So, good evening, everyone. Good to see you all here. The May 27th, 2026 council meeting of the Long Branch City Council will now come to order. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rasses? >> Here. >> Mr. Vieira? >> Here. >> Mrs. Widas? >> Here.
>> Mr. Danglar? >> Here. >> Dr. Vote? >> Here. >> All please all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I will now read the mission statement for the City Council. The Long Branch Mayor, City Council, and administration are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect
that values the diversity of our community. We will strive to enhance the quality of life for all who live here by making Long Branch a desirable place in which to live and prosper. We will treat all members of the public with respect and
expect the same in return. Certification, please. >> I hereby certify that this meeting has been published in the newspaper in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act and posted as required by law. >> Okay, thank you. Uh reading and approval of pretty of previous minutes. I need a motion to
approve the minutes from the May 13th, 2026 meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rasses? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vieira? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Widas? >> Yes. >> Mr. Danglar? >> Yes. >> [clears throat] >> Dr. Vote? >> Yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Consideration of ordinances,
public hearing, and final consideration. Ordinance 0-10-26. This ordinance amending section 117-3 of the code of the city of Long Branch fees it establishing mid-season rates for the community pool.
This ordinance was introduced on May 13th, 2026. Uh and this and this ordinance is to establish mid-season rates for the use of the community pool. I need a motion to open the public hearing on this ordinance
only. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> If any member of the public has any comments to make on this ordinance only, please come to the podium, state your name and address clearly for the record. You will have 5 minutes and may only
speak once on ordinance 0-10-26. And seeing no one come forward, I need a motion to close. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> This is the second reading of ordinance 10-26. I need a motion to adopt on second and follow
final reading and advertise according to law. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Accis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vierra? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Widas? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dengler? >> Yes. >> Dr. Vote? >> Yes. >> Motion passed.
>> Okay, thank you. Ordinance 0-11-26. An ordinance designating a handicap parking space 307 Chelsea Avenue. This ordinance was introduced on May 13th, 2026 and authorizes the city of Long Branch
to install a handicap parking space in front of 307 Chelsea Avenue due to the resident not having a driveway with all qualifying paperwork sent to the Long Branch Traffic Safety Unit. I need a motion to open the public
hearing on this ordinance only. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> If any member the public has any comments to make on this ordinance only, please come to the podium, state your name and address clearly for the record. You will have 5 minutes and may only
speak once on ordinance 0-11-26. And seeing no one come to the podium, I need a motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I This is the second reading of ordinance 11-26. I need a motion to adopt on second and
final reading and advertise according to law. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh roll call, please. >> Mr. Rasim. >> Yes. >> Mr. Viera. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Widder. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dingler. >> Yes. >> Dr. Roth. >> Yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Ordinance 0-12-26,
an ordinance designating a handicap parking space 1185 Elberon Square. This ordinance was introduced on May 13th, 2026 and authorizes the city of Long Branch to install a handicap parking
space in front of 1185 Lincoln Square due to the resident never having a driveway. With all qualifying paperwork sent to the Long Long Branch Traffic Safety Unit. I need a motion to open the public hearing on this
ordinance only. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> If any member of the public has any comments to make on this ordinance only, please come to the podium, state your name and address clearly for the record. You will have 5 minutes and may only
speak once on ordinance 0-12-26. And seeing no one come forward, I need a motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> This is the second reading of ordinance 12-26. I I a motion to adopt on adopt on second
and final reading and advertise according to law. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Araces. >> Yes. >> Mr. Vierra. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wittis. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Dengler. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vo. >> Yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you.
Ordinance for introduction 0-1326. This is the first reading of ordinance 13-26 entitled a calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropri- appropriation limits
and to establish a cap bank. This is NJSA 40A {colon} 4-45.14. This ordinance establishes a cap bank NJSA
40A {colon} 4-45-1 provides that in the preparation of its annual budget a mu- municipality shall limit any increase to say said budget to 2.5%
unless authorized by ordinance to increase it to 3.5% over the previous years final appropriations subject to certain exceptions. NJSA 40A {colon} 4 -45.15
A provides that a municipality may when authorized by ordinance appropriate the difference between the amount of its actual final appropriation and the 3.5% as an exception exception to its final
appropriations in either of the next two succeeding years. This ordinance allows for appropriation increases above the 2.5%. I need a motion to introduce on first reading, advertise, and post according
to law, and set the public hearing for June 10th, 2026. >> I move. Second. >> A roll call, please. >> Mr. Asseus? >> Yes. >> Mr. Viera? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Witous? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dangler? >> Yes. >> Dr. Votes? >> Yes. >> Motion passed.
>> Thank you. Public participation and resolutions for all general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? >> [clears throat]
>> The public portion of the meeting is to allow you, the public, to state your comments directly to the administration and have a voice in the proceedings of your governing body. There will be no cross dialogue during the public portion of the meeting.
If there's anyone in the audience who has a comment to make, please step forward to the podium, state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have 5 minutes to speak and may only speak once. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> Vincent Lepore, 33 Ocean Terrace, Long
Branch, requesting 1-minute notification. Uh what happened to resolution 105 for the separate hearing? >> Because there is as you know, um the council president has recused herself on everything regarding Brookdale. We kept it out for a separate vote so that she
can vote on the consent agenda. >> So there isn't going to be a separate hearing on resolution 105 the way it's listed on the agenda? >> No, there's not. It's not a separate hearing. It's a separate >> to do a separate vote? >> Separate vote. But you don't get a separate public hearing. The public hearing the hearing for items on the agenda is now.
Resolutions don't have public hearings. >> Resolution 105 requesting 1-minute notification, Madam Clerk. The execution of a purchase concerning Brookdale building. As the last council meeting via ordinance 6,
there was no contract available. Tonight, via resolution 105, there is. The contract under section 2A describes the lease agreement as follows, quote, "The lease agreement shall have a
15-year term with no rental fee during said firm." End quote. So, Brookdale College will now have its second floor of the McDonald house for free for 15 years. Notwithstanding that the McDonald house
is in every sense of the word a, quote, white elephant, end quote, costing taxpayers money on all levels of government, lacking operational utility to the taxpayers, as well as incurring to the taxpayers
operational maintenance costs. There still exists no appraisal attached to this resolution, and there was no appraisal attached to ordinance 6 so as to be guided to any existing or potential future market value.
After this building, how many more buildings will become available for the city to consider buying in the future and moving subsequent city operations to those additional buildings? Again, had these buildings, Santander, the
hospital donation, and now Brookdale, gone on the tax rolls to private buyers, it would have helped the taxpayers by bringing more revenue into the city, thus effectuating the tax rate.
Again, as I stated last time, this trend contradicts the trend of all other municipalities, which is decentralizing of all municipal functions in one place with the rapid implementation of AI.
And as I stated at the last meeting, and I'll state again tonight, the sale of Brookdale Community College facility also brings to many the concern over the past few years as the head of a county political organization,
who is also the county sheriff, reaps benefits from the sale of this county facility. A sale facilitated by a county commissioner. The dual roles, an individual being the head of a
political organization and sheriff, with the Brookdale facility housing the city's newly contracted county sheriff's department EMS units. A political patronage pay-to-play gravy train racketeering scam if ever one
existed by both the city and the county. Councilwoman Votes' role as council president, head of the city's redevelopment agency, and associate vice president of strategic partnership for Brookdale College, and shadowing at times knowing nothing
about this potential sale is suspect. The city has guys to purchase of this building for the police department, while the police department was to go to the McDonnell house. >> 1-minute notification. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. It's a game of
checkers by the city with this building. I'm requesting a no vote on resolution 106. The matter should be put to the city taxpayers as a referendum whether it's purchase this building or not. I'm requesting a no vote.
Resolution 106, no. >> Is there anyone else who'd like to speak? >> Good evening. My name is Jeff George and I'm a property owner here in Monmouth County. This is now the seventh time I've come before this council in the last 10 months to speak about the
constitutionality of the Israeli flag display at Pier Village. Over that time I have made common sense arguments. I have made legal arguments. I have even made biblical arguments. And you people have responded with
deflections, logical fallacies, and by completely ignoring the substance of my arguments. Instead, the mayor and the city attorney continue to mindlessly parrot the same line over and over again that Pier Village is private property.
But after reviewing the city's own redevelopment guideline handbooks for the Oceanfront Redevelopment Zone, it has become increasingly clear that Pier Village was never treated like an ordinary private development. Book one establishes the master
framework controlling land use, access, signage, parking, architecture, landscaping, circulation, and urban design. Book two specifically governs the Village Center at Pier, Pier Village itself, with detailed controls over
density, permitted uses, parking access, and development standards. Book eight states that projects within the redevelopment zone must comply with these redevelopment guideline books unless specifically modified by the city. That is not how an ordinary
private shopping center operates, folks. That is how a politically publicly engineered redevelopment district operates. And the city's involvement does not stop at redevelopment planning. It extends into policing, public resources, and ongoing
operational support. The Long Branch Police Department literally maintains a satellite office at Pier Village. There is clearly a disproportionate concentration of police resources at Pier Village, while large stretches
north and south along the promenade often have little or no visible patrol presence at all. So, the obvious question becomes, why are Long Branch taxpayers footing the bill for what effectively amounts to dedicated police security for an
allegedly private property? If Pier Village is supposedly just another private commercial property, why is it treated differently from every other private commercial center in America? Why aren't the developers hiring private security like every other privately
owned mall and commercial complex? And if this is merely private property, then why are public police resources so heavily concentrated there? While the city simultaneously uses private property argument to avoid constitutional scrutiny.
Residents are beginning to wonder whether there is some kind of political favoritism or quid pro quo relationship between Mayor Palone and the Kushner interests behind Pier Village. Because from the outside looking in, it certainly appears that Pier Village receives an extraordinary level of
public police protection and municipal support that ordinary private developments do not receive. And here is where the hypocrisy becomes impossible to ignore. When I raise constitutional concerns about the political displays at Pier Village, the city suddenly says, "Oh, sorry, it's
private property. We must protect the owner's First Amendment rights. But when I attempt to organize a protest, organizing my own First Amendment rights, the city changes its tune completely and tries to impose over $3,300
in fees in order to have that protest. So apparently Jared Kushner's speech rights are protected at taxpayer expense, but citizens like myself exercising dissenting speech are handed a bill. And today I received a legal notice from the city attorney threatening to arrest
me if the protest were to proceed. That is not viewpoint neutrality. That is not equal treatment. The Constitution does not permit the government to place massive financial burdens on speech simply because officials dislike the message or want to discourage the event
from occurring. The city cannot continue playing both sides. When it benefits the city politically, Pier Village is treated like a publicly supported redevelopment district, planned by the city, regulated by the city, patrolled by the city, and promoted by the city. But the moment citizens raise
constitutional concerns, suddenly everyone hides behind the phrase private property. Mr. Mayor, from the bottom of my heart, I believe that you are a soulless, dead-eyed creep.
And Mr. City Attorney, you are a lying hypocrite. And I think everyone in this town, along with everyone watching on YouTube right now, can see straight through the lies and the double standards and the other [ __ ] that spews out of your mouths every time you
are challenged on this issue. Thank you. >> Um would anybody like to respond? >> If I If I can, Mr. Mayor, I I'm sorry that Mr. Wallsteen is unhappy with the laws that exist in America. I I I don't know
what I can do to help him. I'm sorry that I'm sorry that he's offended by the fact that Excuse me. I didn't interrupt >> Please. >> Sure. I didn't interrupt you, so don't interrupt me. >> [snorts]
>> The First Amendment works for everybody. It doesn't just work for people who come from another town and come into Long Branch and complain about what's going on here. So, I I I wish that the television cameras can see how childish you're being now because you're acting like my
5-year-old grandson. So, >> I I If you keep on talking, we're going to have to We're going to have to ask you to leave if you keep on talking. >> So, the I'm addressing your question. So, the fact of the matter is that people have rights on their private property, and I know that offends you.
You have a right on your private property. You know, I was thinking about the fact that when the Ukraine war um happened, that all over the town that I live in, I live in Middletown, there were Ukrainian flags all over the place. I thought it was great. It was people showing solidarity there. I assume that
if there's a earthquake in Italy and something terrible happens there, I might put an Italian flag out because I'm Italian. I'm allowed to do that, and you don't have a right Your First Amendment right ends on my property. So, Once Once again,
once again, so the point The point of it being this is that the First Amendment applies to everybody. Not just you. It applies to whoever owns the Kushners who own Pier Village. It applies to them. And you can't come in and read our zoning ordinance, which applies, by the way, to
everybody in town, the redevelopment plan is just a zoning ordinance, that because there's a zoning ordinance, it means that we own your property. It's so It's so ridiculous I don't even know how to to to explain it. So, that that having been said, that's that. So,
as to your event permit, you and I are in a dialogue. I'm going to answer your communication from yesterday. You asked some questions. I'll answer them tomorrow. And we handle that event permit exactly the way we handle every event permit that comes into the
city. We'll continue to do that. Um you know, it's a pretty well-established permitting process. It's been reviewed by courts before. We use it all the time. Um so, you can continue to you know, you have a right to continue to ask questions and I'll continue to that.
Answer your questions is what we do. >> I'm I'm going to ask you to leave. >> Bye. >> Bye. >> Useless president. You got owned. >> [laughter] >> Okay. Thank Thank you, Council President. I don't have anything else to
say. >> Does Would anyone else have any comment? Hi. My name is Erica Leone. I am a resident here. I live on Slocum Place, right around the corner. Um >> Can you lower the microphone a little, okay? Thank you. >> This? >> Appreciate it.
>> Okay. Um would you tell me when I have 1 minute, too? I've never done this before. Um So, I have a lot of things that I would love to address, but just for ease and understanding, I'm just going to streamline today and pick one.
And it kind of piggybacks on what he was saying, but it's more directed towards the police department and safety and security um of our community. I've lived here over the course of my life various
times, different parts of Long Branch. My family's been here for over 100 years. Um and I have friends, acquaintances, co-workers that live all over the city, including Elberon and then off Broadway
all over the place. Um Different demographics, different walks of life, different tax brackets, and everybody seems to have the same complaints when it comes to quality of life in Long Branch.
I've never had to call the police so many times in my life. It's unreal, and the response time has improved. I have to say that over the past 4 years. Um but there's constant
noise violations that are just not being enforced. They're not taken seriously, and I'm this close to getting pushed out of town, you know, with taxes increasing. And it's a shame because I want to I want to live here. I surf, I
fish. This is where my family's from on both sides. I have many friends here, and I want to be able to afford to live here and enjoy my life, and I work really hard to afford to live here. Um so there's the noise violations.
I know I sound 108 here, but when it's 2:00 in the morning and you want to sleep, it's very aggravating. And I feel like those calls are not taken seriously. The dispatchers are rude, cranky
for the majority. I know there's a lot of policemen and women that take pride in what they do. They're very professional, and then there's some that I don't even know if they know half the laws, and I don't know if it's a leadership issue or what it is, but I
would love to have an actual dialogue with whomever that may concern. But the biggest issue that I want to pinpoint today is really the the driving. Like you guys all know. Like and I invite any one of you, please come
over and sit on my porch. I'll make you tea, whatever. You're more than welcome to come and witness what goes on. The aftermarket exhausts, people are flying around. It literally sounds like Raceway Park all hours of the day. And you know that there's been
people killed very recently. And every year we have people getting hit by cars. It's not safe. Mayor, I've seen you riding your bike on the sidewalk, so you know that it is not safe to ride your bicycle to the beach. And that's what we all want to enjoy here. And I don't feel
safe walking or riding my bike around with my kids. And I would like to change that. I would like to make it more, you know, safe to walk, drive, park. We almost got hit by a car last night on Brighton Ave going to support Robin's ice cream, a new ice cream place.
Literally, walking across the street. It's chaos. There I just feel like there's no enforcement. And there's really no reason for it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Ma'am, if you stay after, I'll give you my card so you can reach out to me.
>> Okay, thank you. >> Would anyone else care to comment? >> Yeah, hi. Dr. Harvey Weingarten. I am proud >> Do you mind >> resident of your village. >> Do you raise the mic a little >> of your village. When I moved in, the riots happened right in front of my eyes. My wife had cancer, and I was scared out of my mind. But the dear
mayor, different political party, spoke to me. And quite gentlemanly, we had a long conversation. >> Yeah, I mean, I was I'm very impressed with this town. I'm from Princeton, that's where I grew up. I'm now a resident here, and you guys are fantastic when it came to the problems
we had here. And you you don't understand why we have police presence in Pier Village. The train station, they come off the train, past my apartment, and there they are. And they were running around like animals. It was the saddest thing I ever saw. And we're the parents. We're the parents. My child would be locked in the in the basement
here and they acted like that. They were they were destroying our home. And I said I was only here a few months. I said, "Did I make a mistake leaving Princeton to come here?" Instead, you guys have taken over and I love seeing the police presence. And if if you residents of Weehawken understand what it's like to see people running around where you
live, jumping on cars. It looked like Chicago or Harlem. That's not why I retired here, okay? And the mayor has been fantastic. All of you have been fantastic and I appreciate the police. They're all gentlemen and gentle and women. Um I thank them on my bicycle
when I see them. And that's why we need a police presence there. It's unfortunate that's the beach attracts people. And I appreciate the curfew. That's a very important thing. Um there are ways we probably can deal with the energy transit. You know, I mean, I speak to the guys on the train. These kids don't have tickets. They're rude to the
conductors. And that maybe that we have to get more of the train when they when they when they radio in that there's a problem, and and just pull them off the train. There's no problem people coming to our beach, but be responsible. Be citizens, you know, we It's our home, you know?
So, um and I want to thank you guys, okay? And as far as the flags, yeah, I mean, I I you know, I it was very interesting when I saw them. I mean, obviously I'm proud Jew. Um but when I realized that it's private property, everyone has a right to, you know? And yes, I had Ukraine flags
flying in Princeton when the war started, of course, you know? And I I just applaud you guys. I know it's not an easy job, but it It's a wonderful place to live and you guys are doing a great job. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat]
>> Uh good evening. My name is JP and today I'm calling for the 532 >> JP, I'm sorry. Could you lower it just >> Oh, yeah, too loud. No worries, guys. Um good evening, everybody. My name is JP and today I'm calling on behalf of re-changing of the public comment section. Um the reason I People may ask
like why are you talking about this public comment section so much? Why do you care? Like why don't we actually talk about substantive issues? The reason is we need to figure out a way in order to have important dialogues within our communities with elected officials in order to facilitate actually the
things that people need and want in their communities. The best thing I can give you all is an example what happened in Utah with the data centers there. The people there did not feel that they were their voices were advocated. The public hearing section was just a formality. It was just there for people to get their words out and then they already had a
decision in place. The public comment section here needs to be restructured because right now we we have like 5 minutes in order to ask questions, okay? Or like 5 minutes to just to speak and then it There it's kind of arbitrary the way that the elected elected officials then respond to us and then and
basically can either either not answer our questions or comment the questions or sometimes even rephrase the questions. And this is not a comment on like, you know, anything that happened today or or like specific moments and everything. It's like something I think the community in Long Beach has felt over the last couple of years. It's how
do we have a better dialogue with individuals that who are supposedly the people who we voted for and so that they can then respond to the needs of the people. When for example, if I ask you all a question and how else can I ever get that answer on the public record
besides the public hearing section here? That's why I think the 532 section is like a good first step in order for us to go for it because if we have 5 minutes as us individuals to brief basically bring up the things that we care about and then they have 3 minutes for you guys to then respond. You guys can then be like, "Oh, actually, that's
a misstatement of the record." Or that's basically this is the way it goes. And then after that we have a chance to respond as well in order to basically correct, clarify, or even bring up other points so that then we can actually be able to figure out um what's happening. Secondly, it also allows for accountability because then the
questions are answered and then we're able to leave knowing, "Okay, this is our next step going forward." So, that's why I think the Long Branch residents, we have to really think about a new way to restructure this because this is going to go beyond this council. This process that we can make and create can
have it's got to be in is a it's going to be something that's has to exist with next council and next council, and we need to ensure that we always have a good channel communication going forward. That's the first thing. Secondly, I also want to talk about what happened in Pier Village last like 2 weeks ago. Um it was really for a lot of people it was really scary. You know, I
heard stories of people who worked in Pier Village about they didn't know what to do. It was really loud. It was kind of like there was fights and everything. And I think we need to also think about why is that happening? Kids nowadays are going through a lot, y'all. Like they're like I when I was a kid, I didn't go through as much I it wasn't as hard as like what they're going through. They're
constantly in like have have their in their faces AI telling them and like propaganda and also seeing wars on television, us hating each other. We need to think about the kids and what how we can better support them so that they can have a space in order to be able to kind of like like be able to
enjoy themselves but in a way that at the same time they can also understand that they cannot go outside and be able to like, you know, fight with each other. But that comes when you have resources. So, that's why I think an important thing that we can do a solution is we really need to focus on the Health and Technology Center here in
Long Branch and really get the children's voices into that space. I don't know if y'all have done like like surveys for that. Have we talked to the kids specifically? That's something I heard from a lot of kids in Long Branch. They don't know what to do in Long Branch. They can go to the beach but then like, you know, there's certain hours that they can't go and then
sometimes they make a little ruckus and stuff like that. How can we give more resources to kids? How can we create maybe music lessons and music like growth development in the community center? How can we get like maybe karate classes in the kids in the in the in the new community center we're building? Let us not forget that health and technology
center was built at the Ronald McDonald center. When I was a kid, I once went there not because I was sick but because a friend was sick and they had the best energy possible. How can we we like regain that energy, make that energy even bigger, and think about what do the kids need? Let's bring in kids into those conversations so that kids have a
third space where they can go and be able to enjoy themselves, be able to learn, be able to like have the resources they need so that so that they don't like feel the need sometimes like their only times to go out and then once they go out, like you know, it's kind of hard for them to navigate how to like interact with others because they don't
really have the resources to learn how to interact with others in the first place. Um that's all. Thank you all so much. >> Thank you, JP. Anybody care to respond? >> [sighs] >> Hello. Uh Mark Davis, 47 Slocum Place.
Um I want to say I miss Ron's in West End sitting on the porch and drinking a beer. It's gone. Things Everything changes, right? Uh I miss the Brighton Bar. I performed there for 13 years. It's gone.
Everything changes, but we have the cultural center. Maggie at the cultural center. Excellent. Excellent. We have Carol Wright at the garden doing great work. If you've been there, it's fantastic. So, there's some positive
things. And the flag controversy, it's interesting to me. I think it's an opportunity to really talk about flags, what they mean, and how important they are to people. And if you look at the Israeli flag, you
know now if you watch the news that there's a controversy, very obvious controversy, going on. And that this is an opportunity to enlighten people about what's going on. And we could do that at the cultural center. Have a little debate. Have some Have some people come
in and talk about how Israel was created. What's going on now? Uh and I think that's what we should do. I'm just saying that it's an opportunity to really expand ourselves about this
issue. It's really It's not a bad thing. It's a bad thing cuz we're all upset about it and so forth, but it's going to give us a chance to really uh see this in a way that other places haven't seen it.
And um you know, flags, uh what are they the peace flag? What if we had peace flags over there? There might be people upset about that. Maybe not. So, it's it's a I I I I think it's something
we can take advantage of and not look at as a negative. Not as a negative. It is upsetting to people. I understand. But this can be turned into a positive. And I think art, a r t, the cultural center, is a way to do it. We can have
an exhibit about flags, about what they mean. We can have an exhibit, Palestinian flag, the Israeli flag. I mean, you know, bringing people together a little bit about this. And uh you know, American flag in certain
parts of the world is is a bad sign. They go, "Ugh." And uh so, I That's what I want to say. I think we should try to to do that. We have that ability to do it. And thank you very much. Thank you for your work. And thank you for the cultural center. And thank
you for the garden. And the good things of Long Branch. Thank you very much. >> Mark, Mark, if you don't mind, stick around. Why don't we just continue? And JP, please stick around, too, cuz I'd like to make say a few things about both your comments, cuz they're connected. But, why don't you just finish up, and then
I'll >> Yeah. Okay. Is it a Thank Thank you, Mayor >> Mark, just stick around, and I'm going to I just like to say a few words. >> Yeah. And And I I I would just like to also thank you for your comments about the arts and cultural center. Maggie's doing an amazing job, and And she does,
she picks up on things and creates a forum for for discussion on on different topics. So, I I appreciate you recognizing all of her work. I stand up, and like Mayor said, he just wants to chat with you, and JP wants to have an opportunity to chat with you a
little bit, also. If you can just stay after after the meeting. Anyone else? You know, we're going long, but why don't come up Come on up. >> He just wants to say something to you. >> Hello, can you hear me? Perfect. Hi. Um my name is Ali. I'm
>> Sorry, can you say that again? >> [laughter] >> Sorry. How about now? Better? >> Good, good, good. >> Hi, my name is Ali. I am a resident of Asbury Park, but I spend a lot of my time here in Long Branch. Grew up in Monmouth County, and I think one of the best things about Long Branch is the
multiculturalism that exists in this town. I feel like every time I come to Long Branch, I learn something new, try new food, meet someone from a different community. And today, after a very special moment with my family, I visited Delaney Hall. For
those of you who aren't familiar with Delaney Hall, Delaney Hall is New Jersey's detention center for ICE detainees, and it's also one of the largest detention centers, if not the largest detention center here on the East Coast. The reason why I'm bringing this up in
this forum is because, unfortunately, Long Branch has seen an increased amount of ICE activity in the area. And when it comes to that, unfortunately, a lot of our neighbors and a lot of the people who make Long Branch Long Branch are feeling threatened, they're feeling watched, and
there are a lot of citizens who are afraid to walk on the street. There are local businesses that are affected. Um a lot of local amazing restaurants have even been targeted by people starting rumors saying that ICE went to their restaurant, and then people get afraid, and then people stop
going. So, essentially, I'm just coming to the council today to ask what could be done in order to make the residents of Long Branch, those who come from all different parts of the world, how they could be feeling a little bit more welcomed. I've come to the meeting a few times. I've been fortunate to come with
JP, who's brought me along. And I noticed a few things, including um the discussion of there not being meeting minutes or not being a transcript posted online. I know that somebody on the council mentioned that these are, you know, live-streamed and put on YouTube. I've
seen that myself. However, if I were a Long Branch resident who didn't speak English fluently, how would I know what's going on in my community? Do you guys have translators? Do you guys have any way to kind of disseminate that information? I see a lot of it in print, you know, different flyers that kind of go out into the community.
However, when it comes to open forums like this, with JP and everybody else's emphasis on participation, how are we getting the voices of those who don't speak English? The people who speak Spanish, Portuguese, >> Mhm. >> Haitian Creole, any of the other languages that exist here in Long
Branch? So, with everything going on politically, I think that, you know, we've seen a lot of violence that are going, you know, unfortunately, impacting our immigrant neighbors, especially here in Long Branch. And I think that it's really important for the council not only to think about this,
but also consider, you know, the Long Branch residents who are unfortunately being in Delaney Hall right now. There are Long Branch residents who are facing inhumane treatment in Delaney Hall. There is currently a strike right now, a hunger strike occurring in that facility
because they found worms in their food. A Long Branch resident, Junior Pena, he was recently released from detention and he related a story of literally finding buttons in the food. And whenever our representatives go to
Delaney Hall, he said that you know, they're told, "Oh, clean this up. Do this. Do this. Make it look presentable." But what happens when our government officials aren't there? What happens when the media goes away? What happens when
the press or whoever is watching turns the other way? So, all that starts here and I invite everybody in the room to consider how to best be welcoming of their immigrant neighbors. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to
speak? Okay, any Anyone from the public who wants to further discuss, we say this every meeting, who wants to further discuss any other comments or concerns, please call the city clerk's office at 732-571
uh 5686 to schedule a time at the public council hours that are held the first Wednesday of every month. And you just call the city clerk's office, say what you want to talk about,
say who you would like to have in the room to discuss the topic topic with you, invite you know, if you have other people that you want to invite, it's a forum for you to be able to um have a have a discussion. Happens at the first
Wednesday of um of every month. And now I need a motion to close the public participation portion of the meeting. >> So move. Second. >> All in favor. >> I. >> Opposed. >> [cough] >> Uh >> [clears throat] >> and um we're going to move now to the
resolutions and I'm going to turn the meeting over to Vice President Dangler because the first resolution is one that pertains to Brookdale. Um I as as I've said before I work at Brookdale and so I need to recuse myself from any
uh business that business that is done with them. And so Vice President Dangler. >> I need a motion to adopt resolution R 105-26. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Rasses. >> Yes. >> Mr. Viera.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Wittus. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dangler. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Dr. Vote. >> I recuse myself. >> Motion passed. >> I will now ask the >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> me to get it? >> Yeah. Do you want to just read it for the for the record?
>> No, you don't read titles of resolutions. No. >> Oh, that's right. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I will >> [laughter] >> I will now ask Madam Clerk if there are any changes to the list of resolutions. >> No changes have been made. >> Okay. We can take the listed resolutions
as the consent agenda. I need a motion. >> So move. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Mr. Rasses. >> Yes. >> Mr. Viera. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wittus. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dangler. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vote. >> Yeah. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Uh applications, there are
none. And now we're going to move to the miscellaneous business for the good of the order and Councilman Rasses is going to start us off. >> Okay. Thank you, Council President. I'd like to thank everyone for coming out this evening. It's always nice to hear everyone's suggestions, the feedback, um
and any concerns, and um just want to wish everyone to stay safe and look forward to seeing everyone in 2 weeks. Thank you. [clears throat] >> Thank you, Councilman Ross, and Councilman Viera. >> Yes, thanks for coming out tonight. I know what you mean about the speeding cars. I don't have to go to your porch.
I get that at my house, too. And thanks for the offering the tea. I appreciate it. And let everybody come out tonight, and as people come and express their expressions to us and everything, we have to tell you how we feel at times.
And what bothers me is how people come out in the audience, and we just celebrated Memorial Day, the people that are veterans, and all the people that lost their lives to the to fight for our flag that stands over there, and they can't even stand up for
our flag. There's two members of our audience that didn't have to stand for our flag. I'm not going to call anybody out, but that flag meant everything for all the people that that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. So, we got to tell you how we feel, also.
So, we listen to everybody, and we got to have our feelings. So, that's how I felt. And with that, I want to say good night. >> Thank you, Councilman Viera, Councilwoman Wittus. >> Um I, too, would like to thank everyone for coming out this evening and >> [clears throat] >> with your suggestions and all your
concerns, and we do listen to you, and I want to thank you for that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Wittus, and Councilman Dengler. >> Thank you. Um first, in regards to the pop-up party or whatever they would call
it a couple weeks ago, I want to thank the police for the the job that they did do. It could have been worse. Um and as the few years have gone on and the pop-up parties come, some we've been we have been able to shut down, and
every now and then one gets through, but not because the police and the administration are asleep on the job. It's sometimes things happen, but again, we are getting better at um
not having as many incidents as possible. So, again, I want to thank the police cuz it is and the residents or down in the pier not the residents, but the the um business owners even the people that are just they're visiting for the day.
I'm sure it is not a it is a um It's an uneasy feeling when when a crowd just comes right to come and take over. But again, sometimes we don't get the heads up. It's just it happens when it happens and the police um are called in to do the best that they
can to be for them to be safe but certainly for the residents to be safe. Those who are here just to enjoy the city of Long Branch. So, with that being said, also in regards to safety and and and ISIS and so on and so forth,
I don't know what we can do about that. Um Not saying that something shouldn't be done, but I did hear what the young lady said in regards to just the treatment of the people. Everyone should be treated like human beings no matter what the issue is in regards to that the federal level, but I do believe that everyone
should be treated like like decent human beings. And lastly, um all of the residents and even those who are not residents that come and want to speak at the mic you certainly have your 5 minutes to say what you want to
say. But your 5 minutes should not be um through um use profanity and so on and so forth. That's that's that's my thing. I could care I don't care what you have to say
in regards to how you feel, and passionate, say it, but say it with respect. Using profanity does not does not drive home your point any more than when you just uh say it. If you can articulate for
4 and 1/2 minutes, you can articulate for the whole 5 minutes and still get your point across. So, that's um that's what I have to say, and I appreciate everyone coming out and um as I always say, get home safe and God bless you.
>> Thank you, Councilman Dengler and Mayor Plunkett. >> Thank you, Council President. Officer, I guess the JP leave, did he or is he still out there? >> I'll check. JP? He left, sir. >> He left? >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Well, let let me just say what I
was going to say anyway. I wanted to um first of all, I wanted to thank JP and Mark Davis because both of them have been very helpful, um you know, in our community. JP actually was very active as a resident when we were you know, where we
successfully kept the hospital stay here for several more years, and Mark, I tied them in together because Mark has been very active in the arts and cultural center with teaching kids and so forth. Um I I I wanted to mention this because JP
has often come here. Councilman Dengler might spell itself, and I'm sorry I forget your name in the in the in the back, right? We Yeah, we we spoke for an hour after a meeting to discuss, you know, all of the the issues that he wanted to discuss, but unfortunately, he
wants to change um the way that um government works and municipality works nationwide. I mean, I I mean, Robert's Rules of Order, if you heard of them, were established 150 years ago for municipalities based on
uh uh how how Congress did it 150 years ago because I guess public meetings and municipalities used to be sort of chaotic. So, almost every municipality in the country state local uh federal follow certain rules of order
which we do here. So, of course we allow for public comment and of course we have a back and forth, but it's not a council meeting actually is for the business at hand. So, it's not for a
public forum. Now, saying that we we do have a public forum. So, let me just start and not For example, 8 years ago there weren't televised council meetings here in the city. So, we started that. Even before that we
I I initiated city council office hours. A lot of people sometimes feel uncomfortable to talk in front of the public and they are feel that they're limited with the 5-minute rule so to speak that's put in place. But, any resident speaking here or not
can we have city council office hours where they can meet with two council people, myself the director of public safety, business administrator, even the city attorney uh to discuss anything for up to a half hour. We also have had in the course of every year a meet and
greet we have like I said public forums and beyond that uh myself and I I think I speak for most of the council are happy at any time certainly for me to give my phone number out to anyone and meet one-on-one with everyone as
well. So, but but again if you think about the the um Robert's Rules of Order it was developed to bring fair and efficient procedures to meetings throughout the US and so that the idea would be that
in other words where majority rules with minority rights. And again, I didn't do it, we didn't do it, but I mean I think the city attorney can vouch for that that's that's how it's always been and it works. Um I also wanted to use Mark as an
example because JP was also talking about third spaces. And I think we are the perfect example of a third space. And again, I'm just saying to me it's like well, we got to have something for the kids and we have to do this and that. Mark, I think you can vouch,
you're there with the kids. We we work together with the Board of Ed often. Just last week, Mark was part of an instructional thing for for kids and they had their middle school and high school had their art
exhibit exhibit there as well. But in terms of third spaces, I mean we have the arts and cultural center. Just in the last year, we have the community pool, a third space. We've renovated both our libraries, a senior center. Health and Tech Center is under construction now. Fire and History
Museum and we have several new parks. So, if he's mentioning third spaces, I mean it's it's it's it's it's what we do. Um so I just I just wanted to you know, we have an incredibly robust recreation
program, neighborhood fundings and things like that and and celebrate cultural heritage of everybody's nationality. So, I just wanted to kind of throw that out because we do a lot of the things that JP was talking about that Mark is a
part of and and that this council again in the last eight years if we've just you know, together it's all been very important to us that we represent everybody, that we're
inclusive. I just I just want to throw that out. I also want to thank everybody for coming this evening. I appreciate your comments. Please call me or any of our council people. We'll try to do whatever we can do. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mayor Palone. I I think you heard everybody really talking from the heart, you know, with the with the comments tonight. Speaking for myself, I so appreciate the number of people who came up to express their thoughts and
just the range of ideas that were were brought up. It We're we're fortunate. We're fortunate to be in Long Branch and we just keep it as beautiful and prosperous
and wonderful for all the residents. We work That's That's why we're here. That's why we we do it. I want to do a special shout-out to our police for keeping us safe all the time, but certainly for
the way you managed the pop-up as efficiently as we could. It was in previous times, you know, we monitor social media and you know, there's
usually some indication of an a pop-up that's going to happen. What happened the other week was more of a spontaneous spontaneous event and so it was really people are our police force needing to respond, you know,
in in the moment to manage just wow, way way way too many people who are on the on the beach. So, my congratulations and thanks to all of our
people that keep us safe. And Mark, again, I know I said it before, but I so appreciate what Maggie does in our and always what you do too. I think in in the work of the arts and and cultural center. It's such a wonderful
addition to to our our city. We we appreciate all your work. With that, you ready to go home? Shall we have Can I have a motion to adjourn, please? >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> Aye. >> Opposed? Goodnight, everyone. Thank you for coming out.