I love this charge. >> Good morning. Welcome to the premeating of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. Council President, council members, we are on page four of the agenda.
Ordinances on first reading. 6FA and B are fossil fuel ordinances. A is to prohibit any new or expanded fossil fuel facility and B is the prohibitation on use of city funds for fossil fuel.
>> Any questions from the council? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair. just just wanted to know I don't know where where we were uh as it relates to the final conversations between uh you know the administration yourself with this ordinance and I just want to let you know I'm in support of
it and would love to see it moved and so >> and so that there continue conversations the uh administration's provided with additional information um which they have told me they're going to review and but for these two at this this two items
I believe we should move forward and uh uh vote to move them to uh uh to second reading. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Next item. >> Can we see the changes that were made?
>> Oh, absolutely. Everybody's going to get a copy of everything. Yeah. >> Yes, >> definitely. All right. Next item. Public hearing second reading and final passage 6P SFA will be deferred. Resolutions
7R1A and B are temporary emergency appropriations. A is for the 2026 operating budget and B is for enrolling residents in the health insurance using get covered New Jersey. >> Any questions from the council
hearing? None. Next item. Seminar 2A through A and B are private sales. A is new construction of three family home for rent in two affordable units and one at market rate in the south ward.
>> Any questions on the uh well on a >> yeah 7R2A uh Mr. Chair I'd like to sponsor that. >> Okay. Sponsored by council council. Is there a second on there? >> Second. >> Second by council Scott. Can we go to a
77 718? >> I just want to ask uh we approve a let's say like a hundred something million dollars for the budget for the three months and why is this different $1.6 million for the
office of the clerk and municipal council? Why were we separated? >> So these funds are just for the election. >> This is just >> yes. Okay. only for lunch. >> All right. Thank you. Uh
what sponsor Oh, 72A sponsored by Councilman Council, second by Councilwoman Scott Roundree. >> Duly noted. >> B is new construction of a mixeduse building having two to three units for
rent at market rate and construction of two family home to be sold at market rate in the West Ward. This will be returned to the administration. >> All right. Thank you. Next item. >> C is new construction of two two family
homes in the central and south ward. >> Any questions from the council? >> I would like to defer this item. >> Defer it. >> Motion. All right. Defer it. Next item. >> Second to defer. >> Oh, is that a motion to defer? A second
by Councilman uh Gonzalez. noted. >> Sorry, he has another question. Councilman, >> I I like what I see when I see $21 a square foot instead of the $4 [clears throat] and $6 that we were
charging. Uh I believe that that's below the market still, but it's much better than than selling for $4 a square foot. >> So, Councilman is glad you're going in the right direction. Ehd, next item.
D through K are all professional services contracts in EHD. D is for planning consultant. E is for surveyor services. F is for surveyor services. G is for on call environmental
consulting. H is for real estate appraisal services. I is for planning consulting services. J is for on call environmental consulting. And K is on call environmental consulting. Any questions from the council?
>> Councilman Gonzalez. >> Yes. Now that we have an appraiser on on the on the on the contract, we will have an appraiser on the contract. I hope to that we receive appraisals for all the properties that are being sold so that
we can compare that to the price that we're selling it for. if not all the there's a a good number of them. >> Yeah. Thank Thank you, Councilman. And to add another additional question,
um these contracts that we are voting on, we'll be voting on tomorrow. Most of the funds that will pay for these contracts, will they be coming out of escrow or out of the budget?
You can answer that question later. doesn't have to be asked right now, but please provide us with written information on that. Thank you. >> Next item. >> L is investigation for an area in need of redevelopment authorizing the New York Central Planning Board to undertake
a preliminary investigation to determine if an area is in need of redevelopment in the east ward. >> Questions? Council Silva. >> Sponsor this. >> Sponsor by Councilman Silva. Second by Councilman Canana. Do not
>> any questions or anything? Next item. >> 7R3A is amending resolutions increasing the grant funding for Broad Street phase 2 pedestrian safety improvements. >> Any questions from the council?
Okay. Hearing none. Next item. B is a resolution authorizing the Department of Engineering to request an extension of time from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to award a contract for construction of the bikeway program for the Newark downtown connector project.
>> Questions from the council. >> I have a question. Um just a general question. It seems like we have a number of these projects that are being delayed because of infrastructure coordination I think with DOT. I is there a um
[snorts] I I guess my question is how how do we improve that uh [clears throat] relationship or or move things in a in a more timely manner? Is that even possible? It's a quick question. You know,
we have to deal with the bridge and other matters that have >> Sure. Good morning, Council President. Eric Pennington, business administrator. Our new interim director of engineering is here, James Adams. But I'm going to try to take this one quickly. The shorter answer is we need to hire more
people. We are a little bit overstretched at the moment and >> doing the best we can to coordinate uh and don't want to lose out on opportunities. So these extension requests are necessary. It's not a question of us not being able to get along. It's more a question of uh
resource allocation, human resource allocation and otherwise. >> All right. Thank you. Any any other questions? Matter. Thank you very much. [snorts] Next item. C is a request for an extension from the Department of
Transportation to allow additional time to award a contract for the construction of the New York City Mars Canal Bikeway project. >> Questions from the council hearing? None. Next item. >> 7R5A is acceptance of application of
grant funds to support the state of New Jersey enrolling residents in health insurance using Get Covered New Jersey. Questions from the council. Hearing none. Next item. >> 7R6A, a settlement of civil litigation for executive session.
>> Thank you. Next item. >> B through C are professional services contracts for the law department. B is an amended agreement with DOTUS. C is for special tax litigation council.
>> Any questions? Next item. 7R7A is a reappoint of the interim chief financial officer, Director Guzman. >> Questions from the council? >> There should be absolutely none. [laughter]
Thank you. Next item. >> 7R8A is a whole harmless for the annual day of love senior brunch sponsored by Councilman Ramos. >> Is there a second? Second by Councilman Can. Any questions on the matter? >> Duly noted.
Thank you. Uh, next item >> 7R8B is recognizing and commending resolutions and C is expressing profound sorrow and regret. >> Questions from the council. >> Councilman uh Gonzalez.
>> Yes. The father of Oscar Rodriguez, one of my aids passed. We want to send him a sovereign regret. and send it to Oscar's address. You >> all right? Adding an additional sorrow
and regret with a father uh to Oscar Rodriguez or passing of his father. Any other matters hearing? Next item. >> 7R9A is acceptance of grant funds to upgrade the 911 system.
>> Questions from the council. >> Yeah, Mr. President. Councilman Ramos. >> Um, you know, I don't I don't necessarily need an explanation today, but I'd like through your chair and the clerk to schedule a public safety committee meeting and have the department um present that day, whether
it's a chief or public safety director, and add this as one of the items on the agenda. Um, they can explain what some of these upgrades mean for the residents of the city. >> Thank you, sir. >> Going to improve response time. You know, sometimes residents call 911
instead of 6,000 uh for non-emergency calls and that creates a little bit of confusion. So, if they can just be prepared to explain to us what these upgrades mean. >> All right. Thank you, uh, Madame Clerk. Schedule that meeting. Thank you,
Councilman Ramos. >> Communications. Item 8A is an ordinance authorizing the first amendment to the original tax abatement granted to Cathedral Park Associates LP for an affordable housing project in the north ward.
>> Can we get an explanation on that? Uh, Deputy Mayor, I think I see you in the back or or Brandy, who whoever. Okay. [snorts] >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Brandy Daniel, legislative um coordinator for economic and housing development. Um this is to uh do an
extension for a tax abatement for Cathedral Park Associates. Um their original tax abatement was scheduled to end >> I hate to say this miss speak. >> You hear me now? I'm sorry. >> Much better. Much better. >> I'm sorry. Um their original tax abatement was set to expire in 2024. Um
but on September 1st of 2023, they entered into an agreement with HUD for a housing assistance payment renewal contract for a period of 20 years. Um that extended the section 8 assistant payments for the tenants up until August 31st of 2043.
Um per the state statute, the municipality is allowed to extend their tax abatement as long as they are in compliance with the uh HUD guidelines as long as they're receiving this assistance. And to give you a little background on this project, it is a
fivestory 48 unit multifamily 100% affordable building. So because they are still in compliance with their section 8 HUD funding, we are allowed to extend their tax abatement to match the uh expiration date of the HUD agreement.
>> And is the whole building section 8? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Any other any questions from Councilman Ramos? >> Yeah. uh through your chair. Is this the property next to the um arch dasis on um Clifton Avenue in Mount Prospect? >> It's on Clifton and Mount Prospect.
>> Okay. If possible, I'd like to meet with the um the owners of the site if it's the building I'm thinking of. There just a few issues that um tenants have complained to our office about. So, just want to see if we can get that addressed >> as we go through this process. All
right. >> We'll reach out to the developers and have them make an appointment to your office. You're welcome. >> All right. Thank you. Any other questions? >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Next item. >> B is an ordinance amending parking,
stopping, and standing addressing vehicles on yard frontage sponsored by Councilman Ramos. >> Mr. Clerk, Mr. Clerk, Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. Um, I just want to explain that we we've received it's it comes up at
every community meeting where we get complaints about people parking their vehicles on their front lawn and and somehow when you know we check the uh city's ordinances, it's not necessarily illegal to park your vehicle on your
front lawn. So, uh, through this amendment, uh, we're hoping to make it very clear that if you have grass in front of your house and, you know, beautifully manicured front lawn, you're not allowed to park, um, your vehicle. So, we've worked I want to thank the
clerk's office, uh, as always, they do a great job of putting these ideas into ordinances that make sense and, um, public safety had an opportunity to review it, so they're comfortable with it because they're the ones that are going to have to enforce this. So, I I'd
like to um with your permission, you know, have the council review it and if everybody's good with it, I'd like to advance and adopt so we could get this done quickly. >> Thank you, Council Moros. >> Thank you. >> Advance and adopt. Is there a second for the
>> second? I heard both of y'all at the same time. [laughter] Councilman uh uh Gonzalez, >> duly noted. Council President, council members, we have one added starter from the Department of Economic Development.
>> I need you to speak up too, Madame Clerk. I'm sorry. >> My apologies. I'm so sorry. We have one added starter from EHD. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Mr. Corp Council. >> Sure. Good morning. Uh Stewart, City of North Corporation Council. So,
essentially, uh the number is uh 26-0074. Uh it's a uh an amended contract for the Dakota's law firm. As you all notice uh on uh some of our items that are here today, there's an amendment of the Dakota's contract because the Dakota
firm is uh the two Dakota brothers are separating. So essentially this is the one side Mike Dotus who does most of our work, him and his part of the group um are going to essentially go in a different space and as a result we're just asking to amend the EHD contract as
well. It's funny. We don't need him to speak, but he walked in just as you were talking about him. Look at the timing. >> All right. Understood. Everybody Everybody clear? Everybody council good. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Uh councilman, if we can go back to uh
7R5A along with the the extended one. I see the uh director of of health services here just to give us not just a little brief uh explanation over the um component in enrolling the residents for
uh health insurance using the get covered method. What would that look like? Um I know we apply we're looking to accept grants. How would that work especially now uh with uh you know folks premiums and things going up. uh will it apply for even you know residents that
are employees here in the city uh but also visav what happens to engage the normal resident in our community that is lacking health coverage and what are the metrics that are going to be used and uh how do we get uh data to find out how many people uh that we have signed up
>> all right directors [clears throat] Good morning Olsburg, director for the health department. Uh to answer your question, Councilman Council, we through this grant, we have a health insurance navigator that meets with patients who come into the center who do not have
insurance. Um, we have a process whereby we do an assessment based on income and other factors and we determine whether your pathway is Medicaid, at which point we support you through the application process or if you have a certain income level and above, then we will work with
you to get you into get covered um coverage through uh the New Jersey, excuse me, the New Jersey marketplace. Um, individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid or do not have the financial means to purchase a plan through the marketplace um, and are ineligible for Medicaid are supported through
uncompensated care dollars that that we have through the state. It's called LOA. Um, and so any patient that comes in through the health center gets an insurance determination done on them and then we support them through the process and getting them connected to insurance. I can provide you with data on what that
looks like in terms of coverage here in the city. Al also uh what will be our uh outreach plan market and branding? I know some folks may not know to you know arbitrarily just come into the the health center. What will be our plan for getting the information out there to say hey if you are between this uh income
range or if you are looking for assistance uh or health assistance New Jersey cover up is what you need. So, we do have marketing materials that we distribute at community events and through partners letting the uh community know about the services that
are available through federally qualified health centers such as ours. Um, we also have done commercials, radio drops, and so forth. So, we are consistently trying to get that message across and we'll continue to do so. and if there's a a number that they can reach out to now to find out if they are
qualified or if they are looking to uh figure out if they need additional insurance or that insurance is what it is they need. What number can they contact to get information? >> The number to the health center is 1 8007347083. uh you can call, schedule an appointment, and again when you come in,
we'll make a determination about what your insurance [snorts] status looks like, and based on your uh income information, family, household size, residency, etc., we'll determine what pathway makes sense for you. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome, >> Council President. >> Councilman Ramos. >> Yeah. Before the director leaves, um
just just when you get a chance, director, give us an update on the um opening or anticipated opening of the health clinic at over at Park Elementary School. I know that's something you spoke to me about that the city um was taking over that space. I know there
were other groups that were interested in opening a health center there. So, I just want to know when does the city plan on opening that satellite? >> Uh we're hoping hoping for an opening in fall of 2026. Um right now we are in the licensing review phase with the state
health department. So we subi sub submitted them our plan for the health center as well as um identified an architect to actually develop the design. Um and from there once we get approval from the state we'll move forward with um bringing in a a construction company to do the rem uh
redevelopment of the site. It's already configured as a health space so there's not a lot of construction involved in that. So we are hoping to have that open before the end of fall of this year. Yeah, because I know that there was a previous health center in that space. I think it was Jewish Renaissance ran.
Correct. So, >> yeah. So, once they vacated the space, it gave us an opportunity to take over and we're looking forward to opening that site this year. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, director. >> Madam Clerk, >> we are 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? >> Great day, New York. De Mayor Deborah Salters 2026. Ending this corruption and everything
broken. We will fix. First of all, why was the special cancelled last week? That's number one. where we supposed to get a presentation from director Wooten on elevators and
the roads and from director Lad on things that affect us here in the city. That was canled last week without explanation. Then yesterday the premeating was cancelled because of the inauguration of
Mikey Cheryl. What does that have to do with our city business? Why does the council need to be at Mikey Sher's inauguration and her party?
And it wasn't told us. Apparently, you all knew you were going to do this last week because some people got invitations to do things today because you knew you were going to cancel it. But the rest of us had to find out by coming here and then looking at the website saying,
"Oh, the meeting is going to be pushed till today." That's diabolical. If you knew last week that you were not going to have this meeting yesterday, you should have said something. You don't give TWO CENTS ABOUT WHAT we put in place to be here, to be available
and present to do the city's business. So what we need to start doing is docking your paychecks. When you miss three, four, five meetings without explanation.
You cancel meetings without explanation. We the people need explanations because not only was that special canceled last week for Wooten, she came, she had three or four opportunities to explain TO US WHAT IS GOING ON WITH
THESE elevators and our roads and everything else. But you, Council President, each time, oh, we'll we'll we'll talk about it later. Even at the behest OF COUNCILWOMAN ROUNDTREE WANTING TO ASK the questions.
Oh, we'll do it later. And here we are. We still have no answers. The elevators were fixed. Two days later, two of them were broken. Really? But you have time to cancel a premeating
and go to Mikey Cheryl's inauguration. How did that benefit us with a $255 million deficit that we have to answer to? How did that benefit us with A $30 MILLION BOND that we have to pay by March 3rd
along WITH THE PLETHORA OF PROBLEMS we have in this city? HOW DID YOU BEING AT HER party benefit we the people? >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, >> council president, council members. Dr.
Leah Owen, South Ward Environmental Alliance. um definitely want to express uh appreciation that you're moving forward the Newark fossil-free future ordinance. Those first two agenda items um we have come before this council and
also um as council president mentioned provided additional information to support the council's understanding of this ordinance and why it should move forward for the health of the residents of Newark. Um, I also just wanted to take the opportunity uh to point out
that the uh revisions that we suggested that came from those conversations, it doesn't look like it's been uploaded in Legisar yet. Um, and that is the copy that we provided to you at the December regular meeting. So, just want to flag that and make sure that um you know
those all of those are are updated because it really makes clear that again we're talking about major sources of air pollution. We're not talking about every and anything that has to do with fossil fuels. This is not about gas stations. Um we know that airplanes are going to continue to fly, right? So we're we're
talking about very specific types of fossil fuel facilities and it's important that that is um updated so everyone's on the same page and we make sure we get the result that we're looking for. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. Uh next speaker,
>> you want to go sir, please. Good morning. >> Good morning, >> Council Chairman Crump, members of council. Daryl Jeff, DJ Communications Group, speaking on behalf of I am Investments LLC in the matter on the
agenda 7R2-DB. Um, I understand that the uh council has decided to return this matter to the administration and just seeking an explanation with respect to the decision
and what the next steps might be. >> All right, that that'll be a conversation uh that we'll have offline. >> Okay. All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. Sh McDougall.
Uh, I'll tell you because of the New Jersey black agenda, that's why you were at the meeting, hopefully. But what I want to say is I find that very divisive because what about the Hispanic agenda? Miss Allison
Lad is not black or Hispanic. What about the agenda for her community? Why are we being divisive? I wasn't in Atlantic City, but I watched the whole meeting. I found it divisive. Stop separating us. Stop dividing us. It's a North agenda.
It's a Jersey agenda. Right, Silva? Why should we be divided? Haven't they played those politics already? A man is dead. And when someone dies in an interaction with police, the people deserve the truth. Not confusion, not
contradictions, not silence. We spent millions of dollars in this city on police technology. Millions. We were told it was about safety, about transparency, about accountability. But here we are, a man gone and nobody camera footage. So, I've got to ask the
question folks at home are asking. If accountability disappears when it matters most, what exactly did we buy? Now, I already know the response you'll hear. Undercover officers can't wear cameras. I'm not ignoring safety. I respect it. Let's be real. We have the
technology. Discrete recording devices exist. Cameras that don't blow your cover. Policies where cameras activate only when forces use. This is not an either or. We can protect officers and protect the public. We can do both. Dr.
King warned us about moments like this. He said the biggest obstacle to justice wasn't hatred. It was polite allies who value order over justice. Ain't that right, council? Right now, we're being offered order. Wait, trust the process.
Don't rock the boat. But order without justice isn't peace. It's just quiet. And let's talk about oversight. We've got boards that are supposed to hold power accountable. But if those boards are built not to challenge, not to push back, not to rock the boat, then they're
not oversight. the decoration. When policies promise transparency but deliver blind spots, people lose faith. When budgets promise safety but deliver skepticism, people stop believing. So, I'm not here just to talk. I'm asking
you today to act. I'm going introduce an ordinance. We got to do better. You know, I know the officers. Where Carillo at? I just came in here, spoke to the officer. I respect our officers, but we got to do better. There has to be better training. There need to be more training. And I
need y'all to kick up for this like we kick up for everybody else's issues. We have a dead black man. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> Good morning, President. >> Good morning, >> city council.
>> Um I'm Tony from Tony Service Center. Over 80 years on 16th Avenue in Westward. >> Mhm. Okay. Um, I have a stake in the community. I'm born and raised in this city. I have um and I'm still um operating the business.
At 287 16th Avenue was a Chinese restaurant. And in August 8th, it was on fire. Since then, about two weeks later, they started doing demo and doing renovation. merchants and
neighbors at the community came over and spoke to me and said, "This is not legal." I asked the the building department, "There's no permits." Come to find out, they converted the second floor, put an extension on the second floor.
Turned the restaurant into an apartment and added a third floor with no permits, no zoning. I was never notified within 200 feet. And uh last week the owner that purchased the property called me up and says,
"Anthony, they're doing this through the whole city of Newark with no permits, no zoning. This is illegal." Meanwhile, the person that told me this also said in the same breath, he owns 30 pieces of property in the city of New
York and he retired from the city of Newark with a pension and still working for the city of Newark. Okay. Now, on top of that, his son works for the city of Newark.
Is this what we have representing us? >> The Okay. a retired law enforcement officer. Breaking the law and he put the property under LLC
means that he's harmless if it wasn't for the community, the merchants and the residents, the neighbors come over and tell me there'd be no liability, God forbid, for fire caught on it. Like I told you in the
past, I lost my mother and a brother. I was three years old. My brother was 18 months old in the fire across from Boiling Street Pool. All right. Now, I want more inspectors. There's a shortage of inspectors. I want
background checks of inspectors because money can turn people. Okay? I don't care what nationality or what race. All right? Let's keep it real. Your only color is the dead presidents.
Let's keep it real. All right. So, I want this the money that the city of Newark is losing by not having permits and planning board architects and done the right way. We
need the money. All right. [clears throat] And I I'm here for everybody in the city of New York. >> Thank Thank you uh for your comments. Um I I know this has been a discussion amongst the council particularly council council and others. Uh what I will ask
is that Mr. Adams that Mr. Conpsion speak to at Tony about that particular property and see what we can do to address the issues. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you council. Thank you. Wish you all the best. Thank you. Thank you.
Good morning, members of the munic. Uh, >> good morning. Can you pull your the microphone down, please? Can you pull it down more or John help her because I know we won't be able to hear. >> Good morning, members of the municipal council. My name is Anna Santangelo.
I am requesting the assistance of the municipal council regarding a second handicap parking spot which was in place for many years. The handicap was set in place by Jack Nata. My husband, [clears throat] Andrew
Santangelo, has had the handicap spot since the early 2000s. He has had disc surgery and the removal of discs 7, 8, 9, and 10. Titanium cylinders replaced by removing the ribs from his right
side. He has diabetes, COPD, a heart condition. Cannot leave the house without his oxygen. uses a nebulizer for breathing, has had three strokes, and vascular leg disease. According to our city ordinance, it is printed in black
and white that the director of the department of engineering shall be permitted to make changes to the application from time to time without an ordinance. Unfortunately, this has not happened. I am requesting that the municipal council grandfather the
request for the handicap sign to be reinstated. My husband's doctors have signed many forms and I have submitted them which this is absolutely necessary.
Please note that the spot in question is across from my home and is not blocking anyone's property. Thank you. >> Thank you. I will ask that you email all of the council the information that you're referring to. Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. >> Councilman, council.
>> Yeah. Not only that, if we can get an explanation about the new process uh that is involved in determining uh who gets a a parking uh decal for for uh handicap and disabled and who does who
doesn't. I've received many calls and a lot of them lead to the end of the barometer around if a person has a driveway then that is the reason that they're getting denied. And I'm just trying to figure out what is the total layout uh that is engaging folks to be
denied that has um you know the uh acrement to be able to receive uh disabled parking. I know that for men uh for a long period of time uh there were a lot of people who were uh using any kind of elements to get it and it was a large issue around the city and that it
was supposed to been very intentional and specific of how we begin to look at this. But if we can get the information of what are the parameters around all of this that is instructing people I think that would be helpful to us as well uh to be able to come back uh and and address issues uh of that nature. Thank
you. Uh, Councilman Council, Madame Clerk, you request that information, please. Certainly. >> Thank you, >> Mr. President. >> Councilman Ramos. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I agree with my colleague. I I think we should, you know, put some information out there explaining to the
public, you know, what the ordinance um requires, you know, and and the BA is aware. I have a senior citizen who lives on Clifton Avenue in the north ward and they had a handicap parking sign in front of their house for probably 20 years and and when they went to do the
renewal this year, the city removed the sign and and they do have a driveway in the property. Um so, you know, my question is how did they get it approved to begin with if the ordinance required um certain standards and they didn't meet those standards. So now after 20
years and you know this person's gotten older and a little more frail, uh they don't have the parking spot, handicap parking spot in front of their property. And I understand the city's position is this is what this the ordinance requires. They don't meet those
standards. So you know, I think at some point we just have to put something out there. Everybody needs to be aware um that this is what the law requires and like that if there are any questions about the process you know it's a level playing field for everybody. So
>> thank you council >> that concludes the agenda. No, >> we have another speaker. >> Still have any public speaking. Go ahead. >> Good morning, Miss Hops. >> My name is Marva Hops and I live at um
130 Dayton Street. Um the problem is that we I wish I talked to Council uh Council Count. I always talk to him. I always talk to you, Council McRone. The thing is that with the trash and all
that other stuff is going on and um I had a tender stop me yesterday. He was very upset. We don't know when uh Lion Gates getting ready to make a movie. We don't have no information that comes out there and say, "Well, you know, we're
going to do a meet. You got to talk to somebody to let us know when this going to happen because we do have handicapped people parks on that street and and you have very little parking space in the on the lot and then we got the elevators. I
have an elevator. It's broke down for seven months. All saying, "Oh, it's going to be six months for fix." Well, when you going to get started? That was two years ago. And we still have the elevator broke. And we have people, God forbid, if somebody
really gets sick and have to call the ambulance and they got to do those stairs because I'm telling you, it's not fair when we are paying our rent there and then we don't because we don't have no meeting with the manager. She never come out and say we're going to have a
meeting. I don't have a meeting with the TA president. So, you know, all they say, "Oh, it doesn't matter." Yes, we do matter. We are seniors. Although it's a mixed population, you have people out in that buildings, all three buildings, it's
handicapped just about or have some kind of problem. And it's not fair. I need someone to let me know. I mean, quite you guys got my number. All you have to do is call me and tell me set up a meeting. I will do that. I'm a willing
worker and whatever I put my mind to do, I'm gonna do it one way or the other. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments, Miss Hobs. >> Mr. Chair, >> Councilman Council. >> Yeah, I'm I'm glad uh Miss Hops uh came up and and and used her voice of uh advocacy in this matter because there's
a couple of things that work on both ends. One, the filming piece that she talks about, not Lionsgate because Lionsgate is not down there filming, but it's uh our filming uh uh department that puts out the permits to be able to alert and let residents know when
filming will be happening in areas. Uh and so if we can work with the administration on that end to be able to share that information that they can get it out uh to residents in a timely manner uh similar to what we get. Hey, they're going to be shooting movies in these specific areas on these days. Uh
that is some of the information that they're looking for. Then twofold uh they do have one operating elevator. There's a issue with another elevator that continues to go down. Uh but the issue uh in and of itself is that even when the elevator gets up, it is still going to need uh to be assessed and
evaluated by a city inspector. And so to have these kind of conversations and and and I'm glad uh uh the interim director is here now about how we begin to move and figure out how do we go back out and venture uh and deal with so many elevators in the city that really needs
to be reinspected uh uh updated or get the information that is current uh so that individuals can know how to be able to move uh in some of these apartments and things. And then just the very end of the nature is that um some of the elevator repairs that that may be
needed, some may be exhaustive, some may be modifications. Uh but just to begin to inform uh residents about this because we just don't want the assumption to believe that well if the elevator break down on Monday, the elevator can be back up. if it's missing a part Tuesday when a lot of these
elevators are very old in and of itself. And so we really need to begin to, you know, hone in on some of these things because it is it's crossing the the lines. >> Thank you, Councilman Council. Councilman Canana, >> Mr. President, in terms of the elevators, right, I've said before and
if you go to any city, there is a certificate of inspection. Every year must be inspected. We have some buildings here. Uh there's a building the last week I went to the last inspection was done in 1991.
So the safety of seniors and others you know it's we need to invest in terms of getting some mechanism of inspecting those elevators and making sure that those contractors who they listing who
the contractors of those elevators are because what happens is they bring it outside company from New York some of them and we need to check all these buildings where's this the certificate Every building in the city at once once
upon a time had every building had to have a certificate of inspection. So we need to do that for the general public because it's important. We need to know the age of that elevator. Has it been worked? 515 Mount Prospect 555. All
these buildings the elevators are really out of uh sequence in terms of and then safety. you got highrises of 15 stories and and how do you come down 16 stories when there's an emergency people who are
in special needs and and and other situations. So, we need to look at that too. Uh Councilman, the the whole inspection, when are they going to invest into this and make sure that they pay a fee into that permit or license to
that building? Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Scott Roundry. >> Yes. Um I I do agree with my council colleagues, Councilman Council, and Councilman Inana. However, um we can check certificates and stickers and do
all of that, but if we don't have the proper manpower and the individuals to go out and do the inspections, we'll just be checking and failing and finding because they will be fined, I'm sure, if they haven't been inspected. But there are people that are waiting on inspections because we're short of inspectors. So I believe under the
leadership now of prayerfully uh interim director that some of these things might be rectified with inspections. Um council president because we are running into a very serious problem with inspections for buildings that as I stated earlier call my office about an
inspection for their elevators and that schedule is backlogged just for the inspection. So that's a good idea that we check and that we make sure that we find those who have not done it. But then if it the onus lines on the city of Newark, then we must make sure that we
have what we need or they have what they need to get those buildings inspected. Thank you so much, Council President. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. So let let me just say I think um welcome first, Mr. Adams and this is a
priority and of consensus amongst the council members but more importantly amongst the residents um that we address the issues with the elevators. So it is my hope and I know all of our hopes that this will be something that will be addressed
immediately and and hopefully with some uh answers and information that we could take back. Next speaker, [laughter] >> they tend to get long- winded on public speaking portion. This public
speaking. Why y'all long winded? Don't y'all supposed to go after public speaking? You're doing that intentionally because you see me getting ready to come up. But
anyway, good riddens, failed leadership, no other way to describe you. Now, there's a couple of things that I hope I could get out in the three minutes that you uh award us, but I want to talk about the budget deficit
and the selling of our bonds, our assets, government waste, fraud, and abuse. NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE what is going on here.
GOVERNMENT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE. WE'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE TALKING ABOUT CHECKBOOK NEW, putting a A A PORTAL UP ABOUT OUR OUR BUDGET.
WE ALSO BEEN CALLING OUT, WE THE PEOPLE BEEN CALLING OUT TO THE GOVERNOR AND WE HAD A STATE COMPROLLER HERE AND THE STATE CONTROLLER GOT LET GO SOON AS MURPHY COME came in
office. FAIL LEADERSHIP. NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE YOU. We the people of North, we should sue former Governor Murphy, the BA,
THE STATE CONTROLLER, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, THE BARAKA ADMINISTRATION, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALSO ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S IN CHARGE OVER THERE AT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN CALLING ON you for years TO LOOK INTO OUR BUDGET. AND YOU LET THIS MAN WHO GET A $300,000 SALARY remain here and put US IN THIS BUDGET
DEFICIT. FAILED LEADERSHIP. NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE YOU. YOU ROBBED THE BANK, BARAKA. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DROVE THE GETAWAY CAR. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND ALL OF Y'ALL HELP. POLITICAL GREED,
WASTE, FRAUD, AND NOW WE AT A BUDGET DEFICIT. FOUR MORE YEARS OF YOU IS INSANITY. Norcers insanity. FOUR MORE YEARS OF THIS MESS. IT'S
INSANITY. IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE HE GOT IN OFFICE. SINCE THIS MAN CAME DOWN FROM A SUBPOENA FROM INVESTIGATION AT ORANGE. FOUR [screaming] MORE YEARS IS INSANITY.
>> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> Any other speakers? >> I want to piggy back. First of all, how you doing, council president? >> Good. Good morning. you. >> Uh, state your just please state your name for the record. >> Rodney Davis. >> Thank you, >> Council President. I want to piggy back
on uh my friend from the east, the lady that came down next to the uh chicken restaurant right there. She mean she didn't even give a resume. You know, she got a serious Newark background. And after I heard uh South Ward Councilman
speak, I was impelled to speak because I had been working with Hani on trying to get a sign uh from my buddy over there on 100 Chadwick. They got all the senior citizens in there. Ambulance is coming and ambulance can't get there. So we
called up traffic and signal. Glad to see you here, uh Director Adams, because it was a total nightmare disaster. They got no leadership, no policies. They don't know how to give out a no parking zone or park and buy permit. As you remember, I used to come down here
when L Monica Maccgawa was sitting in your chair and still I know Director Abs probably get something done, but otherwise it's a joke. That's the problem. No matter how many emails you send, that don't make a difference if you can't do the job. You know, you have
to change as the city revolves. But that lady with my friend in the east that came here behind a little barbecue restaurant right there, you know, she uh she her and her husband, he b he literally handicapped think a couple of sons of police officers. He literally legitimately
handicapped and they keep messing with the sign for what they can't come to a final resolution how to put a simple sign up. What's so difficult? You know what I mean? And if you don't have respect for the council telling you what to do and I guess you could ask director
Adams if y'all could change the laws to help the citizens of Newark, you know, cuz even Hassani, he has a hard time getting it done cuz they don't even cooperate with the council, you know. So if me and Hani can't get it done, you know,
in the south over there 100 Chadwick, it's a nightmare. But going forward, moving forward, I'm hoping Director Adams, you know, that's where you get these incompetence. You just can't just hire anybody because you don't like the other guy, you know. Uh I hope you it can work it out moving forward. I need I
need a sign at 100 Chadwood. That's why I was compelled to speak after listen to council uh from the south ward there. The mighty mighty South W. >> Have a good day. >> Thank you. Thank you. You too. Good luck. >> Thank you for your comments. Next
speaker. >> Good morning, President Trump and council. My name is Norm Sutaria, 99 Berkeley Avenue in Bloomfield. >> Good morning. >> Today I've heard a lot of crosscutting concepts. I've heard equity, communication, and safety have affected
everybody in this room. And I kind of frame my comments um in in that. and I couch those um in within those within that framework. This might seem silly, but it touches upon equity um here in
Newark. Newark is due to get $39.3 million in fiscal year 2026 to um redevelop and kind of uh redesign uh Clinton Avenue intersection projects. And I come to you with this bottom line
up front. Number one, and this is primarily for the engineering department, so uh uh please make sure that intersections have talking pedestrian signals. They're called accessible pedestrian signals. And in New York City,
they were sued to to ensure that accessible pedestrian signals were installed at their intersections. I know it's county roads are here in Newark. Please work with the county to make that happen. And please make sure that the county knows that it's on your radar.
Second, for pedestrian safety, there's something called a leading pedestrian interval. If you're at an intersection, you press the crosswalk button, and you get a walk signal before traffic gets the green light, that is called an LPI. It gives you an additional five or so seconds uh to move ahead. So, please
have your engineering department work with the Essex County Engineering Department to make sure that those are implemented as part of this project. Third, high visibility crosswalks. Um, it's in the engineering design standards, but it is something that you
need to make sure that the Essex County Engineering Department knows and is aware of. So, that was what I came here for. But I also hear the concerns around the elevators. I hear the concerns around the filming.
And that is also an equity issue where people can't move in their apartments. My mom, she's 78. Thankfully, she lives in or she lives in Union. She does lives in a single family home. She doesn't need an elevator. But I can only imagine
if my parent lived in a building that needed an elevator. and to the safety. Making sure that folks can get up and down normal day-to-day things, groceries, grandkids, but also in emergencies. How do you get somebody
down the steps if they're having a heart attack or a seizure or a stroke? Every minute counts. So, there's that. I also heard about the filming. And please take this from New York City. The filming permits, they
have a location manager, name, and phone number. They are the point of contact. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> No other speakers appearing. Anything from the council?
Councilman Gonzalez. >> Yes. I just want to mention that I have been requesting uh the talking lights for maybe four or five years and every time that the engineering department
came here for some approvals I inquire as to the let's say the status of where we were with the with the talking lights or lights that they say lights that emit some kind of sound so that people would
know let's the visually impaired would know when they can cross the street. Uh we have I believe we have three or four uh of them in the city. But I believe we need much more than that because we have a lot of hospitals. We have a lot of
schools. We have a lot of uh medical facilities that and universities that where people with vis visually impaired walk every day. So I believe it's important that we do that and I have been talking about that for at least
six, seven years and nothing has happened. >> Thank you, Councilman. Uh before I go to the administration um or any other council member, I I see the uh director uh interim DPD DPW director. Um in in
light I tried to sneak out real quick. Uh no, I caught you. in in light of the snow we just received and the the impending snowstorm that we're we were expecting. Are do you have any comments or any uh thing you would like to just
bring to the public in terms of the plan >> the streets were very clean. >> Council President, council members Kareem Medine, >> Before you begin, I heard Councilman Gonzalez say something. Did you want to say it? this at least where I live, the streets were very very clean and uh
impassible. I didn't I didn't have any any complaints about the at the I don't know about the whole city, but the area where I live, it was very clean. >> All right. Thank you. >> So, we start with a positive comment now. Go ahead. Go ahead, director.
>> Council [snorts] President, council members, you know, we just want you to stay off the road during the snow event. Give us time to clean the snow event up. The temperatures are dropping. I mean, this morning I got up, it was about four degrees throughout the city, you know. Uh I think I explained the last time what ice does, what calcium, magnesium
does. Although we get the streets open, that stuff melts. Um run off the road. The biggest thing stay off the streets. Uh while our crews are working, um double parking is still an issue, but we've been cooperating with the MPD and we've
uh the last two storms has gotten better. um throwing the snow back into the street, right? You know, just talk to your neighbors about throwing it back into the street. Just stack it on your sidewalk. Don't throw it back into the street. Other than that, be safe. Stay out the water and I mean, stay out the
roadways and it's a cold blue. Let our men and women in DPW do what they can do. Thank you. Thank you, director. Any anything from the council regarding it? All right. Thank you. Uh thank you, director. Uh Mr. Ba, you have anything you want to
bring? Thank you. Good morning, Eric Pennington, business administrator. Just a couple of uh responses to comments um with respect to I think there was one mention of a $255 million deficit. U I
have unfortunately no idea where where that number uh came from. Miss Bammani, please >> be respectful for the speakers like they were for you. >> Well, Miss Bammani in in addition um you know we are
certainly uh fiscally prudent with respect to how we issue bonds. Bonds are being issued. There've been a full I think explanation of what the purpose of the bonds are for and why they are being issued. that there is no $255 million deficit. If somebody has information to
that effect, then perhaps they should produce it. Otherwise, they shouldn't uh keep it there. Miss Bmani continues to insist that I'm responding to her. I'm not. But it's difficult for me to even think because she keeps running her mouth. And perhaps the council president could instruct her to at least let me finish saying what I'm saying without
being impeded by her improper comments. >> I will say if you continue to disrupt the meeting, you will be removed. Thank you, Miss Bammani. Thank you very much. You have a great day. Thank you, Miss Bammani.
But with respect to uh handicap parking, the council as well as many of the residents understand that that is an issue uh throughout the city. It is particularly an issue in the east ward where parking is at a premium without handicap parking spaces.
uh there was a question raised as to how someone could have a parking space for 5 10 15 20 years and all of a sudden not have it. So there are a couple of circumstances where that could be the case. Recently the department of transportation changed the rules with respect to handicap parking this last
year. So when there were renewals came up the renewals have to meet with the new requirements. So there can't be a pole or a tree or something else between your space and the sidewalk. and that is for van access and other access. Uh there are people who have asked for that
to be grandfathered. We don't have the authority to grandfather that that is legislation that comes from the state and the federal government. So we can't just grandfather it in. There uh are other requests with respect to having two handicap spaces and one details all of the def the difficulties an
individual has uh because they have had a stroke or they are uh have had problems with ribs or anything else and they have some difficulty walking that homeowner has to make a choice as to who in that house will be able to get the one handicap parking space uh to which
they are entitled. You can't have two, three, four, five handicap spaces because there is a balancing that has to be done. There are the residents who live on that street. The legislation clearly indicates that you can have one space per building. That is it. That's
all that is is allowed. Uh in the east ward, there are plenty of streets where there are literally 10 handicap parking spaces, one behind the other. Um uh which is legitimate. Those are legitimately requested. they are legitimately approved by engineering but
it does present a hardship for some of the residents who live there. We al also have found uh that people are sort of self-grandfathering parking spaces that is they have a handicap parking space in front of the house but they actually live down the shore. We are working with
public safety to ensure that the individuals who actually have the handicap parking space are the ones who are using it. I requested engineering to work with traffic and signals and police so that the handicap parking tag is specific to a vehicle that it has your
license on the tag and on the sign so that they match. So you can't swap out handicap parking tags. That's been a request that has come to my attention. To me it makes sense. Engineering is looking at that now. Uh the new interim director, he may not know that but he uh will be brought up to speed very quickly
on that issue because it is a significant issue. Um, but we're not uh depriving people of the opportunity to have handicapped spaces when they comport with the uh appropriate legislation in the um city of Newark.
With respect to um uh filming and the hardship it can cause for residents, uh we have a manager of the office of North Office of Film and TV. Her name is Desiree Hadley. to the um uh point that one of the speakers made. There are
location managers who are responsible and their number should be on the signage that is placed on the street. We will make sure that that um is complied with, but I'm going to give out Desiree Hadley's number right now. Um her number is 973-468569.
And if there is an issue on your street with filming, you can reach out to her and she will address it and and uh as necessary get people in touch with the location manager who has responsibility to make sure that residents are not unreasonably displaced. And they also
they as in the film uh location manager they have to make accommodations in certain circumstances where they may have to transport you or have a uh a lot available or make exceptions for an individual who can't uh move and we will look into those on a on a case-byase
basis. With respect to uh elevator inspection u there is a shortage of inspectors. There is the ability for every building to ha hire a third-party elevator inspector and they can do so. Two buildings were mentioned by the
council 515 and 555 Mount Prospect. Both of those buildings have had their elevators inspected within the last year. They are in court right now because they have failed to comply with the directives uh to rectify some of the issues in their building. So that happens to not be one of the buildings
that hasn't had their elevators inspected. They have. That is not to say that there aren't dozens of other buildings in the city that have to have elevators inspected. We have to do a better job of ensuring that the third-party inspectors are used uh because right now we have a one
part-time inspector for the entire city and that is insufficient. Uh we are working to get more inspectors as are many of the surrounding towns and many of the municipalities in the state of New Jersey. there's a shortage and uh we are working on that, but we have to do a better job of using the uh third party
elevator inspectors. Um with respect to the uh police involved shooting, I'm going to turn that over to the corporation council to address that issue if uh if I may. [clears throat] >> Before you go, I'm sorry. Was there any questions regarding any questions
regarding anything that I addressed? I'm sorry. Yeah. >> Sorry, Councilman Silva. >> Uh yes, sir. Mr. VA. uh regarding the ADA that comes down from the federal and uh the state. The only thing I think we were requiring here requesting if I understand was when somebody has a
handicap spot for 30 years and now it's been removed because of a tree like you said or something else. Can we get that notification that the guidelines have changed? Because when our constituents come up to us, we really don't know how
to explain to them why for the past 30 years you've had a spot and now today you don't have one. And I know we have to follow the guidelines set down by the federal government and the state. But that explanation if sent to us through an email, at least we can have that when
our constituents approach us on why this year now they're not eligible to have a handicap spot. >> That's a very fair question, Councilman Silva. And uh you know, director Adams is here. I will ask that when a particular handicap space is no longer permissible and it is denied and that's
the reason that we make the council person in that area and the applicant aware of the reason why it's being denied. >> And I just have to say I have a copy of the application in my car. I always carry it with me. It's a very thorough application. So for someone to try to
get a handicap spot today in the city of Newark, it's very, very difficult. And I don't think there would be a doctor that would sign off on something and risk his license as well. I've said that before by signing off on someone's application if it's not valid. But the application
is valid. It's about seven or eight pages long and it is very thorough. So I just want to commend the city on that and uh traffic and signals because the application is one that is very thorough. Thank you. >> Any other questions for VA?
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Uh good morning again. Uh so in reference to the uh the police involved shooting of course you know members of the administration including the mayor and the council have send their condolences to the family and friends of the person who uh unfortunately passed away. Uh by state law though the uh the
attorney general's office has to take over the entire investigation. >> Uh and the reason why they do that because they want to make sure there's transparency and ensure there's a fair process. Of course, you know, in a city, we have to deal with the fact that there's a uh a member of our community involved. It is also a member of our
police community as well. So what happens is I think it was about two or three years ago the state law now says that the AG's office takes care takes over the entire investigation including collecting data uh taking statements interviewing people uh collecting camera
footage from independent and also local uh facilities uh including city facilities if there's anywhere near any in the area school and any private businesses. Uh from what I understand, the AG's office has already taken over the operation or the investigation. Um
they will conduct their investigation. They will provide the city with an opportunity to understand uh their findings and more importantly if they decide that they want to charge someone for anything any wrongdoing, they'll do so. And then at that point, the city will then take over the administrative
aspect of what has to happen with the officer, if anything. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anything else on the council? >> I just want to uh thank the corporation council for for that explanation. And I
know it was a unnerving uh event that occurred and occurred uh in the South W and many South W residents um you know are are kind of shooken by it and and I do stand with the fact that we need to you know ensure that the investigation you know takes place and everything that
comes out but more importantly that we pray uh for the families that have you know lost the individual in this that entire family and uh pray for our officers that were involved in total healing in our city uh and in that area of the uh south ward uh which is been
you know fighting to go through some transformation for a long period of time. So we just want to pray for everyone involved allow the investigation to take its place and you know I know Mr. McDougall said something, but you know, um, individuals have the right to democracy. If you have
the right to to to march and organize marches and and to do those things and and and if that's the case, then, you know, do it in a manner that is, you know, uh, respectful to to the family, uh, and to the other individuals, not to be able to, you know, show off or for
any kind of form of fashion, but to just to try to make sure that information is given, transparency is delivered, uh, and that, uh, everyone, especially in the city and the South Ward, receives a kind of healing. from this kind of unfortunate incident that occurred. Well, thanks.
>> Thank you, Councilman Council. With that being said, a motion for uh executive session, I believe, right? >> Council members Bay, >> yes. Council, >> yes. >> Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Kelly Absent, Kinkana, >> yes.
>> Ramos, >> Scott Roundtree, >> yes. >> Silva, >> yes. >> President Trump, >> yes.