. 5.23. Aubrey. >> Pam. Oh, that's Aubrey.
>> That's Pam. That's not Aubrey. >> That's Aubrey. >> 5.24. >> Okay. Yeah. Royster. Last name Royster. No. 5.25. Annayia. >> Hold on. She
>> She's here. Okay. Sorry. >> Good evening everyone. Um uh I just wanted to say a few things about a program I'm in called Team Wilderness. Um,
so before 2024, which is when I joined them, I hadn't really gone outside all that much because, you know, we live in the city. There's not much connection to nature out here. But when I joined them in an ad for my school,
uh, I went on a whole two weeks of summer tracks where we went hiking and even kaying. It like genuinely changed my life for the better and I would like to see more things like Teen Wilderness out there.
Like there's not many programs besides Team Wilderness, especially not ones that are free. And if we want more people or kids like me to have access to the outdoors, then there should be a lot more programs out there.
Okay. Another point I wanted to bring up was a recent thing that's been happening in my school. I'm sure everybody has noticed the really hot weather and recently that's a been a big effect in my middle school, MS4,
but our school also doesn't have AC's. Um, I think that a school not having AC's when weather is capable of getting this bad is a genuinely dangerous thing and something that should be rectified.
I don't know if it should be outlawed necessarily, but schools should definitely be given whatever money they need to make sure that they can get AC's and protect their students. I don't really have much have much more
to say so thank you Ania Mr. President >> Ana, am I >> is it? Yeah, >> you in middle school. >> Sorry. Just want to let you know there is a program called team wilderness. Please reach out to them. They have
outdoor. >> She's in >> she's in team wilderness. >> She's in wilderness. She said she said >> she said that. >> Yeah, she >> So I I I think what we can do is we can advocate to recreation and and and the public schools to see if things can be
developed from within. Um because you know like team wilderness and other organizations like that people get together and they create them. But if we're going to do something uh from the city we would you know we would we would definitely um speak with
like recreation um and and try to work with with the uh Jersey City public schools and as as far as the educa I mean the um AC we can advocate I mean we can talk to them uh about that too. I went to PS12 school
and I can tell you that every summer um we would miss days every June we would May and June we would miss days because it was too hot. So yeah that that it is important to make sure that um you guys
are are are comfortable in school so you can you know be at your best um when it comes to your education. I just want to say also thank you so much for coming here to speak. Um, you know, I certainly was not speaking at city council meetings when I was in
middle school. So, um, I have a lot of respect for that. Um earlier this year, the council passed a resolution in support of uh state bill S3382, which would um make a ballot question on the November ballot uh as to whether the
state should bond for an additional 10.5 billion to build new school facilities and upgrade existing ones. And uh so Jersey City is an SDA district, which means the state is supposed to be funding the capital improvements for our schools. And this is something I think we all take very seriously um because
it's it's horrible, right? The schools are falling apart. There's no air conditioning. Uh some of the schools are experiencing a lot of overcrowding. Um so this council was unanimous in support of that bill and if it does become a ballot question in November, uh we would love to work with you and and get you
involved in, you know, garnering support and making sure it passes. So thank you so much for your advocacy. Okay, our next speaker 5.26 W. If I'm mispronouncing, correct me. >> Hello. Um, I'm Yian Hugh in grade seven from
council B. I'm also participating in team wilderness. Before I start, I would like to acknowledge the city council. Thank you for working together to make a better Jersey city. I joined teamness in late 2025
and started with wanting to learn photography. But also I I also went to after school and I think team learners helps teams build friendships and provides a place safe
place for youth to gather together. Since then, I have grown my photographic skills and gone on several trips which I think are engaging and educational. I would like to see more programs like team wilderness to be made to enrich and
support the other youth in our community. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you so much. Programs had quite an impact. It's uh >> there you go. >> Okay, our next speaker 5.27 27
Alexander. Right. Good evening members of the city council. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I'm a resident and a parent here in Jersey City. Uh first congratulations to the new administration on taking office as you step into leadership. I wanted to come
here tonight to share what is working for families in our community and to ask for your partnership in protecting the programs our children rely on. And I'm here to also talk about team wilderness. Their mission is to provide our urban youth with transformative
outdoor experiences that cultivate a deep connection with nature. They promote personal and academic growth. But most importantly for me as a parent, they invest heavily into our children's overall well-being. As a parent, I see
the impact this work firsthand. My child participated in team wilderness hiking and photography programs. Growing up in a busy urban environment, the wilderness can feel like an unfamiliar territory. But through this excursion, something incredible happened. Equipped with a
camera and a trail ahead of them, my child just didn't learn how to take photos. They learned how to look at the world through a completely different lens. They develop a genuine love for nature, a newfound confidence, and a unique way of seeing the beauty in the
world around them. This is what team wilderness does for our kids. They don't just organize outdoor activities. They deliver transformative development experiences that prepare our young adults to participate meaningfully in society. These past months have been challenging
for families and community organizations alike. When budget gets tight and priorities shift, the vital enrichment programs that keep our kids safe, engaged, and inspired are often the first to face pressure. As a parent, I want to ensure that this new
administration recognizes the immense value team Wilderness brings to Jersey City youth. We need your leadership to help protect these programs, ensuring they remain robust and accessible to every family who needs them. We formally ask for your recognition of team
wilderness, your continued support, and your open dialogue with the family of this city to keep these programs thriving. Thank you for your time, your service to our community, and for standing without you. Our next speaker, 5.28, Jonathan F.
Jonathan's not here. 5.29, Marcus F. Next. 530, Arjan. Good evening, honorable council president, esteemed council members and my dear friends. I am Dr. Arjimania, a pharmacist and community activist. I was honored to receive the presidential
lifetime achievement award from former President Joe Biden. Today I stand before you to reflect on the profound significance of Mother's Day. A day that while it may have passed, resonates deeply in our hearts and communities. Celebrated on the second Sunday of May,
this occasion is more than just a date on the calendar. It serves as a powerful reminder of the love, sacrifice, and resilience that mothers embody every day of the year. Why do we celebrate Mother's Day? The origin of this day stems from a rich
history of honoring the tireless efforts of women who nurture and shape our lives. From the early days of motherhood to the ongoing challenges faced today, mothers are the backbone of our families and society. It is a day to honor their
contributions, acknowledge their struggles, and appreciate the unwavering support they provide. Mothers often faced challenges head on, bouncing back from setbacks and with grace and humor, they juggled countless responsibilities
from managing households to supporting their children's dreams all while maintaining a sense of positivity. Uh there this resilience is what makes mothers extraordinary. But why is mother's day especially important to women? It's acknowledged their
invaluable roles not just as caregivers but as leaders, nurturers and visionaries. Celebrating this day empowers women and reminds us that their contributions extend far beyond their families. They shape our communities, advocate for change and inspire future
generations. Every year I volunteer in the celebrations organized by our councilman Tom Zupas nonprofit civic association where we honor and celebrate all the mothers in Watsi. This wonderful tradition has been go ongoing for the past 5 years bringing our community
together to celebrate the incredible mothers among us. Furthermore, let's not forget the importance of community involvement. Schools, businesses, and local organizations can play a crucial role in creating a supportive network
for mothers. By collaborating on events and programs, we can foster an environment where mothers have access to the resources they need to thrive. In conclusion, while Mother's Day may have been just days ago, its essence should resonate in our hearts every day. Let's
honor mothers not just on the designated day, but through our actions, supports, and commitment to creating a nurturing community. Together, we can ensure that the spirit of Mother's Day thrives long after the flowers have built it. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts
today. Let's continue to celebrate and uplift the incredible mothers in our lives. Thank you. >> Our next speaker, 5.31, Kevin Kevin Weller again, Port Side Towers East, 155 Washington Street. Four weeks
ago, I stood here in hope. Two weeks ago, I stood here watching. Tonight, I stand here after two votes, anonymous. Two pieces of housing law in one night. It's an important night and we're very,
very happy about it. I want to pause a little bit and have a have some focus around it while while it's all in our mind while we're all celebrating this this important night, this these important ordinances.
It's a night that uh isn't going to put a dollar in a tenants uh bank account as a result of uh not having to pay an illegal rubs fee masquerading as a as a as a rent. um unless we do something after tonight to make sure that these
great new laws result in the protections that they're they're that we we intend them to. Obviously, promises get made on a Wednesday in the form of a a vote. In the past, a Thursday would come and we wouldn't
really see a result from something that passed. Then it becomes Friday. Then it becomes the next council meeting. Then it becomes the 79th council meeting. This is our 79th time before this body.
And every violation, rent control related or not, continues uninterrupted for us. Since I mentioned on April 8th before this council that uninforced housing violations become uncollectible after one year, 42 more days have expired. 42
more days of fines from the year before went permanently uncollectible. And the clock keeps ticking. The work that just happened in this chamber has to be matched by the work that happens after the vote. The neighbors behind me extended room to this administration and this council to
get work done to address these issues. and it definitely happened tonight and we will again uh tonight give room to this council. We'll only have two people speaking during the public portion. We look forward to lending our voice to support your efforts to pass more new
ordinances, but the best progress you can show us right now is by reducing housing violations by one or two. We're in a situation where now we've reported 14 violations for a standing
over 365 days consecutively. It just seems mindboggling. You know, when I visit other municipalities, sometimes some of us are invited to speak related to housing. I was just in Trenton testifying related to an important new bill. and reporters and people from other municipalities that
read about us in the news, they really can't understand how is it that the largest or second largest city in the state can have knowledge of violations for over a year every single day and nothing materially happens for for any of those tenants. So that's our ask.
Thank you. Thank you. So before I start calling everyone, am I to assume that from 5.32 through 5.55 are not speaking.
My wife thanks you again. >> Welcome. Can thank uh Jake Efos and the rest of the council for passing two amazing new laws tonight. Listen, I love my council. So, but I love my wife a little bit more. >> Yeah, they're going to ruin it, Sean.
>> So, with that being said, our next speaker is 5.56, Michelle. >> Hello. Good evening again, Michelle Hirs, president of the Portide Towers West Tenant Association at 100 Warren Street. Tonight is the first time in a
very long time that something the people behind me wanted to happen actually happened in this room. I'm talking about transparency with rub spilling. I want to take a moment to mark that for three and a half years we've been at this
microphone almost every other Wednesday. We've been told to file complaints and you know we filed. We've been told to bring our leases and our bills. We've brought them. We've done everything anyone in office has asked from the city
for us to do. And until tonight, almost nothing we asked for in return had moved more than a few inches. Tonight, something moved. I'm not going to pretend that approval of the rub's amendments is the end. This room will
empty out in about an hour. I hope for you, Sean, and your wife. But our apartments will not. There's a long stretch of work between a council vote and then the day the
tenants can read their rubs bill and understand fully what they're paying for. What I want to ask this council of this council is the part of the work that doesn't happen in the chamber. The part that happens in the city offices that
have to follow through and support the new amendments. The tenants who came tonight came because they thought tonight was worth coming for. They were told this is the night something that protects tenants will
happen. Well, we hope so and it did. So, thank you. I want to leave the council with a final sentence. In our tenant language, approved and enforce are one and the same. Please
treat them that way and thank you. Have a great night. >> I I just want to address uh the port side tower tenants. Um I've I I I know you guys were at this a long time. Um and
and I I just appreciate that um you have faith in us uh to do what we have to do. And also I want to thank you for being example being an example to many communities in Jersey City who don't
know how to organize or fight right um and and and showing that if you keep at it things will change. and I I just want to thank you for that. >> Our next speaker 5.57 Christina.
I'll just give them a little time to clear out the aisle just to make sure Christina is or is not here. again. That's 5.57. Christina, not here. Next. 5.58. John,
>> evening, council. Um, first congratulations to all you guys who uh got in here for this go around. Um, time is clicking so I'll try to get through this. Um, Jersey City is seeing a rise in participation for both
baseball and softball. For example, Washington Park Little League has been experiencing an increase year-over-year of approximately 10% since I became president in 2022. We now exceeded 500 registrations for the spring season with approximately 40 players on a wait list.
We don't see things slowing down either. High school participation overall is also increasing. One would think that these are great things to hear, but they also come with challenges that are out of our control. With these increases in participation, field access remains the
same or even indirectly diminishing due to having to spread out the same field availability with more entities. Before I go any further, let me be clear. This is not an effort to put anyone on blast. It is not. I certainly don't envy the folks who issue field
permits for the city and county fields. They have an impossible task to try to satisfy everyone with the information outlined above. That's simply not possible. Are additional fields solution? Perhaps, but additional fields won't appear magically. The harsh reality is that long-term planning would
need to take place. Even if the need of funding existed immediately, the properties would have to be identified and earmarked for a field in future. The property needed would obviously be more than uh one or two lots. Uh it would
need to be a few lots side by side or back to back and that would take a significant amount of time to take place. Is turfing all of our fields a solution? That would be a little quicker of a potential solution, but this is more of a midterm path. For example,
this path would help uh the folks over at Roberto Clemente Little League with the rain out that they have experienced with their fields over the years. Make no mistake, I'm not a fan of turf, but rain doesn't change the playability of a turf field like it does it with dirt.
But even with this direction, you you need funding even with immediate funding. Not going to finish. Um unfortunately the realization comes at a time where budget gaps exist. Though it would be recognized uh that a child kept
busy as a benefit to the child, their family and ultimately their community. I also realize there were even higher matters to be addressed before this. I'm hoping this discussion ensures that this at least stays on the radar. Um I'm going to skip this paragraph. I'm
hoping that a further discussion on strong partnerships with the high schools uh for flexibility with field usage and everyone else involved uh can be had on this topic. Uh all of this can benefit everyone.
I'm going to throw in one last piece that the little leagues have been uh feeding the high schools for quite some time. We have a bunch of softball girls that made the varsity team as freshman. So, I'll be emailing the rest of this to you guys. Look forward to a conversation.
>> John, thank you. If you haven't already connected with our new rec director, I'll make that connection uh and he can help you with the school conversation. >> And John, I want to thank you for your work for Little League. You have been doing great. Thank you for doing it for our kids.
>> Okay, our next speaker 5.59, Eric Evening. Uh, in the spring of 2025 at Barry Lane Park, I personally witnessed a kid riding an ebike chasing his friend onto the middle of the turf field while firing a Roman candle at his friend.
This nearly missed several eight and nineyear-old players and nearly hit one of my coaches in the head. I happened to spot the shooter and uh pointed it out to the police and nothing happened. My name is Eric Fleming. I'm
the volunteer president of Jersey Lacrosse and all volunteer 501c3 serving about 200 kids from kindergarten through 8ighth grade. A third of them are on full scholarship, free uniforms, free equipment, no tournament fees.
Uh we practice very lane five nights a week throughout the spring. It's our home field. During the games, we host children from towns across uh New Jersey. I'm here tonight because I cannot keep my players safe at Berry
Lane Park. Amazingly, the Roman Candle incident was not a one-off. Just last week, our third and fourth grade girls would practice on Wednesdays and Sundays. Someone set off a series of fireworks right next to the turf field
at ground level. It happened again on Friday and again on Sunday. They shot fireworks into the tennis courts and onto the ball fields. It's crazy to think that our children have been
exposed to this on multiple occasions. A more frequent occurrence are the ebikes and scooters and mopeds that race around the park's sidewalks at speeds that are going to put a child in the hospital or worse.
It is a matter of when and not if that someone gets hurt. Another related issue is uh having to secure the field every time we play. Almost every practice when we arrive other groups are already on the field. football drills here. Soccer game behind
the lacrosse lacrosse goal there. Some move when we ask, some don't. However, when we reach out to the parks department, sorry, the recck department uh to enforce the permit. We're told there's no staff to do that and they uh direct us to call the police.
Then there's the parks condition, particularly the bathrooms. They're permanently locked. Uh this leaves you two options. You can go behind a building or you can use one of the disgusting toa botties that are not kept clean that are stationed next
to the perfectly working bathrooms. This is the city's park. These are the city's bathrooms. These are the city's permit. This is the city's responsibility. Now, here's what I'd like to ask. One, allocate funding for staff at Barry Lane
Park. >> Your time is up. You can email the rest of your >> They already have it. >> Okay, >> Eric, I just want to say um I'm going to reiterate this. I did have a meeting with um the director of public safety
and Bry Lane Park was the main concern because I was actually down there and I saw what was going on down there. Um so they're looking to have um some some foot patrol starting down there as well. >> Yeah. >> Um and also I just want to thank you.
you know, my daughter went through your program. Um, I I think you're doing great uh with that and I still have those rebounders to donate to you guys. Just give me a call. Um, Eric, it it's not a back and forth. Your time is up.
It was just a acknowledgement by the council member. >> Roger that. >> And just want to say, Eric, that we have been working uh actively. We have ideas that we want to make sure that there is a foot patrol and this this is
absolutely unacceptable. >> Uh the foot patrol is actually the least >> sorry >> I can send you the rest of my speech. There you go. Thank you Sean. >> Thank you Eric. And we got your email. >> Okay. Our next speaker 5.60 William
My name is Bill Lillis, member of Jersey City Together, also a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church. First, I want to publicly thank Mayor Solomon and those of you who attended Jersey to get Jersey City Together's call to action held at Christ the King
in April where we had over 400 people in attendance. Mayor Solomon publicly agreed to follow up on our wishes to move forward on the Bayfront housing project in a manner that serves the common good as well as
to address the serious concerns about landlords who are in clear violations of standards and protocols. Additionally, the mayor agreed to push for better efforts to collect taxes from the business sector to pay what's required of them for the education of
our students. But as you know, when I come here, I always advocate for the hiring of outreach workers to go out on emergency calls that involve individuals experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.
Earlier this year, the council voted in favor of an ad hoc committee to address the issue, and our Jersey City Together Committee met with Councilwoman Little to bring forth our wishes for that committee, and those wishes were honored.
So, this coming Saturday at 10:00 a.m. when we hold our annual commemoration service for George Floyd, who died as a result of an officer using unnecessary force. We can share the positive news of
what the committee has done. But sadly, our committee was advocating for a comprehensive approach to crisis interventions even before George Floyd preventable deaths occurred. Based on the promise we received early
on from the previous administration and as well as those who sat where you sit now, it's hard to believe and we're disappointed that we still do not have a comprehensive program in place. We know about arrive together and that's good
news. We know that grant funding was allocated for this issue and again happy to hear that. But again, we are advocating for a 247 comprehensive program. So I ask that we work together.
Let's make sure the ad hoc committee follows through and puts together a program to ensure 911 calls are handled appropriately, to ensure staff are adequately trained to deal with a crisis, and to ensure that individuals
in crisis are not left on their own and receive a continuum of care so that that preventable crisis doesn't occur down the road. happy to work with the committee to make things happen as we go forward. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much, Bill. We're looking forward to working with you and the rest of the committee. >> Okay, our next speaker 5.61, Priscilla, next 5.62 Adiva here 5.63 63 Robert.
>> Uh good evening, Madame Council President, council members, uh fellow city workers. Uh I'm speaking tonight, uh and advocating advocating for uh the VIA service. I know that um there's a ton of uh tough budget items that are
ahead of the council and do not envy the decisions that you have to make. Uh, but it's just advocating on behalf of the service because, um, someone who's a bit of a transit planning nerd, if anyone doesn't know, um, I consider it a a
vital service and I would I would really implore to for you guys to look at every um, every savings measure you can, whether that's upping the base fair from maybe $2 to$275 to $3 or um, cutting
back service maybe on Saturdays. And while for for many people that use it, that would be a pain point, uh it would definitely be better than eliminating the service entirely because for uh the tens of thousands of riders that have used it over the years, uh that would be the equivalent of somebody who relies on
a fixed route bus service or the elimination of a light rail line or a path line. Um, and given that this, uh, administration's foreign entanglements uh, overseas, uh, the last thing we want is to force more people on the road, especially since we're trying to bolster
um, our vision zero initiative, having the via vehicles on the road, uh, save people from having to drive or being forced into an Uber where a similar ride would be 15, 16, $17. So, uh, so that's all. I, like I said, I don't envy you. I know you guys have a
lot of tough decisions before you. Uh but I really hope you just take a as long and hard of a look as you can uh just to reduce the impact because as city residents, we know we're going to have to deal with some cuts somewhere, you know, but uh just hopefully this is one that can even in a reduced service
for a period of time until we're back on financial footing can at least stay around and not be permanently taken off the table. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.64 Maria. Okay. Thank you. Next. 5.65 Shamun.
>> You have to bring the bike down to you. There you go. City Council members, unfortunately, I had to miss my nightly regiment that sustains my life on a daily basis to be here tonight.
I am the owner of 17 Oldber Bergen Road. The water pressure from the street to the house is 25 PSI. I have a combo system which provides heat and hot water
that requires about 40 to 50 PSI. The city lines coming from the street to the house should be about 80 to 100 PSI. First of all, the city came out and told me the line was not a lead line.
After during the winter months, the system shuts down because of lack of the water pressure, which is 25 psi. I've spent more than $5,000 repairs, not knowing it was the low level of water
entering the building. My home own nurse warranty came out and verified the problem after the city had misdiagnosed the lead line that was causing the problem.
After the home warranty came out, I called the city again and spoke with them, showed them the validity that the lead line existed from the street to in
front of my yard. The yard to the resident or to the premises of the property is copper. It was Miss Nagos because they went to the copper line instead of the lead line.
I emailed Miss Ridley who later Glattis was quite on this matter and responded to me. However, Miss Ridley, you have failed me. You took for granted
Mr. Richard Haynes, who's justified speaking to me personally today to tell me that the it's not an emergency because it's 90° outside and I don't need heat. Yes, Mr. Haynes, I do need
hot water, cold water, shower, the toilet, washer, and the dishwasher. Secondly, you have misdiagnosed telling me it's not an emergency where the 25 PSI justified it by saying the line had
been tampered with. This house history goes back to 1887. The line is an unusual line that has the water meter on the house instead of on the ground where the other ones were.
Apparently the previous owner >> requested. >> What do we do in this case? >> Our last speaker 5.66 Stephanie. Stephanie is not here. Okay. >> Uh Sean, sorry. President, do I have a
minute to talk about something? >> You have the floor. >> Yes. Mhm. >> Okay. So, Councilman Gilmore is not here, but I just want to say it on record. All of our aids are getting paid by taxpayers money.
So, approximately we have 22 to 27 aids. If all of them start speaking here for 3 minutes, we'll be taking approximately 1 hour 60 minutes of the time public hearing time. I have seen every single meeting few
aids go out and talk how amazing work councilman is doing. I have four aids. If I ask them every single time doing the same thing for 12 to 15 minutes, is it justified?
And also councilman goes for 30 to 45 minutes every single meeting. All right. So, I will respond to uh those concerns. This isn't the first time that that has come up and we do have um
research from the law department on some of your concerns. So, >> really take this >> I'll share that with the entire council. So, we all have >> I do not want that aids are going there and allegations putting on the council people. I don't have to ask anyone's permission to go out to use bathroom or
to take my time out. I can do the same thing. My all four aids will come every single meeting and talk about other council or council Gilmore taking 45 minutes or 50 minutes break. This is not acceptable. It should not never happen again, especially with
me. >> Okay, noted. And I'll send I'll circulate that. >> Sorry, I'm upset, but >> that's okay. >> I'm not going to sit here and >> Okay, it's all right. I mean, we're the council. Sometimes we don't agree on
everything and we have to discuss things. So it's it's fine. >> Who is disappearing for an hour and more instead of handling that I am taking five minutes break and then my name is on record out loud. What is that?
>> Okay noted. >> Okay. On to our petitions and communications. Any questions or comments on petitions communications item 6.1 through 6.25? Hearing none, there are no officer communications. Any questions or
comments on reported directors 8.1 through 8.5. On to our claims and addendum number one. Council members going to be taking a vote on claims and addendum number one. Council person Brooks. >> Um I'm sorry. We we vote for both at the
same time. Correct, Sean? >> Yeah, that's correct. >> Okay. Uh I vote I. >> Council person Zupa. >> I. >> Council person Efos. >> I. >> Council person Little. >> I.
>> Council person Gilmore. >> Stepped out. Hitty. I Okay. Okay. Council person Sing. >> Hi. >> Council person Griffin. I >> council person Lavaro. >> Hi. >> And council president Ridley. >> I
>> claims and addendum number one are approved 80 with council person Gilmore absent. On to our resolutions. Council members going to be taking a vote on items 10.1 through 10.12
with the exception of 10.3 which has been approved earlier. Council person Brooks. or I vote. I just want to note for the public that item 10.1 uh is grant spending. It is not adding to the tax
levy. I vote I on all. >> Council person Zupa. >> Hi. >> Council person Efos. >> I and I will add um for the record um we asked that caucus about 10.8 and a resolution 26-291.
Um for the folks concerned about the CCT CCTV camera system um contract renewal, we there is no data being held privately here. Um so that is held within Jersey City Public Safety. I vote I
council person Little. >> Council person Sang. I on. >> Council person Griffin. >> Uh before I vote, I just want to thank um Pegasus Partners, uh Silverman
Building and uh Liberty Harbor North Partners and Exchange Place Alliance for donating um the monies uh towards Rock the Block for the seniors. Uh they look forward to that every year. So I vote I on all.
Council person Lavaro. >> Yeah, I just uh echo the um thanks to our uh donors um for supporting our programming with our seniors. Um on 10.8 I had asked for um information
about their performance. Um it was suggested anecdotally that just they do a good great job. But I I will tell you that in my 10 years previously on the council, they did not do a great job. In fact, they um my my recollection isn't
uh they did a terrible job, frankly. Um so, I'm going to vote no on 10.8. Um and 10.9 I'll vote no on as well and yes on all the rest. >> 10.8 and 10.9 no and yes on the rest. Correct. >> Correct.
>> Thank you, Council President Ridley. Hi. >> Okay, Frank. Go. >> Frank is back. Um, excuse me. You got me saying Frank. Councilman Zupa. So, it's council person >> Gilmore is back.
>> Gilmore. So, Council Person Gilmore, I'd like to take your vote on resolutions 10.1 through 10.12 with the exception of 10.3, which we voted on earlier. Hi.
>> Okay. So, items 10.1 through 10.7 are approved unanimously. 90. Item 10.8 is approved. 8.1 with council person Lavaro voting no. Item 10.9 is approved.
81 with council person Lavaro voting no. And items 10.10 10 through 10.12 are approved unanimously 90. Before we move on for the rest of the sorry the next
set of resolutions, council person Gilmore would like to take your vote on claims and addendum number one. Claims and addendum number one now approved unanimously 90. You are now all caught up. Council
person Gilmore. On to our next set of resolutions, items 10.13 through 10.23. Council person Brooks. >> Sean. >> Yes. Could I request the opportunity to remind the council that with respect to
item 10.17, there has been recent case law that has emerged from the appellet division of the New Jersey courts that impresses upon the governing body the importance of sharing your reasons on the record for casting the vote that you will
choose to cast, whichever way you cast it. And so while this is normally an expedited process, I will make the special request that each council person takes the opportunity to share their personal reasons for voting yay or nay for that particular resolution. >> That's on item 10.17. Correct.
>> That's correct. >> Would you prefer if I was to take a vote on everything except for 10.17 and then go back to it? >> Sure would. Thank you. Excellent. That's good. >> All right, council members. With that
being said, on items 10.13 through 1016 and 10.18 through 10.23, Council Person Brooks. >> I vote I on all. And I'm just want to say I'm really excited to uh have Ward B
host the World Cup final uh Flag City's event on July 19th. Uh so yeah, if you're watching out there in the public with that date on your calendar, Council Person Zuper, I vote I just want
to uh give a quick remark on 1021. It's the extension of the award for construction of the Manhattan uh the Franklin Street bike uh bike lane. I know there was some concern in the public about uh delaying vision zero upgrades. Uh but as we discussed in
caucus, this was uh important to assist with some of the concerns that public safety had and the department of infrastructure were working on to build out that infrastructure. I believe the department of transportation had requested that that we uh extend this so we can get the design right. So I just
wanted to assuage anyone who was concerned about there being a delay of very important infrastructure and safety upgrades. Uh but I vote I on all of those. Council person Edos >> to build on my colleagues uh
comments there on 1021. Yes, this should not result in an actual sixmonth delay. Um hopefully we can get that much sooner vote on all council person. >> I on 10.13 to 10.23 with the exception
of 10.17. You said I on all correct except for 10.17. >> Yes, because we're not >> No, we're not voting on that yet. >> Correct. Yes. Thank you. >> Sorry. I just didn't hear you too well. Council person Gilmore >> I.
>> Council person Singh. >> I vote I. >> Council person Griffin >> I. >> Council person Lavaro. >> Just on 10.13. Um I I had requested certain information
about uh past auditing of the the programs. I'm having received that. Um I'm still going to vote I but uh um that that's request sits out there. Um so if you can fulfill that would appreciate it. Um and then the um
on uh 10.22 22. Um, this is another open-end contract. Um, while the director explained provided a an
explanation as to why it was such a dramatic increase. And just for the record, um, the previous contract, this previous contract in 2025 was 15,000 requested. We expended over 16,000. um 2024
requested 5,000 and in 2023 6,000 um was requested um I'm sorry 10,600 was requested and only 4,600 was spent. So this request for 150,000
um is well it was suggested that firet trucks may that there's a a big need for that. um there wasn't uh kind of a just justification to my in my mind to um allow for that increase. So, I'm
going to vote no on 10.22. Again, these open-end contracts, I hope we'll consider looking into these more closely and and tightening it up. Um and then uh I will abstain on 10.21 and vote yes on all the rest.
and council president Ridley >> I. >> Right. Let's recap this vote first before we go to 10.17. So items 10 13- 106 are approved unanimously 90.
Item 10.8 through 10.20 are approved 90. Item 10.21 is approved. 8001 with council person Lavaro abstaining.
Item 10.22 is approved 81. What council person Lavaro voting no. And item 10.23 is approved unanimously. 90. So, on to item 10.17,
resolution 26-300. Council person Brooks. >> Um, before I vote, just would like to speak briefly on the the reason for my vote. Um, so, you know, as I stated in a previous council meeting, um, I have
been clean and sober from drugs and alcohol for 11 years. However, I still am proud to support um, you know, the the legal cannabis industry in the city. I think it's a net positive. Um, and it's an idea whose time has long long
come. Um, but I'm going to vote no on uh this particular establishment um getting a consumption lounge license. Um, Zena in in uh in Ward B did invite me for a tour. Um I was assured by uh HHS that
their consumption lounge had cleared all uh relevant um building permitting. Um and so basically they were just waiting uh to get the license to to operate. Um and so this business that's seeking uh
this consumption lounge license um is delinquent on their taxes. Um there are six dispensaries in WD D that could um also apply for this this license. They haven't yet, but if we were to grant the other side this license, that would
prevent them from the opportunity. So with that, I vote no. >> Council person Zupa, >> I'm going to vote no as well because uh this is an issue of of equity. There are limited licenses citywide. I believe one per per ward for uh consumption area
licenses. This particular business not only is delinquent on their taxes. They I as far as we all are told are not currently operating and I I understand that having this license would would be beneficial to them in selling their business or otherwise um having more
equity to to to give to another or sell to another potential buyer. Uh but given everything before this council, I have to vote no. >> Council person Efos. >> I've been in communication with the business owner of the other side
dispensary for some time. Um and I've been uh hearing her experiences uh navigating um the the process both for opening up the dispensary in the first place, but then also for applying for
the consumption area uh license. and um have uh received a story that's that's full of a lot of uh just struggles and and red tape and frustrations. Um so based on the business owner's account, I I understand my council colleagues
hesitations and and um the reasons that colleagues have stated, but I I'm going to vote I uh based on the business owner's account that has been shared with me uh over over the past many months that we've been in communication. Um and yeah, vote I
Council person Little. >> Um we were informed at caucus that um the owner does intend to sell this. My personal opinion is that since there's only one consump only to
be one consumption area per ward um rather than granting the license only to be sold. Um, my opinion is that, you know, we should allow other applicants to come before the cannabis control board and before us. Um, so I will vote
nay. >> Council person Gilmore. >> No, you got to say why. >> I always give an explanation for my vote. No, >> you don't. >> You picked it. >> Um, no. It's just for me it's just too
much uncertainty as it relates to exactly what's going on. If this owner is selling it or they looking for equity partner the taxes are backed up I believe three quarters um two quarters.
>> Well well it's not working. >> Okay. >> Sorry. So just in light of so much uncertainty what's going on with this applicant, I'll vote no.
>> Okay, council person sing. >> I will vote no because um we are taking away opportunities opportunity from other business owners who can use this license. So this is not fair to other people. So that is the reason I'm voting
no. Council Person Griffin, >> I understand um how unfortunate it is that um the uh business owner had went through all the red tape and and and got
um you know, just just caught up in and and other stuff. But, you know, this this business is not a functioning business. Um nor they do they intend to be. um they want to use this license to
um attract a buyer. Um and like uh someone said earlier, there are six other dispensaries and ward D that could take advantage of this opportunity versus it just being sold to someone who doesn't even have to go through the process.
Um so I am going to vote no. Council Person Lavaro, >> can I can I just ask for the record? Um, it's been cited that the this business hasn't paid its taxes. Do we know how much it's delinquent?
>> I recall that Director Woodson shared the number on Monday night, but I don't have it in writing and I don't recall off the top of my head. >> Okay. >> Does anyone else? I thought he >> I believe it was >> I didn't I don't think he said a number
because part of the problem is if they not if they're not recording their revenue it's a percentage. So I don't I don't think we have the exact number. >> So um for all the reasons all my colleagues have said I'm going to vote
no. Um and just you know if someone doesn't pay their taxes unfortunately for me it's um it's a no. uh immediately. So, if a developer comes to us looking for zoning um privileges or or or um changes in their zoning or some other
business is looking for a permit, my stance is if if you don't pay your taxes um and while the rest of the joy city residents are trying to do that as well, um you're a no. It's a no vote for me. So, I vote no. >> Council President Ridley, uh
>> I'm going to vote no. Similar to my colleagues, um the tax reason, you know, not paying taxes is not something that we allow for residents or other businesses. So, uh I can't make an exception here, but this
resolution is to operate a consumption area um using their current license. So, there is nothing to add a consumption area to if this business is closed. So, I don't really see the point in moving forward. So, that's my reasoning.
>> Okay. Item 10.17, city resolution 26300 is defeated 18 with council person voting yes. On to the balance of our resolutions. Items 10.24 through 10.31.
And I'm going to ask the administration if they would be kind enough to withdraw 10.2. 27 cuz it has come to our attention that we do not need a resolution for this contract because it is under the bid threshold from purchasing.
Do I have permission to withdraw? >> You've been good tonight, Sean, so I'll allow it. >> Thank you so much. So, with that being said, council members, items 10.24 through 10.31 with the exception of 10.27 which has been withdrawn. Council Person
Brooks. Uh, I vote I. Congratulations to the members of the newly reconstituted Jersey City Insurance Fund Commission. It sounds like um a real hoot nanny. Um >> what? >> And uh but on a serious note uh you know
we did in one of our first uh meetings vote to change the TPA. Um and we're also uh had asked for kind of ongoing reports on the savings that have been achieved. Uh so look forward to hearing um you know your reports on that. Thank
you. >> Council person Zupa. >> I echo uh Councilman Brooks's comments. Congratulations to the appointees and for Peter's reappoint. While I'm sure he did a human's job uh on the board, it's it was wildly irresponsible for this city to have one person on the insurance
fund commission which would is a person who is a board which uh takes in the claims and makes decisions on what claims uh are made against the city that we pay out. So I'm happy to see that there's a there's a board that will be uh fully constituted. Uh, so I vote uh
and on 1024 I I vote yes because it's a litigation that the the law department settled and I'm sure they did a great job doing so, but shame on Liberty Humane for how they left the shelter. I I really wish we didn't have to pay them a dime and I've spoken about the condition animal shelter multiple times.
I would really love to see more resources there, of course, but um the the the Liberty Main did not deserve a penny for for what uh for for what they did to that shelter or the animals over the years. I vote I on the uh balance of the resolutions.
>> Thank you, Council Person Efos. >> I vote I end on uh resolution 26 314 item 10.31. I just want to say uh I really look forward to this study getting underway. Um I think this is the exact kind of
thing we need to be really aggressively approaching as a as a city. um looking at abandoned properties and doing everything we can to take those properties and make them usable, habitable, house people and um get whether it's deeply affordable housing,
social housing in this project, public housing um whichever it may be most appropriate for those sites. I think this is exactly what we need to be doing. So, um, appreciate that this study is going to be underway and I vote I don't know. >> Council person Little,
>> I for all. >> Council person Gilmore. >> Council person Singh, >> I for all. >> Council person Griffin. >> I, >> Council Person Labaro. on 10.31 had an open question that uh my
staff uh reached out about and still haven't received a response. Still going to vote yes. I vote yes on uh the balance of business. Okay. Thank you. and council president Ridley.
>> I items 10.24 through 10.31 with the exception of 10.27 which has been withdrawn are approved unanimously 90. May I ask that magic question? A motion to adjourn. Let me finish. Let me
finish. Motion to adjurnn at 9:19 p.m. >> Motion made by council person Gilmore. >> Second. >> Second made by council person Little. Was that? >> Yes. >> Ah, I got it. On the motion to adjourn at 9:19 p.m.
All council members pres present by acclamation, please say I. >> I. We are out of here at 9:19 p.m.