says, "Okay, everyone, we're about to get started. If we can silence our cell phones, close the back door, the side doors, I greatly appreciate it. Okay, good evening everyone. We are on the record. Today is Wednesday, the 7th
day of May in the year 2025. 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 6:13 p.m. May we have a roll call for the commencement of this meeting.
Council person Helings present. We got to give her a little moment cuz she's new at it. Council person Sajiano. Council person Bajiano. Council person here. Council
person Solomon here. Council person Gilmore present. Council person Deise here. Council person Rebera here and council president proemp Ridley here. We have eight council members in
attendance at 6:13 p.m. Can we kindly rise for a moment of silence, please? Jonathan Blunt, a worker in HHS and also a local pastor. Thank you very much. On behalf of Council President Promp Ridley and the
members of the municipal council, in accordance 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 2025, and filed in the office of the city clerk on Friday, November 15th. 2024. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the agenda of this meeting
was similarly disseminated on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 5:23 p.m. to the mayor, municipal council, business administrator, corporation council, and the local newspapers and posted on the city's website so I can certify as to our total compliance with the Sunshine
Law. Council members, before we go into our regular order of business, there are two items that need to be added to the agenda. They are marked late items on your agenda. That's items 10.29, resolution 3, excuse me,
25325 and item 1030, resolution 25-326. The first one is 10.29. Resolution 25-325 is a resolution honoring the life and outstanding service of Thomas D. Wise, Senior.
Item 1030, resolution 25-326, is a resolution authorizing the city of Jersey City to support the Mcinley Square Community Board's 2025 Hudson County Open Space, Recreation, Historic Preservation Trust Grant
Application for funding for the Glenwood Community Garden at 128 Glenwood Avenue. Council members, may I have a motion to add items 10.29 and 1030 to the agenda? Motion on. Can we do the motion first?
Motion made by council person Rivera. I believe I heard a second by council person Deise. Yes. On the motion to add items 10.29 and 1030 to the agenda. Council person Hulings. Yes. Council person Bajanna.
Yes. Council person Sele. Yes. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. Hi. Council person Vivera I. And Council President Promp Ridley I. Motion carries
80 to add items 10.29 and 30 to the agenda with Council President Waterman absent and she will be absent for the entire meeting. Can I just say something? Sure. All right. This 1030 has a new resolution. It has
nothing to do with the sale of the property. It's only that the county extends the uh the time limit for a grant. And I just want the council to know that because so much talk about it this week, lawsuits, this and that. It has nothing to do with it. It's just a
matter of extending the grant. Okay. All right. Council members, we're going to move on to our regular order of business. if you would just allow me to read the first readings into the record and then we will take it from there.
First item is item 3.1 city ordinance 25-055 is an ordinance authorizing the execution of a temporary construction easement and access agreement easement agreement excuse me between the city of Jersey City and Stacco Development Group
LLC authorized in Stacco to install and maintain one monitoring well at 605 Mammoth Street. Item 3.2 2. City Ordinance 25-056 is an ordinance of the municipal council amending chapter 3,
Administration of Government, Article 10, Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Commerce to amend the required wage benefit and leave standards for building service workers cover on covered development projects. And item 3.3, city ordinance
25-057, is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 218, multiple dwellings of the Jersey City code of ordinances of the city of Jersey City by adding new section 12 entitled preventing algorithm rent fixing in the rental
housing market. I believe council person Solomon wanted to add some language to item 3.3. Yes. Uh we passed a copy to everybody and we basically just had been asked during the caucus if this applied to
real estate agents and we had said no it doesn't and uh in communication with some representatives we just wanted to clarify exactly how that was. So we made it very clear in in both the definition sections as you can see in the highlighted yellow that licensed real estate agents are not included.
Okay. Does anybody have any questions about the new added language? Hearing none, council members, I'm going to be taking a vote on items 3.1 through 3.3, but I believe council person Hulings has a
question. All right, I do. On item 3.3, ordinance 2557, has this been reviewed by the law department? Yes, we did view it. Yeah, we are continuing to review and we'll get an
additional memo to the council though before the second reading. Okay, thank you. Okay, so council members are going to be taking a vote for introduction on items 3.1 through 3.3. Council person Helings. Yes.
Council person Bajiano. Hi. Council person. Hi. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. Council person Ria. Hi. And council president proemp Ridley. I.
Items 3.1 through 3.3 are introduced. 800 with council president Woodman absent. Okay. Before we move on to our second readings, I believe there's a couple of items the council would like to defer to.
And those items are item 10.4, 10.5, and 10.29. 10.4 is resolution 25-300, which is a resolution recognizing Donna Phillips as Jersey
City's senior of the year. 10.5 city resolution 25-301 is a resolution to honor and congratulate Donna Phillips on being named 2025 Hudson County Senior of the
Year. And item 10.29 is what I read into the record earlier. 10.29 resolution 25-325 is a resolution honoring the life and outstanding service of Thomas D. Wise Senior. Council members, may I have
a motion to defer to items 10.4,5 and 29? Motion. Second. Motion made by council person Sole, seconded by council persona. On the motion to defer to the items, council person, yes. Council
person Bajana, yes. Council person Sole, yes. Council person Solomon, Council Person Gilmore, I. Council person Deise, Council Person Rivera, Hi. and council president pro tempmporately.
I motion carries to defer to items 10.45 and 298 80 with council president Waterman absent. First resolution is 25-300. Would someone like to read that
into the record? Read it into the record, Sean. Thank you. The city of Jersey City is proud to recognize Donna Phillips as Jersey City's senior of the year. Donna was born in 1961 and is married to Robert
Phillips. She has two daughters, Kaya and Daniela, son-in-law Juan, and two grandsons, Jordan and Julian. Donna attended Ferris High School and completed two years at Jersey City State College. Donna worked as a teachers aid
at the board of education for over 40 years at McNair and Dickensson high schools before retiring in 2023. She worked with special education students and also worked with autistic students as well. When Donna worked at Dickson
High School around 2000, she noticed that many of the students looked hungry and wore clothes to school that weren't as clean as they should be. She became known for her ability to connect with students, often labeled as difficult, offering understanding,
compassion, and even small snacks. Students began seeking her out, which caused her to work, which caused her to start the care closet with her own funds and began to get donations of food and clothing for students. In the beginning, she only
worked out of a janitor's closet, but she soon had to expand. Some students came in for simple toiletries such as deodorant and then some couldn't wash their clothes. She treated every student
as her own child and was always a willing ear if they needed help. When she ran low on supplies, she would go around and ask everyone who could give a who could give to donate $1 so she could replenish the closet. She
began giving She began by giving away food, clothes, jewelry, socks, and hygiene and feminine products. Then people started to donate gift cards so she could buy what she needed. Friday afternoons were rough because some students would go home hungry and need
food for the weekend. She often brought bread because some of the people might need food because the school would be closed. So she also took care of her students on the weekend. Her closet also helped five also helped fire victims from throughout the city who were
enrolled in the board of education. She was always there for any student in need. Every Thanksgiving, she worked with the administration to get turkeys donated to the students most in need. When she retired in 2023, they closed the care closet and Donna began
volunteering at the St. Paul's Church Pantry. Within two months, she missed her Dickson family and reopened the care closet. She started volunteering five days a week, but since many people could only bring donations on Saturdays, she
now gives six days a week of her life to these special needs children. April is known as Autism Month. She collected money and brought each student in the autism section of the school free Mr. Softy ice cream cones. For decades, Donna Phillips has
tirelessly collected and sorted donations, organized seasonal drives, and partnered with local organizations and community stakeholders to support students in need. Over the years, Donna Phillips has been personally responsible for serving and saving over 300 students
and their families. Donna has received the governor's award for school support staff twice and the employee of the month three times. She recently received the Shirro of Advocacy Award in 2025. Her mantra is be part of the solution,
not part of the problem. Now therefore, be it resolved that the municipal council of Jersey City of hereby recognizes and honors Donna Phillips as senior of the year. Her contributions, service, and dedication to the Jersey
City community is greatly appreciated. Okay, before we allow her to speak, let's make sure that the council has fully supported this and votes on it. With that being said, council person Huings, yes. Council person Bajiano, yes.
Council person, Donna, you are a light in this world and thank you for all the lives you've transformed through just your love and care. I proudly vote I.
Council person Solomon Phillips, thank you for everything you do for Jersey City. So welld deserved. I vote I. Thank you. Council person Gilmore. Is is this Donna or she's This is for senior, right? She's Donna's your mom. No. Oh, you are
Donna. Oh, okay. Um, thank you for your contribution. Thank you for helping out. Um, thank you for that selfless act to help others. It takes a special person to put the interest of what's right in the interest of themselves. And we thank you for your contribution. I'm proudly
vote I. Thank you, Council Person Deise. Thank you so much. Congratulations to you. I vote I. Thank you, Council Person Vber. I told you you was going to talk, but uh listen, you're an amazing person, Donna. You know, we recognize you during
Women's History Month. You know, this the the spotlight still continues to be on you because, you know, you really really touch a lot of, you know, people in our community and uh Jersey City loves you for that. you know, you really feel that heartbeat and uh I proudly
vote I. Thank you, Council President Promp Ridley. Uh Mrs. Phillips, thank you for all your work throughout the years. The work that you're doing is very important and you have greatly enriched the lives of our students here in Jersey City and we appreciate that.
Uh as Sean mentioned, there are two resolutions on the agenda. We are going to give you this one today and we have another one for you uh that we will give you at the county senior of the year event as well. Okay, with that I vote I. Thank you. City resolution
25-300 is approved unanimously 80 with council president Waterman absent. Congratulations. Do we want to vote on the other one real quick and then have her speak after that? Okay. So, we're going to vote on the second one. So, stay stay where you are if you don't
mind. So, council members, I'm going to take in a vote on the second resolution for Donna 25-301. Council person Huings. Yes. And Donna, I'd like to tell you it's an honor to meet you tonight. You're
amazing. Thank you. Council person Bajiano. Yes. And Donna, congratulations. You council person, happy to vote I for this. Thank you so much. Thank you. Council person Solomon
proud to vote I. Thank you. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. I. Council person Ribera. IA. And council president promp Ridley. I. Thank you. Resolution
25-301 is approved unanimously. 80 with council person, excuse me, council president Woodman absent. Congratulations again. So now, if you don't mind saying a few words, we're going to put you on the spot. Donna, it's all you. Yeah, Miss
Ridley, I was looking at you. I'm like, she looks familiar, but you have donated to the closet and the care closet is a beautiful thing. Um, I've hear I hear many sad stories, many happy stories, but a student or a child would not leave
my sight unless I get them the help that they need. It can be the smallest thing from mental illness to anxieties to panic attack. So, the care closet, they thank me, but I should be thanking them cuz my heart is so happy when I'm able
to help them. Thank you. This is truly an honor. Yep. the council is going to take a quick picture with you, Donna. Just bear with us one second. Okay. Okay. closet.
So, we still have some time. Yes. Yes. Get up. Okay. Even know he left. I didn't see breaking news. I seen him talking about. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we still have business to conduct. If we can take the conversations outside, I'd
greatly appreciate it. All righty, council members. The last item that we defer to is item 10.29. Resolution 25-325 is a resolution honoring the life
and outstanding service of Thomas D. Y senior. Council person Deise, would you like to read the resolution into the record? Sure. Whereas the municipal council of the city of Jersey City wishes to recognize and honor the remarkable life and
service of Thomas D. Y senior, a beloved son of Jersey City who passed away on Friday, April 11th, 2025 at the age of 76. And Thomas D. Wise Senior was born in Jersey City on a spring Saturday in
1949, the eldest of six children, and from an early age demonstrated a strong work ethic that would defined his life. And he was educated in the Jersey City public schools, attending schools number two, number 22, number 29, and number
30, and pursued further education through an electrical trade school, preparing him for a life of service and hard work. In 1995, Thomas D. Wise, Senior, found his true calling in public service with the Jersey City Department of Public Works in park maintenance,
where he dedicated 29 years to caring for the city's green spaces with the same devotion he showed toward his faith, family, and community. Throughout his career, Thomas's pride and purpose were evident in his tireless work, beautifying Jersey City's parks and
public spaces for the enjoyment and benefit of all residents. And a man deeply devoted to his faith, Thomas was a faithful member of Miracle Temple, dedicating his life to spiritual growth, gratitude, and service to God. And Thomas was also a
world traveler, sharing adventures and life experiences with his beloved daughter Odessa, visiting places such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sagal, Israel, and the Caribbean. Embracing the wonders of the
world with open arms and a grateful heart. Thomas D. Wise, Senior now joins eternal peace. now joins an eternal peace with his parents Beatatrice Wise, Arthur Harrington, and his stepfather Isaac
Alexander. And Thomas leaves behind a loving family, including his children, Odessa, Troy, Thomas Jr., Patricia and Kenneth, his grandson Thomas Wise III, his brothers and sisters, a host of adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and
friends, and his fellow park maintenance colleagues who considered him not just a co-orker but a dear friend. And to sum up his life, Thomas C. Wise Senior was a man who was deeply loved, who loved deeply, worked genuinely, and walked faithfully, leaving behind a legacy of
kindness, hard work, and unwavering faith. Now therefore, be it resolved that the municipal council of the city of Jersey City does hereby recognize and honor the outstanding and dedicated service of Thomas T. Y senior and extends its deepest condolences to his family,
friends, and the entire community served so faithfully. Council members, let's take a vote on the resolution and then we'll ask one of the family members if they would like to speak on behalf of the family. Okay. On resolution
25-325, Council Person Huings, yes. Council person Bajana, yes. Council Person, thank you for letting us have Thomas Wise for those 29 years. I know, you know, it takes a lot of heart to take
care of all the parks and he did it with love and he was a man that was loved by all and I proudly vote I. Council person Solomon, my sincere condolences to his family and his co-workers and we appreciate his extraordinary service to Jersey City and
I vote I. Council Person Gilmore, my sincere condolences. Oh, I'm sorry. It's okay. Council person deegre my sincere condolences. Thank you
for lending your father to us and every time I'm in a park or see the park I will think of him. I vote I. Council person Rivera. So I've been involved in parksman for 30 years you know with youth recreation and and and let me tell you something. U
your dad, correct? an amazing human being that really poured his soul into these city parks and with love and
um you know I would actually see him I can I can see him now and I want to really really from the bottom of my heart thank you for uh for lending him to us you So, uh, we saw a different
angle that you guys probably already knew how great your dad was, but I appreciate to to know that um, your dad was a great person. I I vote I
and Council President Promp Ridley. Condolences to family and friends. Um, thank you for sharing him with us for 29 years. We know he was a great person and he will not be forgotten. So know that.
And with that, I vote I. City resolution 25-325 is approved unanimously. 80 with council person Waterman absent. Just before we ask you to speak, I just want to say on a personal note that to
thank your dad, your your family for allowing him to serve for so many years of dedicated service with the city and my sincere condolences to you and the family. Heaven has definitely gained another angel. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, if you can I just identify yourself for the record for my court reporter. Yes. I'm Odessa Wise. Thank you. My father, Thomas Wise, served Jersey City with the same dedication and integrity as if he were serving in a
higher calling. He lived by the greatest commandment in the Bible to love God with all his heart and to love his neighbor as himself. My father took great pride in living out that principle every day. And
yes, I thank you all because he did. We shared them with you. But I know that he blessed not only us but the city and everyone in it. So I thank you. Uh I would say good evening everyone.
I'm Troy Wise, his uh eldest son and uh my father was a servant to the city just like I was. You know, I'm retired law enforcement. My sister is a current, she's a teacher and uh he would always say, "What are you going to do when you
retire?" And I'm like, "What are you going to do when you retire?" We would go back and forth about that, whatever. But uh thank you for acknowledging his uh his works here in Jersey City. It's great to be back here. I love the city. Born and raised here. And uh you know,
and thank you for his coowworkers. you know, uh, they he they he loved him and I appreciate that. Thank you. Good evening, city council. I'm Don Roberts, one of Tom's co-workers, good buddies, and Thomas Wise is an
appropriate name for him because he was a wise man, very intelligent, loving, I'm sorry, loving, caring, just kindhearted, and just wanted to take the time to say we going to love him, respect him so much, and miss him. And one thing about him, he loved his
Baltimore Ravens. So, you know, I hope they have success. and he always wore his Brooklyn Dodgers hat. Like like when he got in that work field, he reminded me the late great Jackie Robinson. When he got in that field, it was nothing but home runs, man. And it's a blessing. So we love you, Tom. We miss you. And I'm
going end with this. He's smiling from heaven asking this question to all of us. Excuse me, my brother. I got a question for you. Are you going to answer it? That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Council will present the resolution at a
later time. We don't have the fancy one to give out to you today, but we'll present it at a different time for you. Okay. Thank you again for sharing your your dad with us. All right, council members, on to our second reading ordinances. Our first
second reading ordinances item 4.1 city ordinance 25-050 is an ordinance to exceed the calendar year 2025 municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a
cap bank as per NJSA 484-45.15A. This is a public hearing on this ordinance. Any member of the public looking to speak, please come up to the podium and state your name for the record. Motion. Second. Motion to close the
public hearing on city ordinance 25-050 was made by council person Bajiano, seconded by council person. On the motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-050, council person hulings. Yes.
Council person Bajana. Yes. Council person Cle. Yes. Council person Solomon. Yes. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. Council person Rivera. I. And council president promp Ridley. I. Motion
carries 80 with council president Waterman absent to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-050. For final consideration and adoption of city ordinance 25-050. Council person Huings.
Yes. Council person Bajiano. I council person. Yes. Council person Solomon. No. Council person Gilmore. No. Council person Deise. Yes. Council
person Rever. Hi. And council president promp Ridley. I. City ordinance 25-050 is adopted. 62 with council members Solomon and Gilmore voting no
and council president Waterman absent. On to our next second reading ordinance. Item 4.2 2. City Ordinance 25-051 is an ordinance authorizing an amendment to a dedication agreement between Gran and Jersey LLC and the city
of Jersey City for certain land and improvements located on a portion of Regent Street between Liberty View Drive and Douglas and Arthur Skinner Memorial Drive and Liberty Harbor North Redevelopment Area. 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. Motion second. Motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-051 was made by council persona. Seconded by council person Sole. On the motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance
25-051. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Bajano. Council person Sole. Yes. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council person Gilmore. Hi. Council person Deise. Council person Ria. Hi.
Council President Proemper Ridley I. Motion carries 80 to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-051 with council president Waterman absent for final consideration and adoption of city ordinance
25-051. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Bajiano. Yes. Council person. Yes. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council person Gilmore. I, Council Person Deise, hi. Council person
Reber, I. And Council President Promper Ridley, I. City Ordinance 25-051 is adopted. 80 with Council Person Council President Waterman absent. On to our next second reading ordinance. Item 4.3, city ordinance
25-052, is an ordinance amending ordinance 25-010, updating the construction site safety manual with a with a 2024 addition to number one, include the installation requirements and maintenance for air pressurized stand
pipes for buildings under construction or demolition. And number two, delete references to the 2019 edition of the construction site safety manual. 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. Motion
second. Motion to close the public hearing was made on city ordinance 25-052 was made by council person Rivera. Seconded by council person. On the motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-052. Council person Hulings. Yes.
Council person Biano. Council person Cle. I. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. I. Council person Rivera. I. And council president proemp Ridley. I. Motion carries 800 to close the
public hearing on city ordinance 25-052. Council president Waterman absent for final consideration and adoption of city ordinance 25-052. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Biano. Hi, council
person. Hi, Council Person Solomon. Hi, Council Person Gilmore. Hi, Council Person Deise. Council Persona, I and Council President Promp Ridley, I. City ordinance 25-052 is adopted 80 with council
president Waterman absent. Onto our next second reading ordinance. Item 4.4, 4. City Ordinance 25-053 is an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of block 11401, lot 14, more commonly known, by
the street address, of 247 First Street, to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. This is a public hearing on this ordinance. And I see I see Charlene Burke. Just give me one second, Charlene, to get the camera on you and to start your time.
Good evening, council, and welcome councilwoman uh Huings for joining us for your first city council meeting. Thank you, Sholley. I would just like to point out, I know this is conveying to the redevelopment
agency for development, but when we have city property that isn't being charged any taxes and particularly in the downtown section, could we start considering them as parkland, particularly playgrounds? And I say that
because Vanvos Park and Hamilton Park have a crush of children in their playgrounds each and every day. Charlene, I'm I'm sorry to interrupt, but you got to make sure you stay on the subject of this ordinance. I am. Okay.
It's I'm talking about this property, okay? could very well be a pocket park and a playground that gives relief to the other playgrounds that are experiencing incredible activity to the
point that children can't even play in them because there's no room. And since we're already having we own this, we don't need to acquire it and we're not paying taxes on it. We're not collecting
taxes on it. Why isn't this considered as a potential park? We are in a huge deficit of parkland in this city. And every little piece captured and especially something
as large as this could be a wonderful parkland just adjacent to an area where you want to attract families and service all those business that become customers to all those businesses at the plaza. It would be a
win-win for downtown Jersey City. It's something to consider when any property comes in front of you like this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This is still a public hearing on city
ordinance 25-053. Any member of the public still wishing to be heard, please come up to the podium and state your name for the record. Motion second. O. All right. So, a motion to close the public hearing was Are you coming up to
speak? Too late. Hold on one second. If you can just state your name for the record. My name is Cameron or I didn't Cameron. Cameron. Yes.
And last name or O RR. Thank you. I just wanted to second what the the woman said. I think that every, you know, every everything doesn't have to be a new apartment, a big apartment unit, luxury development. There's other
needs the community has and we have a we have definitely in general a lack of green space, lack of trees and everything in Jersey City. So, I just appreciate what Sorry, I missed your name, but what was just said? Motion. Okay. This is still a public
hearing on city ordinance 25-053. Any member of the public still wishing to be heard, please come up to the podium and state your name for the record. Motion second. Motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-053 was made by council persona,
seconded by council person Sole. On the motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-053, council person. Yes. Council person Bajiano. Hi. Council person Cle. Hi. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council
person Gilmore. Hi. Council person Deise. Council person Rivera. I. And council president proemp Ridley. I. Motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-053 is approved. 8 with council
president Waterman absent. The final consideration and adoption of city ordinance 25-053. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Bajiano. No. Council person. I. Council person
Solomon. Hi. And just to address the questions, this is correcting a clerical error where a lot wasn't um properly transferred over. efforts to allow a daycare to have um uh egress access uh so they they can uh keep operating uh
according to state laws. Obviously the the broader comments about finding more open space are are greatly appreciated. Thanks Council Person Gilmore. Oh I thank you council person Deise. Hi. Council person Rivera. Hi. and council
president proemp Ridley I. City ordinance 25-053 is adopted 71 with council person Bajiano voting no and council president absent. On to our last second reading
ordinance. Item 4.5, city ordinance 25-054, is an ordinance amending chapter A352, enabling ordinances of the Jersey City Municipal Code, renaming Courthouse Place from Baldwin Avenue to Oakland
Avenue in Jersey City to Robert Burnway. 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. Motion second. Motion to close a public hearing on city ordinance
25-054 was made by council person Rivera, seconded by council person. On the motion to close a public hearing on city ordinance 25-054. Council person Julings. Yes.
Council person Bajiano. Yes. Council person Cle. Yes. Council person Solomon. Hi. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. Thank you very much for
doing this. Sean I. Council person Rivera. Proudly vote I. This is just to close the public hearing. I'm sorry. I'll do it twice then. I appreciate that. And council president proemp Ridley I
motion to close the public hearing on city ordinance 25-054 is approved 80 with council president Waterman absent for final consideration and adoption of city ordinance 25-054. Council person Huings. Yes.
Council person Bajana. Hi. Council person Cle. Robert Burn was a man of honor and integrity and a giant especially in the city of Jersey City when it comes to clerks. And he will always be
remembered. And I'm so happy you did this, Sean. Um, I proudly vote I. Council person Solomon. Welld deserved and I can't wait to uh attend the unveiling uh honor for the
great Robert Burn. So I vote I. Council person Gilmore I. Council person Deise. I proudly vote I for a great man and proudly stand behind his successor who has learned a lot from him. I know this is not easy for you either. So
thank you for all that you do and for everything that you learned from another great man. I council person rea Sean a great man gave the blueprint to another great man to be
an amazing clerk. I proudly vote I. Thank you. And council president proemp Ridley. Uh Robert will always be remembered and he will always be a part of these chambers and a part of past councils and every
council that comes after us because his legacy lives on. Uh I proudly vote I. So the ordinance 25-054 is adopted unanimously. 80 with council president Waterman
absent. I'm going to try to talk without taking too much time before we get to the public speakers. I just want to thank the mayor and the municipal council for this great honor for a great man who pretty much taught me everything he knows and I wouldn't be sitting here
conducting these meetings without him. It's a great way to um keep his memory and his legacy alive and on behalf of his family. I'd like to thank everyone here and again the mayor and the municipal council. Um, it's a
great honor and he this is someone who truly truly deserves this great honor. So, thank you so much. All right, on to our public speaking portion of the meeting. I'm going I'm sorry. Go ahead, council. Sure. Before we do public speaking, I had mentioned you I might have to leave before the
speaking ends. Oh, okay. So, do you want to after the speaking ends? No, I may have to leave before the speaking end. So, yeah, I'm sorry. So, as soon as you're ready to leave, you Okay, you can just interrupt me before I call the next speaker and then we'll we'll take you
through the rest of the agenda. Sorry about that. No worries. Okay, so onto our public speaking portion of the meeting. I'm going to be calling the number and the first name of the individual. First public speaker item 5.1 is Leverne and I don't see her here
today surprisingly. Well, maybe she's just has another thing more important to do. Um because she's she dedicates herself to the community. Item I mean 5.2 Edward. Oh, she's I'm here in protest tonight. The mayor
is running for governor and he doesn't have my support. A lot of our community feels like he's burned that bridge. he hasn't earned the support to be our leader for the state and everyone should know it. I read something interesting uh from
the Jersey City Times where uh Musab Ali who's actually running for mayor uh conducted a study and um I appreciate him for his work and um gentrification has gone crazy under the mayor's tenure.
approximately 3,000 African-Americans in like a 10-year span has had to move out of here because of all the trauma from the policy here. He's no friend to our community. So, in my heart, I have to say it. Everybody, black and brown across the
state and workingclass people across the state should know he's not your ally. He will not represent you in the state. He's forced us to move out. He's essentially displaced us with many of his minions sitting here on the
council. Let me tell you what else he's done. Almost two years ago, Andrew Washington was shot by the Jersey City Police Department while he was experiencing a mental health crisis. What the city failed to do was provide a comprehensive uh humane policy for Drew.
And the city is dragging his feet. The mayor's dragging his feet now to deliver humane services to us. How can we be hopeful under his leadership? How can we be hopeful? Yet another homicide. Let me tell you
something. This president, this environment right now, the state stands to lose funding for essential work that we do in our communities to attack violence because many of you don't care.
We stand to lose those funds and we need the support. The city has the money. The state has the money. Marijuana, cannabis. How much funds have we got? We need you to get those funds back into our community and to help us. We need real policy with
housing and violence to curb real violence in our communities, which really is the social ills that are exacerbating all of this. Where are you? Who can we depend on? Who can we call on in this
election? It's got to be somebody who's trustful, somebody who's independent, somebody who's not a liar, somebody who is ears open to the community. That's not all I have to say. Justice for Drew. Justice for
Drew. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.3 Tina. Hi. Yes, my name is Tina Noles and yes, I do definitely work for education and gear more. Um, justice for Drew. Justice for Drew.
So this week when I got that phone call from Miss Irvvin and auntie them about the the cops was not guilty, I felt them not feeling that I lost my nephew from what happened just to hear that what the
mayor said. I felt like as a leader you did the right thing. Education of Gilmore just coming just to see what they needed. It wasn't about us. It wasn't about if the cops was scared. It wasn't about none of that because that's their job and I definitely understand that. But we supposed to have been there
for the family to make sure they was good. So to see before the mayor even found out what happened or how the family felt just for him to come out and say that that touched me. I said I never want to be a leader like that. I never
want to run no community like that because the family and the community is first. It's not about what how he feel about who did a good job. It's about how they felt. So to see to come about election, it's not I hate when people
say all politician is crooked. All politician is liars. And I said not the person who I walk with. I've been walking with him for a minute and we have not turned our back on the community. So to say that I
want us to find someone that would fit in these seats to make sure we do the right thing for the community. It's about that time. It's not about picking size who your friend is. It's really about the community. And I always respect you because you don't hide
behind closed door and say how you feel. You let them know how you feel. And that's what it's about. When I walk and I made that statement, boots on the ground. I've been giving out clothes almost 28 years to the community. And I say that boots on the ground meaning that you know what the family needs. The
mayor didn't know what we need for our community. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.4, Gina Good evening. Gina Davidson speaking on my own behalf tonight. I always say I live in Ward F, but um because of the gerrymandering uh
undertaken by our current mayor, I'm actually in Ward B. Miss Healings, the mayor and a number of these council people have done you a great disservice. Instead of you being introduced to the residents on your experience and your intentions and your merit, we're already here suspecting
that you are yet another plant on this city council installed by Mr. Fulip to rubber stamp whatever he wants. Tax abatements for billionaire developers included without nearly enough appropriate affordable housing. And as an effect an elected official has
been imposed on Ward B in this era of growing fascism is not a good look. Miss Hulings, I hope you prove me so wrong. I hope we see you stand up to Mayor Phillip when your constituents need representation. We needed that
representation when Andrew Washington was murdered and our mayor called it a justified killing. We are still fighting for justice. All this time and energy because Mayor Fulip and Mr. Shay couldn't admit that something went
horribly wrong that day, that Drew being killed was a tragedy that never should have happened. We might be having a different conversation today if Philip had done the right thing and said that Drew never should have been shot dead in his home. Mayor Phillip should have said
that he was going to do everything to keep that from ever happening again. But instead, he continues to ignore us on this and other issues that are literally killing people people faster in this city. Issues of human rights, housing,
access to food, and equitable education. We did get support from Councilman Gilmore and Councilman Solomon. And for that, I thank you. Bulip has truly turned a corner and you are all letting it continue. He is supporting perpetrators of genocide in
our house. And I want to remind you what we see in history and that Donald Trump used to be a Democrat too and he lied to us a lot as well. So it's later than you think and many of
you are already on the wrong side of history. Justice for Drew. Our next speaker 5.5 Anthony. Hi, my name is Anthony Mans and I'm uh a little upset over what's going on with certain uh authorities. So, several
weeks ago, I was here with a complaint over abusive, frightening behavior by the Jersey City MUA. I was fined $9,000 for a mistake MUA made 5 years prior, issuing to my plumber an incorrect water
meter. MUA also misinformed the Olia that the problem was merely a meter that wasn't measuring usage. Uh since this was a sprinkler meter, no usage, the OLIA advised me to disregard their computer generated
complaint letters. Of course, MUA not only fined me $9,000, but also sent my account to taxlean auction. Imagine taxlean auction. It sounds and it is frightening. So
frightening that I thought I was having a heart attack when I got the news. Fortunately for me, the fines have been rescended and the tax lean auction averted. According to Violia and the tax office, this type of crisis on the back
of the average taxpayer happens quite frequently, leaving average small property owners frightened and abused. Is this what America has become? I would like to know who gave these unelected officials the right to frighten and
abuse their customers. Did this council give them this power to abuse? I hope not. My hope is that this council will create a more humane way of dealing with average taxpaying citizens. How many of your citizens are
subject to this type of misuse of power? especially now that the US Postal Service can no longer be counted on to deliver the mail in a timely manner, if at all. So, if any government authority has the power or privilege to levy
massive fines or worse, on average taxpaying citizens, turning their lives into fear and financial ruin. Maybe before such abuse happens, a personal phone contact should have to happen to
avoid mistakes and abuse. Fortunately, I had the good fortune to uh reach out to Councilman Cle and his wonderful staff. They helped me to resolve these terrible abuses of power by a department
seemingly unable or unwilling to treat the taxpayer of this city in an appropriate and humane manner. Please do something about this. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.6 Six pursad here. 5.6.
No. Next. 5.7. Robin. Good evening. My name is Robin Gorman and I'm here to support the family of Andrew Washington. As you were aware, the grand jury chose not to indict the Jersey City police officer who shot and killed Andrew.
Because these proceedings are sealed, we don't know if it was made clear to the grand jury that Drew had limited use of one of his arms after having been shot by a Jersey City police officer years prior to this incident. It is also unknown if they were told that Drew was only given 30 minutes to calm himself
down before the police in riot gear gave up on their efforts to deescalate him and knock down his door. We don't know if there was a discussion in the courtroom about the fact that one police officer chose to tase Drew when the other chose to use his gun. What we do
know is that one of the criteria that determines whether or not lethal force by an officer is justified involves looking at what a reasonable officer on the scene would do in the circumstances. Given that two officers on the scene had two different responses, this raises
questions. When the no bill decision was made, the attorney general's office was asked if the police officer would be held in account be held accountable in any way. The response was that this was up to the local police to decide. Given the vote of no confidence and the lack of change that has taken
place in the department, one can assume that without great pressure from the community and city officials, not much will happen. This is why I'm here tonight. I encourage you all to support Drew's family and their quest for justice. They will be holding a rally tomorrow at 11:00 at the headquarters on
Kaharnney A and I plan to be there. Um, and it breaks my heart that they've had to manage their grief and be advocates at the same time. But they continue to be strong advocates and I encourage all of you and everyone in this room to support them tomorrow. They deserve our
support. Justice for Drew. Our next speaker 5.8 N8 Ryan right good evening council it's always good to be back here as you all know I've had the opportunity to speak here before just last year and to quickly jog your memory as to what I
talked about last time I spoke about the importance of passing laws which prioritize our middle class residents working class residents and our small business owners. And I emphasized just how critical that is given how all the available data is showing us that each of these groups are struggling more now
than they have at any point in recent history. As a matter of fact, when you look at the past 50 years, the past half century, you see that with each passing decade, the financial well-being of our middle class has gotten worse and worse as time has gone on. Compared to 50 years ago, the average household is
putting in way more hours in at their jobs. Many people have begun taking on multiple side jobs as well. And yet, despite the fact that we are statistically working harder now, many people are actually worse off today. So clearly something there isn't adding up.
Then when you try to figure out what's why that that is going on, you see that a lot of these reasons are tethered to our laws and the way that they are written. And that is why the policies you pass are so consequential. Ultimately, your the policies you pass
have the potential to provide real tangible help to the members of our middle class. So getting these policies right is of the utmost importance. And to that end, I'll be honest with you, I actually have empathy for the members of this body because your task is not easy. First and foremost, you are guiding
Jersey City, the second largest city in the entire state. And by several metrics, Jersey City is on the precipice of an entirely new stage of growth. And as much success as we've been able to enjoy over these past 10 years, many indicators tell us that we are still on
the precipice of an entirely new stage of growth, which by the way will only put your policies into stronger focus because at the end of the day, your decisions will dictate how this new wave of expansion is managed and more importantly who will be able to benefit
from it. So with that thinking in mind, our laws need to strike a very delicate balance where on one hand we maintain a very strong healthy profit incentive so that business owners and entrepreneurs continue to come to Jersey City, invest here and keep on building this city up
while at the same time we need to make sure that our policies don't leave middle and working-class people behind. It's a very delicate balance to strike. However, there have been multiple occasions where this body has proven it is entirely possible. So my goal here tonight is to encourage all of you to
keep going on that path even into 2025, even into an election year, which as we all know will not be the easiest thing to do. So with that, I hope you take that on to uh throughout the rest of the year. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Our next speaker, 5.9, Danielle. Good evening, council members. Jersey City stands at a pivotal crossroads. Whether we're discussing housing, transportation, or global solidarity, the question remains, who are we building for? Tonight, you will
be voting on a resolution supporting the Jersey City Theater Cent's proposed project at 575 Summit Avenue. It's a powerful vision. 100% affordable artist housing, a restored church turned cultural center, and space for
performance, education, and community. This is the kind of development we should be fighting for. Rooted in affordability, equity, and history. But most development in Jersey City doesn't look like that. We gave a 30-year tax abatement to the Central Pompadoo, a
luxury institution that won't pay property taxes for decades. While longtime residents are being pushed out of Ward City, the 28% affordable housing requirement at 701 Newark Avenue is start, but it's not enough. We need
affordability embedded citywide, not negotiated building by building. And we need safer streets designed for seniors, cyclists, kids, not just for speed or developers. The safe streets movement is
asking for basic dignity in how we move through our city. Justice doesn't stop at our borders either. Last week's Israeli flag raising at city hall was closed to press. Protesters outside, many of them residents, were labeled
anti-semitic for speaking out against the displacement and bombing of Palestinians. Let's be clear, criticizing a government's actions is not hate. It's protest. It's democracy. The council general said, "Our two countries share the same vision
of a thriving democracy. But in a real democracy, protest is respected and public events are open, not locked down. These fights for housing, for safety, for Palestine are all about one value,
people over profit. So I ask this council to support community-led development like the JCTC project as well as the Mcinley Square Community Board Garden at 128 Glenwood Avenue. strengthen tenant protections and rent
control. Invest in safe, people first streets, and defend the right to descent both here and abroad. Because a city isn't great because of its skyline, it's great because of its people. And we deserve a city that fights for us. Thank
you. Our next speaker, 5.10, Kevin Is Kevin here? No. 5.11 Phillip. Philip Carrington is here. Even council on April 28th, I presented a
letter to the clerk and CC it to all of the members of the city council. Those of you who voted on ordinance 25-032. I am opposing that and ask that you void that law ordinance primarily
because it interferes with a legal matter. That law was consists of statement that if you're going to close the streets for more than 5 hours, you have to come before the city council.
That statement of five hours was using court as a support statement which was false. I questioned that. What am I saying? I take a matter to court where I had
permits license to do business and I was chased out of business. And I just simply asked what law allowed that kind of behavior. Never got an answer. The law department flipped it and say that my permits were denied that I have in my
hands was denied. That's not really true. And that they do not approve the closing of any streets over 5 hours. And again, I asked what law say that. There's no law that ever say that. And so this new
ordinance again was made. I know the law has some other words but the particular five hours is is extremely important. So it give them an edge or give you an edge because you are defendant as well. And
so in fairness you need to amend that. Of course I send the letter to the appellet court to address that particular case. This is really real. This is not the first time you the city did this chunk
to me. A couple years ago, I took a matter to court challenging a municipal law that never exists. They made a a particular law says that I could not run a community facility in 127-133 Martin Luther King. Anybody else
could except me in that particular place. No, I ch I was chased out of the building. When the Jews want by the same building, Diane Coleman and Michelle Massie got together and changed the law back. This is a fact. I got the records to prove it say that now a communal
facility is accepted as of 2016. And so this this kind of um political skull dugy is unique to Hudson County. This is corrupt and this is wrong. And so if you don't change this, I'm going give you all the chance to ask
them to remove your name because you voted on it. If not, I'm just going to sue everybody's campaign, the mayor and everybody else. Thank you, Phil. Primarily because it is Phil, your time is up. I know my time is up, but I need an answer. I need to know if there's
going to be a hearing up. I I'm going to say it again. I need to know if I'm going to You're going to have a hearing according to your municipal. Thank you. Next. Can you send us the ordinance, you know? Thank you.
Our next speaker 5.12 Steve. Good evening council. It's uh great to be be back before you this evening and see you representing the town I love so well. And the reason I'm here tonight is to give a synopsis of the third annual
uh 2025 Jersey City Marathon and then uh after that propose a date and a rationale uh for next year. So, let me begin by saying my sincere thanks to every single one of you on this deis uh for your support and including um
Councilwoman Yulings who I know through uh numerous functions and who's always been gracious and supportive. Uh we registered uh 10,000 runners of which 8,000 ran from 15 countries, 36 states,
and close to 2,000 runners from our great city. Um, we gave out about $50,000 in prize money and about uh $30,000 in money to nonprofits. Um, we
had news coverage from four major uh news agencies, CBS, Fox, Pix, and uh New Jersey News, all speaking very highly and favorable about the race. So, and then uh another point about is we filled up every single hotel not only in Jersey
City but in Hoboken and Caucus as well. We filled up every parking garage and we that whole week we had people from throughout uh the universe and uh this area visit our local restaurants and um shops and
we held our expo in the Newport Mall which was hugely successful and had sponsors such as um Red Bulls, Shake Shack, Goya, Horizon, Robert with Johnson and others.
Um, and we're we're proud to represent our great town. Now, saying that, we knew this year was a little bit of a rub with regard to having it on Palm Sunday and um, Passover. So, in talking with the team and then with Director Goodman,
we're proposing for next year that we have it on April 19th. Now, when I came before the council the last time, I mentioned we would want it to do it on the first weekend in May going forward, but there's two problems with that. One, in talking with the Liberty National,
they're anticipating an international PGA festival or I'm sorry, PGA tournament either next year or the year after. And we know we couldn't compete with that and we can't have two international events in our great city at one time. The second thing is is
Orthodox Easter uh falls on the uh first Sunday in 2027. So for next year, we're proposing uh April 19th. We we cleared that already with director Goodman and I'm going to seek a resolution uh through uh council president's office
and I'll be back to speak about it. Thanks again for your support and have a great night. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.13 Tom Good evening, council. Tom Zupa. Sean, congratulations on the great honor for Robert. Thank you. We know how much he
meant to you. Uh last month we were here uh for in favor of the project at 701 Newark Avenue uh which had 25% affordable and 100% union labor, which is unheard of in in Journal Square and and a great progress. But the city has miles to go uh for those residents who
often get left behind in our community. uh specifically workers in those buildings. Uh so I'm speaking now in favor of the two fir two of the first reading ordinances and and encourage passage at the next meeting. Believe it was 56 and 57 supporting our men and women in organized labor who give so
much are asked of so uh to give so much and and we need to have their backs. Uh and also the renters in this community which are the overwhelming majority of residents in Jersey City do rent. the fact that the uh rent
algorithm which has uh taken the notice of the attorney general's office uh and state legislation as long as I believe the county is also taking a stance on it. So I applaud Councilman Solomon for addressing those two issues. Uh one protecting uh fair wages and work conditions for our workers in the tax
abated buildings and throughout the city and also renters from unfair rent uh prices. Also I see my friends from Mcinley Square uh and Glenwood Avenue. Please support their community garden. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.14 Eve,
People's Council President James Solomon, the Philip for Governor campaign has overthrown city hall. Please make it stop. I have permanent brain damage from repeated landlord carbon monoxide attacks and destruction from landlord financial attacks. This results from Mayor Ste Steven Fulip and
team Phillips's failure to enforce housing law follow basic public accounting statutes and basic rules of court. Constituents pleading for relief are retaliated against or ignored while Philip donors and insiders are shielded. Internal financial controls are
non-existent. Now, the Ward B city council seat was just given to the MUA as requested by $10,000 full donor lobbyist Richard Hyas. The city meanwhile has no rent control ledger. Philip isn't controlling rent prices when he won't keep a ledger of what the legal rent prices are. That
violates NJSA485-4 and chapter 260 rent control ordinance. Accounting month close should be done on the sixth business day with public financial review by the 10th day. Where is it? The 2024 audit should be done by now. Where is it? The city must address audit violations within 60 days
by filing a plan of correction with the DCA under NJAC 530-6.5. Municipal court ticket fixing has been listed in the city audit violations for eight straight years. I personally reviewed campaign donor John Collins, a city firefighter, public
defender, and reported associate of council person Amy Deise. Eight separate shoplifting summones were issued to a name matching John Collins by police. First, the court did nothing for over a year and then five summones were dismissed with no fine. that magic
prosecutotorial discretion. No fines on the other summons have been paid and it's been two years with no revenue collection. So, eight summones, zero fines paid. That's called zero law enforcement. I specifically notified council last November about ticket fixing. For example, developer Modi
Brisk has received 96 summons and has only paid one fine. I personally called every council member. Only three responded. I've now given speeches about ticket fixing for eight consecutive meetings and Steven Fulip has failed to appear ever. Meanwhile, the budget
deficit is plugged with borrowing or tax hikes. There are no 2024 or 2025 financials on the city website in violation of NJSA484-5. We cannot take rental assistance money away from starving families by borrowing from the state to plug unnecessary deficits. I'm asking
again for immediate publication of the audit rent control ledger and summons dismissal logs. Fire the judges and prosecutors for ticket fixing at municipal court. Enforcement of all overdue fines and proper audit disclosure to the DCA. Public hearing on vendor conflicts and campaign donor
contracts. City hall does not belong to the full for governor big developer train. We need the DOJ and state controller here. Now our next speaker 5.15 Kevin Good evening, city council members. I'm Kevin Weller, president of the
Portside Towers East Tenant Association and the first New Jersey plaintiff to file what has become the largest real estate antirust class action in American history, targeting Real Page, Equity Residential, and more than 25 of the
nation's largest landlords for algorithmic price fixing. Tonight, Jersey City stands at a historic crossroads. Ordinance 25-057, sponsored by Councilman Solomon. Thank you, addresses what the New Jersey
Attorney General confirmed two weeks ago. Algorithmic pricing systems are being used to artificially inflate rents across our state. The AG's investigation validates exactly what I've been documenting since I filed my lawsuit on April 7th, 2023.
The AG lawsuit reveals a troubling reality, stating verbatim, quote, "Defendants coordinate to ensure their conspiracy maximized prices even in markets subject to rent control legislation."
The complaint details how representatives from Avalon Bay, Greyar, and others worked directly with Real Page to direct Real Page creation of a something that's redacted that made it easier to utilize
the software despite rent control laws. Jersey City is home to perhaps the strongest rent control laws in America, but somehow has also witnessed some of the steepest rent increases in the nation. This paradox illustrates how these algorithmic systems were designed
specifically to circumvent regulations meant to protect tenants. At least as a non-awyer, it is what I gathered when I read the publicly available AG complaint. The resulting inflated rents and reduced affordability have directly
undermined the stability of our communities, transforming neighborhoods and displacing longtime residents. This ordinance represents an important step towards addressing one of the root causes of our affordability crisis. By prohibiting algorithmic
collusion, it offers a chance to restore some fairness to our housing market. I'm genuinely relieved that the New Jersey AG is finally taking action and heartened to see the city following
suit thanks to the ordinance sponsored by James Solomon. with this ordinance. I'm confident it will be unanimously approved. I urge you to vote yes and to honor your vote by ensuring the ordinances of this city are worth
more than the paper they are written on. Thank you very much. Our next speaker 516 Sylvia not here. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.17 Suvie. Good evening council members. This is my first time speaking
here. I've lived in Portsight Tower since 2020. I'm a mother of three little boys of which one lives with an ultra rare disease. He's legally blind. He's in wheelchair. He's non-verbal. He has
epilepsy. and he requires special care and therapy just to maintain his basic functions. Over the last few years, our rent at Portside Towers has risen steeply, hundreds of dollars beyond what is
legal. At the same time, as our housing costs went up, the basic building services my family heavily relies on began to fall apart. For more than a year, the elevators in our building were unreliable or
completely out of order on a daily basis. During that time, I was pregnant, but I had sometimes climbed seven flights of stairs while carrying first the wheelchair and then the child who can't walk just to leave or go to our home.
I was hoping that my son would not need emergency care we couldn't reach. With the illegal rent increases, we had to stop some of his therapies because they are very expensive. As you might know, his ability to eat orally
declined, a direct outcome of being forced to choose between essential care and skyrocketing rent. I hope with this you'll understand that there are many very vulnerable people out there. Some cannot even hold their
head up like my son. Their rights and well-being needs to be protected. Rent control can do that very effectively. We're told by boardside management that this is just how things are. But when you are a parent watching
your child lose abilities because of housing costs, that's hard to accept. I know that port side situation has been raised before here and that many tenants including me have submitted documentation, complaints and stories. After all these years, I can only hope
the city will finally engage with us and work towards solving this situation. My son really counts on you. I still believe Jersey City can be a place where families like mine can live safely and with dignity, no matter
their abilities. Thank you for hearing me tonight and for other tenants across the city. You're struggling. You're not alone. You can reach us at rent control jerseyc@gmail.com. Follow at rent
jersey on Twitter or support our legal effort at portsite towers legal fight for rent control on gofundme. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.18 Daniel On April 23rd, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer
Affairs announced a lawsuit against Real Page and several of our state's largest landlords for allegedly colluding in a rent raising scheme, violating state and federal antitrust and consumer protection laws and forcing many of us Jersey City residents or New Jersey
residents to overpay rents or be kicked out of their homes. Real Page and the landlords allegedly agreed to set rents for multif family housing properties in New Jersey based on Real Pages algorithmic pricing software and exchanged sensitive non-public
information to align their prices together to avoid competition that would have otherwise kept rent prices down. And all of this happened at our expense. And as a result of the greed of some of this state's largest landlords, we are currently overpaying hundreds or even
thousands of dollars every month. So, of course, I strongly support the ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 218 of the code of ordinances of Jersey City by adding a new section to prevent algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market. Such corporate greed has no place in Jersey City. And thank you
for putting this ordinance forward. For the sake of everyone in Jersey City who isn't rich, I hope this ordinance is eventually signed into law. Also, on a related note, I wanted to note that at my home at Portside Towers owned by Equity Residential, we are still without
247 uniform and security, despite the law clearly stating that buildings in Jersey City with 100 or more dwelling units must have a 247 uniformed security guard. and we are still without a resident superintendent despite the law clearly state stating buildings such as
ours must have a resident superintendent. During what we believe to be a fire emergency a few months back, my fellow tenant Kevin called the phone number provided to us by Equity Residential for emergencies and as you heard at that meeting, he was routed to a call center in the Philippines rather
than someone on site as is required per Jersey City law. Equity Residential has continued to violate this city's laws at our expense. We could have used 247 Uniform Security when an attacker chased a woman into our building last year, leaving a trail of blood. We could have
used 24/7 uniform security when a bullet pierced a young child's window in one of our buildings last year. We could have used a resident super when a fire and a subsequent flood from the sprinkler system occurred last year, an emergency that left several tenants out of their homes for weeks. We've continued to log
the violations of the city's code of ordinances via the appropriate channels and we've continued to present these violations to the city. So, I thank the city for reviewing the complaints made and taking them into consideration. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.19, Jessica,
council people, good to see you. Um, Councilman Solomon, thank you. Um, my name is Jess Sulo. I've lived in Jersey City for 12 years, and I come before you today not just as a renter, but as a concerned citizen who believes in fair competition and transparent markets.
Ordinance 25-057 addressing algorithmic rent fixing isn't merely a tenant protection measure. It's about preserving the integrity of our local housing market for everyone. When I first moved to Jersey City, I was struck by the diversity of our housing options and neighborhoods. But recently, I've
watched as friends and neighbors receive nearly identical rent increases across different buildings owned by different companies. We're witnessing the disappearance of true market competition as algorithms replace independent business decisions. The technologies targeted by this ordinance represent a
fundamental transformation in how housing is priced. Unlike traditional market competition where landlords independently respond to supply and demand, these algorithmic systems create an information sharing network that functions like a digital cartel. Property managers like my landlord,
Equity Residential, aren't just using data to set competitive pricings. They're using centralized systems that recommend co coordinated pricing strategies against across the market. This isn't hypothetical. The US Department of Justice has already begun
investigating these practices nationally, recognizing their potential to violate antitrust laws. By passing this ordinance, Jersey City would join a growing movement of municipalities taking proactive steps to ensure housing markets remain truly competitive. What makes this ordinance particularly
important is its focus on corporate landlords and institutional investors. While mom and pop landlords typically set rents based on local knowledge and direct costs, large property management companies use these sophisticated systems to maximize yields across entire portfolios. Treating housing like any
other financial asset to be optimized. The ordinanc's enforcement mechanisms are reasonable and targeted. It creates both public enforcement channels and a private right of action, ensuring that tenants have recourse if they suspect algorithmic collusion is affecting their housing costs. By
addressing algorithmic rent fixing before it becomes even more entrenched, we can ensure that technological advances serve our community rather than undermine fair housing markets. I urge you to support this ordinance and demonstrate that Jersey City remains committed to fair competition, market
transparency, and housing affordability for all residents. Thank you for your time and consideration. Have a good evening. Our next speaker 5.20 Brendan. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Brendan. I live Jersey City. I'm here to speak about supporting the the
ban on algorithmic prices on pricings on rent. These tools are essent are use fancy algorithms to conduct and facilitate alleged price fixing between different landlords resulting in all particip all residents receiving higher
and greater rents. These in the past these were called trusts where multiple companies would get together form a trust and and use that to raise prices. This was his cigarettes, rail, railways, every electricity, bullets, metals,
everything. A certain president of ours, the trustbuster, sort of put an end worked to put an end to that with the trust busting act. Now with technology, we have new trusts, but they're called algorithms instead of trusts. Now, let's pontificate. I'm not
going to speak about what these machines. I want to explain what this is doing. Let's pretend for an instance, I am a landlord. I own multiple units, multiple multiple properties with tons of units in Jersey City. I'm very wealthy and I'm likely avoiding many
many of Jersey City's great ordinances about controlling my properties, ensuring people are safe, all those great things. Now, in a fair market, one of my analysts might set prices based on average apartments in the city will raise based on economic conditions and availability. But for real, Paige, we
don't have to do any of that. We don't have to do any research. I just get to put in how many bit how many properties I currently have, how much my space is, and real page combines the combines the information from every landlord in the surrounding area to tell me how many
units I should have open for rent, how much I should raise. Should I raise 10% just to keep them there, or should I raise 50% because I want to kick them out and get new renters in cuz the market's hot. It can tell me that other people need to rent and not to put more properties on the market. This is
facilitating trust. This is facilitating a trust to ensure that prices will always go up. Only go up, never go down. This was deemed illegal in the 30s in the United States and it's happening today under price fixing. These
algorithms are being used to dis destroy and disregard any form of rent control and property to actually protect the people who live and create the city. All the money is being taken out of the city's economy and being pushed elsewhere while the city's businesses flourish. Everybody has that favorite
restaurant that's shutting down that we can't go to anymore because we can't afford it. restaurants, buildings, everything is getting more expensive in the city and nobody has any money unless you're extremely rich and you're getting your nice investments. Thank you.
Our next speaker at 5.21, Jessica, thank you. You can There you go. You can hear me now. Good evening, city council. Um, it's good to see you. Um, as you know, my name is Jessica Bran. I'm both a scientist and a tenant in Ward F in Jersey City, and I'm here to speak in
support of the proposed ordinance from Councilman Solomon to ban the use of algorithmic rent setting tools like Real Page and Yield Star. As someone trained to evaluate systems, I want to be very clear. These pricing algorithms are not neutral. They are engineered to optimize
revenue by leveraging shared data from competing landlords. The result is a breakdown in market competition and an artificial inflation of rents. According to a 2022 investigation by ProPublica in cities where real pages algorithm was
widely adopted, rent prices increase significantly faster than local demand could justify. This isn't arbitrary and it's something that you should be paying attention to. In fact, I would really appreciate your attention right now, but it appears the majority of you are not paying attention because you're looking
at your phones. Properties using the tool often raised rents in lock step, even when basic economics would suggest stabilizing or reducing prices. That's not market behavior. It's algorithmic coordination. I felt it personally.
Since 2021, my rent has increased by over 50%. Since 2021, my rent has increased by over 50%. This wasn't due to building improvements, believe me, upgrades in service, or increased neighborhood
demand. It was driven by a system that adjusts prices based on occupancy thresholds and competitor data without regard for the financial strain on tenants. It wouldn't be possible to know the things that you know in this software unless they were calling each
other basically except now they have this really convenient software they all just log into. New Jersey AG Platkin recently filed an antitrust lawsuit against Real Page and 10 New Jersey landlords for alleged collusion in statewide rent raising schemes. Multiple
class action lawsuits have been filed, including by tenants in New Jersey, alleging that these tools facilitate digital price fixing. But let's be clear, this ordinance, council Solomon, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, would not prohibit landlords from
setting rents, right? It would actually and it doesn't provide a mechanism to enforce the monitoring but it does establish the expectation that pricing decisions are not influenced by shared and automated tools and that's important. It's important to say what is
allowable and reasonable and acceptable. So I thank you for putting this forward. It does restore the idea that landlords must make independent decisions not ones driven by this algorithmic engine. As a scientist, I believe in evidence-based policy and the evidence here supports
action. Please support this. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.22, Liv. Hi everyone. It's been a minute. I've been out of town. My name is Liv Malone. I live in Ward B at 429 Bergen Avenue. The first part of what I have to say is
for my landlord, Amamir bin Yanan, regarding the $2,472 a month he's illegally charging me for my one-bedroom apartment. If your paperwork was not on
time, it is too late to get in line. Your time to claim an exemption has passed. It passed when you attempted to file a rent control exemption 17 days after filing a certificate of occupancy
instead of the 30 days before as required by chapter 260. I know this air you know this and I may have been out of town for a few months but best believe all of my neighbors will know too old and new.
The landlord tenant office also knows your paperwork came too late. This is where my building needs this council support. What is with the stop and go approach with a landlord tenant office? What do I mean by this? I was told to
notify West of Hudson Properties I have filed an illegal rent petition via certified mail. I did and delivered proof of that. The landlord tenant office gave West of Hudson Properties 15 days to respond. That was a month and a half
ago. What happens after that? What's the escalation path? I received no other answer other than Housing Preservation hasn't had the chance to review West of Hudson Properties 5 years late annual landlord registration
statement. Is anyone from landlord tenant office willing to put that in writing? I don't think so. I wonder why. The review of an illegal rent petition does not work this way. It doesn't hinge on an annual landlord registration
statement. Maybe if the landlord had an existing complete one on file, but West of Hudson Properties did not and still does not. For new buildings to be exempt from rent control, an exemption must be filed on time and tenants must be notified in writing upon move in that the building is not subject to rent
control. West of Hudson Properties did neither. And it's been over a year since I filed an illegal rent petition because of this. Please encourage the Office of Landlord Tenant Relations to focus on what Chapter 260 says, the stop and go, the
blaming. It's feeling very intentional, not just the result of two understaffed offices. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.23. 23 David. Good evening, members of the council. I had a whole speech that was
ready to go today about real Paige. I was going to start by saying that not everyone who has tattoos is a gang member and not every gang member has tattoos. And there's a gang operating across the US and the members are the
large real estate companies which are doing algorithmic rent fixing and they don't meet on a street corner. They don't meet at all. They operate through under the ages of a cyber crime organization.
And um it in all honesty it was a pretty good speech. But I'm not going to make that speech tonight. And I'm happy to say that because I recently learned that an ordinance is being considered that would
ban algorithmic rent fixing in Jersey City. So I want to say two things. One, I strongly support this proposed legislation. Landlords already had enormous structural advantages over tenants and
they don't need more particularly ones that are kind of blatantly illegal like operating a cartel. The second thing I want to say is I vote. I vote for everything from president down to school board and back up. I'm like the old guy in the
Aristophanes play who got up early every morning because he wanted to go be a juror and vote. and I'm definitely going to vote for council, for mayor, and for governor. Um, having said that, I don't
come to bury you tonight. I come to praise you. Um, and I am very pleased to know that you are considering this legislation and uh, Mr. Solomon, please uh uh accept my thanks for introducing
us and I hope that you will give it due consideration. Thank you very much. Okay, before I call the next speaker, members of the public, um we're just going to go a little out of order. Um our councilman has to leave the
meeting, so I wanted to make sure he was able to vote on the remaining items. And that's Council Person Solomon. Council Person Solomon, I'm going to be taking your vote on claims and addendums one, two, and
three. Just make sure your mic is on. Councilman vote. I thank you. And on items 10.1 through 10.10 with the exception of 10.4 and five which were
approved earlier. I vote I you. Items 10.11 through 10.21. I vote I You and for the balance of the resolutions items
10.22 through 1030 with the exception of 10.29 which was approved earlier. I vote I on all. Thank you so much. Council person Solomon. I send my apologies to the public speakers who I'll miss after this.
Okay, with that being said, I am going to go back to the public speakers. Our next speaker, 5.24, Barbara. Good evening, city council members. I'm Barbara Goldberg, a Jersey
City renter, and I strongly support the organs to present prevent algorithmic rent fixing in our housing market. While we often discuss rent control and affordable housing requirements, we rarely address how
technology is being weaponized against tenants. Large property managers, including my landlord, Equity Residential, are using sophisticated software to coordinate pricing, recommend artificial vacancy rates, and
systemically drive up rents across entire neighborhoods. This isn't healthy market competition. It's algorithmic collusion that hurts thousands of Jersey City families already struggling with housing
costs. The ordinance takes a targeted approach by prohibiting the use of specialized services that facilitate price coordination among landlords. It preserves landlords ability to set their own rents while preventing
anti-competitive practices that artificially inflate housing costs. As institutional investors continue buying up Jersey City housing, this protection becomes increasingly urgent. Without it, large property
owners can effectively operate as cartels using algorithms to extract maximum profit at the expense of residents. By supporting this ordinance, you'll help ensure that Jersey City's
housing market operates fairly and competitively, making our city more affordable and accessible to all. Thank you for considering this important tenant protection measure. Good evening. Our next speaker 5.25 Joel.
Good evening. Um, as we all know, the attorney general did file a lawsuit against Real Page and 10 corporate mega landlords for alleging price fixing. Among things that they mention in the introduction, they talk about defendants collusive imposition of inflated prices
on New Jersey renters, which they concealed from renters and achieved by exploiting the gross power imbalance that exists between landlords and renters, also constitutes an unconscionable commer commercial practice under the New Jersey commercial
consumer fraud act. Certain defendants further violated the CFA by making misrepresentations to New Jersey renters, including as to the reasons for those inflated prices. That's a direct quote. Um they they go on to say, "Real
Page and defendant landlords have orchestrated a deliberate and unlawful scheme to deprive New Jersey renters of a competitive market for multif family apartment rentals and the lower prices that would result from that competition. They have conspired to replace normal market forces with pricing software
designed to drive rents to levels that exceed what would prevail in a competitive market. This lawsuit seeks to hold them accountable for their unconscionable misconduct that has forced hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyians to pay unlawfully inflated prices for what is often the single
largest expense in their lives, rent. Um, as as Kevin and Dan have mentioned, certain paragraphs in this in this uh complaint, especially the uh representatives of the defendants Avalon Bay, Greyar, and others working directly with Real Page to direct their creation
of some sort of a program that made it easier to utilize software despite rent control laws. More recently, defendants have also extracted rents based on CO9 pandemic. This suggests a deliberate, this is now not a direct quote, but it does suggest
a deliberate effort to circumvent rent control laws by Real Page and its corporate clients. These may include specific features or modules in the algorithms to navigate around rent control resitly covered by rent anymore. Rent control. And we have seen this with our
landlords uh uh equity residential. They have in instituted new fees for quote smart home technology which they introduced into our homes without telling us that it would be a fee and it was allegedly optional. Uh reservation fees for sports gyms and lounge areas,
new bike storage fees and and another part of the uh real page software that they pointed out in in this complaint was the aggregation of data may be used to identify submarkets where tenants are less likely to challenge illegal increases due to immigration status.
lack of familiarity with local tenant protections and other submarkets. So, we do encourage all of you to vote yes for the ordinance 25-057 and roll back these egregious practices. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.26 Gracie.
Evening council members. I'm here to support ordinance 25-056 and ordinance 250057. And I'd like to share a perspective you may not have
considered. Behind the visible skyline of Jersey City lies an invisible architecture, one made not of steel and glass, but of lines of code and hidden decision systems that shape our lives
more profoundly than any physical structure. I noticed this invisible architecture when my rent increased by an amount that defied explanation. No improvements to my building, no changes in the neighborhood, just an
opaque algorithm deciding I should pay more to keep my home. What the New Jersey Attorney General revealed recently is that that this invisible architecture was deliberately
designed to extract maximum profit from tenants while circumventing the protections this council established. The lawsuit describes how real page and major landlords created systems
specifically to navigate around rent control laws. This invisible architecture extends beyond pricing algorithms. It's built into how building service workers are compensated. When these essential workers are underpaid,
that too is by by design another room in this hidden structure where profit trumps people. Ordinance 250057 would dismantle part of this invisible architecture by banning algorithmic rent fixing. Ordinance
25506 would rebuild another part by ensuring building service workers receive fair wages and benefits. But here's the truth. These ordinances will join others in that invisible architecture unless you
guarantee their enforcement. I'm not against development or landlords. I'm against exploitation. I'm for fair treatment of tenants and workers alike. What I want is to tear down this invisible
architecture and build something transparent, equitable, and humane in its place. Will you join us in this construction project? Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.27, Drew
Good evening. My name is Drew Kochnowski and I speak today on behalf of the thousands of renters in Jersey City who are struggling with rapidly rising rents and housing insecurity. Ordinance 25-057 before you today addresses a critical but often hidden factor in our
housing affordability crisis. the use of algorithmic pricing software and data sharing practices that enable landlords to coordinate rent increases across our city. Many residents don't realize that large property management companies like my landlord, Equity Residential, are using sophisticated algorithms to
maximize profits at tenants expense. These systems recommend keeping certain percentages of units vacant to artificially restrict supply and drive up prices. They analyze competitor pricing to ensure rent rents rise in lock step across different buildings and
neighborhoods. This isn't the free market at work. It's algorithmic collusion. When institutional investors own multiple properties and use these pricing tools, they're not competing with each other. They're coordinating to extract maximum profit from Jersey City's residents. For families already
spending over 30% of their income on housing, these artificial rent hikes can mean choosing between paying rent or other essential needs like healthare or food. This ordinance takes a measured targeted approach to address this problem. It doesn't limit a landlord's ability to set rents based on their own
assessment of the market. It simply prohibits the use of specialized software and services designed specifically to coordinate pricing among what should be competing property owners. Jersey City has experienced tremendous growth and development. That prosperity should benefit all residents, not just
property investors, using algorithmic tools to squeeze maximum profits from our community. By passing this ordinance, you're supporting housing affordability and fair market practices. You're saying that in Jersey City, housing isn't just a commodity to be price fixed by algorithms. It's a
fundamental need for our residents and the foundation of our community. I urge you to support this ordinance. Thank you for your time and consideration. Our next speaker, 5.28, Stephanie. Good evening, council members. My name is Stephanie and I live
in Portide Towers West. Tonight is All right. Tonight is my first time speaking and I'm here to share the personal impact of Equity Residential's failure
to comply with the rent leveling board's October 2023 ruling. Thank you. Under that decision, I can afford to renew my lease in November. However, if equity raises the rent based
on inflated illegal base rents, as they did last year, I may no longer be able to stay. This apartment has been my home. I lived there with my fiance who tra tragically passed away last April from
an unexpected brain bleed. The past year has been the most difficult of my life. And one of the few things that gave me stability through the grief was having a safe and consistent place to
live. I'm deeply concerned that by the fall nothing will have changed. I think about it nearly every day. And I know that I'm not alone. Many other residents, especially families
with children, are in the same place. We know equity has a pattern of delay and the longer this continues, the more uncertainty and stress tenants are forced to
carry. I want to thank the city for reviewing the complaints that have been submitted and for taking them under consideration. I sincerely hope that a clear resolution comes soon for myself and for the many
others who are waiting. Thank you for listening. Our next speaker 5.29 Essence not here. Thank you. Next speaker 530 Courtney Courtney is here. I see her. Good evening, council. Um, my name is
Courtney Walker. I'm an organizing member of nitty-gritty Jersey City. Um, I'm here today to voice support for ordinance 25- uh056 and 57. Uh, on the first one, 56.
Uh this would help raise, you know, the standard wage for workers in these buildings. Um you know, very frequently people move into these buildings and the service is incredibly poor because there's a high turnover rate with horrible wages being paid to folks who
are working in these buildings. And so we need to raise the standard wage that these buildings are, you know, paying their workers to help support their residents who are they are, you know, gouging money from. Um and you know
especially looking in the larger um national environment with tariffs, inflation, and the overall economy, tariffs are expected to cost the average American $3,500 uh a year. Um you know, to put
that I could buy a plane ticket home, concert tickets, a night out, uh add 10 other different fun things on there, but instead that's going to food, rent. these workers need help. Uh the second ordinance here is the algorithm, you
know, rent pricing and coordination between landlords. Um fully in favor of this. Uh my day job, I work as an analytics engineer, so I know how powerful data is for these companies. These companies do not care about the
individual on the other end. They just want the data to show them how can I make more money. That's what these algorithms and this code is doing. Um, it could also not be more timely with chat GBT. That thing is supercharging
the ability of engineers to produce highquality code in a very fast way. So, a person cannot keep up with the technology that is trying to gouge every last penny of them. So you have tariffs,
people who are already struggling with high rents here, companies who are taking advantage of technology that's letting them work faster than ever before. Um it could not be more timely to pass these two ordinances uh for our city residents. Thank
you. You our next speaker 5.31 Nathan Good evening, council people. Thank you for being here this evening and for hearing the concerns of your community members. My name is Nathan McCormack.
I'm a resident of Mcinley Square and I am on the board of the Mcinley Square community board. I'm here to speak in support of resolution number 25-326, which is simply to allow our group to apply for an application to
acquire funding to create a community garden where a community garden has stood for the last 24 years, 25 years. Um, I'm going to keep this brief because I was literally here two weeks ago to speak in support of the same resolution,
uh, which, uh, is a time-sensitive resolution, and tonight I'm only going to offer my continued support and thank you all for your support for this resolution in what our group believes is essentially a win-win situation for both
us, the community, the city, the land donors, everyone involved in this situation can come out the other side of this um feeling whole essentially. That's all we're asking for is an opportunity to preserve the garden that
has again been there for 25 years. And with this resolution, this simply allows our group to even be able to apply for a grant, to even attempt to have a conversation. That's all this resolution is asking for. and we ask you for your
continued support. Thank you very much. Thank you. Our next speaker, 5.32, Sandre. Good evening, council members. Welcome, council person. Thank you for your attention this evening. Uh I am Sandre
Edwards Bezing Riley, a lifelong resident of Jersey City, former social worker, current experiential educator at St. Peters University. I am the proud daughter of India N. Edwards and Clarence Dutch Edwards, both who served
Jersey City long and well. My family has lived at 122 Glenwood since 1957. My husband and I since 1990. Over many years, I've witnessed tremendous change. Not all for the good. Most recently, as a member of the Mcinley
Square community board and as a caring, compassionate, and concerned individual, I challenged the right of developers to invade and change the character of our block. Together with the McKinley Square Community Board, we appealed and initially secured the approval of the
planning and zoning boards to stay the plans of the developers at 124 and 128. The 128 lot is what prompts me to speak. Previously a community garden, that space needs to be protected from the encroachment of developers and restored
to its lifeenhancing properties. Not only a source of spiritual refreshment, the garden provided nourishing food for St. Peter students, neighbors, and the greater community. It also created a welcoming space where visions for a green and vibrant future ultimately
materialized. Looking again to the future, this green and open space would be an excellent site for experiential learning opportunities for students, leading to enhancements in gardening, quality produce, and environmental
sustainability. Every neighborhood in every city needs green space, open space. No one can argue that with increased levels of pollution and decreased levels of available oxygen, safe, open spaces for trees and gardens are vital to our mental, physical, and
spiritual well-being. It's an univi undeniable fact that the green and lovely space, the garden which St. Peters University, faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers cultivated previously at 128 Glenwood
should be restored, expanded, preserved. Thank you for voting to support resolution 25326. Thank you for your attention. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.33 George. Good evening council people.
I like my two preceding speakers was here a couple of weeks ago regarding 128 Glenwood Avenue. I've given you some pictures to show you the green area that is still available and there's also a
picture of 124 which shows the monstrosity that was built next to our house. We used to enjoy sunsets, but as a result of the developer building this monstrosity, we no longer have sunset. And they've also cut back our tree in
the front, which cuts down on the oxygen coming into our area. And we are looking at losing another piece of property, green space, where we will lose trees and oxygen. And the city cannot afford to lose much more oxygen because given
the nature of development, we are creating more CO2 instead of creating oxygen. So I am imploring you to at least consider voting for resolution 25326 so that we can have a conversation
keeping this a green area so that there is some space in Jersey City that will provide some relief for as it has been in the past a community garden you know a nice place of restit as my wife
previously said you know we just need more spaces like that and our block has just been inundated and with I mean there's rumors that they're going to be an additional 350 bedrooms on our one
single block and we can't afford to lose more green space and add another 15 or 20 bedrooms without any parking and that's just creating more and more challenging situations for the excuse me
the residents of Jersey City not just the residents of McInley Square and Lynwood Avenue. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.34 Sharon Sharon
here. Hello. My name is Sheree McCormack. I'm the president of McInley Square Community Board Neighborhood Group in 501c3, a a Jersey City Woman of Action 2024 and Hudson County Women's History
Month honory 2025. Thank you, city council, for understanding how important green spaces are to our community. Thank you, Councilman Rich Bojiano for sponsoring. Support for limited existing
green space, especially needed in dense ASOBC's and urban aid areas, is so important. Our neighborhood group is applying for various grants with time-sensitive deadlines. There is a
24-year green space on the north side of Glenwood A that neighbors have been committed to. We have community vision for a unifying space. It's been a wonderful green space for decades. The mayor said it's a great project
commending our passion and knowledge. We absolutely stand for equity and a conversation and transparency being reasonable and constructive. We stand for and have
engaged in outreach to all involved. We believe in growth of our neighborhood with sustainable healthful balance. We can figure this out. We believe in that. We volunteers have been
working hard with open hearts to improve community for everyone to come together and help create a way to allow good things to grow here. Green space like this matters. Our community of volunteers are committed to it as
stewards. We look forward with optimism and hope. We'd love to figure out a solution for this bright community and environmental spot. A return to the community garden in a densely populated food desert with au substantial student
body and immigrant community seeking the golden door here in our great city. A place of hope, pride, healing. well-being transformation filled with students, seniors, and everyone in between. A place of opportunity. There's
got to be a way. This is about an opportunity for potential potential grants, potential conversations, potential negotiations, potential offers to be considered. You know that community leaders are the optimists in community.
not just complaining but engaging enabling and taking the initiative to do something for positive change. Many of you or all of you are those community optimists who were volunteering to do good work and improve our community and our city before you
became our elected officials and formalized that optimistic good work. Thank you. Thank you. Peace. Our next speaker 5.35 Charlie. Good evening council. I cannot
speak more eloquently about what Mcinley Square Community Board is attempting to do with green space on their block. You've heard from neighbors. You've heard from those in the organization. But what I would like to speak about is
certainly the role that the city plays when residents see a vision for their neighborhood to make it better and actually come together to do a lot of the leg work and the groundwork that it
requires as they have done. applying for grants, identifying resources that can make it a win-win for the neighborhood, and yet cost nothing at the end because it's paid for by
other other sources of money. And this is what this group is attempting to do with your support. And when you think of your government, you think of your government playing that role to help you make your
neighborhood better. And that's what they're asking of you here tonight is play that role to support them in their endeavors. And all of you know with all as Sharon had mentioned all of you had done these
endeavors in your own neighborhoods and with your own organizations that you're involved in and you know that when the city supported you how much easier it was for you to accomplish those
goals. So, please understand when residents come here that have done all of the work and bring to you the final request of your support to get them to their goal and to their dream, please do
give that to them. It's that important for a neighborhood and very much for the west side of Jersey City. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.36
Adrian is Adrian here. Okay. Good evening, council members. Uh my name is Adrien Orosco and I serve as the New Jersey political director for SEIU Local 32BJ. Uh we represent over 185,000 property service workers on the East
Coast, including nearly 15,000 here in New Jersey. 1,500 of them live right here in Jersey City. Um, I'm here today to first uh thank you for the introduction of ordinances 255056 and
25507 and uh to urge you to vote in favor of them at the next council meeting. Uh so the first one 056 updates and strengthens Jersey City's standard wage law. This law was originally passed in 2012 to ensure that the public dollars uh that are given to
developments support good jobs, not poverty wages. But outdated standards have left too many residential building service workers like porters, dormen, concierge struggling to get by even as luxury
developments rise and developers reap enormous profits. A small group of developers has benefited from substantial city's tax incentives all while failing to invest in the workers who keep their buildings running. These
workers are disproportionately black and Latino and despite driving the success of Jersey City's real estate sector, they remain shut out of the prosperity they help create. Rents here now rank among the highest in the country. Yet
many of the workers who service these buildings live paycheck to paycheck, even without meaningful benefits. Uh so what this ordinance does is first it expands worker coverage. Uh right now it only covers janitors and security guards. This would now cover
concierge. It would update the uh current floor. Uh the current floor is outdated and effective. And um it would also add anti- retaliation protections. Uh lastly, it would also uh strengthen notice and pay stub requirements so that
workers are aware of their rights under this ordinance. Um, I would also urge you to support um '057, which um is a straightforward measure simply affirms that landlords and developers who receive the benefits of our city's
housing market cannot collude to fix rents through rent setting algorithms. Currently, companies like Real Page and Yardi sell tools to landlords and property managers and telling them that they can outperform the market by
coordinating rental increases. Um, so we say that's unacceptable. We thank Councilman Solomon for sponsoring. We thank you all for voting for a resolution that drew attention to this issue months ago. We thank Assemblywoman Lopez for ushering a
a state bill in the legislature and uh we we hope you vote for these two measures. Thank you. Our next speaker 5.37 Kaen. Good evening council. My name is Kaen Perez. I am a 32 member. I currently
work at Hey, bring the mic down. software development company in Caucus, New Jersey. I am speaking to you all tonight about ordinance 25-057. As a lifelong Jersey City resident, I am deeply deeply concerned
about how quickly the city is changing and especially how inflated rent from algorithms will affect essential workers like me. I was born in New Jersey because my parents left the South looking for better job opportunities in
a more welcoming community. They found that here in Jersey City. My neighborhood growing up was started with mom and pop shops, community churches, movie theaters, and factories that delivered good quality blue collar jobs.
My mom and dad was able to raise a family of 16 on blue collar wages. Today, that neighborhood is unrecognizable. My childhood church is a high-rise apartment building. The small businesses, clothing stores, furniture
stores, hair salons are gone, and so are the jobs. The kids growing up today won't get the chance to experience the tight-knit city I was raised in be in because developers buying up what made this place feel like
a community and built a giant apartment building on top of them. And they're making it even worse by using algorithms to inflate already enormous rent. If nothing change, I am worried that the city I was born and raised in will no
longer be available to me in retirement age. For the last 13 years, I have lived in the Mcinley Square area where I first moved there. Rent was $800 for onebedroom with a predictable
annual increase of $50 per year. But this January, I was hit with a $350 hike to my rent. I now pay $1,500 a month. And because I want to stay in the city I was raised, I have no other
choice but to pay. Everywhere else is just as unaffordable. Thank you. Advancing Ordinance 25-057 to help stop landlords from pricing out even more of Jersey City
community residents. Thank you for your time. Our next speaker, 5.38, Joe. Good evening, councilors. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you all tonight. My name is Joe Terazzi. I'm a 32 BJ member. I work as a concurge and
porter at a luxury apartment building and I'm a almost lifelong Jersey City resident. Although I don't work in Jersey City, as a residential worker and as a city resident, I'd like to thank you all for advancing the ordinance
25-056 to support essential workers like me. New develop new developing is reaching every corner of Jersey City with developers constantly asking for tax breaks. In exchange, the city makes developers ensure that workers like me
get paid a standard wage and benefits. But those standards haven't been updated since 2012. It's a standard that no longer represents a living wage, and it doesn't represent our value either. I know what it is like to have
to take out trash and recycling for 200 apartments in one building and handle nearly 100 packages a day while taking all sorts of requests from residents. Residential workers are the backbone of these buildings and we deserve a fair share of the wealth we help
create. This ordinance would set minimum compensation at $24 an hour or 12 paid holidays a year and two weeks of paid vacation after one year of service. I can tell you that there is a lot of fear and uncertainty among essential workers
that the burden on that the burden on who bears the brunt of rising costs is more unbalanced than it has ever been before. This new standard goes a long way towards fixing that. Thank you. Our last speaker 5.39
Jose not speaking. Okay, thank you very much. Sorry about that. All right, that will conclude our public speaking portion of the meeting. We are now going to go through the rest of the agenda. And with that being
said, council members, any questions or comments on petitions communications item 6.1 through 6.16? Hearing none, any questions or comments on officer communications 7.1 through 7.8? 8. There are no reported directors. So,
council members are going to be taking a vote on our claims and addendums one, two, and three. Again, that's our claims and addendums number one, two, and three. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Biano.
Council person. I. Council person Solomon voted in the affirmative earlier. Council person Gilmore. I council person deise, council persona. I and council president proemp Ridley I. Claims and addendums number 1 2 and
three are approved 80 with council president Waterman absent. On to our resolutions. Items 10.1 through 10.10 with the exception of 10.4 and 10.5 that were approved earlier. Council person
Huings. Yes. Council person Bajana, Council Person, I. Council person Solomon voted in the affirmative earlier. Council person Gilmore, I. Council person Deise, Council Person
Ria, I. And Council President Prom Ripley, I. Items 10.1 through 10.10 are approved. 80 with Council President Warn absent. On to our next set of resolutions. Items 10.11 through
10.21. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Bajana. Council person. I. Council person Solomon voted in the affirmative earlier. Council person Gilmore. I. Council person Deise. I on
all. I have to abstain on 10:14 my work with the county schools. Thank you. Council person Rivera I on all and on 14 I'll have to abstain and council president proemp Ridley I
okay items 10.11 through 10.13 are approved 80 council person waterman absent item 10.14 is approved 602 where council members Deise and Ria
abstaining and council president Warman absent and items 10.15 through 21 are approved 80 with Council President Waterman absent. On to the balance of our resolutions. Items 10.22 through
1030 with the exception of 10.29 which has been approved earlier. Council person Huings. Yes. Council person Biano. I can't hear you.
I'm going to stayain on 10.27 and yes on the rest. Staining on 10.27. Yes on the rest. Got it. Council person Sole. Um I'm going to vote no on
um 1029. Unfortunately, I feel as though the 10:30 is it 10:30? 1020. 10:30. 1029 was the resolution honoring the life. Sorry, my bad. Uh 10:30. Um I I'm supportive of community
gardens. Uh, this one seems to be on private property and um it's just it looks really really messy and the letter attached from the lawyer basically says he's going to fight this tooth and nail and no one
from the city's approached him about acquiring the property. Um, are we are we getting sued by this if we pass this? cuz he also mentioned that this wasn't like appropriately. I mean, we put it as a late item, but
no. Um, there's no corporation council. Rich, let him let him get an answer from Corp. There's no issue with that being a late item. Okay. Right. Um, and the city hasn't approached them regarding the purchase of the
property. Is that correct or? Not yet. No. Okay. I know the community has spoken to him. I don't think I can proceed with this grant application because we need to do that step first
before we get to the step where we get the grant. So, the city needs to reach out to their lawyers and talk about acquiring the property. Um, and then I vote I for the rest. But I really, you know, we have multiple community gardens
in the Heights that I've supported, some on city property, but this is um it's on private property and the city hasn't approached yet, so I I can't in good conscience support it yet. Okay. Council person Solemn voted in the
affirmative earlier. Council person Gilmore. Oh, I just want to say um as it relates to 1030 um I think um as I'm understanding this, it's it's it's a
vote just to apply for the application. I mean, I don't think it puts us in a bad space. Even if we apply and get in, then down the line they choose not to sell. But the the issue here is that you don't apply and then you do enter into a
contract where the sale goes through, you essentially lose the potential of gaining grant money. I hate to lose out on um the opportunity to bring green space and also the opportunity to lose
out on money. Um so I'll vote I for all. Thank you, Council Person. Just from the the law department's perspective, you've been sending us what the other lawyer has been sending on the community gardens, but the city still feels
comfortable with using that property and going forward or or allowing the Mcinley Square organization to use the property for a community garden. Is there something that we're not being like that I'm missing? No, I Please don't yell out. Um, can you
repeat it? From the your standpoint in the law department, even with understanding that the owner has, you know, their own legal team and they're going to fight us using this property. They're not willing to to give it up, that the city is still
comfortable with using this address for the community garden because this grant money could be used another property for McInley Square. Uh the Katherine Todd Center has, you know, um the vacant property across the street. Uh Lincoln Park is close by. Like we should be
using grant money and going after this, but I this property is not going to allow us to do that. So this um resolution would allow the community group to apply for the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund um
funding. Their purpose is acquisition to use it as a community garden. That's what their application will say and that's what's going before the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund. This would authorize from the council and allow them to do that to make the application,
but we have to give them the authorization to apply. Correct. Yep. I'm going to vote I on everything but no on on 30. Community gardens are a tremendous asset to the community. we should be applying for this grant. We
should not be assigning that address. We can't claim somebody else's land. Um, you know, and because the owner does not seem to want to work with the the organization or the city on this, I don't know why we're not using our time and energy for another space in
Mcinley Square that has vacant lands that could really benefit from something like this. Um, yeah, I work at County Prep High School in Montgomery. I can give you a whole handful of places that would really benefit and I can send you some students to help out too. Don't turn down grant money because it's going
away. I just I'm not comfortable with this us not being on board with the owner. Sorry. Okay, Council Person Rivera. So, um, listen, I'm I'm I'm
going to vote for this, but I I just wanted to be on the record, especially to the to the to the Mcinley Square people, that this this this is this is someone's
property that we are going to impose on. So, uh, I mean, although I I I I think that, you know, I'm optimistic that, you know, there's going to be an agreement there, you know, somewhere.
I'm I'm afraid that this is going to come and bite us in the butt where a lot of people are going to try to do the same thing, you know, but listen, I'm again, I'm optimistic that that the city will fix it. U, I'm going to vote for
it. I'm hesitantly voting for it, but you know, uh, fingers crossed, Sean. So, are you are you voting on I vote eye on everything? Okay. Yeah, Sean. Yes. Can I I made a mistake on
1027? I have to vote yes. I uh So, you're not abstaining on 1027. I'm voting yes. Voting yes on all. Correct. Councilman,
you're voting yes on all. Correct. Yes. Thank you. And Council President Promp Ridley. Uh on 10:30. I think this is a difficult one because I agree. We shouldn't be taking someone's property or telling them, you know, what to do with it. I
don't know how this garden got here. I don't know if the property owner, I guess, has allowed it all this time since we're saying it's been there for 20some years. Um, and maybe they are now changing their minds
or want to develop or whatever the case is. I'm not going to speculate. Um, I think that since we are just allowing them to apply and the city still has to reach out to the owner, um, and they're not actually acquiring the
land right now. Uh, I will go I for all. Okay. Items 10.2 through 10.29 are approved. 80 with council president Warman absent. Item
103030 is approved 62 with council members and deise voting no motion and council president Warn absent. So with that being said I may I
have a motion to adjourn at 8:46 p.m. That was done by council person Gilmore. Second. May I have a second? Second. Second by council president promp Ridley. Motion to adjourn at 8:46 p.m.
All council members by acclamation, please say I. I. We are out of here at 8:46 p.m. Thank you very much everyone in attendance and everyone watching at home. Remember, teamwork makes it dreamwork. Have a great rest of the night. Stay safe.