meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Tuesday, February 17th. Council President, council members, we have an appointment on the agenda on page 44. It's an appointment to the central planning board as a class 4 member. Is
Mr. Andre Spade in the building? >> Yes, he is. Please step to the microphone. >> Good morning, Mr. Spade. You are being appointed to the central planning board uh by Mayor Raz J. Baraka and uh with the consent of the council. Do you have
any opening statement you want to make? Uh good morning to the North City Council, to all those that are watching, and especially to our mayor. I'm happy to be asked to serve on the essential planning board. I would uh humbly
request your support in this appointment on this morning. >> Thank Thank you. Uh any questions from the council or comments? Councilman Ramos. >> I'm sorry, Mr. chairman, but I want to take this opportunity to congratulate
Bishop Spates, somebody that has served our community in various capacities over the years and now um he'll be serving the city well as our member of our planning board, which is probably the busiest body that we have within the
city now with the new zoning changes. A lot of development applications now go to the planning board. So, you're going to be a pretty busy guy for a while. So congratulations. God bless. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes. Anything else from the council
councilman? Uh >> congratulations Bishop and thank you for taking that responsibility on your shoulders. It's as mentioned before they say that board is very very active these days. But we need people that have they
say the interest of the city and the development of the they say the intelligent development of the city in mind and I believe you are one of those. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes. I I want to just congratulate you again and as Councilwoman Scott Ranchu
can attest, it is a working working board. So uh with that being said, thank you for for agreeing to your service. Tomorrow is the actual official vote for you, but uh congratulations. I'll say that now. >> Okay. Thank you so much.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And Councilman Ramos, my mother would always say, "You got enough for everybody?" >> I'm sorry. I had some for Councilman Council last time, so you know, he has some protein chips he stole from me. So, >> I'll bring some tomorrow night. Some
>> All right. We'll need it. All right. Madam clerk, >> we are on page four of the agenda. Item six, ordinances on public hearing, second reading and final passage. 6P SFA
is a refunding bond ordinance authorizing the issuance of $30,100,000 a principal amount of refunding bonds. >> Uh, director,
you could come up. Director Guzman. >> Good morning, Council President, council members. Benjamin Guzman, acting finance director. Uh, yes. Uh, luckily the local finance board did approve the city's application for the refunding bonds for the 30,100,000. Uh, and you know, we ask that uh we be
adopted uh at uh tomorrow evening's meeting. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions from the council? All right. Hearing none. Thank you. Thank you, D. B is an ordinance authorizing the first amendment to the original tax abatement granted to Cathedral Park Associates for
an affordable housing project in the north ward. >> Any questions from the council? >> Hearing none. Next item. >> C is an ordinance providing for a cap ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a
cap bank. >> Questions from the council. >> Yeah, Mr. President. >> Council Ramos. >> Yeah. with B. I had requested some followup. I don't know if the clerk can extract my comments. I know there was some issues that I believe some of the
tenants had raised to our office over the years. So, I don't know if code enforcement has any records of violations that needed to be addressed at these at these buildings. >> You're talking about Cathedral Park. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Uh so they could just verify that there are no outstanding issues prior to um tomorrow's meeting and then reason as to why there was no followup to my request. >> Absolutely. >> I think that was at least a month ago. So
>> all right thank you councilman through through your office madam clerk. >> We'll do >> any questions on item uh 6psfc. Aaron, next item. >> D is an ordinance authorizing the city
to enter into a 5-year lease agreement with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center for the rental of space within city-owned property to provide for a food pharmacy sponsored by Councilman Council and second by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. >> Questions from the council.
>> Yes, Mr. President. >> Uh Councilman uh Gonzalez. >> Yes. Do we know what the rental is? If there is any rental. >> Do we know who the rental? I think I'll let the uh It's us. Yeah, it's us. But
I'll let uh >> Good morning, Kellen Brook, director for the Department of Health. There's a This is a no cost lease agreement. >> No cost to them. So, it's a it's more a license than the than a lease. We are
offering the space to Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health. Um they're going to provide uh food counseling and nutritional education to our patients as well as set up a food pharmacy that we can offer fresh fruits, vegetables and dry goods to those who are experiencing
food insecurity or those who are trying to manage and treat you know uh disease related chronic illnesses. I applaud the that effort is is that when we call it a lease, usually there's a rental
involved, a $1, $10 or whatever. In this case, we're calling it a lease and there is no consideration for the lease. So, a contract without consideration usually is void. >> Oh, corporation council.
>> Go ahead. I would I would I'm sure there's some consideration within the lease itself and and if we could just get some confirmation of that. >> Good morning. Uh city of North Corporation Council. So Councilman, I appreciate comments. Uh he he he went to the law school rule on us.
I can appreciate that. Uh what I'll do is um I'll reread the contract if we even have to amend the contract to give it a dollar amount. It's fine. We'll make sure. And can you just uh uh uh uh what is your name? Corporation council.
>> I see my large coffee has been uh could you just provide something to the council and and writing prior to the meeting? >> Certainly. >> Thank you. >> Resolutions 7R1 A through G are temporary emergency appropriations.
A is for the Ryan White HIV AIDS Related Health and Support Services. B is for the Arts and Education District. C is for the Community Policing Grant. D is for the Capitol Equipment Grant.
E is for Branch Brook Park Station Pedestrian Safety Improvement. F is for Malbury Street Bikeway at NJPAC project. and G is for the pension funds. >> Questions from the council.
>> Councilman council. >> Uh council president, I know uh director Adams is here and uh as we begin to, you know, trans transition in these seasons. I think it's important that we begin to discuss a the paving plan uh that it
that should be happening uh this year around the city. And if we can get in front of that, get some information about um all of the blocks uh that will be paved uh so that we can begin to get that information out to the residents so they know because I know if we missed a
year of paving on last year that it's during the the spring season that there should be a lot of streets that may be closed off uh due to paving. And so we we want to be in front of that initiative. Um, and if we can get on top of that from director Adams as well as
uh director Adem, I believe he does part of it under water and sewage. But it would be uh to our benefit uh if we know when uh the paving is going to start if it's April 1st, March 28th um and the
areas and locations so that we can begin to get this out, advise the residents of what's happening and what's occurring. >> Thank you, Councilman. So through your through your office, Madame Clerk, we'll get that information as soon as possible. >> Certainly, >> Mr. President. >> Councilman Ramos.
>> Yeah, I'm I'm glad Councilman Council brought that issue up. And you know, I know PSEG is doing a big um replacement project around the city that's going to impact almost every neighborhood. And we're going to have to repave some of the streets that have been recently
paved. So, as they put together their their overall report, could they incorporate the impact of the PSEG gas line replacement project and how that's going to impact the uh paving that's already taking place? You know, maybe a
comprehensive schedule so that we can inform residents in various um streets in our in our wards about paving activity, whether it's done by the city, by PSENG or water, sewer. And also, how far back are we going? Because I know
some of the grants that we approved years ago, um the streets that were listed on those grant applications have yet to be paved. So, I know the city's behind years when it comes to paving out of the um state grants that we received.
So if we can get a sense of how far back um the city is going as far as its projects are concerned and then detail what PSEG is going to work on and also what water sewer potentially will work on. >> Thank you. Thank you Councilman Ramos.
Uh Mr. Adams, welcome back. That's all I'm You don't have to No. No. I just want to say welcome back. >> So President B. >> Councilman Gonzalez. >> Yeah. on G we have $83 million for pensions. I I thought that we had
approved enough money at the beginning of the year for for pensions and expenses, but it seems that we did not. Uh is this a total amount of the pension payment? Director uh Guzman or Yeah.
Uh good morning council president, council members, acting director of finance. Uh yes, this is the total amount of the pension bill. Uh the reason why I made it was not included in the original temporary appropriation for the budget for 26. We had not received the bill at the time. We did recently receive that bill. Um I can't say that
it the bill the amount is smaller than the prior year's bill thankfully. Uh but this is the the pension bill that is the city is required to pay in order to stay for all three pensions. >> So we paid ahead of time. We prepaid instead of paying for are we paying for 26 or for 25?
>> Uh my understanding is that the bills received is based on the prior years because they do need to catch up at the state level as to what the salaries were collected. So there are some amounts here based on any um uh labor agreements and if any salary changes and if there's any you know back pension contribution
that has to be made that's when it's build. Last year's bill was slightly higher than this year's bill due to prior uh um negotiations that had finally caught up in the system. We've been pretty much caught up. So but the the the billing is for the prior year's calculations of what the state has of
what we've submitted to the state. um any recent amounts if any changes that were submitted to the state will either be build subsequently later on this year or they'll hold off and that will be received in the bill for 2027. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank any other questions.
>> Thank you, director. >> You're welcome. >> H through K are purchasing contracts. H is a cooperative agreement for public safety v video surveillance. I is a state contract for tires, tubes,
and services for our fleet vehicles. J is a bid contract for armed security guards. K is RFP, competitive bid contract for municipal court private collection agency services. >> Questions from the council? >> I do have
>> Councilman Gonzalez. >> On J on Jay, uh, are we adding time to this contract? We because we're increasing the amount by $3 million. >> I believe the extension is for 90 days. Is that correct?
>> Can anyone Mr. uh or council or Uh good morning, council president, council members. Uh morning, >> James George from the department of public safety. I'm a captain with the police department. Uh this is Pro Cops, uh one of the companies. I believe there was a second one that we uh contracted
with to provide security for buildings throughout the uh city of Norc, uh public safety and uh public alike. Uh so this is just an aotment to make sure that those guards are there where we need them operating the uh the handheld wands the uh the x-ray machines and
such. So there was an additional amount that was needed to for the coverage and uh this is just an addition to those what's >> yeah my question is let's say we are increasing the contract amount by almost
14th from $8 million to $11 million. uh what the scope of work increase uh what what triggered the increase amount in the contract. >> Yeah, I I'd have to find that out for you. I don't know if it's additional
buildings that need security. I know we put up some some new buildings at least from the Department of Public Safety. There might be some other ones uh that are now open that they need additional coverage, but I could find that out for you. >> Will you please? >> We'll do. >> Thank you. >> And can we get that information prior to the meeting tomorrow night?
>> I will do my best. >> Thank you. M Mr. President, Councilman Ramos, uh >> the the grant that the city received um for pedestrian improve not for the police um related to park uh the the backup doesn't have much detail. So if
possible if we can get some details from the city as to how you know what kind of initiatives is the city going to undertake because you know Branch Park essentially is a county property. Is it the perimeter of branch park which there are a number of traffic safety issues
especially along Lake Street where pedestrians typically cross to get into the park or to to catch the city subway. And I had asked the previous director of engineering to see if there were some things that the city can do to improve um you know pedestrian safety. So maybe
this grant could assist us and and I would also ask that the central ward council woman be included in the conversation because branch does extend into uh part of the central ward as well. So you know it's a considerable grant. Hopefully they can get some good
things done to improve uh safety for residents who utilize the park. But there are no details in the award letter or the application. All right. Thank you. Through your chair, through your chair, through your office, madame clerk, we can get that more information again prior to
tomorrow's meeting. >> Yes. >> Next item. >> Seminar 2A through D are private sales redevelopment agreements. A is new construction of two two family homes
and also a new f a new two family home and a single family home to sell at market rate. in both the central and south wards. >> Questions from the council. >> Yes, it did. Um, thank you, council president. Just a question about um I
didn't have specifics regarding the lot size and what the properties were sold for each because it makes it seem like was this the total amount for all three for
all the lots? That's a good question. >> Good morning. Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development. Council President, to Councilwoman's question, the total that you see below is a is the total of all three properties together. So the
10,352.50 is for all three properties. If you would like to know which each property is um size at, I can get you that information. >> Yes, please. I'll get that to you before tomorrow's meeting. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Thank you. Any other questions regarding
>> All right. Next item. >> B is new construction of a three family home consisting of one owner occupied unit and two units will be rented at market rate in the south or >> questions from the council. >> I'm fine with it. >> Good.
>> Okay. I'm fine with it. >> All right. Next item. C is to construct a new two family residential dwelling with a parking garage for rent at 50% of the area medium income in the north ward. >> Yeah, Mr. President.
>> Councilman Ramos. >> Yeah, I'd like to defer this item. It's the first time I'm hearing about it. >> All right. >> A second. >> Deferred by Councilman uh Ramos. Second by Councilman Gonzalez. >> Duly noted. D is new construction of two two family
homes and one will be sold at 80% of AMI and one will be sold at market rate in the south ward. >> Questions from the council. >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, I you know I'm I'm fine with the project. Um and just
you know want to stay for the record. I think you know that that area uh is a area that needs some development. has been growing uh for a long period of time. But then as we move to uh the the vote tomorrow, I will be abstaining uh
on the item, but I'm definitely fine uh with this project and encourage the rest of my council colleagues to support it. >> Thank you, >> Mr. President. >> Councilman Gonzalez, >> I'm going to uh to go back to see where
I see that the lot size is 250. Erh, >> so before we do that, we're finished with D before we go back. We're good with D. >> That's okay. >> Okay. All right. Let's go back to C then. Go ahead. >> So, uh, that lot is 2,000 ft and they
are proposing to build a two family home. I thought that to build a two family home, you needed three at least 3,000 square feet. So, my question is whether these individuals that are buying these lots are notified or
advised that what they have might not be enough to let's say to build what they want to build and that they have to go to planning board or they have to go to the zoning board and they are going to spend a ton of money getting those
approval. So I believe it's important that we that we notify them that it's not just buying the lot and building the properties going through all the approvals with the architects, engineers
and and everybody involved. And I don't know if we are doing that with the people that are buying these lots that are nonconforming lots. >> And Mr. President >> Councilman. >> Yeah, I just looked up the backup for this property and and I've been complaining about 255 Grafton Avenue as
probably the poorest kept property in in the in the North Ward. Legally converted. We get complaints about commercial vehicles parked outside. Now, the proposed buyer of this site lists 255 Grafton Avenue as their business
address. So, you know, it's kind of ironic if the clerk's office were to pull up how many times I referenced this address and the fact that the city has taken no action on this particular property in the 10 years I've been complaining about it. And now all of a
sudden, we're proposing to sell this property to a developer that lists that address as their business address in a historic district. And if you drive, I invite anybody, especially the atlargers, drive by that property at night and you will see commercial
vehicles parked on the street, tractor trailer parked in the rear yard of the property. And and I don't understand how they have not gotten a violation in the years I've been complaining about it yet. We're looking to sell them a piece of property. And I agree with the
council. is a very congested block and we live under the fallacy that we don't need parking provisions and one of the biggest complaints we get in community meetings especially in residential areas is lack of parking. So just want to put that on the record.
>> Thank you council me council. >> Sure. Good morning uh of course Kenyatta city of nor corporation council. So uh councilman we I recognize your concerns. uh do some research as to seeing if the owner of the
property that you're talking about is actually the person that's associated with this. It may be a tenant associated. I don't know. >> It's a one family um >> I don't know enough >> areas. I don't know what kind of tenant they would have. >> I I get it. I get it. I I'll do some research to find out what's going on before tomorrow that you can better you
can be more comfortable with if you should move forward with voting on it or not. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Next item. E through I are all introducing the 2026 budgets for various business and or special
improvement districts. E is the Ironbound Business Improvement District. F is the Mount Prospect Avenue Neighborhood Improvement District Management Corporation. G is the Newark Downtown District Management Corporation.
H is the Bloomfield Avenue Lower Broadway Business Improvement District and I is Norc Alliance. >> Questions from the council comments? >> Oh, yes. I'd like to be known as a sponsor for E. >> Yep.
Sponsored by Councilman Silva, second by Councilman Canana. >> I have a a comment to make if I can. It's a it's it's great to see that in February we're receiving all these budgets. These budgets had always been presented in July and August.
Kudos to the deputy mayor for requiring that this budgets be presented on time. >> Yes. >> And I'm sure she has some help. >> Any other comments, questions? Councilman? >> Yes. Just a quick uh Mr. President D uh
Nort if we can get an update on the uh >> downtown district >> the Newark Alliance >> Alliance. Okay. I know uh that the executive director that was over there has gone now down uh to Trenton and if
we can get an update about you know what is happening with the alliance what is the new plan going forward if there's a a change in direction or vision uh that we can be able to share because I I've realized that the alliance as well as
New York happenings were supposed to umbrella each other and we definitely need to hear about some plan of action and movement uh with both of those entities. >> I I I can tell you that that there there is a going to be a search or a search has begun for a new executive director
for the uh NORC Alliance. Um and I don't know if they're going to be able to present a vision until that person gets in office. So, as things move progress forward, I will definitely keep the council a breast of what's going on. >> Thank you. Next item.
J is an agreement with a government entity authorizing the execution of a fifth amendment to the Riverside Avenue site tolling agreement. >> Questions from the council? >> Hearing none. Next item.
>> K is requesting the Newark central planning board to consider an amendment to title 41 zoning and land use regulations regarding the fossil fuel ordinance. >> Questions from the council? Next item.
>> Oh, I'm sponsoring this item, by the way. I'm I'm sponsor this one. Yeah. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Kelly said second first. >> I'm sorry, Councilwoman. He did. >> Duly noted. >> Just throw my >> L and M are investigations of an area in
need of redevelopment. L is for property in the east ward and M is property in the north ward. >> Questions from the council. Next item, >> 7R3A is a professional service contract for the riverfront pedestrian and
bicycle access concept development study change order. >> Any questions from the council? Next item. >> 7R4A is stipulation of settlements for tax appeals.
>> Questions? Next item. 7R5A through I or contracts with sub recipients to provide housing assistance and supportive services to persons with HIV AIDS. A is Catholic Charities.
B is Essex County. C is Edge New Jersey. D is Isaiah House. E is Integrity Incorporated. F is Norbeth Israel Medical Center. G is the Township of Irvington.
H is positive healthc care incorporated. I is Catholic Family and Community Services. >> Any questions from the council? Hearing none. Next item. J is acceptance of grant funds to provide Ryan White HIV
AIDS related health and support services. >> Any questions from the council? >> Next item. >> Seven 8A is resolution of supporting the reinstatement of funding for the New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program
sponsored by Councilman Gintana. >> I'll second. >> Second by Councilman Ramos. Councilman Canana, would you like to say anything on that or >> would you like to say anything on this? >> No. >> Yeah. If I get another email asking me to vote for it, I may not vote for it. So, got a 100 emails this weekend.
>> We're on the chain. Absolutely. All right. >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, >> Councilman uh council. >> Yeah, I I did want to speak on that. I want to, you know, applaud uh Councilman Canana for taking the lead uh in that matter. Child care is not just
a right but it it should be a privilege. Uh and we should make note of it in this state that if we are going to be progressive and take the lead uh that early intervention and our children's lives is important uh especially early childhood education. And so I'm
definitely a proponent uh from uh cradle to um you know adult in dealing with educational issues as well as early childhood education from up to zero to four makes a difference and I think it's important uh that our delegation tags
along with us supports this effort uh to make sure that we're in in good position uh not just for for single mothers but also single fathers to be able to have a a decent places in their children for child care. >> Thank you, Councilman.
Anything else from the council? Next item. >> B is recognizing, commending, and C is expressing profound sorrow and regret. >> Anything Councilman uh Kentana,
>> you're off. >> Lewis M. Lopez who deputy may merit at one time here and also founder of the Roberto comment league of the passing of his wife Lopez >> Julie not
>> thank you >> who said that >> oh council I'll second it I know Lewis very well I'll second it >> oh you second it okay I'll Anything else from the council? >> Yes. I I uh would would like to add
under sorrow and regret and then would uh also want to put on record for tomorrow's meeting a motion uh for the loss of Joy Washington uh a resident in the city of Newark uh for uh
and an employee here uh under the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Senior Services who has worked diligently for uh all of his time here in the city of Newark providing resources and services our youth, our young adults, and our seniors, uh the
entire Washington family. I know the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs grieves his loss uh on on today as they're help having his services this morning from 10 to 11 uh and his services will begin at 11:00 uh at Good Neighbor Baptist Church. but to the
entire Washington family who has been such an imprint uh in this community around the JFK recreational area. Uh Joey uh has been a consistent uh fighter uh for the rights of recreation uh for
making sure uh that our young people uh understand and utilize their talents uh in a very intentional way. uh his loss is going to be missed not just by the department uh but by all of us uh who knew him uh his church community uh him
uh being able to dazzle us with uh two of his other brothers uh who who are no longer with us at the opening of the credential uh singing the national anthem. And so we will never uh forget uh the works uh in relationship of Joey
Washington. And so I I want us uh to remember Joey's name as he continues as his family continues to go through this transition and loss. I also want to uh add to a sorrow and regret and on tomorrow a motion uh for the loss of the
mother of D Hoffman uh who uh is a Gerard Place uh legend and organizer uh of Gerard Place here in the city of New more importantly the South Ward as we uh grieve the loss of her mother in transition of her mother Irma Chavis uh
who also is having our services today uh from 10 to 11 is the viewing uh at uh the OFW temple in East Orange and 11 uh is the services and so our prayers is with the Hoffman family and Washington
family on today uh that God may strengthen and be with them. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Council President >> Second by Councilwoman uh uh Bay Councilman uh right here Kelly.
It got hot in here. >> Thank you, Council Press. I just want to um send a deep sorrow and regret for the passing of Jesse Jackson who was a towering
figure in the civil rights um you know economic justice and human dignity and we just lost a towering figure. So, I just want to send a sorrow and regret on behalf of the entire council. Um,
and just say rest in peace, rest easy to the iconic, iconic Jesse Jackson. Um, I also want to send a um sorrow and regret for our East Orange brother um who is
the blueprint for some of the greatest entertaining rappers who come out of Newark, New Jersey and Essex County. Uh Mr. Mike C who passed away uh last week. His funeral was this past weekend. Um,
but the people that you love like Naughty by Nature and the Roots and I mean, excuse me, and the Fuji and all of those guys, this was the blueprint for them. He never got a shot. Struggled with uh a lot of things going on in in
the streets, but he is the blueprint for a lot of people who came out of Newark and East Orange. So, we want to send a sorrow and regret to his his family and say rest easy, Mike C. >> Thank you, C.
Second by councilman uh president Viko if if we can do you know we should petition mass at flag at the half mass you know just Jackson I was given the opportunity
back in 1988 with the rainbow coalition with um Larry Hamir Baraka Mildred Crump Tucker and we were the ones launched the first flight uh in his campaign. He came to New
Jersey, Tito Burl. I was part of that uh time and that inspiration of the rainbow coalition and the voter registration drive at the time uh made the Democratic Party of the strength. It gave the party
a strength. So, Reverend Jess Jackson, I remember um last time I ran into him was at the National Democratic Convention Chicago Council Ramos and Senator Ruiz, a group of us went to see the re
Reverend Jess who again uh like to make sure that we do uh encourage cities around the state uh to put their mask at half, you know, because of Chessie was
civil rights move with Reverend Martin Luther King and for that reason I think that we should do some tribute. I I pay the tribute to a man who opened the doors an opportunity. I was given that
opportunity to spend time with the Reverend uh Jesse Jackson and it's a loss for us today as today we're exercising democracy as we some of us were bringing petitions in today and that is an exercise of
democracy uh that people's voices could be heard. Thank you. >> Thank you councilman >> council. Yes. >> Oh council. Um, I want to also add to sorrow and regrets to make a motion for the fam in
behalf of the family of Marie Geronda. Marie Geronda was a teacher in the city of Newark for over 30 years a university high school. Um, she just recently passed away. She was a phenomenal woman,
a phenomenal teacher, and I would pray that every student in the city of Newark would have a teacher like Miss Geronda. She poured so much into all of us at University High School. Um, and so many of us and so many people in this
administration that graduated from University High School benefited from her wisdom and her kindness. And um, she would be sorely missed, but she was a phenomenal phenomenal educator and um, I
just offer condolences to her family and everyone um that loved her. Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh, Councilwoman Scott Roundry. >> Thank you, Council President. Just to ditto, um, Councilman Council, um, and our council colleague,
Councilman uh, Dup Prey on the Honorable Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Honorable, as Council President's mother would always say, Mother Crop would say, honorable is a characteristic. Uh so to the honorable Joe Washington, the Washington family, um the family called
Councilman Council and asked me did I know anybody a good neighbor. So uh that was I thought that was a setup question. Uh because yes, that's why we are funeralizing um him at good neighbor. And so uh of course everyone has already expressed profound sorrow and regret to
the Hoffman family as well on the trans transitioning of her mother and of course to Councilwoman Bay. um extending condolences to one of the most profound educators uh in the city of Newark which whatever is done in New York is Ken
Mayor Kenneth Allen Gibson would say wherever um America's going is going to get there first but we got there first with some phenomenal teachers some phenomenal servants such as brother Washington and it's just an honor to be able to have known these people because
they represented this city in excellence so thank you council president for letting me have these few words Now, if you will excuse me because you know that I have some things to do, right? >> Yes. Thank you, council woman. >> Love you guys. >> Anything else from the council?
>> Next item. >> 7R9A is appointment of special police officers, nine nine non-residents. >> Questions from the council. >> Next item. Seminar 111A is accepting a
gift three mini buses from the Newark Housing Authority to transport our seniors. >> Any questions from the council? >> Next item. >> 7R12 A through D are professional services contracts for the department of
water and sewer utilities. A is for engineering services. B is for engineering services. C is for pumps and additional filters at the Pquonic water treatment plant. D is for engineering services.
>> Questions from the council. >> Next item. >> E is a bid contract to provide Cedar Grove reservoir fence contract. >> Any questions from the council? >> Next item, >> communications. Item 8A is an ordinance
amending multi-way stop intersections by designating 18th Avenue and South 13th Street as a multi-way stop sign intersection in the south ward. >> Questions from the council. >> Mr. Chair, I'll sponsor it. >> Sponsored by Councilman Council. Second
by Councilman Kelly. >> Next item. >> Duly noted. >> Oh, we did that. >> Public comment. We are now in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Please state your name for the record. Is there
anyone wishing to address the council corrupt code? No, no other way to describe you. New York City council, city clerk, and officials. Y'all still don't get it,
right? You still don't get it. Banning, excluding, and now removing names off the list. You still don't get it.
Kesha Daniels, I requested you to restore my name back on the hearing a citizen list. I signed up. I was number 13. your staff over here
on few a few occasions moved my name to the bottom of the list due to my work getting off at a later time in the evenings. I signed up.
I want to Oprah the phone conversations. I want to OPRAH THE CALL LOGS CUZ I GOT MINES. Why was my name removed from the list? And why didn't you restore my name back
on the list? Because I signed up. I was number 13. She told me to call her back as we've done in the past on a few occasion. I CALLED BACK SEVERAL TIMES. SHE GAVE ME A NUMBER 23. THEN I CALLED BACK ON FRIDAY
and she SAID I WAS REMOVED. WHERE'S THE PHONE CONVERSATIONS? Where's the phone logs? Because I have mines. And how DID YOU AGREE WITH HER AND STILL remove my name OFF THE LIST? YOU JUST DON'T GET IT. THE lawsuit just don't get
it right. Snow removal. The plan for the city, county, DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, CORPORATIONS, AND SLUM SLUM LORDS. THE ABSOLUTE FAILURE STILL TO THIS DAY.
THE HOME PLAN 100 HOME REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIS IS ANOTHER THIS POLITICAL stunt by Raspberry. It's election time. Don't fall for THE OKEY DO AND FOLLOW WHO GET THE HOMES. DOWNTOWN DISTRICT DOWNTOWN
used to be a thriving BUT NOW IS SLOWLY DYING in need of REVITALIZATION AND SAFETY. PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER GOING DOWNTOWN TO SHOP AND TO ENJOY DOWNTOWN CITY ATMOSPHERE. RETAIL STORES CLOSING ATMOSPHERE. I MEAN, RESTAURANTS closing
their doors. The homeless moved in. Drug addicts, DRUG DEALERS ROAMING THE STREET TRYING TO SURVIVE. DOWNTOWN JUST IS NOT SAFE ANYMORE and thriving anymore. And what are you GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker.
>> Thank you for your comments. What you going to do about it? Any other speakers? Oh, okay. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> So, I never like >> I'm sorry. Just state your name for the record. >> Latoya Jackson Tucker. >> Thank you. >> I never like coming down here when I'm
in my feelings. It's not good for me and it's not good for my community. And y'all have seen me come down here and speak about my kids se several times. Now I have a son that did nine years that has been locked up by the
North Police Department within the last two weeks about six times he have a bracelet. What they're doing is they're taking him into custody, holding him, doing illegal searches, taking money from him that's not on his paperwork.
money that hard-earned money that I'm giving him, my mother giving him out of her social security check, and my family members are giving him. None of this stuff is documented. I tried to keep my mouth closed when it comes to Wbe,
but the whole community is understanding that the police is not operating in the right type of way. Now the police the to me they are purposely trying to make our young people informants. One of the reasons why you don't see a
lot of people rallying with them because in the streets he is considered as a snitch. But the North Police Department is using these young men to do things. They have protocol. They have policy. They has
things where they are supposed to do their own investigations and they cannot force people to turn on their community. So when I spoke to my son this morning, he's we documenting different things, but he's he basically said, "Mom, they trying to make me a snitch." Now, when
he was in jail, we went through a lot of things where we me having to go through different people that life people that's incarcerated that's doing life. Me having to reach out to different people to settle situations that were street situations that carried on into jail. I
do not want my son incarcerated. I do not want the North Police Department to keep picking him up for for no reason. Just stopping him, harassing him, taking him to the precinct. When he got to the precinct this last time over the weekend, it was the officer that know my
retired brother that retired as a lieutenant that basically would not allow him to do what he wanted what they wanted to do to him in that fifth precinct. These cops are doing a lot of stuff. We just got out the descent decree. They went back to the 90s, the
early 90s and 2000s where they're jumping out and doing all of this fibrous stuff to our community. Now, I got a lot of pull and a lot of influence. I know a lot of people on the force that I am cool with, but my
community comes first. I do not want to put together a army that's more fiercer than Farrakans within the community. Please do something about your Department of Public Safety and the things that they're doing illegally to our young men in this community.
>> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> Seeing none, public speaking is now closed. Anything from the council? Anything from the admin? Uh is there anything from administration?
Yes. No. All right. I I guess that's it. We'll see every uh Oh, no. Councilman, >> I want to bring up one thing. Council President, thank you. >> Okay. >> Um, we have a situation in the West Ward and I'm
sure it's probably over the city. I I know a few months back we talked about towing and illegal booting. I know North Councilman has talked about that several times. I believe even a Yeah. Um so we have a situation in the
west where people are putting up fictitious signs that um saying that unauthorized towing and it's happening specifically on 18th Avenue in Melrose um in Seattown illegal towing company uh
the business department we we had somebody check that said that this company does not have a tow license in Newark. Um, it's called K&J Towing. And when you when people are told the phone number for you to call to retrieve your car goes back to Perth Amboy.
So, a friend of mine in New York followed the they said it was in Perth Amboy. He had a tracking device on his car, followed it, and the his car was towed to somebody's house. He called the number on the on the uh
the sign and they answered it like it was the K&J towing, but the car was in front of someone's home. This is on 18th Avenue in Melrose. And I asked that we do a full investigation um on this this towing company K&J. They're charging they charged him $700
to get his car back and a lady they charged $400 to get to take her car off the lift. This is an illegal towing company. The city of Newark does not uh give out any has not given out any license to this K&J towing company. It's
illegal. I ask that our public safety, our police department get involved. Um and let's please let's stop getting our residents in New Jersey illegally told. >> Thank you very much, Councilman. Let's let's follow up with that. Count uh
Madame Clerk too. Anything else from the council? All right, everybody. See you tomorrow evening. >> It's crazy. >> It's crazy.