Good evening everyone. On behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the regular meeting of May 19th at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Madame Clerk, please read the statement of compliance >> in accordance with the open public
meetings act. >> Oh, I'm sorry, is not here. Roll call. Madam clerk, and then the statement of compliance. Councilwoman Cotton. >> Council Vice President Davila
is absent. Councilman Jackson absent. Councilman Khalik. >> I'm here, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Mendes. >> Good evening, Madam Clerk. Good evening, Patterson. Ready to serve. Present. >> Councilman Omar. >> Here, Madam Clerk.
>> Councilman Udin is absent. Councilman Vez, >> Council Vice President is here. Councilman Vez, >> welcome to everyone that came for the first time to this beautiful chambers. My vote is yes, I'm present.
>> Council President Mims, >> I'm president. Ready to serve, Madam Clerk. >> And we have quorum. >> Madame Clerk, this evening's prayer. Thank you. Councilman Khik will be rendered by myself and our flag salute will be rendered by our vice president
uh Memphis Adawa. Will everyone please stand for prayer? Every head bowed and every eye closed. God our father, we thank you because this is the day that you have made and so we rejoice and we are glad in it. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, your name is worthy to
be praised. God, we thank you for this meeting on tonight. We thank you for what you're going to do on tonight. We thank you for Patterson, the city of righteousness. God, we pray that our meeting will flow in decency and order as outlined in your scripture. We
concerns of the be met and there will be solutions to their issues. for peace in our city. We pray for peace for those that are grieving and those that have lost loved ones. And God, we pray for unity and strength in Jesus's name. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Let our country salute. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice, justice for all. >> Can we remain standing for a moment? Silence, our loved ones, and then there's a lot of senseless that are happening city. >> Thank you. You might be seated, Madam Clerk. The statement of compliance.
In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of the time and place was included in the annual meeting schedule adopted by the council at its reorganization meeting held on or about July 1, 2025, and subsequently revised. Such notice was
posted in the city hall's bulletin boards, transmitted to the official newspapers designated to receive such notices in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices. >> Consent agenda. Madam clerk,
>> all matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the council and will be enacted by one motion. The items listed under consent agenda are items number 3 through 38. >> So move >> second. Moved by council, second by
councilman Khalik and mems. Roll call on consent agenda. Councilwoman Cotton, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Davila, >> yes. >> Councilman Khalik, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes,
>> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Vez, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Council Vice President Mims. >> Sorry, Council President Mims. >> Uh, yes, Madam Clerk.
This item all items pass. >> Um item two is being removed. We have further work to do on item number two. >> Mhm. >> Item 39. Madame clerk. >> Item number nine. >> 30 39.
>> 39. Item number 39 is a resolution authorizing the application for fiscal year 2027 congressionally directed spending to renovate the Riverside Vets Recreation Center. This is from the
administration and this is resolution 26249. >> So move >> moved by Councilwoman Davala, second by um Veza Mendes. Roll call on 39. Madam clerk, >> Councilwoman Cotton, >> yes. Council Vice President Davila,
>> yes. >> Councilman Khalig, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes. >> Councilman VeZ, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Council President Mims, >> yes.
>> Item 43, Madam Clerk. >> Item 43 is a resolution to amend number resolution 25297. This is authorizing a budget revision number one to the HESG program for 2025
one-year annual action plan. This is from community development and this is resolution 26253. >> So move >> moved by Councilwoman Dava and and Valz, second by Mendes and Mims. Roll calling 43. Madam clerk, >> Councilwoman Cotton,
>> yes. >> Council Vice President Davia, >> yes. Councilman Khalik. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mendes. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes. Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Vez. >> Yes. Madam Clerk.
>> Council Vice Pre. Yes. Sorry. President M. >> Yes. >> This item passes. >> Item 44. Item 44 is a resolution approving the Patterson Urban Enterprise Zone Division of the Department of
Economic Development to utilize 694,764 of the urban enterprise zone assistant funds for a marketing and business development project from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. >> This is economic development resolution 26254.
>> So move second. Moved by Councilman Veles and Dava, second by um Mendes and Mims. Roll call, Madam Clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Davila, >> yes. >> Councilman Khalik, >> yes.
>> Councilman Mendes. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I express my um concern and the new um you as the director. expressed my comment about working closely with um with the business owner to be able to change the facade of the business owner dire director also sidewalk a lot of the
sidewalk and and our business corridor they destroy it cost a lot of money please look into UC funding to be able to help local business to be able to fix those sidewalk and change the facade of the business uh that will definitely beautify our community especially our commercial corridor in a tremendous way
my vote is yes ml >> councilman Omar >> my vote is Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman VeZ. >> First of all, let me express myself uh once again uh director of UE impressive uh uh by detail uh where this money is
going to be spent around the UEE area. Those that live around the UE area corridors are going to get benefit on the promoting the um and the beautifification of UEZ zone through this funding. Um, also I want to say
thank you to DPW, uh, Mrs. Satudo and, um, those working hard to put those LED signs, uh, stop signs. Um, if you see them, just stop. It's a stop. It don't say Coca-Cola. So, my vote is yes.
>> Yes, madame clerk. >> President Mims, this item passes. >> Item 45. Item 45 is a resolution authorizing the first optiony year renewal contract with New Jersey Community Development Corp. for financial consultant services to
implement the Patterson Financial Empowerment Center from RFP number 2022-38. This is for the Department of Health and Human Services Resolution 26255. >> So moved by Councilman BZ, second by Council Vice President Dava. Roll call
on 45. >> Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. >> Council Vice President Davila. >> Yes. >> Councilman Khalague. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mendes. >> Yes. Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes. Madam Cler.
>> Councilman Vez. >> The Financial Empowerment Center has delivered a lot to our city and we could continue benefiting the community through this program. Um, Director Joel Ramirez, thank you for for the work that
you've been doing for this. Uh, my vote is yes to this. >> Yes, madam. >> President N. >> Yes. >> Item passes. >> Item 46, Madam Clerk. >> Item 46 is a resolution authorizing the award of contract to UGV Construction LLC for limited exterior and interior
rehabilitation of the community center at Heritage bid number 26.11 for the Patterson Public Library in the amount not to exceed 298,750. This is resolution 26256. So move >> moved by Mendes and Davo. A second by
Mims. Roll call on 46. Madam clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton. >> Council Vice President Davila. >> Councilman Khalig. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mendes. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm looking forward to see the library running. Not
because it's in the third war, but because it's in the other side of town. those family that live there, they have no way to go to the other side of town to utilize our public library on Broadway and also on Union Avenue. So, I really looking forward to see that for the benefit of our children. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.
>> Councilman Omar, >> my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Vez, >> a deep analysis um this funding going to a private developer um facilities in campaign season.
People on my right were saying that we was given money to developers. in this case is grant funding that come through the state. But instead of investing it in our library, we could invested in a
private developer making millions of dollars in rent that he could take own his money and fix his property and then donate to the community. Right now the state sent a letter that we cannot increase the funding and this is the
state DCA that we cannot increase the funding of the library because we are budget friend and we asking for for money to the state. So they want to make sure that we spend uh responsible we have three or four libraries I could
say three. Why not spend this money in the libraries that we own that our kids enjoy? >> Fix the Six W library. And I I bet you that a lot of those individuals that live in that section, the Lake View section will go to the Six W library
that we have there. Fix our buildings with this money. So, I'm not against our libraries. What I'm against is using funding to fix and upgrade private developers
facilities. My vote is no. >> President Mims. So based on the uh guidelines, it can only be utilized for certain things and that's why they're using these grant dollars to um
rehabilitate and create a new library in the heritage for the families and the children that live in that area. So with that being stated, madam clerk, my vote is yes. >> Six yeses, one nos, two absence. This item passes 41, item 41, madam clerk. Madam
President requesting the floor for one second please. >> Council >> thank you madam president through the chair m Mr. Ba I would like that is possible through the administration to send a letter to
the board library director and to the board and to give us a breakdown of the funding that we have approved to fix the main library. the funding that we have approved to invest in the library in the second in the second ward and also the
money that was allocated also to the six w library and why up to now everything that they say the scope of work they was going to do is not fulfill I could go through the main library is missing rails
and um and that was in the scope of work and the money was approved there if not I will officially request a deep audit in the libraries. Why? If we approve the job is not fulfilled. So please through the
administration send this request. I'm doing it now officially to they could answer back to statutory chair. It's me and the and the councilman that hold the share but the same you could share it with all the councils. I want to be transparent clear what's going on in the library. Thank you. And also last but
not least, I think the mayor appoint that board so they could come clear cut with all the information I requested. Thank you, council president. >> Item 40, madam clerk. >> Item 40 is a resolution 40, right?
>> Yes. is a resolution designating certain property identified on the city's tax maps as block 6307 lots 40 and 43 as an area in need of redevelopment pursuant to the local redevelopment and housing law. >> This is sponsored by Councilman Vez
Resolution 26250. >> So move >> um discussion >> second >> discussion. I want discussion too. >> You want it's sponsored by you. >> I know. >> Oh and then what you want to discuss? Uh >> moved by council member, second by
council khali. Discussion c >> I'm first >> discussion council cotton. >> No, my question was since it's it's a resolution and let me be clear um councilman this is a resolution sending this item back to the planning board
correct back to the planning board as what can actually go there. Am I mistaken? Oh, you asking me? >> Yeah, because it's you're the sponsor. You should >> Oh, yeah. No, I know. Hold on. I know what I sp
Okay, let me let me finish second. Let me finish. My My question was >> when I went downstairs and looked at the map, I really cuz on the resolution, it doesn't have where it's located. >> Oh. >> So, I had to go look for the block number and the lot number. >> Correct.
>> It's It's two gigantic empty lots. My question is this is going to go back to the planning board and then decide what can actually go in that area. >> No, actually u council president actually it went to the planning board. Uh it went to the planning board. We we
we approve a resolution to the planning board looking to uh the recommendation if this area was in need of housing. Okay. So to the viewers and to the new members or new community that comes here, the I love the fifth ward and when
it comes up to abandoned properties and uh properties that been abandoned for many years, picture yourself school 15 and Governor Towers, that lot that divide uh those two properties is being
abandoned for many many years and the owner want to develop housing uh units there for seniors to compare it with the other one there. So, uh we sent this to the board. The board look into it and they and they see it was suitable. Now,
it comes to us to uh make it happen. >> Thank you. Roll call. Madam clerk, >> I got I had a question. Last question. >> Uh somebody um sent an email today regarding this uh corporation council if it's I don't know if Aean is the one that put the statue a state statue on
it. Uh the main question was that the statute by itself uh indirectly or directly uh will have a abatement of profit or pilot. I don't know if the statute states that or they
have to come to us um if it's a new uh pilot or abatement uh pilot or abatement tax abatement or they need to come to us based on the statute because it's a new one. So if they put all the finance
together and they want to move forward with the project, they still had to come to us because it's a new pilot and it's up to us if we want to approve it or not. So it's not an automatic pilot that goes there with the project.
>> Thank you. Roll call, Madam Clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton, >> Council Vice President Davila, >> yes. >> Councilman Khali, >> yes. Councilman Mendes. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I I did my check
block 6307 lot 40 40 43. The biggest concern that I have in this in the city of Patterson now where we getting some redevelopment zone in some location is the density. I mean our our city is so is way overpop populated in term of cars. It's almost next to impossible to
find parking around here. So we got to be mindful what we building for moving forward. We got to have a clear plan and right now I cannot support this. My vote is no, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Omar, >> my vote is yes, Madam Clerk.
>> Councilman Vez, >> and not going to debate because the planning board is the one to tied up the belt, tell them how many parking they need, how many entrance and everything and height or whatever. They have to go to the planning board to present the
project. And one of the requirement is parking and that is almost two acres of land. They could fulfill a lot of parking for seniors. So I guess my colleague having drive through there is a dumping site is a dumping site is a
place that a lot of squatter got get in there and it's going to enhance the quality of life in the area. So, I'm going to approve this and I'm going to support this and whatever comes to the fifth floor, I will support it. My for my vote is yes on this. >> President Mims.
>> So, I just want to say this. Every council member is entitled to their opinion on the way they vote. If they choose not to support or to support, they're entitled to that. They do not need to be attacked or addressed after they vote. Just vote your conscience. They will vote their conscience. Madam
clerk, my vote is yes. >> Six yeses, one nose, two absence. This item passes. >> Item 41, Madam Clerk. >> Item 41 is a resolution celebrating Holy T Tabernacle Apostolic Church on its 66th anniversary and recognizing its
service to the city of Patterson. This is sponsored by Councilwoman Cotton, Council President Mims and Vice President Marissa Davila. This is resolution 26251. >> Move it. >> Moved by council uh woman uh Cotton,
second by members in Dava. Roll call on item 41. Madam clerk, >> Councilwoman Cotton. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say that we're going to be celebrating 66 years for the Holy Tabernacle Church on Hoseman Street. I want to say congratulation of being in our city of
Patterson for 66 years. Uh to Reverend Jason Roger. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. >> Council Vice President Davila, >> yes. >> Councilman Khalik, >> yes. Councilman Mendes, >> yes.
>> Councilman Omar, >> congratulations. My vote is yes. >> Councilman Vez, >> and I will use my rebuttal for a celebration. So, my vote is yes. Congratulations, church. >> President Mims. >> Uh, congratulations, Bishop Williams, Pastor Jason Rogers, and the Holy
Tabernacle Church. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. >> Seven yeses. This item passes. >> Item 42, Madam Clerk. Item 42 is a resolution honoring Manny O'Hara for his 37 years with the Department of Public Works, sponsored by Councilman Omar and
Councilman Vez, co-sponsored by all other council members. This is resolution 26254. >> Second. >> So move. >> Second. >> Moved by Councilman Omar and uh Valz, second by VP Dava, MEMS, Mendes, and
Cotton. Roll call on that item. Madam quote. Item 42. >> Councilwoman Cotton. >> Yes. >> I just >> I just want to say >> I'm sorry, Madam Clerk. I just want to say congratulations to Manny of our DPW
department. He's retiring after 37 years. So may you have a happy retirement, Manny. Madame Clerk, my vote. >> Council Vice President Davila. So, I as well would like to um first and foremost
thank Manny for his service for 37 years serving as uh in different capacities, director, deputy. Um we appreciate you. Uh we thank your family for allowing you uh to be part of, you know, the uh
Patterson family uh here in city hall. Um I know that throughout the years you have given your best, your utmost best uh and your leadership was second to none. So you are going to be missed. Um and that's all I want to say at this
moment. So congratulations on your retirement. Enjoy it. We don't know about tomorrow, just today. My vote is yes. >> Councilman Jackson, >> yes. >> Councilman Colleague, >> yes. Councilman Mendes, >> congratulations to Manny, outstanding
human being, a people's person. Manny is a person that you could call and he's about he's all about action. He get things done and uh it it's been a great honor to work with him and it's incredible. He was hired uh with during Frank Grave administration. He's still
with us. Uh God bless you, brother. Enjoy your retirement. My vote is yes, m >> Councilman Omar. >> Congratulations on 37 years to give in the city of Patterson. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman VeZ >> to my friend, my brother Manuel Manny
Martinez. Uh Marta >> Manny Martinez, >> his name is Manuel. So >> Manny O'Ala, you know, he always being a diligent individual, a responsible individual
with his work and his coworker and he always was a team worker. So we going to be we going to miss him a lot. Um the doors of DPW and this administration and us >> are still here if you need to give us advice how to run storms and other
things that uh you always took lead on it and um and I know your your deputy director, your director uh Billy Rodriguez uh I think he could share the same sentiment. He going to be missed. um always a happy camper and um always
look uh to the things to the right eye. So Manny, enjoy your retirement. Blessing and health to you and blessing and health to your mom also. God bless you and thank you for your service. My vote is yes. >> President Mims, >> thank you for your service. We
appreciate you. Happy retirement. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. >> This item passes. Um our second reading ordinance on the commercial loading zone. Madam clerk, number one, >> we have a ordinance on second reading
and public hearing. This is an ordinance establishing a commercial loading zone for Basum Corporation and D areas projects LLC on a portion of Oak Street. This is from public works and ordinance number 267. So move
>> moved by councilwoman Davis, second by uh VeZ Mendes and Mims. Public portion is now open on the commercial loading zone. >> See no one move to close. >> See now move to both closed by Councilwoman Cotton Veles and Dava. Uh
roll call to close public portion on item number one. Madam clerk, >> Councilwoman Cotton, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Davila, >> yes. Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. M Council President, before I vote, I'm just
curious. I mean, I understand uh the periodic acknowledgements towards teens, but we taking young people away from practice. We're taking young people away from home. We taking young people away from uh school night. We're sitting here going through regular items on the
agenda when you got a whole hallway full of kids and a team that's been uh waiting to be acknowledged. I mean >> I'm sorry, >> right? Okay. It's after this item because I'm saying something about it.
But why I don't understand we normally do things like that before we even get started. allowing these people to come. I mean, bringing them here to begin with is is is is laughable. People that don't have anything to do with the program, never out there for practices, don't contribute. I mean, I I get it. We want
to acknowledge them, but then we make them sit here and wait. When the kids are out there, they don't even have any idea what we what's going on here right now. Anyway, my vote is yes. >> Councilman, colleague, >> my vote is yes. Hello.
>> Councilman Mendes. >> Yes. To close port polit. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Vez. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> President Mims. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Public hearing is now closed.
>> Roll call on item one. Madam clerk, >> I'm sorry. Um, who moved and who second for the ordinance? >> Moved by >> You have it? >> Yes. the last. >> Um, Councilwoman Cotton,
>> Council Vice President Davila, >> yes. >> Councilman Jackson, >> yes. >> Councilman Khalik, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Vez, >> yes, Madam Clerk.
>> President Mims. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> This item is adopted. So to the uh youth, if anyone is concerned about the youth, it probably it would be probably me. I work in the schools every day with our youth. So it is not personal. We're
on our last item. We've been here uh since 6:00 um doing the work of the the business. We know our youth are here. We were waiting to make sure there were some concerns outside which we were fully aware of. So this is the last item on the agenda. To our parents and our
youth, you know how much I care about all of you. um payment of bills and then we'll have the presentation by our councilman. Payment of bills. Our last item, Madam Clerk. >> Thank you very much, Council President. Council members, uh we have a summary of
dispersements in a total of 1,20,17220. Uh there was no payroll this week. Uh and if you look the majority uh is capital fund uh which is for sewer cleaning out of the 444,000
396 is for that. Uh in addition we also have some other statutory expenditures computerized checks uh of $324,96587 making that a total of 1,20,172. I'll second for the payment of bills. >> Motion is for payment of bills.
>> Thank you. Time to move forward so our children can be honored. Roll call, madam clerk. >> What we have >> moved by Counciloman Davis, second by Councilman Khal. >> Roll call, Madam Clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton, >> yes. >> Vice President Davila, >> yes.
>> Councilman Jackson, >> yes. >> Councilman Khalik, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes. Madam clerk, >> Councilman VeZ. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> President Mims. >> So to the public that is present
viewing, our agenda is totally complete at 7:32 p.m. Thank you to my council colleagues. At this time, we have a special presentation by councilman of the six ward. My vote is yes. You want to call the vote first? >> Yes. >> This item is adopted.
>> Thank you. Um, we would like to have our councilman of the six ward. He has a wonderful presentation for our amazing youth that are doing great work in the city of Patterson. >> Yeah. Right. Good evening everybody. So, I decided to take some time today to
honor our youth. and uh Councilman Jackson, we only waited just so we can have time for coaches to come because they were at softball practice. As you can see, some of them do play uh multiple sports. But uh I'm happy to say that our youth is not only all stars in the classrooms, but they're also all
stars on the court. Um today we are honoring the Patterson Charter School for Science and Technology Girls Middle School basketball team for an undefeated championship season. So to our young leaders, to our young ladies, they're in the back. I'm going to call you guys
forward here. Come. >> Yeah. Come around. Bring it around. >> And I'd like to ask my three leading ladies to stand behind me as I present this to them. >> Bring it to the center. Come around. >> And I won't read the And I won't read the whole thing. I'm only going to read just a little bit of it. Take it to the
middle. We'll go to the middle. There you go. Right in the middle. You're in the middle. >> Yeah. >> And I'm going to ask you guys to all come up. So to the city of Patterson, let's give them another round of applause because
this year they went 13-0, undefeated in the CSA Conference 3 Championship League. co and hold on. And of course, they were led by uh our two wonderful coaches,
Coach D. Ara Watson and Coach Reena Culie. So, give them a round of applause as well. Uh to the coaches, well, first let me say this. Congratulations to all to all our young athletes and our coaches, but also to all the parents watching. I want
to thank you guys also for for being the support that they that they need because it's not easy being a parent being uh it's not easy being uh it's not easy to raise children. It's not easy to get them to school on time. It's not easy to make them all star and that's that's a
credit to you guys. So, thank you guys for that. And to our coaches, Coach Watson, Coach Kulie, thank you guys. When I was informed about this, when I was informed about this, I said there has to be a way we can honor them. And I am proud to honor all of you guys here. And I look forward to Well, let me say
this. I promise you at least one of them here will will probably take one of our seats. I'm going to say that. That's all I'm going to say. But congratulations to you guys. Keep doing keep doing what you're doing and continue to be allstars in the classroom and on the court. Thank
you. >> Good evening everyone. I just would like to say thank you to Councilman Omar. Thank you to the entire city council, council president for acknowledging our players. They had a phenomenal inaugural season. This was our first year. It's a first year team for the school and they
did some phenomenal things. They went 9 and0 for the CSL conference three. And um not only did they do that, they went on to win the CSL championship 13-0 undefeated season.
So, thank you all for having us and we look forward to seeing you in the stands next season. Thank you. Stop laughing. I'm just trying to get >> this follow. Hey, congratulation. Well deserve it. Congratulations. Congratulations. You're the future. Keep
it up. All right. You're the future. Keep it up. Keep it up. You're the future. Congratulations. You make us proud. You make us proud. Okay. Congratulations. >> You make us proud. >> You make us proud. Congratulations. Great job.
>> Public portion and we done. >> Thank you. >> So I just want to put it on So, I just want to put it on the record to the coaches and to the parents. Uh,
to the coaches, can you hear me? If you can email the the names of all of the players so we can get individual citations. Also, I am going to donate team jackets to the entire team. So, I need to have
the sizes of everyone of the players. >> I see the ladies. I think the ladies are going to do it. >> The council ladies sizes of all the players and the coaches. Please send that email it to us. We will make sure
that we will get jackets and also um we'll do that for you. I'm telling you, council president >> at this time, >> council president, I want to congrat I want to congratulate for that move that represent that the females council have more money than the males.
>> I think the men should buy the sneakers. >> We could make it happen. >> Yeah. Get the rings. Get the rings. We got you. We're going to make it happen. Congratulations. Keep making us proud. We got you. At this time, madame clerk, what the
agenda is done. We'll open a public portion based on what I have in front of me. There are there are 12 speakers. >> How many >> to the public?
>> We want you to come and we want to hear what you have to say. We'll wait a couple minutes. >> One more time. Let's clap for our youth. >> Hey, Dad. I see you in the back. How you been?
>> Good. >> Yes. You too. >> Thank you. God bless you. So, to the public that um is here, we want to hear your concerns. We have constituent services. I believe he's here um in the
room. And if he's not here, um our our BA and our corporation council is here to get your request so that we can make sure that your requests are heard and resolved and answered. You have three minutes to speak. There is a timer that goes on at the three minute when it's
over the timer um it cuts you off and then we move on to the next speaker. Please let's profane use refrain from using profanity. Let's be respectful on both sides of the deis. Madame clerk, our first speaker is Mr. Joel Case Jr.
>> Testing. Testing one, two. Today is May 19th and it is the 101st birthday of Malcolm X. I will read an excerpt from the book Malcolm X on African-American history titled Selecting Heroes. Before I start, I want
to acknowledge that Councilman Jackson is the type of hero that Malcolm X prefers and the other members of the council, the corporate Democrats and their supporters are the type he rejects. Malcolm was asked if he thought it was important for the new black
generation to know about slave revolts in the United States and people like Sir Jouer Truth and Frederick Douglas. Malcolm replied, quote, "Yes, it's important, but it's even more important for us to be reestablished and connected
to our roots." Douglas was great. I would rather have been taught about Tucant Lovenure. We need to be taught about people who fought, who bled for freedom and made others bleed," unquote. A question of reply, quote, "The first guy who was shot at the moment of the
Independence War was a negro." Unquote. Malcolm X said, quote, "He wasn't shot for Negroes. He was shot for the United States. I don't want to take away from Christmas addicts, but when he was shot, he was an enslaved African. His people
were enslaved." unquote. The questionnaire contested, he was enslaved perhaps, but not on his knees, on his feet. Malcolm retorted, quote, "Sir, you could take a dog, a big vicious dog, and sick
among somebody else, and he's fearless. I'd like to give you an example. No matter how fearless a dog is, if you catch him out in the street, stamp your foot, he'll run because you're only threatening him. His master has never taught him how to defend himself. But
that same dog, if you walk through that master's gate, will growl and bite. Why will he growl and bite over there and not growl and bite over here? Over there, he's growling and biting for the defense of his master and for the
benefit of his master. But when his own interests are threatened, he has no growl. Not only Christmas addicts, but many of us in the United States have died defending this country. We defend our master. We're the most violent soldiers the United States has when she
sends us to Korea or to the South Pacific or to Saigon. But when our mothers and our own property are being attacked, we're nonviolent. Christmas addicts laid down his life for the United States. But would he have laid down his life to stop the white man in
the United States from enslaving black people? So when we select heroes about which black people ought to be taught, let them be heroes who have died fighting for the benefit of black people and not the developers who continue to rob Patterson while utilizing Christmas
addicts type negroes as guard dogs to protect the master's property for another four years. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker, madam clerk, >> next up we have Eddie Olivarez. >> Good evening, Patterson.
>> Want to start by saying uh talk directly to the comm Look at Marisha. Hi. She looks so silly. Um you see I'm going to talk to you directly to you community. the elections are over.
And um I cannot say that I agree with the statement that the people deserve the government that they elect. No city deserves a bunch of hulums
giving away the city. No city deserves streets that are filthy. No city deserves h a street filled with homeless people. No city
deserves a city with drug addicts on their streets. No city deserves that. So no, we do not deserve the government that we have elected, but we elected them. Now let's have a moment of um I
guess a doll talk. People of Patterson, people here, you the ones who supported the administration and these two, you are to blame in all of this. We already know the mayor cannot fix the
city. He hasn't done it in eight years and he's not going to do it in the next four. So, you two share in the blame. But there is hope. People of Patterson, this is not the end. I mean, people get upset, feelings, um, I guess a little
pride, um, hurt, but things go on. 2028 is right around the corner, and I'm going to start telling you what I told you, I don't know how many times. Be careful with whom you support. Anybody that supports the mayor, vote against
them. I told you this, guys. Anybody that is financed by the developers, in this case, one one cool million dollars, that's a lot of money, poured into a campaign to make sure that they keep these people here because they need
these people to give the city away. This is how they do it. These people approve the projects that, you know, allow these developers to take millions and millions of dollars. That's what you elected, guys. People at home, that's what you
elected. But in 2028, I can tell you right now, let me tell you, I I have a crystal ball. Seenorles, you will be financed by Florio. I can already see it in the crystal ball >> because he needs you there.
>> Uh with Mendes, I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen with Mendes, so I'm not going to um you know, guess. But over here, school buses over here. I mean, we already know what's going to happen. So, do it again. >> Thank you. Next speaker, madam clerk.
>> Next speaker is La Hinder Singh. >> Apologize. >> Thank you everybody. Good evening. >> I'm not here for tobacco license this time. Definitely not. Actually my main concern is the number of people who take
participate in voting ballots. Last week I missed the meeting. Sorry for that. So it's 22.59% eligible voters pass participated in ballots who cast their votes. That's a big concern.
You guys win. Congratulation who lose. Sorry for that. But the biggest concern is that even winners are not the winners technically because 22.59% is a shame on all of us because there's
a complete lack of civic engagement. Local people don't trust a local government. That's not a good sign. You guys knows better. I'm not here to discuss anything special which everybody don't know but there is a saying when
somebody think they are sitting in a group of people and they are the smartest one you know the rest of the phrase what it is they are not in the right room last meeting I was watching on YouTube
channel Mr. Khalik, this is for you. So I feel like you feel a little offended when the guy was showing some record and you said like um people don't need to tell how to
you know do the job. We definitely not here to tell you guys how to do the job. We are just bring the concerns which is on the streets in our houses in our dining tables and everything.
You ask anyone who is sitting over here who is supporting any of the member Mr. Jackson, Mr. Mandes, Miss May, anybody who was taking took part in the election. The people are really very much
disappointed on you. They say you guys are not doing the right things. So you guys need to work together no matter what. Apart from your differences, keep them aside. Please work as a team. It's my humble request
to all the council members. Thank you very much. Have a great >> Thank you, Mr. Mark. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. >> Next up is Miguel Diaz. >> Good evening. Good evening. >> Uh let me say this.
I'm not here to talk about election, but I want to talk about something bigger than that. May we you all know me and a old time as a Democrat and I feel so bad when I see the way the
federal government use the the Justice Department to do political damage. And when that happen in other states also I feel you know bad but now it's like we are learning from those thing
and we using this in our state this is a democratic state practically most of the time and now we see what happened in Paris maybe here what I'm doing here this is
not maybe the right place but I know it's the right time to say this. I mean, how can we allow the Justice Department to be used as a political weapon? How how can that be allowed? I mean, by the
way, congratulation, Councilman Jackson. They drop your case. Be nice because they might bring it back. Now, when I say this, I feel like somebody's guilty when they accuse somebody. I mean the
Mendes family. I never was support Mendes because he got a case. When that happened that they dropped the case, I embraced the men. Now they bring the case back. I mean I had to throw it away now. Mean I think
practically the guilty person in this case is Judge Mohammed. Muhammad was the one that's dismissed this case. If the state wanted to retaliate against somebody, maybe had to be Muhammad. Why
the men's family? I mean, he was there for six year fighting, fighting and fighting. And now when they allow him to go free, the state say no. Now I think
the Muhammad is the one that that had to be accused of something wrong because nothing had changed. The only thing that I see changed was that Mendes has a good numbers. He show good numbers and in the campaign and maybe that's a threat for
somebody maybe. >> And when that happened, you had to use weapons to stop the threat and now the justice department is being used to do that. Meaning I think we had to stop
this. If the state wanted to feel free or guilty, they had to drop those charges because there's no way that this is going to be looking nice to our state. I'm proud Democrat, but I don't feel Thank you, Mr. D. Proud today.
>> Thank you, Mr. Diaz. >> Next speaker, Madam Clerk. I can't make out too much the handwriting and I apologize for mispronouncing it. >> Marani probably nextto
>> Marami. >> Good evening. >> Good evening, gentlemen, members of the councilmen. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my thoughts, my feelings tonight. My name is Subaru Moravi. I'm a Peruvian
American, 45 years as a citizen of this country. But all my family to the schools, getting old degrees and all that. I have my grandson is a lieutenant marine deployed to Okinawa.
That's the values that we bring to this country. This is about Alex Mendes tonight that we come in and talk in behalf of him. He went six years, everybody knows when six years of
very difficult times trying to prove that he was innocent and finally justice made his course. Finally, Justice America Justin said Alex Mendes is innocent and dropped all the charges
back on April 13. After the fact, of course, the family encountered themselves with happiness and joy, but feel that justice was done over them. Alice Mendes was a motor. Aris
Mendes was a fighter. Maris Mendes never gave up. He continue his role as a as a father. He continue his role as a member of this council serving the community without any showing any weakness to the contrary
giving more courage to keep on fighting for his innocence for his values. and April 13 was proven to this city of Paris and the rest of New Jersey and the whole United States that he was innocent
through the just the justice of United States gave him the right. Now after elections came the news that the state wanted to bring this case back again. What is this? What if someone is
trying to to do something against him again? There's no respect for a human being that went through so many years of suffering without reason.
I think enough is enough. We have in front of us the name of Martin Luther King, a champion of civil rights, a man he also fought for his beliefs. >> Yes.
>> A man that he says I have a dream. Alex Mendes have a dream as well. >> Yes, sir. >> But let's make that dream MAKE IT TRUE. MAKE IT HAPPEN. Thank you. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you so much. Our next speaker is
Mr. Victor Abias. >> Thank you everyone. I'm Victor Obias and I stand here as a citizen and as a resident of this city and we also stand here behind our councilman Alex Mendes.
Judge Muhammad's ruling was based on a very very known fundamental right, the sixth amendment of the United States Constitution, which in part reads the rights to a speedy trial. 6 years is not is a total violation of
the rights to a speedy trial. And now it's going to the appellet division where it's probably going to take another two years. We makes it eight. That is not a speedy trial. to the contrary is a miscarriage of justice. And we want to let the attorney general
know that we stand behind Alex Mendes. >> And we want to send a very clear and succinct message. If you violate Alex's Sixth Amendment right and you come for him, you're going to have to come for us.
And lastly, I've um as I was thinking of this case, I couldn't stop to think about a poem of World War II, which I would like to read. And it says, "First, they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out because I was
not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak on my behalf. Ladies and gentlemen, that narrative has changed. We are here to speak on behalf
of Alex Mendes. This brown Dominican African-American community will not stand for it. We have some basic fundamental rights that the attorney general has an obligation to adhere and to follow and to apply. And in this b in
this situation with our councilman Alex Mendes, it has has not happened and is not taking place. So again, we want to let the attorney general general's office know that yes, you could appeal it, but if those violations, those
fundamental rights of the sixth amendment being a bridge against our candidate, we're going to stand behind them come what may. Thank you very much. God bless each and every one of us. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Jose Gimenez.
Mr. Jose Gimenez. She gave you everything. Contra No, Latino. Alis say Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Daniel Mahia.
Daniel Mahia. You're not speaking, Mr. Mahia. >> Next speaker. Madam Daniel Mahia. >> Hello. Hello everybody. Uh my name is Daniel Mahia, CEO of Silk City1. And as each and every one of you may know, this
election season came with a lot of uh differences. At the end of the day, there were many parties that ended up dividing themselves and then all of a sudden coming back together. uh as to which the public are asking me
um what what happened in that case because they are sharing posts that I've done before of uh for example you miss me Mims or uh Alex um Luis Veles talking down on uh Andre Sed and then all of a
sudden coming back and joining him to to win in the elections. And yeah, and the other thing would be is that the people were also saying that um the elections was between Alex Mendes
and you Mr. Jackson. Uh but at the end of the day, it became more of a thing that it's uh it became like a pride on who could win instead of what could benefit the people. >> Yeah, that's that's basically it. >> Thank you, Mr. Mahia. Next speaker,
Grace Fernandez. Grace Fernandez. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Um, thank you for the opportunity to um to be here as um part of the community
because I do have a business here in Patterson. I drove three hours to be here tonight just to say this. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Because if we allow
this to happen and I can tell you with certainty, there's no evidence. They have no evidence. They have no proof. They manufacture witnesses. And if they can do that to him, they going to do that to
you, to your kids, and to everybody else. I like a lot of people here. I, you know, Patterson has been my second home, and I can tell you this. This is just unfair. It is illegal. And if you
let the Fox watch the hen house, the attorney general watch your police department, they have all the rights, but they have no responsibility. They are basically killing the morale for cops. They're they basically making the
um the community like go against, you know, law and order, but also they basically go after after cops that, you know, but then they they don't go after really big bad cops because they the
problem is the leadership, not the the officers that are out there putting their lives on the line. So they part of the community too. So I just wanted to say if this doesn't get taken care of, if we don't follow the 14th amendment,
which is not, you know, leaving here in New Jersey apparently, and it's not respected, we're going to have a lot of problems for the generations to come. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Hector
Baralt. Mr. Hector Baralt. >> Good evening all of you. Madame President, Madame Vice President, all the councilmen and uh all the dignitaries and madam secretary uh today tonight I'm here just to echo
the uh voices that preceded me because as a private citizen of Patterson, that's why why I'm talking. I am concerned because the same thing that hap is happening to Alex. There's persecution for six years. It could happen to me. It could happen to any
Dominican. It could happen to anybody in any other community like the Bangladesh community, the Afroamericans community. This is a persecution, I believe. And I think something should be done. I mean, why after six years of trying and not
finding any crucial evidence, why is the case was dismissed by a judge, all of a sudden we had a close election and a few days before the final results are over because all we have is projection of winners, but that doesn't
mean anything. Tomorrow, a lot of things may change. And why is all of a sudden this case brought back? They want to bring Alex back uh you know to judge him again on something that they tried for six years and couldn't find anything.
This this man I know him for 10 years and I know how much he went through him and his family and I don't think it's fair. I think something should be done. The attorney general general has to know that we are behind him. We are behind the Dominican community. We are behind
any other community. any anybody any other community that comes before us and facing the same problems we are behind with you. We are standing with you. So I that's all I want to say. Thank you. Have a good night.
>> Thank you so much. Next speaker, Mr. Bill McCoy. >> Good job. Wow. >> Good evening. Good evening. Um ladies and gentlemen, um council members, madame clerk,
I I came tonight innocently to um to speak about um Jamaica Day and our application which was filed and really thanking the council for scheduling that for for June
4th. We put in our application March 27th and I was hoping to get it on tonight's agenda, but I know that the timing within the city may have been a little bit challenging. It'll be on June
4th. Let me let me turn around and face my my brothers and sisters. Brother Miguel, I am William Bill McCoy. I am the victim of the voter fraud that was perpet per perpetrated in this situation. Okay? And don't drink the
Kool-Aid. Go be respectful. Go and read the indictment of uh October 23 and Right. Exactly. The it was it was my brother. It was outlined very clearly.
We understand the legal process. I I wouldn't I wouldn't bother to address you, my brother, because your circumstance is so bad. I I wouldn't want to I want to be there. Your your um concern tonight
um as to represent justice. Um somebody's quoting Martin Luther King. How dare you defame the name in that regards. Okay, let the process go through. The case was dismissed
according to the judge on these two principles. One, an allegation of um a speedy trial and second that the witness had an agreement with the prosecution that was not disclosed to the grand
jury. That's it. And we in the United States would rather 10 guilty people go free than one innocent person go to prison for something that they didn't do. Okay? And on that principle, the judge dismissed the cases. That's what it is. Accept
that, celebrate that, and be joyous about it. But to say somebody was innocent, um you're drinking the Kool-Aid. and um as a community and as a society, if we're not fair and just in
the things that we do, we're doomed. Okay? So, we're standing with responsibility. I let me to let me take my next 20 seconds to invite everybody to our Jamaica Day celebration August 1st and 2nd, East Side Park. We have a
great lineup, interesting performers, and we look forward to seeing you. or let there >> to my >> God bless you my brother be well >> thank you >> the quorum in the chambers please next
speaker madam clerk >> Dorham >> good evening Mr. Good evening. Before I get started, just want to say to the community that's here, let's all respect one another.
Okay? That's how we build this city. Look around Patterson. We fighting one another, but what what are we really fighting for? We don't have nothing here. Third loss of city, New Jersey. We got the Jamaican festival coming, Dominican festival coming up,
the Peruvian festival. People coming from all over. It's not even no major hotel. >> Make it make sense. What you writing for? Okay. So, we all need one another. Just want to say before I get into
everything, just want to say thank you to the second wall councilman Khalif, the sixth wall councilman Omar, council president Lisa Mims, um Kenneth, K n,
last name R O S A D O. If if I don't know how to be um say no name, I spell the I just want to say thank you. >> Thank you. Um overseer William Henry, Councilwoman will be caught in. Thank
you. Um also want to say the election is over. It's over. Okay? And if it's not over, Patterson, New Jersey, it's time for us
to build. Listen to this. We need lowincome apartments. Okay. We need a music center, a performing arts center. We got so many per singers, actors. We need this in this city. This
is the third largest city, New Jersey. The youth and the senior citizen. We need a radiation center building and we need a major hotel. Okay? like with this fight y'all got. Hey, I don't want nothing to do with
this fight. But I do want a I do want to do with all the fight when it come down to jobs, radiation center, low income, apartments. Bring the rent down, bring the taxes down. This is what everyone is
here for. I supported the ones that I supported because I believe that God going to touch your heart to work with the city to make the city a better city. Like I say again, Patterson, New Jersey,
I'm looking at every 25,000 people out there. It's the third largest city in the state of New Jersey. We don't got nothing to show for the first war, the fourth war, and the fifth war. We
need to time. It's time to build. We don't have no black businesses on the first war. Not even on the fourth war. But but but uh everybody want to sit here like we doing something. It's time to work. Stop playing games. Okay. God
bless you in peace. >> Thank you, Mr. Durham. There are no more speakers. Council seeing none to close. >> Uh move to close by Councilwoman Dava. Second by Valzen Elmar. Roll call to close the public portion.
>> Councilwoman Cotton. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Davila. >> Yes. >> Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. So, first of all, let me take my hat off to all the Mendes supporters and your
commitment. I give you credit for that. For those of you coming down here saying like, "If you're going to take him down, I'm willing to go down with him." I take off my hat. I commend you for that. And I respect that. I appreciate that.
But what I'm not going to let you do is come and try to tag along the the black community and the suffering that's happened throughout the years. When Eric Kelly was jailed for 24 years, I didn't see anybody in this room, not one person, not one sign come and stand and
represent him. When I named the street aunt for for for uh Hurricane Rub Ruben, Hurricane Carter, not one stood over there in representation of a man who was illegally incarcerated. And further, it's a simple process. It
is the legal process. Now, I if you can read the paper, Mr. Diaz, because my quote to my attorney was, I was upset for not being able to have my case be heard. I don't want my case dropped. I want to prove that I that
whatever I was accused of was false. So to sit to I'm in full support of of any movement that wants to, you know, stand next to a person, but it's very disrespectful and disheartening for people to jump on Facebook and jump on
these social media platforms and try to incinerate the black community and rile us up to support a movement that's not going to reciprocate the support. >> That's right. >> Mr. Mendes when he was standing shouldertosh shoulder with the current
administration. Everybody over there talked about how strategic it was even when it meant standing against the black community. When when we put those that clock up there he was sitting at the president council presidency seat truncating the public's time making sure
that certain people within the community specifically black people didn't get an opportunity to be heard. But now the black community should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with somebody who has not stood shoulder-to-shoulder with it. There's not one thing you can represent that shows that he has stood
and or all of the people that stood here today has stood in support of >> Councilman. I need your vote. In fact, the night that I was getting ready to get into the skirmish with this guy because he insulted black people, young black people in his chambers after uh
one of our young people was murdered by a police officer. What did he say? Councilman Yax. Councilman Jackson. Did he stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me when I was standing standing up in in defense of those young people before the cops was going to cart him out of here? >> Councilman Jackson,
>> he did not. I'm sorry, Madam Clerk. I'm speaking. Stop interrupting me. >> Your time is up, Councilman Jackson. >> My time is not up. My time is not up. I'm speaking. >> Councilman Jackson. >> So So therefore, for every person that's going to come into this chamber,
>> for every person that's going to come into this chamber and disrespect the black community in that fashion, if you want to stand with your candidate, stand with your candidate. >> Don't Don't do it on the backs of people who sacrifice their lives. Don't do it on the backs on the the great name of
Malcolm X. >> How many of you have donated to the Malcolm X Foundation? How many of you have made sure Malcolm X's children and his grandchildren are okay? >> He sacrificed his life so everybody can have the freedoms that we have and yet you come in here and de denigrate the
black community's name on somebody who rightfully so does not want to defend whether or not he's innocent. >> Thank you. >> He'll have his day in court. the the the the uh attorney general soft. >> Thank you, Councilman Jackson. >> Okay. Well, I'm not finished. I'm not finished. Based on the attorney general
soft minutes has passed to file anal council person to file an appeal and on that there's a process. So to to classify to classify my case president to classify my case where I was wrongfully charged
>> and and and and bring his similarities up with with this current case. >> It's very inappropriate and I'm not going to stand here and let anybody paint that picture. I'm not going to allow Mendes to paint that picture. I'm not going to allow council president to paint that picture. Election is over.
Allow anybody else to paint that picture. CE over last. I'm not finished. It's my fault. I'm not finished. Madam Madam >> Once again, I'm not finished. >> Madame Clark said, >> I'm not finished. >> Once again, I'm called my name. Madame Clark called my name. >> Once again, I'm not finished. I'm not
going to sit here and continue to allow people to come in here and disrespect council person. >> Disrespect the community in that fashion. >> Council, >> take a break then. Take a recess because I'm not going to allow it to happen. You guys have done it in the past. I'm not going to allow it.
I'm not going to allow it to continue to happen. You're not going to come here just and if anybody else won't stand on it. If anybody else runs on it, if anybody else won't stand on it, if anybody else won't stand on it, then I don't care.
>> There's a there's a council person that sat here for 18 years and we've never had this situation before. Councilman, have you ever seen a council person get truncated? Councilman, >> have you ever seen it happen? They want to coersse together and and change the process and I'm not going to allow it to happen.
>> Council, >> you can sit here and do whatever you like to do, but I'm not going to allow it to happen. I'm not going to allow somebody to come in here and be so such so so disrespectful. >> Council member, >> council member and and listen and and and safely
>> council president was the main one situation talk about she's going to reclaim her time. She's gonna go beyond beyond the this this the scope of what's now. She wants to change her position. >> Hello, >> Council Member. I'm going to use my two minutes. I'm
going to use my two minutes. >> Okay. >> Uh to the audience out there. >> First of all, uh Mr. Olivarez, uh one thing I'm not going to accept that you disrespect a female from the council calling her you look silly. you had to allow a little
bit of decorum uh towards our council members. And last but not least, >> what incident? >> Um madam council president, >> what incident? >> Please. >> Yeah, but can I go I cannot speak over my colleagues? >> Yeah, I know that but it's you know
so madame clerk uh we need to revise this a little bit. Uh I know you do parliamentarian and um and I respect your work. uh we had 12 speakers with three minuteish is 36 minutes. It's not fair that we only have two minutes to
address 36 speakers, you know. Um and to avoid this we had to revise this because if the public portion every individual take three minutes at least we should get granted more minutes to answer at least some of the concept that um the
the residents come and speak in front of us you know to revise this because 36 minutes to listen to people and then we only got two minutes to address it. I don't think it's fair for all of us in the council. I know if other minutes are
granted all of us will take opportunity to address and and put the point across to it to the community out there. I only have 30 seconds. Please don't let no one divide our community
when it comes up to issues in the city of Patterson. we all colorblind and make sure that we rally for the right cause that the residents of Patterson deserve.
Saying that, my vote is yes to close the public portion. >> Council President Mims. >> Um thank thank you council president clerk. I I truly apologize for what you know what you for what you went through.
Um I just passed. Let me just uh say thank you to the resident of the city of Patterson. Thank you for the great support, for the amazing support. Um I will never give up on my city because Patterson never give up on me. I've been electing multiple time this past election. We finished with 3% different
on the election. I feel blessed. Um I'm going to continue serving the community. We were going through the process of you know finalizing this election, but it's time it's time to work. It's time to bring unity into our community. It's time to pray for our city. It's time for us to not allow other people to divide
us. Patterson, it's time to work. My cler, >> we need a quorum. >> We correct. We don't have a quorum. >> We need a quorum. He's here. >> So, he's here. So, let me just state
this. Madame clerk, I want to apologize. It is not your rule. It is not a new rule. Councilwoman, it's not a new rule. It is the rule that is an ordinance in the books. If any council person does not agree with it, you can place it on the agenda to amend it. It is in the
books that you have two minutes when it comes time to vote. We should not disrespect you, clerk. Madame clerk, we unanimously voted you in and we have to follow the procedures. There are policies and procedures that are in place to keep the quorum at set order. And I will say this, there were 12
speakers, but 12 people that came to speak did not come to speak about city issues. They didn't come to say my garbage wasn't picked up. None of those speakers spoke about that. So to say we needed to extend time to address that. No one came to deal with city issues.
The bulk of them came regarding and in support of one of our council colleagues. And then we had um someone that's always here to promote all of the great things in Patterson. And then uh Councilman McCoy came to talk about um his his uh event in August, but everyone
else came in support. There was no one here to say we needed to have extra time to defend that. Let's respect our clerk. She deserves it. She's new. She's coming on to bring order and decorum and our city deserves to see a unified
professional setting. Madame clerk, with that being stated, my vote is yes to close the public portion. >> Motion to close. Public hearing is now closed. >> Uh motion to close the meeting of May 19th uh regular meeting 7 p.m. We have a motion on the floor to close the regular
meeting by Councilman Mendes. Is there a second? >> Second. >> She did. She did. >> That's That's the closing of the public portion. She did. >> Yes. To close public hearing. >> Close public portion.
>> Right. We did. I just need a second for Councilman Mendes's motion to >> second by Council. >> Roll call to close the regular meeting of May 19th. Madam >> Councilwoman Cotton. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to
say to all the ones that everyone that came out here tonight, um, with everything that's been going on and everything that's been happening and, um, I just want to say that, you know, there's there's a place that you need to go to when you have issues and sometimes
people it's not coming to the city council office, city council chambers, um, to to to try to get your answers. I always say to people, sometimes you have to go to Trenton. Sometimes you have to go to Washington DC. Those are some places that you need to go. But I want
to say to everyone that came out, um, we have a holiday coming up, Memorial Weekend. There's a lot of events that's going on. If you would like to know, look at my Facebook page. You'll see everything that's happening um in the entire city.
So, um, make sure you reach out to Rodney Addison for Junth celebration that we're doing. Uh, also the Masonic Temple is doing something for the week of Junth. Uh, every day at the Masonic Temple at 224 Broadway, you'll see all
different events that we'll be doing at the Masonic Temple. U, there's a lot of events happening. With that being said, Madam Clerk, I want to wish you all Memorial weekend is coming up. Um, wish you all a good holiday. Um um I think
that um when when you look at um the council meetings um people need to really look at you know we have to be the one to set the the quorum on how how we um be in council meeting. Madame clerk with that being said my
vote is yes to close our regular meeting on Tuesday May 19th. Thank you everyone. Have a good night. God bless you all. Council Vice President Davila. >> So I want to begin uh Madame Clerk by
apologizing to you. You know my colleague was out of order. Uh the level of respect that he did not show you that he expects to receive he should give. And I'm truly offended because you have as my council president
said she's new. You're not new to the work. You're just new to Patterson. Okay. And so we should not we should be protecting her. She is holding order on this chambers. And for you to have disrespected
Councilman Jackson, I'm really disappointed once again. Had that been anyone else, I would wonder what you would do because I've never seen you disrespect a clerk the way you did today. >> Wow. To my P County Community College
graduates, this is going to be the first year in 33 that we do not have Dr. Rose. So, I wish you well as we graduate the class of 2026 as the director of the uh school of allied health. I congratulate all of my
nurses, all of my uh surgical techs, diialysis techs, and so so so much more. And uh we'll be having the celebration and graduation tomorrow at P County Community College and on Thursday. So congratulations class of 2026 to all
that are graduating from all of the colleges and universities, community colleges, uh and high schools coming in June. Uh and to Patterson once again, thank you for showing me the support that you did. It is hard when you have um passion for
what you do. uh and uh you are uh misinterpreted or mis misunderstood. Uh but I want to say thank you to Patterson and my entire team who worked very dil diligently uh to make sure that
I return back to my seat. Thank you. My vote is yes. >> Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. What I will not allow is people to convey, especially when we have young people like this in the room.
So, and I know we're in roll call, so she will not answer now, but she can take the liberty at her at her convenience to outline to the public the authority that the clerk has over a council person. If there's an authority that the count
that the clerk holds over a council person and I've stepped on that authority and disrespected that authority, I will apologize. But there lies no such authority. The clerk is a is a parliamentarian.
She's supposed to rule on parliamentary procedures. She's supposed to hold the quorum and advise. If a council person sees it fit to go beyond, she does not have any authority over a council person. Regardless of whatever they try
to in instill within her, it does not exist. The council person that is duly elected by the public has the authority. Now, the body can take action. Let the body do so. Don't try to portray some
disrespect because that's not what this was. What it is is me not allowing for the depiction of a situation to transpire. For that matter, if the clerk was so diligent when council president often steps off her offer her own ruling
and speaks over someone, whether she does it uh uh uh frequently or not, the clerk never takes a stance and points out the fact that the council president is breaking her own rule of decorum.
But because she's been tasked to hold Councilman Jackson to a different level of uh of of of satisfaction, I'm not going to sit here and allow that to happen. I'm not going to allow somebody to truncate and or try to mask what's going on here. So you can you can paint
that picture if you want to. Oh, he owes you in the P. I never never have I disrespected anyone in this chambers. Calling someone incompetent and not understanding their role is not a level of disrespect. It's a fact. That's what it is. And if there is any authority
that the clerk has over a council person, then exercise it. But there is none. She cannot exercise any authority over a council person because it doesn't exist. What is she going to do? Have me removed? Escort me out by armed guard? No. There
is no such authority and I will not yield to Councilman Jackson authority. Thank you for your advice, Madam Clerk. Thank you. because that's what you're here to do. Advise and consent. That's it. But you do not have any authority to force me to stop.
>> So, Councilman Jackson, your two minutes. >> Okay. Let the body take action. Let the body point of order. Council President, let the body take action and let her rule on parliamental procedure. Let her tell us what the parliamental procedure was. Next council >> because she was off she was already
wrong on the first time she had to rule on parliament. Next council person. There is no authority that she or you have over council person. Madam clerk, there is no authority that you council person and or the clerk has over a council person. That's a fact. >> There is no authority that that the
clerk has or the council men has made his vote. My vote is yes, madam clerk. Good night, Patterson. God bless you, Patterson. >> So once again, >> next council person. Madam clerk, >> I'm not going to allow the disrespect to take place in this chamber. It's not
from the council president, not from the clerk, and not from anyone else. >> Council person, I want to wish Patter chamber something and my vote is yes. Hold them accountable. >> Thank you, Councilman Omar. Next, next council person. Councilman VeZ. >> Councilman Vez. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh I have
so three important message to give the community. Uh the Roberto Clemente Park cleanup uh that was going to be this Saturday um in the fifth ward is going to be cancelled due to the weather. Uh I'm going to reschedu it and I will adise the community when it's going to
be. I know I have a quite few volunteers but it's going to be 90% raining on Saturday and also on Sunday. So it's going to be rescheduled. Um um I have um 1 minute and 35 seconds.
So, let me uh say this. Uh city of Patterson summer youth program uh calling high school college student age from 16 and up uh to apply for summer uh job. Please, you have the last day to apply is May 24. Addison Institute is
accepting student certified medication ACMA program. Please contact or go visit 715 Broadway, Patterson, New Jersey. Uh the program start uh June 1st. Registration deadline is May 23rd. Please take the opportunity to educate
yourself and serve the community through CMA program, certified medication aid. Last but not least, ladies and gentlemen, uh the big debate today is she's over us or we over her. I know she's doing a great job, but I know
Robert Roua order is all over us. My vote is yes, >> President Mims. So, I will be posting online the code because I know there will be critics that will have commentary. So, let me
give it to the to the community. Patterson E360 code section 5-20 section M6. Council members has two minutes for the purpose to explain their vote only. After the two minutes, they are supposed
to vote and move on. That is the code. We are here to follow the rules and set the quorum. If someone chooses not to oblige to the code and to the law and be disrespectful, we are obligated to move forward. That is what we're doing. There
shall be order in the chambers of Patterson City Council. The there will be no more disrespect to our clerk. There will be no disrespect to the c your council colleagues. Patterson deserves better. And as you've given me four more years, you will get it. Madame
Clerk, in closing, good night Patterson. My vote is yes. >> This meeting is hereby adjourned. Um the next council meeting is scheduled on Thursday, June 4th, 2026 for a workshop session. Good night.
>> And there will be a special meeting. >> And there will be a special meeting on Thursday. Everything will be posted online once the time has been determined. >> No, no. The special meeting will be on the 4th. Okay.