Thank you. Thank you, Rafael. Good evening, Patterson. Uh, welcome to the city council chamber. Uh, on behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, we welcome you to the regular meeting on May 20, 2025 at 7 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Madame clerk,
please call the role. Roll call for the regular meeting of May 20th, 2025. Councilwoman Cotton here. Councilwoman Dav, Councilman Jackson, Councilman Khik here. Councilwoman Mims here. I'm ready to
serve. Councilman Omar. Councilman Uden. Good evening. I'm here. Councilman VeZ. Council President. President of Clerk. Thank you, Council President. There are six that are here at the moment, three
absent. Thank you, Council. Catherine Vez is here. So, we have seven present and two absent at this time. Statement of compliance. Statement of compliance with the open
public meetings law 2024 2025 May 20th 2025 7:00 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting was compiled and disseminated I'm sorry m we got to do the prayer first the prayer I'm sorry um where is it
where is it where's the prayer thing where is it I don't have it this evening the prayer will be rendered by pastor Jackson Moody from Jason He's here. He was just here. Yes, he's here.
Um if if he's not if he's not here, madame clerk, we could ask our councilwoman a large uh Dr. Liliss to um lead us with a prayer. So if he's not outside. Okay. So, um, Councilwoman Liss
will do the prayer for this meeting. Great. Please stand. Let us pray. 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 until the going down of the same. Your name is
worthy to be praised. God, we thank you that on tonight that you will be in charge, that this meeting will be ran by you, that it will be orchestrated by you. We pray as we sit here and do the business of the city, God, that as we are voting on items that will benefit
and move the city forward, we pray that our residents are safe. We pray for peace for our residents. We pray for safety for our residents. We pray for love for our residents. We pray for unity in our community. We pray for joy for our residents. We pray for strength
and healing for our residents. For those that are sick, we pray for healing. For those that are grieving, we pray for comfort. God, we need you not just on tonight, but every day. We need you to lift us up. We need you to rise us above the ashes. And so, God, we thank you for
this council meeting on tonight. bless the mayor, the council, the administration, all our residents, and even bless our children, and for those that are testing this week, God, you know, all things. And we pray that you will continue to cover this city. Cover
this city with prayer. Cover this city with grace. Cover this city with mercy. And cover this city in love and Jesus's name. Amen. Amen. Um now the flesh salute will be conducted by Councilman Jackson. He's
u councilwoman of large Melissa Dav. Can you lead us with a flat salute? Country. Salute. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation on behalf
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please remain stand now. Let's do a moment of silence for our troop and for those that lost a loved one and for the city of Patterson. A moment of silence, please. Thank you. You may be seated.
Madam clerk, can you please read the statement of compliance? Yes, council president. Statement of compliance with the open public meetings law 2024 through 2025. Meeting date is May 20th, 2025, 7:00 p.m. Adequate notice of this
meeting was compiled and disseminated in accordance with the open public meetings law in the following manner. One, the annual notice of regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council was compiled for the year 2024 2025 on or about July 1st,
2024. Two, a schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was duly transmitted on or about July 1st, 2024 to the North Jersey Herald
News. The record, the Arabic voice, the Italian voice, Bet County Post, Dominicano News, Laiske International, Ellispiel, the Patterson Press, the City Post News, Tap into Patterson, the weekly Bangla Patrika in addition to any
other publication duly requesting such notices. Three, the schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was prominently posted in the lobby of city hall first floor in the
place reserved for the announcements of this type. Four, the schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was duly filed with the municipal clerk. And five, a copy of the schedule of regular meetings of the
municipal council was mailed to any person who requested and paid the fee authorized by the open public records act. Council president, thank you madam clerk. Before we start with our payment of bill, we have two presentation. Let's start with council for councilman.
Thank you council president. Let me sit down. Right. Good evening, Patterson. Uh, first of all, let me stand right here. Can I have another mic? Yes, sir.
Blessing. All right. Good evening, Patterson. I would like to welcome you here in the city of Patter City Hall in the city of Patterson. And again I can see so many new faces as I'm going to read a two pages of resolution of a high
schoolgoing young man. At his age I would not have two paragraphs I believe. So again I would like to read the whole thing uh with that time frame I believe. So this resolution is for recognizing
and commen commending Salman Chowuri for his exemplary academic achievement, leadership and acceptance into multiple Ivy League universities including Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Colombia and the
University of Pennsylvania. I'm spok I'm not speaking about a kid from Wayne or other towns. You're speaking about his child from Patterson. Before I read his whole bio, I want him to join me here so that everyone can see who I'm reading about. Let me uh welcome here the young man who
made us all proud. Salman Chadu, please join me. [Applause] At the same time I would like to call upon our second w councilman shine khalik also join me please. So let me read the
resolution. They said the city of Patterson is a steadfast in its commitment to acknowledging and celebrating the remarkable accomplishment of his youth who demonstrate academic distinction, exemplary leadership and profound
dedication to both their personal growth and betterment of our communities. Salman Chaduri a resident of Patterson and alumni of Patterson public schools has distinguished for himself as an exceptional scholar leader and reflected
the highest ideals academic excellence in civic responsibility. Sabanchui commenced his formal education at Patterson School number 27 and subsequently attended the Patterson Academy of Gifted and Talented from
grade 2 through 8, graduating as a valid valictorian. During his time there, he he garned his regional statewide uh for NJSLA for English language arts and math as one of the rare prestigious
distinction and he was one of the 500 among 800,000 students around the state of New Jersey. So his achievement his so this gentleman started making us
proud not just now but the when he was in uh you know uh middle school. So again just know the where story started. Again, I want to remind you that I'm still reading his bio of a high school student. Salman Chaduri, a member of
Patterson growth Bangladeshi American community was born in Dubai and relocated to Patterson in 2009 with his family in pursuit of unified and and promising future as he got it already. His journey reflects the residence and
determination of the city's diverse and hardworking residents. His mom and dad is here. I want both of them to stand please as well. And the part we all are waiting for. Let me read this part. Salman Chowri currently attend PCTI STEM Academy at P County Technical
Vocational Schools where he continues to distinguish himself academically maintaining his highest academic standing while actively participating in wide range of extracurricular activities like VEX robotics team manager computer
aed design uh you know and other othermies as well I cannot read everything just know this you'll be bored but let me come to the point that recently when When he applied for the universities as a high school seniors, he got acceptance in unwinging pursuit of
excellence. Al Salman has been accepted into several of nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning including Harvard University is hard to even pronounce. Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University and the University
of Pennsylvania as accomplishment of their brings and this accomplishment brings pride to his family, his educators and of course all of us, the entire city of Patterson. And I don't want to read anymore. Just want to add that all the
acceptance are coming with 100% scholarship along with this. [Music] So so the reason of this get together is not just for Salman but creating more Salmans out there in the city of Patterson. We have to acknowledge and
highlight these children that are making us pride. Patterson has way way the stories that we can be proud of but we have to bring them to the light. So again before I hand over this mic to this uh you know u extraordinary
gentleman and and and from Patterson I always say this a Patterson product I'd like to uh call up on second order councilman as he also knows his family very well. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening everyone. Patterson strong second
strong. I have known I have known him since he was a baby. I know his parents since probably 2012 or 2013. I don't even remember the date. We are so proud of you. Good luck in your future. One of the quote I'm going to read from him in
a newspaper. He basically stated everything start at home cuz his parents raised him to be a person who he is today. So I want to thank both parents. M Chowuri sitting right in the front.
Can you please stand up? Stand up, please. And his father, Shafi Chowuri. Thank you. Thank you. And congratulations. Thank you, Councilman. And I would love to hear from all the council members.
You'll hear from them. But before that I and before the group picture I think we need to hear from this uh extraordinary man and he can make you know tell us that what's the technique he follows or what's the special food your mom and dad uh you know offers you every day.
Thank you and good evening honorable council members respected city officials and fellow residents of Patterson peace be upon you all. It is truly my honor and privilege to stand before you this evening, not just as an individual being recognized, but as a proud product of the great city of Patterson. I am
grateful to God for granting me this opportunity and for guiding me thus far. I would also like to thank everyone here today. Your presence means everything to me. Hard work does pay off, but when I speak of hard work tonight, I am not merely talking about my own. The truth is my efforts are just a fraction of
what brought me here. My my success is rooted in the love, sacrifice and unwavering support of so many from family to my teachers from my masjid to my community from my classmates to the people of the [Applause]
city. I want to give my sincerest thanks to council man large for you to dean for sponsoring the resolution that brings us together tonight and to the entire city council for your unanimous support. This recognition is not just encouragement. It is also a powerful motivation to keep striving, to keep giving back, and to
work even harder for a brighter future. Councilman Odin's initiative to empower youth through volunteer and internship opportunities has been a privilege for many Patterson youths. While I have not been able to be as involved in his work due to my own personal commitments, I have close connections with much of his team through other means, and they are all amazing people who speak only good
things about their involvement with him. I would also like to thank Councilman Shaheen Khalik for his unwavering dedication and close connection with my family for as long as I can remember. I still remember when I was a middle school student here in school 28 and councilman Khalik helped helped to put me on to put me on online newspapers
multiple times due to my success in standard standardized assessments. His cooperation with the community is also deeply valued. And of course I would also like to thank the mayor who enthusiastically called my parents as soon as he heard about my college results. His enthusiasm demonstrates his passion for student success. Because the
truth is my story is not mine alone. It is a story of Patterson. It is a story of immigrant families who arrived with little but gave everything. It is a story of students who walk into our schools every day filled with hope and determination. It is a story of a city that believes in its children. When my family came to the United States in
2009, we did not know what the future would hold. We were simply seeking opportunity for education, for dignity, for hope. And we found the opportunity in Patterson. We found neighbors who became family, educators who believed in us in a city that celebrates diversity and embraces its youth. My parents left everything behind in pursuit of a better
future for me and my siblings. At first, perhaps the dream was simply to attend college. Never did they imagine that one day their son would be accepted into Ivy League University. However, this is a beauty of perseverance. With every step forward, new doors open. It is that spirit of resilience that drives progress and it is what makes stories
like mine possible. Although I may be heading to an Ivy League institution, I will always be a Patterson student at heart. The label Patterson product means the means everything to me. It represents resilience. It represents community and it represents a responsibility to give back to the young people of Patterson. Your city your city
sees you. Your city believes in you. You are not alone in your journey. If my story can serve as even a small reminder of what is possible when fate meets opportunity, then I stand here tonight with deep gratitude and even deeper purpose. Thank you council members for your unwavering support of our youth. Thank you. Thank you Patterson for
raising me. May you may we continue to uplift one another and build a city where every young person can thrive. Peace be upon you all and thank you. Wonderful speech. Congratulations. Let's go to the front. All the council members join us.
[Music] join us. We should have [Music] I we have two commissioners in presence right here. Commissioner Cory Teague, please join us. Commissioner Rashid, please. And my team, please join us as
well. I'm going to call the family. Come on. Lady can come here and other members. I'm going to call them. Call them. It's a big family coming. Mom, join us, please. Is that commission? Oh, you're here. Yeah. Yeah. Come, come. You're in the middle. That's fine. That's good.
Yeah. No, no, that's fine. That's fine. That's good. That's good. So, come on. Yeah. Is it the whole audience? You have to call them, right? Yeah. That's brother. Yeah. Mom, dad is looking at the
camera. Are you ready? Can I call the rest of the family members, Muna youth, please join us? And rest of the friends and family, please join us. All right, everyone. Come on. That's fine. Yeah, they can just sit here.
Let me let me right here. Can you see? Can you see? [Music] Wow. [Music] Say hi, please. Thank you so very much everyone for
encouraging Salman Chaduri and this is going to create more Salman Chaduri in our community as well. Thank you so very much everyone. Congratulations. There you go. Rafie got it. Take the close shot. Got it.
3 2 1 Harvard. All right. Great job, everyone. Thank you so very much. Thank you. I truly appreciate your time. [Music] Oh no, you tell me friends and
friends. Let's take a single picture. Take a single picture. All right. So papa here [Applause] [Music] once again congratulation. Let's put our hands together one more time for a great
student Patterson proud. Congratulations. Got to be a little huh. Ah. [Music] [Music] Um, thank you. So now we have we got one
more presentation Kelly. So let me wait until Oh my god. Thank you. Thank you so very much. Now we have a second presentation. We have um Kelly Moss um with a
presentation. Black one. Yes. Good evening, uh, Kelly. So, you could, um, um, wait a minute. So, we have a presentation from the Black Life Matters here with us, Maturister, Ruy, Vision, Hearts of Hannah, and Kasa
Deulura Dominican, New Jersey is here with us. This is about item 46. Item 46. So they have a item 46. Yeah. Correct. I think we all have the copy now. So,
um, council members Yes. We're ready. Okay. Thank you. Um, thank you, um, council members. And I'm going to read today so I'm not all over the place. Okay. So, good evening, council
members. I stand before you today with a vision, a bridge between crisis and stability, between homelessness and hope. The Patterson Bridge program is more than just a housing initiative. It
is a lifeline for our unsheltered residents, a pathway to dignity, and a practical solution to one of Patterson's most pressing challenges. Everyday individuals in our
city faces the harsh realities of homelessness and not because they lack potential, but because they lack access to the right support at the right time. This program is designed to change that.
Rooted in traumainformed care and compassionate intervention, the Patterson Bridge program connects individuals to housing, vital services, ensuring they receive not just shelter,
but a real opportunity to rebuild their lives. Tonight, I invite you to stand with us to invest in change, champion stability, ensure that Patterson become a city where no one is left behind.
Though tonight, we stand before you to discuss the Patterson Bridge program, which is a housing readiness program. This program is intended to reach the individuals that phase one that is in the business corridor of the city of
Patterson that lives in the tent encampments along Route 19, Route 80, and along Main Street. How did we get here? We got here through a ordinance that was um put out by our council
president, Alex Mendes. And out of that ordinance, there were groups that work with housing that begin to advocate for the housing. And as a result of advocacy for the housing, we formed the Patterson housing coalition. And so in this
coalition, we deal with housing issues. So we've been exploring ways, meeting with different entities to discover how we can help those individuals that are living in tent encampments. One of the ways that we can help them that's living
in tent encampments is ask the state of New Jersey for funding that won't take away from anything from the city of Patterson. And so what we would like to do with this proposed project is connect people that are living on the streets
outside of our normal lives. We would like to ask for services to provide for them intensive housing services. What does the intensive housing services look like? The intensive housing services will involve those grassroots
organizations that's already out there doing the work that's illfunded. This will give them an opportunity to do the work and be funded and deliver quality care which they already do, but it will all give them an opportunity to really
connect them to housing. So, we are asking for money to provide um housing vouchers to individuals that are street homeless, but get them ready for housing. And we will do that through robust intensive outpatient services. We
will be able to address employment issues. We'll be able to address mental health issues. We'll be able to address substance abuse issues. And one of the things that I like about this project and I feel very good about is that it's a collaboration through different
organizations again that's already out there doing the work. In this project you have Hardy Hannah Women's Center in which we will administer the grant. We have mature sisters. They're already out in the community. They already doing the work. We have Ruby Visions. They're
already out in the community doing the work. We have Black Lives Matter. They're already out in the community doing the work. And please forgive me if I say it wrong. Kasa. They've been teaching me all night. Kasa dela coutura
[Applause] dina. So we are we are looking. We we need your support my sisters and brothers. We need your support. We're not taking away anything from the city. We want to address a real life problem.
Here's our chance. Here's our opportunity to do it. And we need your support. This is a call to action to ask you to join in with us. Support us while we do our very best to take care of the members in our community. We I know we
like send them home. Send them here. Send I've been there. I got that. I understand that part as well. but they're here now and they have become intricate members of our community. So, we just want to clean up our city. Um, housing is a human right and we want to
be able to do our best. At least we want to say we did our best and here's an opportunity for the city of Patterson to stand out and do something different and something better for our people. Um, it's it's it's it's a heavy load and
it's a heavy lift, but we're here to do it. We here to do the work. And I I myself I do housing for women and children. It's not a lot of women and children out there on the street, but yet I know the job need to be done. I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and get
out here with the outreach organizations and get the job done. And one of the things that's baked into the project is that we will communicate to you, city council, on a monthly basis, the statistics, who we helping, who we not
helping. We're going to invite everybody to the table, not just us. We're going to invite St. Joe's, EVAs, every organization, the police department, everybody that serves the people in the community. We're going to invite them to the table and we're going to begin to
dialogue and we're going to be able to talk about these problems in a way that it matter instead of complain about it. Council President, we can't do it without you. Council President, Councilwoman Dav, so I want to thank you and I want to thank all the
organizations that are coming together. Um I on a personal and I know and I understand what we have before us is for a letter of support. I just wish that we would have had as a body would have had more information, more, you know, uh, conversation. I don't know anything
about this. I just found out um I don't know what committee, if any, it went through, right? And the only concern that I have right now is is that um it's asking the state for uh $2 million. That's additional, right? That's not anything that has to do with our um
budget, right? I'm afraid that because of where we are right now and the city, the council not taking action for the um introduced budget that there could be some type of uh backlash if I could say it that way. So, like I said,
you know, I'm in support like I would definitely be in support of this. I think it's important. I know Rhonda has been doing for numerous years working with the community with her shower program in additional to other programs. I actually met Rhonda through Eva's village, you know, working very hard and most of you, I know all of you, right?
So, I I stand with you guys to work it hand in hand. Um, I understanding that community, understanding that at one point, you know, I had family members who were unhoused and who were addicted and the whole nine, right? So, and it was through Eva's going through those programs, you know, that was able to
help, you know, my family members. So, I get that, right? just that when stuff comes to this council, we need to be informed more. When someone just puts something before us and it's right before a meeting and I'm trying to find out, you know, what is it exactly? Then it just puts us in a position where, you
know, why wasn't it brought to us before, right? And I'm talking as as a as a whole, as a committee. And I know that it came to workshop, but it came to workshop without it even being on the agenda. So, um that's all I wanted to say. Um, Kelly, I've worked with you for
numerous years as well, even before I was an elected official. I know all of the work that you do, you know, through Kasa Dominigana and all the organizations, uh, all everyone here and and, um, I know we have Mr. Thomas here, you know, uh, I know he works very
closely, you know, with Black Lives Matter, but he's an educator as well, and he's been part of our community for numerous years. Ruby Clark, everyone, Ruby's vision, I mean, you name it, you know, I understand. And like I said, you know, don't whatever I've said here today, I say it in front of you. I don't
go to say anything behind anyone's back. I'm very direct that the only thing and the where I'm feeling a little uncomfortable is going to ask for monies and the city. And so we're saying we support this, right? We the city, we're
going to um support uh a letter of support for you to go and be able to ask for these monies. And then they go, well, city of Patterson can't get it together. They can't even have an introduced budget. Not an not an adopted one, but an introduced one. So, I just want us to be a little u um careful with
President. Thank you for all of the work that you're doing. Councilwoman Mims, right after Council Member, so when there we have a lot of issues in the city. So, I want to commend you because you're presenting a solution to a issue that everyone complains about in the
city. weather. Uh we just dealt with a concern at Sunshine Daycare in the parks or whatever. Kelly, I want to thank you because we spoke and the same thing that Councilwoman Davlet just stated, we talked privately, correct? And I said
just present it before cuz I know that you've been meeting with council president, but if the entire council is not privy to what's going on, then when you come up before, then it will almost appear like we don't support it and that's not the case. we can speak to the work of each one of you individually and
I know corporately you will do great work. So for me I'm grateful that you came you did a presentation so we can hear it. We have some documentations in front of us so that we can say this is what it is. And I just want to um put on the record and I think um and we
probably can do it tonight, but the item reads and I I just want to be clear corporation council. Um the item says we're this resolution supporting supporting the Patterson Bridge program and requesting it funding
from the state. I think the wording should change. I should it should say this resolution is in support of because do the state you're going to really to the state legislators for funding. Correct. Correct. That's what's happening. So
it's not really from here. You're pushing while the state legislators are in their budget process to see if they can um put this in for allocation. So I the way it reads is like it will be coming from our budget, right? So, I
want to make sure where it reads, we this council is in support of this new initiative going to our state legislators to request one point or $2 million 1.977,000 of funding to um resolve the
concern in the great city of Patterson. So, Corporation Council, um, I I definitely support, but I think the resolution should read in that manner because the way it's written, it appears that cuz right now we're in our own budget process. We're asking the state for $33 million. We're in the
introduction of adoption, which has not happened because it failed as you may have watched or or not. But I wanted to be clear that this is the council saying we stand it's like a a statement of needs. So, we're saying we support your efforts and going to our state
legislators to push in their budget to add an additional $2 million for this program. So, corporation council um if if we can like reward it to state that is I wanted to be clear because we want to show the the legislators that this
body supports your efforts as you're going to them so that Tinton could add an extra $2 million. So, I just want to make sure that the the reading reflects and that we stand cuz I support your efforts. All of you know I've done it individually. So, I don't want nobody to
tell you privately. I hate the gossip chain and all that. Me support you. I spoke to Kelly and I told Kelly what to do. So, for me, I just want to make sure that it reads. So, when you go to the legislators, cuz you know, we got some fighters down in Trenton. We have um our
senator Benji Wimbley. We have Assemblywoman Sumpter and Assemblyman Abdelaziz. And I want to make sure that it reads so that they will get this reszo to say that we would like to see you push to add for these allocations. So corporation council, if we can get
that, you know, I would like to put it before this council to just amend that wording so that they will know that this council stands in support of the effort you're trying to do to help the issues of Patterson. I would like to see it read like that and I I'll wait through the discussion but that will be my motion on the floor. Sure. Thank you
council uh council last. Thank you council president. Um when when we talk every time about plan and the city demands plans and uh the community demands plans. Um we here
always tell the administration we want a plan. So I have to commend all of you for bringing a plan, a well elaborated plan that if you close your eyes and you listening to it, it's
going to work. If you close your eyes and you listening to it, it's going to work. as we all council members here for for quite a bit and those that know process in the city of Patterson and I know you and the organization that have
participate in the past through community development requesting funds for your organization CDBG money etc etc you know the process right so we had to be fair across the board because a lot
of people will come with plans and they could have submitted and paid paper and they going to submit it to community development uh to request funding, right? And all and I always say I always say ask for a lot and they will give you whatever they want, right? Because
sometimes they cut a lot, right? So seeing the resolution support and council m stated I don't know if there's a bill out there in the state level that uh address this and that from that bill uh we could request funding directly to
them through organization right through organization but right now what I'm afraid is and and and this is one of the things that we see process before that there's a big wish list, right, that we could have and you could
have and everybody could have. But when the money comes to the city of Patterson goes to or general funding or goes to a particular department like human services, like the board of health, like
uh um economic development or community development, right? And I'm afraid that if this funding comes, you get overlooked, right? And and and there's a
process on it. It's a process on it. If if if we receive funding through agencies directly to the city, directly to the city, there's a process of application. There's a process of RFP for any kind of program.
But what I see here is and and you mentioned uh Ru vision great organization working for from grassroot working with everybody way back even without money. Okay. Your uh organization heart of Hannah working in
this city without funding. Black life matters putting money uh putting their own money and putting their own resources to serve the community. this council here in the past when it comes up and m Mr. BA you probably could go
back on the tape on this this council here have not sit back and say you know don't give to those organization try to get identify funds in the budget to help those small organization that we have in Patterson
like you guys if I may and it's not happening so and it's not happening because then being and you know you could put an application you get and say you request it for $100,000 they give you Five. So it's not happening, right? So if I may, I I just five for you,
councilman. No, no. I could wrap up for you could, you know, you could come back if you want to say this. Yeah. I don't want to interrupt you. So what I say is is a good initiative is a good plan. If I close my eyes and I listening to it, I went over it while you speaking on it.
is a A to Z plan but I think it's being vetted without the proper channels and um and and and this is what I say right it's a presentation only right and and I agree in the presentation you
highlighting us of the plan that you want to bring through your organization marrying other organization to work with the situation that patter with homeless encampment what I think is that there's a there's a few committees that the PH Patterson has and
we sit in those committee that should be vetted through there to get more power on it and move forward and demand administration that to identify the fund because what about
this resolution goes through we don't get money extra money from the state to address this we still had to demand administration to look into funding to uh funds those organization that we are here from for for we could have a plan
together. If I may clarify for you that we are not asking the city of Patterson for funding and what you're discussing is what we call our RFP, a request for a proposal process and we're not going through that process. We're going
through another process through our state legislators and the oversight and the vetting will happen in that area. But in order to go that route, we have to have the support of the city council. And then if I may apologize to you all,
if we did not get all that information out to you so that you can do your job the way that you feel like you needed to, we do apologize. We saw opportunity. We've been fighting. We've been advocating the opportunity came for us
and it is time sensitive. So um again we do apologize for that. You all know our hearts. We all worked in this area all together and we're we're not asking and I want to make that clear to the residents of the city of Patterson
because our backs is up against the wall. So So in other words um sister in other words what what you're saying now is is hold on I say I got to wrap up. But in other words, what you're saying is there's an opportunity to put a application through your organizations
to the state directly and we have to support your application and say, "Oh, so that had to be here. That's why have to be here." Everybody was selling it different. Okay, now we got it. Yeah, President. So, so I I have um So, I as
So, I have Councilman Khal, uh Councilwoman Ruby, and and Councilman Jackson. uh before I pass my to council mik, we all remember so we all remember the the the legislation that I put in that I put in the floor that was not the best legislation because a lot of the
organization saw that we were like um criminalizing the homeless. I remember that I was uh you know I got other organization came in front of the podium criticized the legislation and I took it and I said listen you might have a better plan than me. I'm not I'm not an expert but the only the only thing I
know is that doing nothing is not an option. Our downtown was horrible. We got homeless everywhere urinating, living and like camping around downtown was horrible. Our community, they cannot utilize this the store that we have in downtown and it's a disaster. So I reach out and we met with uh Sully Thomas from
Black Light Mirror, Material Sister, Ruby Vision, Havana, Kelly and Miguel Diaz from Castle Dominicana and and I mean they they got all those idea on the floor and I and I see it's a phenomenal plan. We also reach out to all the city and they have done it in Atlantic City and it's been it's been very successful.
So I just want to take this time to say thank you because this is your idea. This is your expertise. This is your experience and you guys out you guys been out doing the work without getting the resources. You've been out there for years doing the work. So nobody knows better than you the condition of the city of Patterson. Nobody better than
you knows what is needed to address the homeless population in the city of Piso. That's the reason why I see this is a phenomenal plan and I just want to say thank you. you know um um council colleague and right after councilman Ruby and councilman Jackson. Thank you council president. This is the least we
can do but I have a question. Corporation council this money uh if you get awarded will it funnel to city of Patterson or directly the organization will receive that money to council president. May I uh corporation council
please? Thank you. Uh so thank you councilman Khik for that inquiry. Um the money would like most likely uh be allocated directly to the organization by way of supplemental uh transitional aid or some other uh project given. Uh
if council if the city council deems it advisable to proceed and express uh support for this uh the state can do a special allocation for this particular project and uh allocate it that way. Thank you. Well uh I'm still not clear.
Uh, will this money go through city of Patterson? No. Will it direct? He said most likely. Come on, let me let me let me ask the question. If it goes directly, which is fine, I think you guys should go to our neighboring city
as well. Get the same support letter from from them as well. 35th district, go to Elmer Park, Prospect Park, Helden, North Helden, go to their city council, get the same letter of support from them as well. I think you will make your case
stronger because that's how our leg 35th legislative uh state representative could show them that we need it in this program in 35th legislative district. That's all. Thank you, Councilwoman Ro. Thank you um council president. I just
want to say um to the organizations there uh Hearts of Hannah, New Vision, Mature Sisters, Black Lives Matter, and the new organization that joined. Um this is not the first time we doing this, you know, for to get organ to get
money. Um they need letter of support. Um we just did one a couple weeks ago. It was last minute. Um and sometimes that's what happened. last minute happens and you got no choice but to to to put it forward. Um, you know, I have
always said that a lot of organizations get money, but they can't do the work. So, they call on y'all, but they don't want to give you no money. So, you you know, you can't keep doing the work and they calling on you guys all the time to go help them. They're getting funding,
millions, but then they can't go out there on Governor 12 Godwin. They're not going to do it. So they need you to do it. So now this was a bright intelligent way of thinking. Let's go for some money. We don't know how much it's going
to be. We're not you hopefully when they read it they'll say this is a good cause. This is what we need to um this is what we need for our community because you guys are boots on the ground. Everybody who get funding ain't boots on the ground. They paperwork but
they not boots on the ground. they ain't going out on the street. And so I want to commend you and this is a letter of support and um you will come up, you know, you have your organizations. Um and I think that this was the best route to go because um you
guys can't get CBG money. You know why? Because you you can't get nobody to back you. I can't if I can get a hundred,000 from CBG, but I need a bank to back me with that 100,000 so I can draw off of it. And when I draw off of it, then I
can give it back. But see, that's what Roz Barack is talking about. He wants these banks now to start backing these little nonprofits that's really, really, really can help their community. And so, I want to say I commend you for putting this together. Um, to
me, if it's not my idea, it's still a good one. Forget who did it. It's a good one. And that's how I look at stuff. Something that's good, you do it. So, and I know the work you all do cuz I haven't been involved with each and every one of you. But if this is what
they're requiring, this is requiring because now you don't need to you don't need to with RFP. You don't need to have nobody backing you. You don't need nobody to say, "I can I'll back you for 50,000. I'll back you." You don't need that with
this here. And you hope that your state legislators, okay, we keep pushing like, you know, cuz you may not get it all, but at least it's a start. It's a start. And you know, there's organization in this city that get plenty of money, but
they still need y'all to help them. And I see it every day. They still need you to come back. They still need you guys to help them. They still need those that, you know, I done applied twice already and didn't get anything yet. But I'm going to keep going. I ain't going to stop. Never stop. That's what I say to you, your group. Never, never, never
stop because you don't know the day going to come that we going to get the right person in office to make sure you get it. Thank you. Thank Thank Councilwoman Council Jackson. Thank you very much, uh, Council President, and I apologize to the group. Just give me a brief moment before we uh
have to make a parliamentary uh under clar clarification. Madame clerk, can you explain to me through the charter where does it give uh council president to give uh authority over the equipment
within his chambers? Can council president deny me the opportunity to use this microphone? Can the council president deny me the opportunity to use my my my laptop? I mean, and I know you're not the the
the the current parliamentarian, so I'll I'll refrain and refer to corporation council. Relative to parliamentary procedure, where does it stay in our charter and Robert rules of order where council president has the authority over the equipment that that that resides in this in this chamber? Am I not an
equally a duly elected official that has equal opportunity to utilize every piece of equipment in this in this uh in this chamber or not? Corporation council. Yes. Thank you, Council President. Uh thank you, Councilman Jackson, for that inquiry. Of course, as a duly elected member of this
council, you have equal entitlement to uh the equipment as well as the uh items in this chamber. Generally speaking, um, council president is presumed to have the authority to act on behalf of presumed. Where where does where's this?
I need I need to be clear. Where does the statute or the law or the policy state and this so this is a derivative of Robert's rules. And if I just may finish, Councilman Jackson, I'll answer any follow-up questions that you have. So, generally speaking, according to Robert's rules, the council, the
president is presumed to be vested with the authority to act on behalf of the council. However, that's a presumption and it is not an absolute right and to the extent that any council member or coun the council itself disagrees then it would go to a vote on any issue. So
to answer your specific question, you have equal entitlement to property, microphone, chair, laptop, anything else. And no one can deny you that. Um and that's not a p a part of the power that is generally presumed to exist and
reside with the council president because the power that exists when the in the presidency gives the presidency the authority to rule over the agenda as their items such as presentations presented on this agenda. The council
president does not have the authority to deny me the opportunity to utilize anything within this chamber. I'm a duly elected official. This microphone belongs to me when I want it to belong to me. This chair belongs to me when I want it to belong to me. Therefore, the projector and the screen belongs to me
when I want to use it. So, may I ask again? I requested for the projector to be on. I'm not I did not ask for presentation time. I did not ask for council president to grant me the the privilege to speak and or to hold the designated space on the agenda. I asked
for the projector to be placed on. The problem we have here is council president does not understand the levels of authority here. He does not understand his role. And we watch him day in and day out make these critical mistakes and thinking he is the the ruler and the presider over the
functions of this of this council and over Councilman Jackson. So once again, please, while I'm trying to address the uh the the the the people at the podium, can you can I please have what I what I requested to be placed on the on the screen placed on the
screen. It's freaking ridiculous. So the reason why I asked for these items to be placed on the screen and it was very relevant to what is being discussed in 2020 and I think that everybody up
there should pay close attention because as you move forward let me let me let this uh let the rendering of the decision uh prevail. I'm glad I have a a highly tenured and a highly decorated council person in the back who understands the the uh the common
practices of this council. Yes. clarify council department. Thank you. Thank you. See the one thing about Councilman Jackson, I understand my rules. I understand the authority that I have and I understand I'm not going to allow
somebody to railroad that. You can sit here and act like you have more power than you do, but that's not going to prevail while I'm when I have the microphone. I will continuously put you in your place and let you understand exactly where you exist.
It's very small and I apologize. If you look at the top line, it says black Americans. The next line, Asian-Americans. The next line, Hispanic Americans. This is the disparity study that was issued by the state of New Jersey that was placed in that was done
in 2020 that was not released by this governor in 2024. If you look at the percentage 043% of state revenue that was distributed to black contractors
throughout the state and these this is a very lengthy um uh uh uh document that is very relevant to what you're doing. This is why it's imperative as we move forward because I I see it totally different. I'm sorry. Thank you, brother. Can you go to the next slide,
please? And the construction subcontractors, the utilization, if you look at the top line again, under 1%, you're talking about 11 billion. 11 billion that the state distributes every single year of which black and
Hispanics and Asians which include Bang Bangladesh and Arab and everyone else we get less collectively than 1% of 11 billion one more slide please the last slide if you look at the available
businesses over 12% of black businesses 15% of Asians and Hispanics are at 5.7 I I believe it's a little higher than that, but non minorities at
38%. So my point is, as you guys are placing forward these applications and as the city of Patterson is continuously left with the burden to take care of everybody else, I don't see it the way they see it. I don't see it as we're requesting. No, we should be demanding.
We should be demanding why we're entitled to it. The money is being distributed unfairly and unequitably. So, not only should this council be given full support, but how could we render support when again the council president doesn't understand
that we function as a body. We nobody has any information. Nobody no one can give their input. Nobody can give their support. And yeah, I I would do the the same as the rest of as the rest of them do. This is part of the reason why I'm
out of uniform tonight and I'm wearing this shirt because unless we support people who are in the state who are willing to fight for the things that we deserve, then we're going to come back again empty-handed. So, I give these lessons all night. I will be giving further out to council
president as the night continues. So, um you have my full support and um yeah, it's going to be an interesting one tonight. Thank you. So, council president. So, so let's uh president. Sure. Um let's continue with the ninth. Um so, so we have a motion on the floor
by just the motion on the floor is to reward it to say we stand in we stand in support of the of the Patterson Bridge project um for their support as they go to
Trenton to see if they get budget allocations. Corporation council al and also uh corporation council. There's I we got to I made a motion. We got to go second. Yeah, it's a second. Um because there's two more there was something that was missing. I want to make sure that all the organization black life
matter material system ruby vision haravan and kasadra domin. Just a point of clarification that information would need to be in their application to the state. is not so privy for us. We're just standing in support of what you're
doing. Just make sure in your application that you do for the state. First of all, let me apologize that it took so long to get here, but we were not a part of your discussion. It shouldn't have took this long. This is clearcut. Just a letter in support of what you're doing, but your application to the state. If it's under one
umbrella, that's fine. Just identify the other entities inside of there so you'll have it as something to cover yourselves later. But there's a motion in the second on the floor. Council President Call to question. There's a motion by counciloman uh Mims and a second by councilman Dava. Council member Leos as well to question for vote and roll call
for the um for the for the to amend the and the name are within the body on the resolution. Council Dav my my apologies council president uh and councilwoman I'm in full support. Uh madame clerk has to read the item into the record. The
item was not read into the record. There was a presentation before the item was read. So now it needs to be called upon uh once it's moved in second then the amendment goes through and then and then we can vote on it right there. So just just a minute
Miguel from Castle Dominican I want to add if you were before we read the item into the record Miguel. Okay good thank you. I just want to say thank you for listening to us and as a Dominican and I wanted to say thank you to Kelly and his organization because I think this is the
first time that we have been able to penetrate all those difficult channel to get into the system. Even though we have big population in the city, we are not part of the game. We are not in in the game. We are not in the system. Now I
think we opening the door to grow together because this community is here to stay and we had to work together and I want to say thank you guys for listening. And another thing that I wanted to sound I gonna sound naive but
I'm going to say this. I'm not here every meeting but I'm I watch most of the meeting and I I would like to see the cursing in this place stop. There's no reason for cursing in any way. No
matter how strong your position is, don't curse. Just please listen. We had children in their houses listening to everybody. Please, sound naive, but I want to say that and
I want to say thank you again. Keep doing what you're doing. Do your best. This community have to stay together no matter what. Thank you. Thank Thank um brief of council because we have to vote on a motion. This I I know that we all express our support. If there's any
chance I know before she reads um if there's any chance say you're sponsored by council president can be all the remaining councilman be co- co-sponsor yes let let the let the rest of the governing body be be co-sponsor council president
council Jackson very quickly and and and if if I may ask the council prior to us moving this item I know it's it's it's required by uh by the pop process of the council before we do I neglected to um we had a a person in our community that
has uh lost their life, Mr. Jojo Robinson. I know we have to vote on items to be added to the agenda prior to moving on any item. So, I'd ask the council if they would entertain a motion to um recognize and acknowledge the life
of Jojo Robinson and title while corporate corporation council can prepare the resolution down the line. So, can we add that to the agenda for council support? All right. Thank Thank you, Councilman Jackson. We we we definitely
could entertain that. Uh so, um absolutely. Let's read, Madam Clerk. Let's read the item into the record. Let's vote on the amendment. That way, we could vote on the item 46 because Council President, I mean, there's a motion on the floor to add an item to the agenda. No, she have to read item 46. We have There's no There is no item.
We in order for us to add something to the agenda, it takes it requires a unanimous vote and it must be done prior to us taking action on any other item. Well, we need the title. I'm asking the Where's the title? Celebration of the life of Jojo Jojo Robinson. Okay. Can
you read that? Corporation council. I need um our corporation council advice on on this matter and and and if we have to do it before this because council corporation council, we have a motion on the floor for item 46 to make the amendment to correct the title.
Councilman Jackson request is that he wants to add another item into the agenda. So, can we move on item 46 and then right after entertain Councilman Jackson's item or we have to do it before item 46 been entertained? Because we have no resolution, but we
it's still early on the night. Thank you, Council President, for that inquiry. So, as to your initial question, when there's a motion on the floor and a second, I believe that has to be uh carried through and the result has to be announced. Thereafter, of course, Councilman Jackson can vote to
uh add an item on. It has to be unanimous. However, um the item u must be in writing in a form of a resolution uh in front of the council and that's according uh to statute and I can pull that up if need be. So, you can you can
add a title um but you you can't vote on it because there's nothing written, no resolution before the council for it to review and vote and approve on. Of course, uh if you send me the bio, I'm happy to uh immediately turn this around and have it. No worries. I'll prepare it
next for the next. Okay. So, it's early. It's early in the beginning of the meeting. Councilman Jackson have time to send a bio to you and I know you could work that out before the end of the night and we could vote it on. So, we have time. and Councilman Jackson to take action on the item that you that you tried to bring into the agenda. Roll
call, Madam Clerk, to make the amendment on item 46. Council President, she has item 46. She has to call it into the record as amended. Item 46, Madam Cl. Item number 46 is a resolution supporting the Patterson Bridge program and request its funding from the state
sponsored by Council President Alex Mendes, co-sponsored by the remaining council members. City Council resolution number 25 col 28 move council president second and I would like move and then I'm going make the motion okay it's
moved by council president Mendes councilman Davila second by council me discussion corporation council it's not a discussion it's just a point of clarity forgive me I just want to be clear that uh that you're not voting on the item as written but there's a motion pending to amend the title well I'm going to do it
over I'm going to do it over we reading the item into the record now we going without a motion. And I would like to make a motion to amend the uh resolution before us to state that we stand in support of the Patterson Bridge program
or initiative as they go to request funding um from the state and I it was moved by um Councilwoman Dav, second by council me. A roll call clerk uh on the motion to amend. Roll call to
amend resolution number 46. Um, Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Davliner, yes. Councilman Jackson, yes. Councilman Khik, yes. Councilman Omar,
I'm sorry. Councilwoman Nens, yes. Thank you. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Veles, yes. Council President, yes. The votes are nine in favor, none against. Item number 46 is adopted on
roll. Now roll call. Now we voting on the actual item. Now we voting. Now we voting. Item now. Madam clerk. Item 46. As amended. As amended. Can you can we Item 46 to take formal action. Madam clerk. Now we voting. Now we voting. Go ahead. Okay. Councilwoman Cotton. I'm
sorry. Um, Council President, can I be um put me down for a second? Oh, we we voting. So you got you. No, I said put me down. It's good, right? No, the the entire council will be co-sponsor adding us a co-sponsor. You are She's asking if she could be a second on my motion like
I mean or second on the motion. You I didn't hear you correctly. Second. Second on the motion. Go ahead, madam. Second. You ready, Madam Cler? Thank you, Madam Clerk. I am just so happy. I am just so happy. I am just so
happy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you guys. your organization for all the work you've done, for all the work you will be doing, and for the greatness that's going to come out of what you're doing in this city. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you,
Councilwoman. Councilwoman Develin. So, I as well want to thank you. Uh I want to thank you for loving Patterson, for staying in Patterson. I know that we want change. I know that we want to see cleaner streets. I And I know that we can do better. and what you guys have
been doing. You well, I we say guys, but gals, okay? And gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, okay? Uh you've been working for years, all right? And and it shows through your work how much you love the city of Patterson and its people. Good,
bad, or indifferent, there are people. Even if those that come from way yonder, they land here, there are people. All right? So, I want to thank you. Uh, I'm in full support and I'm looking forward to working together. My vote is yes.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Khalik. Thank you, madame clerk. I want to thank you for coming in front of the council with a plan. A lot of time we come in front of the council just talk
to talk. I want to thank council president also picking up or talking to them about about this plan as well. I think if you get the same kind of resolution of support from 35th uh
district from other town, Elmwood Park, Garfield, Prospect Park, Heldon, North Heldon, it' be much easier for our representative uh our senator Benji Umbberly and uh assemblyman Al Abdulaziz
and our assembly woman as of now Shabband SA. they will be it will be easier for them to apply for this grant and get it approved. That's my belief. I want to thank you once again. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Councilwoman Mims. And so, individually, you've all
done great work. Corporally, you're going to do a phenomenal work. For me, it's all about making sure we were not aware of all of what the details were, but for me, I want to make sure you get your money right. They give me like coins. time to get some real bills.
Okay. So, I want to make sure that when you go, they're in the m middle of their budget process in the season. They're already working hard for our transitional aid, but I want to make sure you have the right documentation. I think that was some good um information that came from um from uh Councilman
Khalik, but I'm going to go further. go to the county, reach out to to the P County, reach out to all of those entities, Wayne, North Helden, Helden, the mayors, all them, and get letters of support. So, your package is thick when
you're applying because a lot of the concerns that are in Patterson, they come from all over the county. So, it's not just Patterson. I know you are Patterson um in the groups that are doing great work here, but a lot of the issues we have are not just Patterson residents even though they say 24 hours
and becomes um our concern, but make sure you reach out to all of those entities and say this is what we're doing. Send them a copy of your plan and say we just need a letter of support. How can we get that because we're looking to put the application in XYZ date and I'm sure they will definitely do it because they don't want to have
all these concerns we have here. They don't want them in their town. So, I'm sure if you start working on it, you'll get those letters immediately. With that being said, I already know I believe you'll get the money. Um, even if it's uh if it's more than the 2 million cuz they know the issues in your paperwork.
Put some statistics in there. Talk to Real Fix. Get some data that that that um coincides with the work that's being done, the numbers, and all that stuff to quantify the request. And I'm sure that once they look at all the information, some photos, and the um statistics, it
will be a no-brainer. With that being said, you already know how I roll. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilwoman, Councilman Omar. This is a no-brainer. And to Sio, Ruby, Kelly, Sy, Miguel, and Victor. Thank you guys for coming in front of us. My vote is yes,
Madam Cler. Thank you, Councilman Nen. Thank you, Madame Clark. So uh homelessness is an alarming issue in the city of Patterson and according to uh 20 24 point in time just in P County was
reported 451 individuals are going through homelessness and out of 451 just in Patterson we are covering 411. So this is really sad even comparing to our neighbor towns and
cities. Again when we spoke about the homelessness and we all know about this when we spoke so many of the individuals and organizations show their and and I would say verbally show their support for the homelessness and so many of the organization and individuals disappeared
right after. I'd like to commend you all including council president for bringing this in action. You are not just speaking on behalf or showing your support but you are in action to support this homelessness. I believe that if you and other organization take this
homelessness is you know seriously that how we can elevate this situation. I believe that we can find a proper solution. So we this is your very first step we are supporting here today and I believe that you will be successful in every single steps. I commend you for
everything you do. My my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Veles, sister, at the beginning of your statement, uh you stated that um this all arise fin ordinance that was going to be put in
place and it failed from this council to move forward because it was unjust. uh you guys came I'm sorry I use the word guys organization came and expressed itself that that ordinance was not fitted for Patterson and uh council
president I had to commend you because you put an ordinance in place that failed but at the same time you didn't got knocked down got up and started working started working the next day and that's what we want to send a message we
could get hit we could get knocked down we get up and we bring positive ideas. That is what turning the negative to a positive idea. The negative to positive plans. I commend council president because he didn't sit back and say I'm
going to give up. Call the organization in spoke to them and this is the result. This resolution has power. You know what's power? I hope that the 15 municipality remaining in the county
could learn about this and they could take care of their homeless population in their city because because soon as they know that we have this type of program here, what you think is going to happen? They're going to say drop it in Patterson, bring it to Patterson. They
will take care of it. But I I called the other municipality, other mayors to take this example, get with their uh grassroot organization and create the same thing and and beg the state to fund them for they could create their own
program. This has room for improvement. I know there's other organization out there that could be included. If you knock the door, they will also participate. For example, the uh Hispanic multi uh purpose center that they have a shelter. They could work
also with you guys and and you know because we here to grow, right? Today is $1 something million. Tomorrow could be $5 million and we could do a lot with that money. We didn't know and council uh Mintz stated in different word. We
didn't know what was cooking. We didn't know what was in the pot. We don't know who was moving it. But one thing I know is coming a good menu to serve those that really need to eat, have a shelter, and move forward in life. Second chance.
My vote is yes on this. Thank you, Councilman. Council President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I I definitely want to say thank you to our great friend, you know, Kelly Kelly Moss from Harahana, Syama from Black Matter, Mura Sister, Ruby Vision, Miguel Dia from Kasa
Dultura Dominicana. uh you know when I introduced the resolution I got beat up really bad because I know it was a it was a wrong legislation but thanks to that I have the honor and the privilege to work with great people like you you guys have done you've been doing the work for many many years without the
resources that you need now we sit down we have a lot of meetings here in city hall over the phone by zoom uh virtual meeting and we got it done so I feel blessed to work with all of you and it's all about working together doing nothing is not an option if you go to downtown our family they cannot enjoy boy are
downtown. Our children see how they have to see homeless people sleeping, doing everything outside. So doing nothing is not an option. So in this legislation, we definitely address this. And this is the beginning. This is the beginning of a great work starting by this section by cleaning this section. I believe in your
leadership and we're going to do this together. So God bless you and my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Let's make it happen. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. So let's move with payment of bill. Councilwoman Dav. Thank you very much, Council President. May I announce the votes? The
votes are nine in favor, none against. Item number 46 is adopted as amended. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Council President, council members. Uh good evening to everyone here today. Uh you have before you uh the city of Patterson
summary of dispersements for a total of 2,73,828.32. Uh there was no um computerized I'm sorry confirming checks, no payroll this week. Uh but I do want to um there's a few payments. Uh one of $85,536.36. Um most of that payment
552,000 uh is for River Street. Uh in addition there's also 104,000 for Westside. Uh if you look at um the grant funds for $357,96960. In addition, there's community development grants as well
funding for 552 uh,864.74. Um the total for uh I just the 260,000 uh the breakdown is 150,000 is for liability and uh 97,000 is for workers
comp. Um so once again uh the total of summary of dispersements is for a total of 2,73,828.32 cents. My motion is for payment. Second be moved by Councilman Davin and second by Councilman Khalik uh and Councilman Mims. Roll call command
clerk on payment of bill. Roll call on the payment of bills in the amount of $2,73828.32. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. As I'm moving forward to uh obviously vote vote
no again on this um payment of bills, I want to say to uh Mr. Miguel Diaz who I see has uh left the building. You know um people take a lot of criticism for the way in which they choose to present
themselves when they come before this council. The first thing is it's a it's a uh it's a matter of of someone's right to express themselves how they want to do so. But more so than that, it's the level of
frustration that people feel when they uh when they work and reside in the city. You know, like Mr. McNeel that just went outside who's using a walker comes down here to address the uh the
council and he's denied having access to to an agenda or the list is taken away and they're and he's denied an opportunity to sign the list to speak. So when individuals come down here and express themselves and their
and their frustration and their cursing, I mean, I think we need to hold judgment until we, you know, hold place the the the appropriate amount of judgment over those in authority. It's kind of like like a police officer, right? A police
officer is in control of the stop. It's the it's the way in which the stop goes. The police officer primarily has full authority over that. People think because they've been elected by the people, they can abuse the people. So, as I'm getting ready to
vote no, council president, when we're done, you can address, you can answer the question of why you chose to pull the list and and have denied members of the public to sign the list one prior to 7:00, which has been always the common
practice that members of the public can sign the list when they come in here. and then you had the list pulled in order so members of the public don't have access to be able to address the council. This is a open public meeting.
Therefore, the it has to be duly advertised and made available so the members of the public could come down here and address the council. Now, I know you're you're a bit heated or nervous tonight by members coming
down here to address you directly and maybe you would like to exclude certain people like Mr. Eddie Olivary and some of the other people who are coming down here who don't want to, you know, blow your uh your your French whistle. But sir, you do not have the ability, again,
please know your authority. You do not have the ability to pick and choose who signs the list, when they sign the list. the public comes down here, they're entitled to access. And I'm letting you know now before I file an ethics complaint against you, stop trying to
avoid allowing the public access to public portion and then be involved actively involved in this meeting. Madame clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khik.
[Music] Thank you, Madame Clerk. Sometime I forget um what's the item that we discussing discussing? I think we're discussing uh we are on pay roll call on payment of bills. Correct madam? Okay. I
just want to make sure my vote is yes. Thank you councilman. Councilwoman Ms. So Patterson you've been talking about River Street and the conditions. Uh it's not just a repaving issue is a sewer infrastructural concern for millions of dollars. That's what the bulk of the
payment of this payment of bills is for. You've been asking for uh River Street to get done and we want to pay the contractors so they could fix the roads on River Street and that's what this bill is for. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Cotton. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, I
support payment of the bills. My vote is yes, ma'am. Thank you. Councilman Valz, I going to support the message of Councilwoman at large regarding River Street, but I just want to remind the administration that that project is not
a I project. That project is a we project that make it happen that we demand the administration to do it because if not he will ship the money to another place. So saying that my vote is
yes. Thank you Councilman. Council President. Uh thank you Madam Clerk and and absolutely this is a we project and to the administration um just let's keep in mind that we add a additional company that is going to oversee the project.
I've been very excited about River Street. I you know I don't live far away but I I travel with River Street and I've been going there for the last couple of days to look at the sewer project and the way that they working on the sewer line with the new technology. Uh but I have not seen the company that
we hired to oversee the project. Uh so if you could look into that, give me a report of the the company. They was there in the beginning when we started the project. I went to River Street and I have a conversation with the person representing the company that we hired to oversee the entire project, but I
haven't seen them around. Um so um I'm I'm excited. Patteradison, keep in mind the people that voting against the construction of River Street. That's that's something out of the uh out of the blue. And before my vote, um, if you go to the city council in New, you will see how strict they are. They have x
amount of time for you to sign in. Last week, there was a lot of speaker because there was a lot of concern for the community. From 30 speaker, we went to 47 speaker. I allow everybody to speak. We finished the meeting at 2:00 a.m. No, 2:30. No, 2, we finished the meeting at
2:30 a.m. and we didn't finish the agenda. So, it's not that we stopping people from expressing themsel. So we leave the list at 7, we take the list by 7:30, 7:45 and we and we will go ahead with those speaker and that's going to be the way to do in order for us to
finish the agenda. It's not that we don't want the community to speak. Last week we allow everybody to speak and we finish at 2:30 a.m. and we couldn't finish the agenda. So let's just be mindful of that. You want to speak the list is there at 7. By 7:30 7:40 we get the list to do the public portion 8:00.
With that being said, m my vote is yes. Thank you council president. that the votes are eight in favor, one against. The payment of bills is hereby adopted. Council President, thank you. Madame Cler, can we do the consent agenda? Um um Councilwoman Davila, this will be very quick. Um I I do not want to back
and forth, but I do want to say this. Uh council president did not ask for the list to be removed. All right. It is uh through a conversation that him and I had. uh no one can call to be signed in and have a privilege of someone that is
here on time waiting to sign their name in. And there was a situation that occurred. We spoke to the clerk and it was clarified and the list was put. So the council president did not do that. So I don't want it to seem as though he does not want the public to be heard.
Anyone and everyone has the right but we do have to maintain order. We can't continue to allow people as they're walking in to come in. Everyone knows the meeting starts at 7. You should be here prior to so you are able to put your name on and then once the list is
called um that the president says it's time for the public portion that's when it's removed. Normally the norm has been that we do not add although the council president does have that discretion or if one of us you know does ask that someone came in we do give respect also
to those like when the senator arrives or a congressperson or an assembly like we do give uh uh um we do make um what's the word I'm looking for we do concede concessions and we're able you know to assist so I just wanted to just say that
thank you council president Councilman Jackson. Thank you. So, listen. I don't have any issue with whoever removed the list. I don't have any issue with uh us determining us
determining a practice. I've been elected more than 10 years and there was when the when the meetings was reign properly based on common practices of this council, there's never been a provision where people walked in. So
long as a public portion is open, someone who comes in has been allowed and given the privilege to be able to address the council. That's the policy. That's what it says in our charter. That's what now we there may be individuals here that that don't want to
or feel as if they they they need to leave the meeting early or they're not committed. I've sat here to 2 or 3:00 in the morning on many occasions. We address the public's concerns. It's a public meeting and what they what's different in NORC when the public comes
to the podium, they answer to the public's concerns. They're they're not felt as if their concerns are falling on death ears. And furthermore, you can't come early and add people to the list because you the council president, but yet when people come at the end, you want to be
selective. We cannot have a selective process here. It's not about who. This is about addressing the public's concerns. Every member of the public deserves the right to speak. That that's during the public portion. Now, if they get here after, that's a completely
different thing. But we can't pick and choose. I don't care if you're a senator. I don't care if you're a assembly person. Those who are priority are the members of the public. And that's that's part of the problem. We've lost sight on who we're actually here to serve. So you're going to get push back
from me anytime something like that happens. The list should be openly and readily available. One person should not be treated differently than the other. One person should not be able to say in closing 32 times while the other person is shut off at 2 minutes and 98 seconds.
That's not how this thing is supposed to run. But again, education is necessary. You got to educate people. They want seats, but yet don't understand the policies or the practices and how in which the seat is supposed to conduct itself. And this is when you get turmoil. So yes, people are going to
come to the podium, they're going to curse, they're going to be frustrated because their concerns are not being answered. So, I'll rest for now, but I will return shortly. Thank you, Council President. U Madame Cler, can we do the consent agenda right now? Yes, council president.
Consent agenda. 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 the consent agenda are numbers 8 through 42, also numbers 44 and 45. So,
moved. Moved by Councilwoman Mims, councilman Bellis and Councilwoman Davilla. Second by Councilman Khalik. Roll call madame clerk and councilman for Ding as well. Roll call. Council president. I I didn't complete the
I didn't complete it. Okay. Any item may be removed from the consent agenda by the request of any council member and if so removed will be treated as a separate matter. So move it. It was moved by council mess, council member bles and counciloman dav and second by counciloman khik and councilman for
real president. Uh council me. So just to put it on the record once again there are items that are sponsored by certain council individuals. As long as they are here uh that item as we're voting remains um in thatstead. Thank you council president. You're going to
include 44 and 45 is included in the president agenda. We already did that. One second. On item 44, I did co-sponsor Council Dav. I gave it to uh um Mr. Yes, he took it. 44 and 45 is on there. She announced it. Thank you, Councilman Khaled. Thank you, Madam Cler. Roll
call, Mad Clerk. Before Before um where's Ruby? Oh, she Okay. Roll call. Roll call, man. Roll call on the consent agenda for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Consent. She recusend.
Yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Dava. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Thank you, Council. Councilman Khik. Yes. Councilwoman Mims. And so there's some great items that were approved um for
individuals if you go on our city's website under city under Patterson City of Patterson, New Jersey under the city council page and go to the work um to the regular agenda and pull up the packet under consent. There's some great items and great work that we're approving on tonight. Um, and to Miss
Bullock, if you're watching, um, heartfelt condolences goes out to, um, Mr. Charles Hunter. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Luden. Yes. Councilman VeZ.
Um, I just want to brought to attention to Councilwoman Ruby. There was an item for the uh, the water commission. So, I don't know if she noticed that on the consent agenda, but my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Council President.
Um, thank you, Madam Clerk. So, um, on on the consent agenda also as well. So, uh, as we all know, we fixed the Larry Doby field, which is a state-of-the-art baseball field. We have the student from East Side High School playing baseball there at Kennedy High School. It's beautiful. And on the consent agenda,
we're going out for a bit for the leader, Larry Doby. Phil, director. Thank you for attending that my request as soon as possible. That's the last park to fix all the park, all the amenities at Eastside Park. That's the last project to have a state-of-the-art East Side Park with all the playground
and everything totally renovated. So, we're looking forward to see the little Larry Dobby done this year. We pray and also resolution 15 is a resolution of need in support of the application of Calvary Patterson development corporation to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in
connection with the development of affordable housing project. Patter is in need of affordable housing big. So item 16 is a very important item. Um I'm excited to see this item also on the consent agenda uh councilman and um and
looking forward to serve our resident in term of affordable housing because that's the direction that we should take. My vote is yes madam clerk. Thank you council president. The votes are now madam clerk. Yes, council president council. I apologize. I'm going to reconsider my vote. Okay. And I I
actually I'm glad you reminded me. I forgot about that item. Um and and but just for a point of clarity, council president and uh again to the public, forgive me. I guess I'm in one of them moves tonight. Y'all would appreciate it if if
the council I'm not even going to call the council president specifically if we could keep refrain from all these praises on what we're doing with parks. We got people being shot in parks. Like I I could just imagine my good friend home watching this while you talking about all the stuff we're doing in the
parks and his daughter just got murdered there the other day. So I mean I'm getting tired of hearing all this crap what we're doing with parks and and thank God we spending more money on parks and yet you know after I vote on
this I'm going to need to speak to um uh Mr. Ba. We have to I'm sorry. Um, did did your wife did Yes. Congratulations. Congratulations. Our our BA has just recently had a new addition to the family. But, um, Mr. Ba, I'm going to
need I I I I sent you some requests your first night here. I still haven't received that those items from you. I am expecting them. I will be holding you accountable to that. And I also need to hold the public safety uh uh director accountable. the gentleman that just
recently lost his life at at on East 42nd Street at an illegal basement party in which our council president consistently endorses and has been taking pictures and and video and and honoring people who are doing having
these parties in their basement. There is no law and order in this city. And I know you may not necessarily be aware, but East 42nd Street is definitely had what used to be considered a suburb of Patterson. And we have council people
celebrating these basement parties while people leaving these parties losing their lives. And he's over here celebrating how much money we wasting on spending more parks. Have some respect for the people. Council President, if you may, please. I know you don't necessarily understand that, but people
that are losing their lives while you over here celebrating how much money was spending to upgrade some parks is extremely disrespectful relative to this item for the affordable housing. This council yet again has dropped the ball on what we've done with the housing authority by
allowing this developer to continuously pocket all this money over close to $40 million in combined developers fees, construction fees, and now acquisition costs because he's selling his own property back to him on the backs of Patterson. So before I could support any
agenda that has anything that that to do with affordable housing, when I have apartments in my in the first ward being marketed at $3,500 a month in rent while we celebrating affordable housing that that's non-existent in this city. I can't support anything like that. I'm
sorry, Madam Clerk. My vote is no. Madam Clerk, um Madam Clerk, Madame Clerk, I want to reconsider my vote for a minute. Thank you. Um public I just want to bring a quick Q news here in the consent agenda.
There was an item and I want to uh tell the council president that I am the sponsor of number 20 uh a resolution authorizing the planning board to conduct a plarary investigation for amendment of the fifth war redevelopment plan person to the local redevelopment
plan housing law. So I want to highlight that you know that school 15 and between school 15 and the governor towers there is like five acres of land empty that being housing homeless uh squatters
garbage dumping site. Good news 100 unit for seniors is going to get developed there. That's why I'm putting this forward and that's why I'm supporting it. So saying that I want to bring the highlight. It's great news for Patterson. is housing for seniors and that's why I want to bring this great
news to despite all the negative that comes sometime. My vote is yes on this. All right. Thank you. Councilman, you read the voting the vote into the record. I'm I'm getting ready to Okay. Okay.
Um roll call. Uh the votes on the consent agenda are eight in favor, one against. The consent agenda is hereby adopted. Um thank you, Madam Clerk. Council members, we have a few items. So before we get into the um into the public
portion, but there's an item that we have to take that need to we need to rush this item because it has a public hearing which is item number um give me one second council member. So I got to call Harry have to take action on this item. Um
um item number seven request a public hearing is a public work item. ML clerk, can we do item number seven? Yes, Council President. Resolution authorizing the adoption of biders pre-qualification regulations in
connection with the restoration of historic park structures at the Westside Park for engineering division of the Department of Public Works. Public works item resolution number 2542. Second. So move. So move. It it was move moved by councilman Ka second by
counciloman dava counciloman mims uh councilman um um yeah public hearing is now open for item number seven specifically if you have any question about item number seven about you no she's just for questions not move to close see no move
to close but yeah I don't Westside Park oh you're here for item number seven on westside park I'm I'm sorry are you here to speak on item number seven. Yes. Okay. State your name and I just No, but wait. Is she here to speak on the item or you a part
of the uh the architectural? What's your role? I'm just presenting the information to the public as part of the public hearing. Oh, yeah. We don't she's not here. She's a part of the public just part of the project. Just a minute. See if we have questions. Director.
Okay. All right. So So state your name and address for the record. No, she's part of the So director, she's part of the project. She came to speak on the project. She's a part of the project. Can you speak closer to Mike? My name is Emily Nye. I'm with the organization New City Parks. We know that's what I'm
saying. Partnering with Westside with the Westside Park, right? Um, so we're here to request approval from the council for pre-qualification process. Council President, Councilwoman,
so we have the item before us. We're ready to vote. you're part of the project. That's why I was saying it earlier. If you are a resident and you were having concerns, we open the public. We know that you're part of New City Parks. You've done your presentation many times. Correct. We're just moving to so we could vote on this
item. Nothing against you. You've gave the present. We're good with you. We're fine. So, we're just moving forward. Um, Director Billy will explain it to you. Director, no problem. We just we'll wait for questions. You guys got any questions? We'll wait for your vote. Okay. Thank you. Move to close public portion. Second. Move to close by council mess and second by council
colleague and davila and bles. Roll call mad clerk to close the pool hearing on item number seven. Roll call to close the public hearing. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Counciloman Jackson. Yes. Counciloman Kik. Yes.
Councilwoman Mims. So just to uh clarify for the public and even for um this great woman from New City Parks. um she's here because she has worked on the uh the preliminaries of the project. They've come before us many times to do
presentations and even with change orders. I want to give a big uh congratulations to Councilman uh Khalik of the second ward who has really worked with the administration for this project. I'm looking forward to the renderings coming to life. So I'm um
that's why I said that we don't not that we don't want to hear from you because we always do. We've done many parks in the city, but that's why I made the request to close public portion because the community is waiting for this project. My vote is yes to close public portion. Thank you. Councilman Omar,
yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Council President, yes. Thank you. The C uh the totals are nine in favor, none against. Roll call on the clerk on item number seven. Roll call for item number seven for adoption.
Councilwoman Cotton. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Counciloman Jackson, yes. Counciloman Khalif, yes. Councilwoman Mims. So when we talk about only 1% of our budget goes to recreation
and the need for recreational opportunities for our our children, the families, and to do upgrades where our kids can have a a nice safe place with cameras, and I'm waiting for the boats to come through and all the stuff, the
amenities. This is the type of work that I'm grateful that this council does amongst others. I want to thank you, Director Billy, for working hard, the administration. I said, Councilman Khalik already, and um and thank you for everything that you have done, and not
just this park, but in all in other parks. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Council President, quick special thanks to our DPW
department that did a phenomenal job on the landscaping of the park on Breland and 20. They're early this morning. So, special offense to our DPW work. My vote is yes, Madam Cler. And item number seven. Thank you, Councilman. The votes are nine in favor, none against. Item number seven is hereby adopted. Thank
you, Madam Clerk. Let's go to item 47 down. Madam Clerk, item 47. 47. Item number 47 is a resolution honoring Frederick, Reverend Frederick H. Lagard, Jr. One second. One point of point of
order, Council President. Uh, Councilwoman, you skipped number 43. Um, we'll come back to 43 after. Oh, you're going to come back to Okay. Just wanted to clarify. Go ahead, Madam Clerk. Okay. Resolution honoring Reverend Frederick H. Lagard Jr. for his commitment to the
residents of the city of Patterson and becoming number 5487 licensed funeral home director in the state of New Jersey. Sponsored by Councilwoman Ruby N Cotton, Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mims, Councilwoman Marissa
Davila and Councilman Lewis VZ, city council resolution number 25 colon 282. So move it. It was moved by Councilman Cton, Councilman M Councilwoman Davila, Council Member Alles, and second by Councilman uh
Councilman Ibrahim and Councilman Fio. Madam Clerk, roll call. Roll call on item number 47, Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say to uh Reverend Frederick H. Lagard, Jr. for his um commitment that he has made to the
resident of city of Patterson and also becoming number 5487 a licensed funeral home director in the state of New Jersey. Congratulation Reverend Lagard. Thank you. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Deaval. So, some may say, why why a resolution
honoring someone that completed their education or they became a licensed funeral home director and well, let me just tell you something. I am so happy that this item is before us. Reverend Lagarde has been doing the work for
many, many, many years. And it takes time and effort to go to school, to work, it is very tough to be a family man, a father. Um, and so when um I knew he was going to school and I
knew that it was tough, but he did excellent, graduated with honors and it just gave me just so much happiness and pleasure to know that he finally completed what he started many, many years ago. And now, you know, he can
truly stand firm. He's been doing the work, but you know, in the state of New Jersey, right, you can't get credit on stuff if you don't have a license. So now I'm happy to say that I'm here supporting today recognition formalizing him in the state in the city of
Patterson recognizing his license number number 5487. Recognizing his license as a funeral home director in the state of New Jersey. We want to thank you for all the work that you do. Congratulations. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman.
Councilman Jackson, congratulations. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Khalik. Congratulation. Yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Mims. What do you say to someone that in in famil family's
most darkest hours when their loved one passes and you have someone that not only services the family, but he makes sure that the loved ones are at peace no matter how hard the grief is.
I've had an opportunity to um see the great work that uh Pastor Lagard number 5487 has done. So many families have been very very pleased. I've seen some of the letters and some of the cards and
and I just want to say congratulations first and foremost on receiving your license. Uh 5487, but five is the number of grace. Four is the number for clarity and direction. Eight is the number of new beginnings and seven is the number of
completion. And I really believe that as you move into this new place, that God has graced you for not just because you are credentialed, but because you are graced to do it and God's anointing is on your life. That God will always bless
the work of your hands and families will always be blessed to know that their loved ones were taken care of and they receive quality service. Pastor Lagard, thank you so much for all that you have done over the years. whether you worked
with other entities um and you and all the stuff you've done, every family that I know that you have assisted has been very pleased. I love you. You deserve to be honored, not just for your license and certification. You deserve to be
honored because you've done it and help Patterson to become a better place. With that being stated, Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Omar, congratulations and yes, my vote is yes. Councilman Uden, job well done. Um, Reverend Lagard, and
again, this is another additional u commitment that you have for the city of Patterson. Again, um, we we miss you here in the council chamber. So again, my vote is yes, Clark. Thank you, Councilman Veles. My word goes to Reverend Frederick H. Lagard, Jr., you
have fulfilled your dreams and goals. I celebrate you. I celebrate your family. I celebrate those that believe in you. I celebrate your 5487 number. Those that
understand what this job means regarding being a funeral director. As a former employee of Bergen Funeral Service, I know what involve being a a director of funeral service.
So it's a lot of things that comes to it. It's a lot of it's hard. It's hard. It's a hard work, but somebody had to do it. And u so I celebrate him, his ministry because it's hard to find
funeral director that have a belief. I believe in the Lord and he always stands with the Lord. So saying that congratulation, we celebrate you and um and your team that make you uh work hard
uh great team that you have. So Reverend Lagard, God bless you and let's let's support local businesses when it comes up to funeral service. Um my vote is yes on this. Thank you, Council President. Um thank you, Madam Clerk.
Congratulation to Reverend Freddy Lagard. his uh definitely history in the making in the city of Paris. His father is a one of our uh one of our great icon in this community. He was a founder of a church of the school. I mean they have done an amazing job in the history of
this city. So we're celebrating with you. Congratulation. My vote is yes madam clerk. Thank you councilman. The votes are nine in favor none against. Item number 47 is hereby adopted. Thank you madam clerk. Item number 48. Council president. Council count. Thank you. U
madam clerk. Can you uh please frame that uh with the black matting black? I need it by Friday morning. And council president. Okay. Thank you. Thank you madam clair. Council members and then to madame clerk
or uh Sophia. Item number 45's uh matted and light blue. Powder blue for number 45. What is the color again? Powder blue. Light blue. Light blue. Okay. Yes. Thank you. All right. Thank you, council members. Item 48, Madam
Clerk. Item number 48, resolution honoring Bishop Dr. Jose Martinez Rencon for his years of ministry and service to the community. Sponsored by Councilman Lewis VeZ, City Council. Resolution number 2583.
Second. Moved by Councilman Bles. Second by councilwoman MS and counciloman Dava. Council, before you go to vote, please add councilwoman um Davila and councilwoman Mims as sponsor and whoever want to be co-sponsor do it. He's the
president of radio vision Christian and um and you you know also put council Mendes as sponsor too. Uh whoever want to be co-sponsor could do so now. Absolutely. Thank you. Uh council me um roll call m clerk on item number 48.
Roll call on item number 48. Councilwoman Cotton. You ma Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to say um um congratulation um Councilman Valz for honoring um Bishop Joseph Martinez for all the years of service that he has to the ministry in the city
of our Patterson. Madame clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Davilla. Thank you. I I second that motion. Councilwoman uh Ken, you know, Councilman is uh welld deserved uh to Bishop uh
Martineong Radio Christian has been around for many many years. Um I remember the years where my mom would go uh to preach and be part of the services through Fio. So it gives me great great pleasure to be able you know to support
um this resolution. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Thank you, Counciloman Khalik. Yes. Councilwoman Mims. So, to Bishop Rakone, um if you are watching, I'm sure if not
now, you will later. I just want to say thank you. There were many opportunities that I was able to preach on your uh your radio broadcast, and that was the first time I learned some words in Spanish, and I want to thank you for that. And I just want to say taoy my um
my um me my vote is yes. Thank you councilwoman. Councilwoman Councilman Omar. Congratulations Bishop. My vote is yes. Thank you. Councilman Nuden. Yes. Councilman VeZ. My vote is yes. And congratulation and
keep on serving the community through Radio Vision Christian and everything that you do in your ministry is a real important for the city of Patterson. My vote is yes. Thank you. Council of President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh thank you, Council for bringing this great resolution. Bishop Jose Martinez.
Wow. He has impact the community in in a tremendous way um with this uh Rio Christristiana. May God bless his life and his family. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Council President. The votes are nine in favor, none against. Item number 48 is adopted. Item 49,
Madam Clerk. Okay. Oh, he is. Okay. Item number 49, resolution to rename Ward Street between Hamilton Street and Main Street. Reverend Dr. James A. Kaikand Doll Way,
sponsored by Councilwoman Marissa Davala, Councilwoman Ruby N. Cotton, Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mens, and co-sponsored by Council President Alex Mendes. City Council resolution number 25:284. So moved second. Moved by the ladies. It
was moved by Councilman Davila, Councilman Cotton, and Councilman Mims, and second by Council President Men. President, can I ask to be co-sponsor on it? Um, Madame, Madame Clerk, please add Councilman as a co-sponsor to this
resolution. Great. So, roll call, Madam Clerk, on item 49. Roll call on item number 49. Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say to Reverend U Dr. James Kendoff. I've known him for many, many, many years. Um, when he was on 12th Avenue, um, he's always
been a a big community person. And I just want to say this is truly an honor um to to have where his church is located on Ward Street um to be called Reverend Dr. James A. Kaikoff Way. Once again, congratulation, Reverend Kaolf.
Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Davlin. So it gives me again great pleasure to be able to support such an item uh to be able to sponsor it. Um I know that a lot of times in the community people say oh
here we go with another street naming or here we go with another park. There are certain instances where it gives you just great pleasure to be able to support an item of someone who's a Pattersonian who's been part of this church, Agape Church Ministries for 36
years. It's someone that I met many years ago. I knew of him, but I got to know him when I decided to become involved and and I was thinking at the time of running for office. And it was through him and through the uh the pastor's workshop that I was able to
meet a lot of the ministers. And so it truly gives me great pleasure. He is our chaplain in the Patterson Police Department and he's done so many wonderful things. And I think that it is welld deserved. And as Councilwoman Mims always always says, it is great to be
able to give flowers while you're alive and you can smell them. And so this these are your flowers. Um um Dr. James Kaikindall. Uh my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Jackson.
Yes, Councilman Khalik. Yes, Councilwoman Mims. To some, these things may not matter, but when people are living, it's always something when people pass away and you're at a service and you're saying all these wonderful words and they can't
hear anything you're saying, but to do something to celebrate someone that has blazing trails in the great city of Patterson, it's good to do these things while they're alive. I just just wholeheartly believe that. Reverend Kaikandal, I'm just gonna ask you one question. Do you have my jewels? My vote
is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Congratulations, Doc. My vote is yes. Councilman Uden, my vote is yes, madam. Councilman Veles, Dr. Dr. Rar James Kakandal, you know, in the pandemic time, um, he went through
hardship. We almost lose him in the pandemic, you know, and his wife. So uh Reverend Kakando you a deep deep friend not only from your members of the church for the community I know the work you do for the community that sometime people
don't notice but you always there and not only that when he comes here on the 1 of May to uh also pray for the whole entire city and the day of prayers all those ministers even that you don't believe it it makes some kind of effect down the
road and and that's why peace had to come to Madison so saying that let's give him flower when they were alive. Let's celebrate that and that's what the family is going to see. Even when he's not alive, the family is going to enjoy his legacy on this. So, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Council
President, my vote is yes, Mad Clerk. Thank you. The votes are nine in favor, none against. Resolution number 49 is hereby adopted. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item number 50. Item number 50, resolution honoring Robert Artist on retirement and 42 years
of service to the city of Patterson, sponsored by Councilwoman Marissa Davalis, city council. Resolution number 25 colon 285. Second move by Councilwoman Davlin, second by Councilwoman Mims and Council Member. Council President Council Dav and my
apologies, this is well since we had a late night last week. Uh this item is also sponsored by Councilwoman Cotton and Councilwoman Mims and it's co-sponsored by Councilman Velis, Councilman Ibby. Actually, this should be the remaining if everyone's okay. The
remaining council. Correct. Okay. So, madam clerk, let the record reflect that it's being sponsored by Councilwoman Davilla, Councilman Cotton, and Councilman Mims and co-sponsored by the remaining council. Yes, C. Roll call on the clerk on item number 50. Roll call on item number 50.
Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say um congratulations to Robert Artistis. I've known him for over 45 years working for the city of Patterson. Uh he was here when my husband was here, Eddie Cotton. Um working down at the border of health. So, I want to say
congratulations on your retirement. Um enjoy now and just have fun. 42 years you put in in the city of Patterson. Madame Clerk, once again, congratulation, Robert. U Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Dava, Mr. Artist, you are leaving Patterson after 42 years. You are rooted in this city. Your family is rooted here. Your brother's my neighbor. Um, but what I want to say is I I I commend
you for all the work you've done, your dedication of 42 years. Um, I always talk about when you work in a space for so many years, some people say, "Well, that's not good." And others say, "That's dedication." And so, I want to thank you
for that. Um, I won't read your entire reszo. Uh, we will make sure to have it, you know, matted and framed for you. Uh, but we want to congratulate you. Have fun. Enjoy the remaining years that you have of life. Um, we do so much and we
forget that we must enjoy life. So, you know, with that said, congratulations. Uh, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Khalik. Thank you, Madame Clerk. 42 years. He looks like he's like 42 or 45 years old.
He look pretty young. I wonder what age he started working in Patterson. Congratulations, Councilman. My vote is yes. Councilwoman Mims. Well, Councilman Khalik, I'm definitely not going to ask his age cuz I consider myself forever 21. So, I'm not going to ask him. Uh,
Mr. Artist, thank you so much for all you do. I see you walk everywhere in the city of Patterson. When I'm on lunch, walking downtown, going to drop off things um in some of the buildings and talking to the business owners, you're like everywhere. So, I'm going to miss
your uh tenacity and your perseverance in the great city of Haz. I'm really going to miss it. Um, and I know that you're not going far and whatever your future endeavors are, reach out to me. I'll knock on a couple doors for you. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Congratulations, Mr.
Artist. I'm actually surprised that he 42 years is a long time to be in this city. It's a long time, but nonetheless, all the countless contributions that he's made to the city and also in the six ward, uh, my vote is yes, and I know he's not going to be too far anyway. My vote is yes, madam cler. Thank you,
Councilman Nuden. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Artis, for your service to the city of Patterson, and I believe this is a very well-fitting tribute for your service. My vote is yes, Mor. Thank you, Councilman Le. I'm not I'm not going to say he's I'm
not going to say he started in the city pastor when he was 11 years old, but um I could say that you could start at 25 and retire young and uh one Yeah, you gohead. But Robert Otis, you know, when you see him going back and forth from
the border health to the city is because there's business on and uh you always think about the residents of Patterson. Um you know, you're going to be missing that in in that section of the uh board of health that you work out and I know that you had created impact and one of
the things that he always is you always going to see him with a humble humble face. Humble face walking up and down doing what he's supposed to do the city business. So congratulation. Surviving 42 years in the city of Patterson, especially working for any
administration is is not easy. It's not a piece of cake. So congratulation on your retirement. My vote is yes. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I definitely have to check myself. He looks so young. He look younger than me and he's uh getting ready to leave. But it's uh it's such a
great honor to support this resolution. Councilman uh Robert Addis is such such a fine gentleman, always polite, always respectful. We go to the same church, Calvary Baptist Church, and when I see him on Sunday, I always enjoy having a great conversation with him at the end
of the service. Uh so, but I know he's not going far away. He's going to stay here with us. Uh and I also I could definitely knock some door for him as well. So, with that being said, congratulation, Councilman. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. The votes are nine in favor, none against. Item number 50 is adopted. Item 51, Madam
Clerk. Item number 51, resolution to award contract to Big Belly Solar LLC for the purchase, delivery, and installation of solar power trash compactors throughout the urban enterprise zone area. Rebid number
25.1 for the Department of Economic Development. Economic Development Resolution number 2586. So move was moved by Councilwoman Davilla, Council Member Bles, and second by Councilman Far Uding. Um roll call, ML clerk on item 51. Roll call on item
number 51, Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um I have voiced my concern with the director of the the UEZ zone. Um the first the first solar powered trash compactor that we received to me did not
work. I requested that they go back out and see if they could do something else with the money from UE. Madame Clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Dava. So, um and and I understand why
Councilwoman Cotton feels the way that she does. I I I really do. I want you all to know we met in economic development. We had a meeting and um we did have a discussion. We had a discussion with the entire committee with its director. Uh, I also had a
meeting and conversation with Director Billy Rodriguez from DPW. Um, I did say, and I'm going to say it again, this is the company we should have went with the first time around. Okay? Uh, this is the company that has the most experience. Uh, this is the company that is used by
the county and in other municipalities. Um, and I understand that these monies are specific for this. So, I know that we can't move the money. We can't put it in another section. We cannot And so, you know, at the time, you know, I had some other concerns as well, but just
overall, I am not of the belief that we should be sending any money back to the state. Uh, this money comes from its businesses um from the community that spends their dollars in the city of Patterson in the um urban enterprise
zone districts. And so therefore, um I am in support of it. All right. So, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Well, just being
honest, these uh solar powered trash cans travesty. I'd much rather see us figure out ways to pay employees a a more livable wage and um have them do actually do the
work and have some cheaply built. In fact, when you do the comparison of the ones that was purchased versus versus the ones in other communities in New York or Jersey City or Montlair, there's no comparison.
And I I consistently walk by them and see them overflowing with with garbage. They were supposed to have Wi-Fi technology talking to people and they they ain't saying they ain't speaking the right language. So see and this is see what
we're doing is you know and and it's it's unfortunate because now we you know I I watched certain council members place the blame on on the director and place the blame on DPW is they're not doing an appropriate job. It's just poor decision-m. It's poor
choices. And it's the council allowing for the administration to make poor choices anyway. Like I don't know what's going on. This mayor thinks he's just playing around with a piggy bank and hey, we going to do this. We going every single day is a freaking ribbon cutting. Tomorrow is going to have cuz I'm sure this is going to get
through. He'll have ribbon cutting. Oh yeah, Patterson putting more uh talking garbage cans throughout the city. Yeah, the city's still terrible. Right outside my house, I got the landlord unloads the house and right on the sidewalk, no level of accountability. I'm calling the
inspectors. They It's They're like getting overwhelmed because, you know, we're not hiring the appropriate staff to take care of the issues. You know, uh you got vacancies in the in the department of community improvements. We can't fill those spots. And we still
keep spending money on things that are just turning into trash while people are spray painting all over them. Um, no. I mean, listen, from here on out, I I mean, everything that this administration has
done has been a failure. You can't point to one thing that the community say, you know what, I I really appreciate that. Besid, wait a minute, parks. Anyway, madame clerk, my vote is no.
Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khik. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to thank the UEE department, whole department, not only the director. I've been here for what almost 10 years now. When I got here, there was nothing, no kind of action going on in
that zone. He was, I believe, taken away. Now, the department in a way reignited. They're finding those grant funding money to put it back on the euee zone specifically for the UE zone and
and those money is year mark for specific projects. We cannot use this money for do anything else. So it's tied to that project. Also, as far as I know, the UE department is buying two trucks, two garbage truck or two two garbage
truck to take care of the UE zone. Also, they are hiring there. They will pay for three employees. The PDW will take care of the employees to take care of the zone as well. I think they're getting I'm not saying they're perfect, but I'm saying they're getting there. This work
has started in the U department. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman, Councilwoman Mims. So, Councilman Khalik, actually, they got three garbage trucks, not two, three. So, we want to give them the right credit. So, I I
agree, uh, Councilman Khalik. Um, and I always preface it by saying, can we do better? Absolutely. But when we have money that can only be allocated for certain things, Philly, I see you like, is what
she gonna pull? I don't know. Um, money that could be all allocate allocated for certain things. When we talk about the trash and all the things that are going on in the community, we have to put in place trash cans or receptacles so that
people have an opportunity to put their trash in the can. Whether they do it or not is another story, but we have to put it in place. So, my request is this. Uh, one, I'm going to vote on the item, but I would like to do a a presentation to
be done based on all of the ones that we've already approved. I would like to see because I know there was some functionality concerns where it was supposed to alarm DPW that it's filled to go. So I would like to know in totality how many uh trash compactors
have been approved? How many are fully operational? What did we have to utilize the warranty if we did? How fast was the turnaround to get replacements? And I also want to see in place uh to our UE director, Mr. Dipto, we have some of our
trash compactors that are currently in place where people have put graffiti on them. I want to know what the turnaround is as it relates to um replacement for gra graffiti or vandalism because there are many that I see that are in certain
areas and they have um as they say tatted them up. So I want to make sure that we um upgrade and improve uh those. And then before I vote uh Councilman Jackson, just to let you know, I got the bio for Mr. Robinson. So, I' I've sent it to Corporation Council so it could be
added to the agenda on tonight. Madame Clerk, for this item, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Councilman Omar. I'm going to piggy back off what Councilman Davis said. I don't think we should give any kind of money back to the state. My vote is yes. Thank you,
Councilman Newton. Thank you, Madame Clerk. So let me take you back when first this project was introduced here in the council chamber and I was strongly and against this project when I
believe that was about 90 uh trash cans and initially was purchased and I stated that we don't think that we are ready to purchase the solar powered trash can which is I understand we send message to the department that the trash can is
full we can go and collect That was my first initially I voted against and I was standing strongly against it. When in the second phase we are talking about another 55 solar trash can after the first meeting with the economic development department. Uh I
was not fully satisfied. I have called another meeting in the department of public works to hear from the department of public public works about the effectiveness of those trash cans. As we spoke about it was first of all these uh
264 and some changes dollars that allocated we cannot use for anything else. It has to be for solar power kit. So number one the second one was discussed that uh as DP director emphasized that it saves a lot of time
for the employees since it signals the specific location. we don't have to go to check every single uh trash cans to confirm whether they are full or not. So that's saving some time for the employees as well which is great. But
when we discussed I also presented some pictures in the in the committee meeting that there are trash cans that are uh graffiti on it. Uh the day we had discussed the day before on on on that was Saturday morning two days ago. Uh
two days before the committee meeting I took a picture where one of the state banders uh posted state banders were tying the table with the trash can solar power trash can and
were using it which I spoke about spoke to the uh department chairs both department chairs and the public works that we have to make sure that we have to create a partnership with the with the business owners since the vandalism
is not covered by the um uh by the banders. they are not going to provide services to the vandalized uh trashins and as they reported in the last meeting that only two out of 90 were vandalized and they were not covered by the vendors
and and it seems very small but we to for the future we have to create a clear partnership since is a eug zone we have to make sure that if the business owners really think this is something great for them we have to make sure that we have
access to their cameras for us to make sure that if anyone venalized or misused them, we can bring it to the uh accountability as well. So this is my hope. This is what I discussed and this is what I emphasize one more time to both of the directors and I want you to
know that initially I was not in favor but I again after the uh multiple discussion I believe that we need to move forward since this is totally allocated for this particular project. My vote is yes madam clerk councilman cast. So, um, two years ago,
people were criticizing the DPW because they didn't clean the planters. You remember those planters in downtown? That was the garbage sat we used to have. People was, "Oh, DPW, oh,
DPW, oh, DPW." Um, they still complain with DPW. But let me tell you something. ICDPW on Market Street from Straight Street all the way down Madison Avenue
up to Madison Avenue picking up probably two ice a week. Those new bins that we have, the recyclable we have, the new ones, the small belly ones, I call it the small belly ones, they real demanding. People are using it. And um
now this are bigger. Now, one of the things I want to see in the future is that if we demand our resident to recycle, okay, and uh be able to get bins that uh people could put bottles and plastic and then separated with
garbage, right? That could come down the road. Always there's room for improvement. Always. Way back, I brought to uh DPW committee as a chairman. And I brought the u I didn't went too far that you went to New York City downtown whatever you know I went down to Hoboken
and I saw the three bins of garbage there and say I wanted to see this in Patterson. Right. So now we we we have a start. We we started with the small ones and and the demanding is growing. So we have a one that is bigger even that I
don't see no street from the fifth ward because this have to go in the uee area ladies and gentlemen. This is not to put it in front of mandate house or front of uh Marissa house or nobody house. This
has had to go into uee zone. if you're not familiar with UEZ zone, uh we could give him a map, right? Uh and tell them this is the UEZ zone and this is where you're going to see it uh established. Now, a message, it goes both
ways. Residents of Patterson, it's not for your personal garbage from home. Residents of Patterson, restaurant owners, this is not for your restaurant use. This is not
to put your bag of garbage next to the bins and say because DPW is going to pick up. You had to wait for your garbage collection day. It goes both ways. And we talking about education. Today the word of education have been mentioned a lot. We not educate but we
know how to govern. We not educate but we know how to follow the good lead. And this is a good lead. So Delto congratulation to you your team. Let's pray that whoever's be governor put more
million dollars in UE and bring it to Patterson. Let's pray for that. Why not pray for positive things? We always had to praise the negative, the negative, the negative. And the residents of Patterson, 170,000 people that live in Patterson want to listen to
positive things. And positive things are in Patterson. The thing is our people have blind. They are blind. They don't want to see the positive things of Patterson. Saying that, I raise, you know, I don't want to get so emotional on this. My vote is yes.
Thank you, Councilman. Council President. Um, thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, to the director of DPW, you know that I wasn't happy at all with this legislation, but you know that I have my discussion and my fight in the committee. I do the work behind the
scenes. We agree. We we fight, we have discussion, we we we say what we don't like. But when I come here, I come here with a solution. You know, I was ready to vote against this legislation. But let's let's remember that it was uh Lieutenant Sheila Oliver, may she rest
in peace, that got the money back into the UE. It was Sheila Oliver and in her memory, we cannot let this money go back to the state. So the US funding, if we're getting the money and we don't use it, the state take it back. and in the following year don't even think that we're gonna get the money that that we
never use it. So, so I'm definitely looking forward to support this legislation, but we need a plan behind. We got to make sure that what is the schedule that we have to make sure that we empty those garbage uh those receptacle and and by seeing those garbage all full of all full all the way
to the top. It's just unacceptable. I mean, the community get they get the picture and I feel bad because even though we voted on but we're not on charge of the operation. I feel that listen, we we we not doing what we're supposed to do by the city. So, let's put a plan together, a clear plan. We
got to have more now. Let's make sure that we get it done the right way. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Council President. The votes are seven in favor to Madam Clair, I want to I want to change my vote. Okay, you ready? I just need to say that, you know, not
that I was against these um new trash bins or whatever you want to call it, but I said to them, go back down to the state and say, you know, we didn't the first around didn't turn out good. Can we do something else with the money? Now, if the state would have sent us a
letter back or UEZ and God rest in peace, Lieutenant Shilla Albert did bring UE back in because it was out for many, many, many years. And I said, "Can we do something else with the money?" But nobody went and asked them if we
could. We I hadn't seen no letter saying that, "Can we use some of this money for something else?" Because with uee, I mean even I know where the UEE zones are. I know where they are because I've been I got three or four in the
fourth ward. And my thing is that the first time around it didn't go it didn't work. How are we going to go around again? You know, even though we got three garbage trucks, but if we ain't got workers to pick them up, what good is the garbage trucks? If you ain't
got the people to pick up the cans, what good is the carbon trucks? So, how we going to fix this if we don't have the employees to be able to do this? And it's not that I'm against this, but I I would think that the state would be to say, you know what, maybe let's figure
out something else. Uzz money can be used to help small businesses. UEZ money can help um um um make um corridors, as you say, 10th Avenue, Broadway corridors, Union Boulevard, more
enticing to come visit, more you want to go there. You want to shop the nice lighting, lights, nice things like that. So, it's not that I was against this, but the first time around, it just didn't work. And then you never figure out how to do it the second time around. Now we got three garbage truck. Fine.
But if we ain't got the people in there to do it, well, what good is having three garbage truck if you don't have the the the the resource? And I would like to see, you know, they have requested different items, but my thing is that I think that we should have asked the state, can we use something?
Can we do something else with the money? It it has to stay the UE zone. I understand that, but can we ask for something else to be done? That's what my concern was. It's like How long you guys been asking about the buck pickup? How long? Like when is
going to I mean we need to know how is it going to work. The three garbage truck now we need about 10 workers. Now we need this. So that was my concern. The first time around it just didn't come out good. How are we going to do the second time around at $267,000? And I know it's not the city
money, it's uez money. And I'm happy that uh Lieutenant Sheila Oliver, she's deceased now, but she at least she brought it back. And I my request was that we could have used it for something else and I never got an answer. Madame Clerk, my vote is still no. Thank you,
Councilwoman. Madam Clerk, if I may, please. So maybe it wouldn't be so difficult for people to see the good in the city if they wasn't being blindsided so airbags could smack them in the face
by by people putting forward reckless votes such as this. So, I just want to just for a point of clarity, you know, when when the uee was around, when I started my business, over $350,000 was available to me for the
facade program, the sidewalk program, the corridors. If you go down Grand Street, even today, there's still many of the businesses that haven't changed, they still have the same canvas style, same color awnings. You ride through downtown, it looks like it looks it it
definitely people are were up in arms about this. This looks like a third world country. The garbage is everywhere. Right next to a electronic uh or or one of these solar garbage cans. Where's the report director?
Where's the report on the communication of how effective has been to communicate with these garbage cans in DPW? Where's the Where's the report? Where's the report showing that that this money was worth spending? Just because it's money
that comes from the state and you feel like you can waste it and just burn it doesn't mean that it's it's a wise decision. Where's the report? This council has no absolutely no um um accountability when it comes to
reporting. None whatsoever. There's businesses that are struggling over there. There's broken sidewalks all over the place. There's plenty of of of of different uh scenarios to utilize this money for. And to say that the UEE was dead, that's that's a total lie. All of
those decorative lamp posters downstairs that's now been graffitied and tagged all over the place. The bus stops that weren't properly kept that then had to be removed because people are sleeping in them because we we don't, you know, be responsible for those kinds of
things. the planters that never got utilized. We plant things in there and people are tossing garbage in them. There's so much. We can sit here and spend money all day, but if we're not going to be responsible to holding people accountable specifically with the
director with the reports on the on relative whether or not these this is a wise investment. Everybody wants to get oh you know I didn't support this before. Well, you made a better decision then than you're making now cuz that money was a clear
waste. And I, you know, mistakenly because I, you know, I tried to give our director of DPW the support and and and miss uh uh, you know, the director of uh, economic development. But this is a clear waste
of money. This is a waste of money. Throwing it right in the [Applause] trash. Taking money and throwing it in the trash. What we might as well do is just take them whatever money's left when they bring them here and deliver just throw them right in that trash. There's no reports on whether or not
these things are effective. I know one thing with those open face garbage cans you ride by them. You can see they're full. The person that's riding that guy that has to dump it can easily dump the dump the cans. This is just more
stupidity on the on the on the uh uh the plate of this council. feeding the public more stupidity and then telling you how good it is. We're going to feed you manure and you guys know exactly what I'm talking about and then tell you isn't it good? Isn't it this is Isn't
this good? This ma madam clerk my vote remains no. Thank you council votes. There are seven in favor two against. Item number 51 is adopted by a clerk out of 52. Item number 52 is resol point of order. How
long are you going to make the public wait? Mr. McNeel is a senior that lives in a senior's building, has no hot water, no members of the public right after that. How long you going to make the public wait before right after the right after the two more legislation that we have? We got the public portion
ready. Matter of cler 52. Item number 52 is the resolution under Patterson code chapter 129 bazaars addressing a license for making a difference with the friends of Bill McCoy Foundation Inc. to conduct a festival finance item resolution
number 25 col 287. Second move by councilman Dava, second by councilman Kik and councilman Cton. Roll call on the clerk. Amen. Amens quiz item. Uh discussion.
Discussion. Councilman Jackson. Um uh m Mr. Ba, what is the bill for this um this organization? What's being required and how much is being charged? I spoke too. I spoke to class and he
said he had a meeting with the stuff for what? [Music] I'm excuse me. I'm I'm sorry. We we are we're going to start a public portion in a minute. Please let us let us continue
with the agenda. I've never DVW superintendent explain that director. They're not going to change the price. Like what's happening for the fee? The fee for for this item?
No, they're not. Which one? Oh, for the Jamaican um festival. It's a two-day festival. Um the Department of Public Works cost of it is a little over $8,000. How much? A little over 8,000. I don't have the exact I don't have the form in front of me, but it's uh it's a
little over 8,000. Okay. Um I don't know. I don't have anybody else. That's for two days. That's for just DPW. Yeah, that's just DPW. Do we have PD? Do we have PD? 8,200.
8,200 for PD. Applications, just just a minute. I'm I'm sorry. members of the public. The director will find the information uh and a public portion will open very soon. You'll have you three minutes to speak. Director according to this Patterson Police is $8,181.19.
So do we have a comparison? I I just attended the um the Palestinian event which was a phenomenal event by the way. have not taken any shots at any event, but I'm just curious on the parity of how we're doing things. How
much what was the fee? And I know you don't have it in front of me in front of me. You call about approximate how much it was. I don't I don't know the fee off. I could give that back to you tomorrow. Mr. Ba, sorry I don't have that information, but I can give it to you. Hello. I I need to
get that before I vote. I don't have it. I don't We don't have it. corporation council. I mean, we How do we not have it? You don't have a computer that we can access this information? I don't I don't. Where's the CFO for PD?
[Music] Okay. Yeah. Mr. Mr. Ba, where's the CFO? He's in his office. Well, he's required to be sitting there. His name is sitting His name is right there on that on that uh that name tag. He's required to sit there's office. I can call him and have him come. police. We need to get him up
here. He should be the Palestinian for the hours there. It was uh for cleanup. It was a little It was over $3,000. With that, they didn't have uh no electrician running generators. Um no, no bathrooms to clean up, no just regular permits for
the street that their program did. So, so, so it was eight for for um Jamaica Day. So my my issue is this and I I I understand that. I mean cleaning is cleaning. What I'm talking about is par.
That's why I want to see the entire bill. Um there was uh it was a phenomenal event that they had. I don't think there was a necessity for an excessive amount of security. I think there was great people that were there. But likewise, I've attended uh Jamaica
Day for the last I don't know how many however many years. Many many years. It's the same caliber of people. I don't ever recall us having any kind of well starting we they are charged 100% now in
in the past uh they were being only charged um a portion of the the festival um administration decided to charge them 100%. They were being charged only they weren't being charged they are being charged 100% now. They were only being charged a portion. Yeah. Now they're being charged 100% of the manpower
that's being used. And also you have to take into effect that the unions just got raises. They were behind raises for like about four years I believe and the new rate. Was the are the all the other events that's taking place are they being charged 100%. Yes. As well? Yes definitely. Okay. So everybody's paying
100%. Every everybody who has in the f festival that's being charged 100%. Okay. Yes. When director when you get a moment I would like to see the the the the bills for all of the events. I'll send it to the VA to send to the council in the morning. Very good. Very good.
Thank you. Monica, Council President, Councilman Mims. So, and I also and director, you didn't allude to it, but you also have to state that when you do your application, it goes by the number of attendees that you place on your
application. That was not stated. So, when people are doing their application, they ask you how many attendees. you you well every application we have they put a number so well they this is what applicants do they place numbers there I
know you're saying it's impossible but if you look at the applications which after tonight you can operate it's available you can see it every entity they put how many we have laws on the books that state based on the number of people you have that is how they um
allocate how many police officers and all types of stuff we just went through the same process for the jun Junth festival. It was 100%. There was a um a miscalculation and we went back. I was uh assisting the uh the organization and
they made sure that everyone was 100%. So it's like across the board. Thank you, Councilwoman. Roll call, Madam Clerk, on item 42. That's item number 52. I'm sorry. 52, Madam Cler. Um my apologies. Roll call on item number 52. Councilwoman Cotton.
Yes, Councilwoman Davala. So, um, all the questions being asked are important. Um, and Councilwoman Mim said it. Every application is different in terms of, you know, hours, manpower, you know, if they're closing streets, how
many streets, if they need officers, like there's there's a lot that goes into play with this. Um, I did speak to uh Councilman McCoy from the Bill McCoy Foundation. I asked him if he was okay because I know that last week he expressed, you know, uh being upset uh
of the astronomical numbers uh uh this year. Uh but he also did say that there is some stuff that's going to be worked out and I know that he is in support of making sure that we do support this today. So, you know, with that said, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman.
Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So listen again, my only concern is that everyone is treated fairly. Everyone. Everyone. Nobody treated differently because they're favorable with the mayor, because they're not
favorable with the mayor. That's the only issue that I have. Um, again, the event on Sunday. Oh, wow. Man, I missed the uh brothers had an event on Monday, right? Yeah. I missed
us. Anyway, the event on Sunday was phenomenal. The number of people that was out there, I mean, far outnumbered what um uh I've seen at Jamaica Day. May maybe maybe not the Peruvian festival, but but the numbers were were
were huge. And that's what I'm what I'm talking about. It should be it should be a measure of parody. If there is a process, the process should be measurable. If you have per 100 people, you're required to have x amount of
employees. It should be fair and equitable. Not like, oh, well, you know, I like this group this year, I don't like this group that next year. We're not going to, you know, we're going to go to your celebration or we not we're not going to your celebration. So, now you're going to have to pay full price.
Listen, I support every single event that comes forward, but you know, I I hate to sit here and and see certain groups be get treated differently. And if the director is saying that there's there's parity and everybody's being,
you know, charged the same, I'll wait until I see the paperwork. But for now, I support this item to move forward. Madam clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khik. Thank you, Madam Clerk. All the paperwork's in order. Talking about fairness, I believe
all this festival that going on the department, each department is being fair. I requested a quote. I have the text message from uh one of the department head total come up to 17,400 something dollar director. You said the
quote for for my event as well, correct? Yes. So I believe is every department being fair and balanced. Um I don't know why some of us think otherwise. And my vote is yes because all the paperworks and everything in order for item number
52. Thank you, Councilwoman M. So, I don't want to sound like a broken record and I do um I commend cuz a lot of people are texting and um highlighting things on social media tonight because you know a lot of times on social media they always talk about the negative and get rid of all the council members and
if you get rid of us a lot of this stuff is not going to get done. So I'm just going to say that but I want to put it on the record as someone who is a part of the finance committee. I serve Councilwoman Davlin as the chair. I am currently serving as the vice chair of finance. There is something that we do
in our committee with our uh council president and councilman Khalik. When these applications come before us, we're going through every page. We're making sure before the council gets the application, everyone has everything. If everything is not in in the uh
application, then at that point, we're not approving. There's no need to vote if nothing is here. But I want to make this request, council president, um, and I want to put it on the floor. If upon receiving these festival applications and everything is in its due process and
we have all the paperwork, let's put these on consent. There is no need for the the the organizers to sit here uh and go through all of this stuff when we could just put it on consent. It could have been approved and they could go home cuz there's a full packet. They go
through licensing. They meet with uh Zela. They meet with DPW fire and um police department and that's a that's a lot right running around. But once they do that, their package is complete and it's locked in. We have all the documents um here. Let's make sure it
goes on consent so nobody is on regular. And I want um to say and I want to thank uh Director Billy um to our police and our fire department. I had the opportunity uh just recently and this is why I could speak to it. There was a a
post that was on social media in regards to the Junth Festival. So for me, I don't really do the negative on Facebook. I saw somebody called me, they screenshotted it, sent it to me. I called the person immediately and we had a discussion. I reached out to all of
our directors, got the amount. One of the the amounts we're ready to rock and roll. One of the amounts was not right. Um and we were like, "No, we got to fix it. We got all the stuff. Everything was done." So that's when you saw me, you know, request and I'm sure he's
watching. Two things I requested. One, um, that we remove that comment off of social media because people don't know that festivals and parades are separate. We don't vote on parades. We vote on festivals. So when people think this is not happening, they think the parade is
off. Two separate um concerns. The city council only votes on festivals. So that was done. And now I'm excited. You know, I know we're voting on Bill McCoy. You guys do a great job every year, and I hope you have some festival for me, Lady
McCoy, at uh there. Um, but we got everything done. We made sure everything was in its proper place. I called to our my secretary and to the clerk's office to make sure the item was on the agenda. Everything was in its proper place and in its due form so that it could be
approved by on the agenda for this council. And we had already approved it. That's why I'm saying we approved that in consent. So these items should have been in consent, too. So you're not sitting here and waiting unless there are some other issues and it needs to be openly talked about and or discussed.
Um, Councilman uh McCoy, Lady McCoy, and to your uh organ the Bill McCoy Foundation, I just want to commend you for your great um uh event every year. You know, last year I couldn't come. I have a a new grandbaby and another one
on the way. So with being a grandma, you know, that takes me on some trips down 95 and 301 now. So I just want to say I will be there this year. Tell Mama's Kitchen they know what I like. I go to them every Sunday to get a special treat. So make sure Mama's Kitchen knows
that I will be there. With that being stated, let's keep having festivals. Let's keep unifying. Let's keep doing great things so we can understand and embrace each other's cultures. I am for love, unity, and peace. And that's what this is about. Madame clerk, my vote is
yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Omar, Councilman McCoy, I'm looking forward to this event. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Newton. Thank you, Madame Merk. Uh Councilman Bill McCoy and the foundation. We
commend you for for continuation of the Jamaica Day. Even though this is very uh pricey I would say very expensive but still you are committed to make sure they hosting the event continuously we look forward to see whether we can do something that make sure we can support
the festivals that are for the community not for not for raising money not for you know so I think we should look for some other options in the future whether we can be uh supportive toward all the festivals that are for the community but again we commend you for everything you
do for the city of Patterson and uh my vote is yes mad. Thank you, Councilman Veles. So, I got to follow a little bit from my colleague uh Dr. Liliss Amens because when people speak uh
things comes in my in my mind of solution. I look at this application. This is the most most GI application we ever see in when it comes to the council. All the documents are in place.
Everything insurance is in place. Next time this item comes forward should be consent because if it goes to regular and we had the authority to say, you know what, Mr. Ba, out of the $18,19,000 that they going to pay, uh,
we could amend it to they could pay only 40% out of the $18,000 and and that would be a different, right? But we cannot do that. The numbers are there. They put the number. Well, one one thing that we could do is for example I looking at the last page
DPW five supervisor for 12 employees. What? Okay. And and and and you could examinate if you could examinate applications and contracts you got five supervisor and the rate is higher than a
regular employee. So that will make a different in the bill. So if if this is a a a an an event that everybody speak on it that everybody say is a peaceful one is a gospel day one is another
family event the next day I don't see no problem at all. I run I run up and down with my Jamaicans friends that that has a little bit blood of the Puerto Rican community too because they inherit our hyenos. Okay. I could say that when they
analyze this type of event, why not put more lowpay employees, right, that could take the benefit of the event than putting high rate employees in the event and that will make a
different amount of they going to charge them. Also goes to the police. You know, they get paid based on the salary. uh if if you have two lieutenants, three sergeants, and you have only two patrol
men, the rate is different is different. So I I think that Councilman um Udin State is something that we have to come in the future with a a solution on it. We should sit down and cast a committee
and revise the chapter 129 bizaar addressing this kind of festival to see how we could benefit grassroot organization that does does event in the city of Patterson. That's what we have to do and sit down and and I know we
have an Elmoou but I think that we should sit down and and and look into these ordinance and make sure that we are doing fair for everyone across the board. And saying that I will I I I know I'm not going to get kicked out out of
your event, Councilman McCoy, because I do everything peacefully. But um um I I always going to support your event. I always going to be there saying that we all Jamaican that weekend. Okay. So, let's celebrate and let's celebrate for
real and from the bottom of our heart. Jaman. My vote is yes. Council president. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. Those are nine in favor, none against. Item number 52 is hereby adopted. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Item 53. address. Item number 53, resolution under Patterson Code, chapter 129, Bazaars, addressing a license for New Jersey Peruvians, Inc. to conduct a festival finance, resolution number 25, calling
288. So move second. Second. Second. was moved by Councilman Khalik and second by Councilman Davila and Councilman Bles. Roll call and roll call clerk. Roll call on item number 53. Councilwoman Cotton.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, you know, this is really like a really hot hot item to me. Um, it should have been settled. I'm not sure what council members here have been playing games, but some of them have been and they shouldn't have been.
And they should have said the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Truth, right? They should have. So, with all the paperwork that's been has been submitted, I think it's past $40,000 of fees that's in there. I'm not quite
sure, but I believe that it is. Um, with that being said, my vote is yes for this bizarre and festival parade. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Dava. Thank you very much. So, what we have before us here is the application that went through its process and complete. So,
Councilwoman, if you went to page nine, I know you were asking on page nine on our tablet. All right. Uh the breakdown of police, fire, um the fire marshals, dispatcher, uh the insurance, everything is there. At the
end of the day, this is what it's about. There's a complete application before us uh to be put out there to be to have individuals from the community go out and speak to the news to the media outlets to say things specifically about
me. Uh and then the news outlets instead of a good reporter would call me and say, "Hey, by the way, did you do this?" But no, at the end of the day, what sells yellow sensationalism? But with that said, you know, to to put out there the message, all right, that we that I,
let's just put it this way, am dividing communities, not so there's a process that everyone follows. You go and you pick up an application and you submit all of the paperwork. Picking up an application and submitting it without any documentation is not a complete application. What we have before us,
what went through finance, um, was one application is the one before us now, which is item 53. Um, and at this time because of its complete status, uh, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, director, everything is the same with this one as well, correct? Yeah, they paid represent. Very good. My vote is yes. Thank you, Council. Council Khalik. Thank you. My vote is yes, Madam Cler. Councilwoman Mims. So, I'm going to say
I'm going to say this. Last year, I was very clear and I put on I said it on the record. If you go back and watch last year, I said that I would love to see you
unified to come together to to work together because for me, I love your community and I love people on this side. I love people on that side. It's not about taking a side. It's about when we sit here on the deis, we're legislators. So, I can only go based on
what is in front of us to vote on, but I am going to put a point of reference on the floor. We have to take a a a line. We have to draw a line of caution in the sand when we're trying to do entities
and we're hosting fundraisers for certain council people. And for me, if that was the case, I possibly would recuse myself from the vote because any look or appearance of impropriy could come back as someone
filing or putting ethics charges. So, you have to be careful when it comes to these type of situations, whether you believe it is or not. I'm just putting a line of of caution out in the air because when
people go back and watch, cuz everything is on social media, people grab your stuff, you don't realize five months from now, next year, your stuff is reappearing. Like, you voted on XYZ and blah blah blah. So, I'm putting a line
of caution for me. I love both sides. I'm saying that now. And I'm not voting because someone promised they're going to support me for election or not promise for election. For me, I'm with the people. I'm straight for the community. And I'm African-American, but
I support every ethnicity. Everyone knows that. That's why I get support from everybody. But I've been talking about unity since last year when it came before me. I'm gonna continue to say it. This item is almost a Oh, I'm the deciding vote.
I'm the fifth vote. I'm going to say for next year, take this time from now until next year to one come together. Two, when I go to the events,
gala, hitting the pinata, I love all of that stuff. I'm put it on the record. I want to see all of y'all together. Everybody together celebrating and upholding your Peruvian community
and the legacy that your forefathers and foremothers have fought and stood so rightfully for. That's what I want to see because I've always known you as a Peruvian community that came together. I've always known you that way. And I don't want to love one side and this
side. For me, it look after this vote, I would love if some of you would shift over and move over and sit there so people can see that united we stand and we're better together because we have to. Life is so short and we major on the
minors so much that sometimes we don't have time to to correct it later. And I want us to be in a position, right? And I'm saying this to you publicly. I want your community to be united. I know it's
bothersome. Whatever the details of whatever happened, I know it's bothersome, but I want you guys and I'm you're listening to council amends. I'm I'm one vote. And I tell everybody when different ones call me, I said it to them. For me, I want y'all
together. one one one one love one mind one sound you unified and love when I went to the Palestinian event it was peaceful there was one one sound everybody having a
good time I'm I'm begging and pleading please come together do it for me if you don't want to do it for yourself do it for me because life is so short something happens to someone you're going going to regret it. I'm telling you. Come
together. I I But listen, GMO, just listen to me. Okay, we pull off. If that's been the case, even if that's been the case, let's work it out now. Let's work it out now. I love all
of you. I'm coming to the party. I'm coming and I'm hitting the piñata. make sure I'm invited to hit the pinata and all your events because I want you guys unified and I'm going to say that
I stand on principle. I stand on truth. Huh? No, we're not. We have the floor. No, we have the floor, sir. No, we have the floor, please. We have the floor. I have the floor. Okay. Please, please, members of the
public. So, I maybe let me start all over again. Uh, sir, sir. So, with that being stated to both sides, I love you all. Come together. We have one
application before us. We don't have two. And I have to vote on what's in front of me. Everything has been paid. Everything has been allocated. My vote is yes. Thank Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Omar, I encourage the community to come together and I
encourage New Jersey Peruvians to reach out to the other side or the other faction and come together. Exactly. One love. Yes. My vote is yes. Thank you, Council Council Nuden. [Applause] Yes, Councilman. Thank you, Mel Car. So
if we can go back last year when uh we speak about this beautiful Peruvian community and we saw the division that started last year the very for the very first time and I like to just state right here that kind of division is
started as a tradition in every single communities and if I if I start back from my own home in Bangladeshi community in every single organizer there are two three parts. Sometimes they are using the same name and using
different occasions. And what's happening when that happens that we the politicians take the opportunity taking side here or there whether I serve you or not I'm taking half of the part and we don't want to see that kind of division in our community. We advocated
last year that whether is it possible to come together. I understand that politics is everywhere in both whether you say whom outside organization whether who wants to take the power or lead and everything and and that that that I
understand but if you really care about the community and history we have to be together we have to keep our egos away and then sit down some ways Peruvian parade that organization
that were actually protesting against they are talking about 39 plus of years of history when the new history we're talking about started we are talking about another organization that taking the lead from last year I wanted to see that whether
both side come together or that one of the section can cover the parade and one section which already got permission and one section can cover the festival and that's the only way I feel that this is the community can come together if we just ignore that one part I don't see
there is a possibility of coming together for both both portions so again community I always uh look forward to see that you are coming together there are so many allegations last week you have heard about how you know today
since we did not hear the public portion last if you recall that regarding the application process the one group is saying they applied first the application was even taken in consideration other group was given permission. We don't want to see any kind of taken side
here and there and I again I would like to see them together and since there are so many uh you know uh fractions in it I I don't I can't I can't support that fraction. With that being said, my vote is no. Councilman Vez,
Councilman VZ, oh, council members, uh, me members of the public, please. So, I'm a discovery guy. I'll try to examinate anything I have in front of
me. When I say everybody had to uniform, application had to have the same uniform. Everyone I compare one with the previous one. All right. The paperwork is different. The paperwork looks
different. The only thing I was looking for was the commitment with a contract of the police department and it was not attached. But I had the opportunity to talk to the president and he supplied the contract. This has had to be always
in a package when um they come and bring any kind of application. Last time that the Peruvian organizations was here in front of us, I made this
comment. Dr. Castillo and Dr. T you guys are doctors. You remember that? You guys are doctors. You got have to get the forensic, the study, anything. You guys went to school
for that. But you had to get that type of techn uh expertise to get both community together. And when I say both community, why we say both community? They only one. It's only one. Peru
is only one ceviche is only one papa laancina and everybody everybody enjoy they culture but it comes up to it comes up to one thing one thing I'm not going to
get involved is who say I say this guy said this one say this one not this nothing I what I'm entertaining here and I could ask corporate counsel What are our rights? And our rights is
to entertain what is in front of us. Okay? And I cannot penalize one group versus the other one because that's not my job. My job is to examinate what I have in front of me. Go with what is
approved and go what the expertise first of all the official work. Second the licensing department. Third police contract. Fourth DPW contract. Fire
contract. then city council deputy clerk uh testament that everything is done properly to put it in the agenda. See, I have like 10 other ite organization uh nonprofit because I'm not here to
promote unicasa even that I mention it. And next time you submit a document, make sure you complete all documents that the court provide for I could make a right decision on it. I cannot do it halfway. But saying what we have here and let me be clear last year this
council and you could go to the tapes. Last year you go to the council the next day matter of fact this this this festival was cancelled at 6:00 in the afternoon because a fight broke up. seven whatever it was was cancelled. The
amount of beers, boxes, and everything that was all the way around the festival area was a tremendous. I have people texting us about about how bad it looks the image. You could blame, oh, it's the
outsider. We're not going to ask ID who comes to events, but what we're going to ask is that the organization had to have control of their parties of the people that come there to celebrate. Okay. No, I don't care to and listen, ma'am. You
want me to to say something? Members of the public, please. Councilman, please. I could pay I could pay for my mortgage, but I'm responsible to pay for my light bill and to clean my backyard and to clean my front and to do the right way.
Not because you pay our DPW a slave of whatever mess people do. So, let's be honest. So, let's be honest. We need to be responsible organization. Please, you need to be responsible of everything
that you guys perform in the city of Patterson. And the last thing we want to have is people get killed in a festival. The last thing we want to have people listen, if you look at the video last year, it was tremendous.
The year before, sorry, the year before. So saying that, ladies and gentlemen, I'm not here to take sides. I'm here to to support what is in front of us. But if every
year we going to have a war before celebrating, please don't invite me because I don't like to celebrate and fight. We fight before celebrating. I like to celebrate all year round that the community is united is united. And
this is an issue that every year happening with the Peruvian community. But one day I have a dream that everybody's going to be smiling. And let me say this, last but not least, last but not
least, you only have to be alive to be dead. You only have to be alive to be dead. In other words, what I'm trying to say is if you members of the public, please, please.
What I'm trying to say is go to a funeral home and a person died and you see a lot of people say what a great man you were. What a great man you was. Say you what a great man you was when they alive and make the life easy
to them. Don't cry when I'm dead because I know you're not doing from your heart. So saying that let's celebrate the Peruvian. Let's let's celebrate red and white. Julio Peru. My vote is yes,
council president. [Applause] Thank you, Madam Cler. I'll definitely be brief. I I have um I have a lot of respect for our great leaders from the Peruvian community. Um you know, Mr. Gama Garcia, Dr. Teo, Dr. Castillo, I
have a lot of respect for all of you. Um the Peruvian pray is the organization that for the last 38 years they've been organizing this festival this parade. I know a lot of things happen in between but it was my hope and my dream to see both comm both entity united. Uh it was
my hope to see the United because it's such a great history from 38 38 years you cannot erase that and instead of erasing try to embrace it. So that was my hope and my dream to see the both entity and that was my request to see them united. Uh because one of the
entities feel that the the treatment was unfair. Um and and I understand that. So so with that being said, I I think that I really hope that that this community in the future get united. Um because I mean listen, we all love the festival. We all love to go out and enjoy and and
and and celebrate with our Peruvian community. Paris is one of the greatest city because the diversity that we have but with the diversity you have responsibility. You have the responsibility not to divide a community. You have the responsibility to keep the community together for the goodness of the people of the resident
of the city and the people that live here. But people call Patterson the little Peru because the diversity restaurant and the and the investment. So Patterson is a very important city for the Peruvian community. But as I mentioned before the Peruvian community has a tremendous history in the city of
Patterson. It is my hope in the future that that that that history continue by both entity being united by not leaving one out, one group out and just getting united both. That's the way I want to see it and and I feel very it's sad for me. Uh but I feel uncomfortable
supporting this because I want to see the community together down the future. Maybe next year we'll have a better picture and a very momentum. With that being said, my vote is no, Madam Clerk. I say no. Thank you, Council President. The voters are seven in favor, two
against. Item number 53 is adopted. Thank you, Madam Cler. So, we're going to have public portion after item 54. Madame clerk, get the get the public get the um just get item 54 and 55. Those two item and right after we get into public portion. So, make sure every
person so they all in the list. So, I'm going to click item 54. Item 54 is a resolution authorizing the rejection of low bid and authorizing the award of contract to the second lowest bid bidder Smith Sunday Asphalt Construction
Company, Inc. for reservicing portion of East 34th Street and East 35th Street bid number 25.17 for the engineering division of the Department of Public Works public works item resolution number 25289.
So move second. Moved by council president men the second by council woman Dr. Lelissa Mins um um director roll call. Uh so item 54. This is the only the last item that you have. Um yeah the first the the lowest bid was
rejected because they didn't uh comp comply to the uh specs bids. Okay. Got it. That's it. Roll call. Uh council president. Uh Councilman Councilwoman Cton. Yeah. Um, director um
um you um you rejected the lowest bid. Yes. Then you went with the second bidder, right? Yes. Now, did the did the lowest bidder um file a complaint yet? Not yet. Not that I know. I'm just
I'm asking you. Not yet. So So how many days do you give the lowest bidder to to file a complaint for not being accepted? That's a a Harry question. Um but I believe Say that again. That's a Harry question. You have to ask Mr. Sales about that. But I believe it's 10. You
got to ask Harry. Yeah, Harry's the per purchasing agent. He would know. But um I believe it's 10 days. I'm not 100% on that, but I believe it's 10. I was right. Well, it seemed like to me that if if if Harry uh if our person agent rejected the lowest bidder, it seemed
like to me that he would already know that he's going to the second bidder. But now the lowest bidder could uh intervene and and take us to court. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't want I don't want you to come back here later and that Yeah. But you know
what? Even if you reject the lowest bid, the lowest bid still can go back out and say you got to have proof why you rejected the bid. His his bid itself was the proof. He didn't comply with the specs of of the bid. Well, you know what? Harry should have put this in in in the resolution. Oh, what was what was
required? Why why did why was the lowest bid rejected in the second? Whereas it's tell and the second whereas the assistant municipal engineer and the director of public works recommend that the rejection of the low bid be submitted by
a um AJM contractors on the grounds that the bid was not nonresponsive and failed to comply with the bid specifications as follow. Okay. No. And if counciloman and if you want addition your information request, I read through emails. So let me
understand. I I do bids and I understand when you get rejected, the lowest bidder get rejected. You go to the next bid. Usually the lowest bid is going to complain and they're going to take us to court. They're going to do something. Um that answer to me is really not good enough for why. That's all. Uh director,
just for the record, East 34, East 35th from where to where is going to be resurfacing? Uh I'll get the the lens in the morning to you. Not for sure. Um on this it was on the original, but uh Okay. So, just on the record, we'll start we'll start all
the way by by 20th Avenue all the way down. So, this is a great news. We waiting for that uh about Yeah. From the dead ends, I believe. From the dead ends of 34. All the way to the dead end. I just want to put it on record. Rocom mone 54. Ro roll call on item number 54.
Councilwoman Cotton. You madam clerk. I just don't feel great about this one here. Um I think we should have a better explanation of why that bid was rejected. Um with that being said, my vote is no. Oh my. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Councilman
Jackson. Yeah. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I was going to ask the question, but I don't have to. I know the answer. Um we've worked side by side with our our children as we um have traveled softball today. My daughters that are in the high school traveled. We traveled to um
Pompton Lakes. All around the field I see all these banners. Uh wasn't Smith Sandy, but it was Tilcom. These companies make millions of dollars here. Millions. And yet they don't ever make any contributions to our
community. They take this money, go somewhere else, and they sponsor and support the programming, youth programming there. I I'm I'm no longer um supporting any of these these activities for none of these or these uh uh companies. My vote is no, Madam
Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Councilman Khik. 34. Councilman Khik. Yes. Um madame clerk um in bispec I believe is clearly state lowest responsible
bidder. So I guess um our uh departments had decided to give it to the second respons second bidder which is that thing is responsible that's the way to go. My vote is yes madam clerk.
Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Ma. So, with that, before I vote, when we're doing um in and for any future requests or items of this nature, I would like to see attached to uh these rejection of bids
or the shift or the change. Two things. One, I want to see the voting record, who voted, how many people, what was the scoring or the rubric that we was utilized for the voting. Also, I want to see if there's any performance
quality reports for this company. I'm sure we've used this company in the past. It's something I've asked for since 2018. I know we were doing it at one time. So, I would like to see a performance quality report of this new bidder or the even the other bidder that was on the list. Um, people are texting
me that live on 34th and 35th. Very excited about this. So, I I I have to support it. They are watching. You must have told them to watch cuz they're texting me like, "Please vote yes. Blow death." So, I want the roles to bring your pavement. I know you do, too. My
vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman. Well, thank you, Madame Clark. So, we have discussed about this item um in details and just for clarification that when you're speaking about the second lowest bid, the difference is only $50
or so. It's not really much different. Yeah, it's only $50 or so. Just just for clarification, the lowest bid was uh um $563,724. The the one we are supporting is 788.
It's only $50 change in difference. So, it's not really much different if you really go with the why we supporting it. Beside the package was used by the lowest bid was not was not correct form as well. So, I believe this is a correct move. We should not just keep on holding
and and and the residents at the 34th and 35th street are waiting for repavement. With that being said, thank you director for your hard work to make sure that the streets are getting repaved. recently I use say a lot of street around the city. My vote is yes
uh card. Thank you council president. Thank you madam cler council khi. Thank you. Thank you for those that support this project. Uh I I know uh mayor Jim Williams she she must be watching this council meeting. Uh east 34 35th house have been repaving over 40 years in the
third war. To all my third world resident last week we fixed all the way from east 40 through east 34 and east 33rd. They're redone, repaved, brand new. And now we going from East 34, East 35th. And I know our former mayor Jame is very happy to just watch this
meeting. Um I don't agree a lot with Councilman Jackson with a lot of things, but I agree. And one thing, and is that this company, they've been making millions of dollars out of pattern. So, I know they're doing a phenomenal job, but I have a request and if if it's
legal, I would love to see Smithy Alpha uh construction to build a a basketball court at Eastside Park. Maybe they could donate a a basketball court. The only thing that we need at East Side Park to be the best park in the state of New Jersey is a basketball court. We have
everything else. We have baseball field, we have cricket, we have everything, but we don't have a basketball court. since they've been doing so much work in the city of Patterson. It'll be phenomenal if they go through league with administration and just donate a basketball court for East Side Park. They will stay in the city of Patterson
for the rest, you know, for history and it will be a sponsor by then. At least they could give something back to the resident and to our youth specifically. So, I'm very excited to see this project moving. I've been advocating with administration for the longest and also 20th Avenue to the third world resident.
20th Avenue is on the list. We have I have that conversation with administration that it hasn't been fixed in years al as well. But we're getting ready for uh East 34 and East 35th to be fixed. With that being said, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Council President. The votes are four in favor,
two against, three absent. Item number 54 is hereby adopted. Thank you. And item 55, Madam Clerk, item number, Mr. President, on board. So 10:30 public portion is advertised being
this is the last item. This this is the last item. Item 55 is the last item. I don't I mean we just got we're going to sec but that's the last item of the of the agenda on this side. We got one more and then say we have seven items. Gotcha. But this is the last one and then we go into public
portion. Something quick. The one we just 55. Item number 55 is a resolution authorizing change orders number one and two for limited interior and exterior rehabilitation of the Danforth Memorial Library phase 2 bid number 23 24
statutory agent resolution number 25 col 290. So moved. Moved by counciloman Davila, second by council member. I'm councilwoman Mims. I'm sorry. Moved by Councilwoman Mims and second by Councilman Councilwoman Clos as well and council member Le. Uh, roll call man
clerk on item 55. Roll call on item number 55. Councilwoman Cotton. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Khik. Yes. Councilwoman Mim. Yes. Councilman Uden. Yes. Minor Clark.
Thank you. Councilman Vez. Director came out forward uh with a good plan for that library. we see the improvement and uh hopefully we could continue investing in our libraries more needed. Um my vote is
yes. Thank you. Um Councilman Vlesius, Council President. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. The votes are seven in favor to absent. Item number 55 is adopted. Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this moment, we're going to start the public portion
and I'm going to remind every constituent, every resident here that is here that wants to address a council, you have three minutes. There's a clock right in front of you, please use your three minutes effectively. Profanity and and cursing is not being covered by uh uh by freedom of speech. I will
respectfully ask every resident that uh that wants to speak to not to curse, not to use those profanity in this in the chamber. Our children are watching this meeting. It's is live. It's on YouTube. Please, let's be respectful. After the three minutes, I'll respectfully ask you
to move to the side and allow the next speaker to use the three minute effectively. Madame clerk, let's call the first speaker. The first speaker is Joe Hart. Personalist. Kindly state your name. My name is Joseph Hart, born Patterson,
New Jersey, 1961. been here all my life. Now, the few things I like to complain about. Number one, I'd like to see more law enforcement with sheriff or police department or security. We need that.
Now, for the garbage thing, to me, garbage is garbage. Why not have both trucks pick up the same day when they pick up the regular garbage and all all the crap downtown? You know, it's downtown used to be a beautiful town.
It's all dirty now in my the way I see it because nobody cares. Some of the people that got business, they don't care. They don't care how people park. They don't care how people whatever. And
and it's it's a mess, you know. And I think really Patterson for a mayor. How come some of you beautiful women ain't running for mayor? You know, maybe that's what Patterson need a may a woman to run for mayor. I'll vote, you
know, or governor. Even president of the United States. What the hell? You know, you know, but that's the way I see it, you know. But to make Patterson beautiful and people respect each others, you know, it's it's hard,
especially with some of the cats out here that don't care, you know. But that's what I like to see be done. You know, there's other issues, too. But I'm going to leave it like that. You guys have a good night. I got to get back home now. But God bless all y'all. I'll
see you again. [Applause] Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Speaker is Tanisha Williams. The next speaker is Cory T. State your name, please. Commissioner
Corey Teague, 65 Prince Street. Good evening, Commissioner. today. Good evening. On Monday, well, let me I'll put it like this. On May 19th, 1925, young man by the name of Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Um, his
parents were both activists who followed the teachings of Marcus Mosiah Garvey. His father was very strong. I know Malcolm is the one that's famous, but his father was very strong because his father was not afraid to speak on the issues that mattered. He spoke against
what was going on in the South there. He spoke against the segregation, the supremacy. Y'all know the story. Somehow he ended up on train tracks tied to the train. They blamed him for laying there and they blamed him for the train running over him. And they even stopped his family from getting the insurance
policy because they tried to claim that he did it to himself. his son followed in his footsteps. And y'all know he went from Malcolm Little, he had his time in jail. Yes, he did. He had his time with the law. He went through the school of hard knocks. But he
metriculated and he got to the point where he became a nationally recognized figure, a world-renowned figure. But he was not a world-renowned figure because he was positive all the time. He was not a world-renowned figure because he saw the world through rosecolored glasses.
Malcolm Little, who became Malcolm X, who became Alhaj Malik Al-Shabaz, became the man that he was because he was not afraid to challenge the system. And I want to let everybody in here know when you come here, don't let anybody gaslight you for speaking up and saying what's going on in this city. I don't
care who they are, you speak up and you speak your mind. You speak your truth. The things that you see that's going on, you speak on it because you have every right to do it. Whether people appreciate it or not, let me tell you, there's a lot of organizations that were celebrating Malcolm X. But when he was
alive, a lot of those people said he was a troublemaker. He was a rabble rouser. He was always causing trouble. He was always messing things up. The way they talk about Mike Jackson, that's how they talked about Malcolm X. They said, "Oh, he ain't got no business around. He ain't no real leader. He only talking
about negative stuff." Look at the real story of Malcolm X and you will see that people did not like him in person because they said he was too radical. But that radicalness that he had is what allowed us to get to where we are today. And if many of our leaders decided to
fold up their tents and walk away just because somebody said they were being negative, where do you think we would be right now, even as the black community, if our ancestors just walked away just because they were told that they shouldn't stand up and fight? Don't let anybody stop you from standing up and fighting. I don't care if they get an
attitude. It's just going to be their attitude. But you have an obligation because it's not a profession, it's a calling. There's a difference. When it's a calling, it's a mandate that you have from God to do what you need to do. The real prophets in the Bible were not celebrated. The real prophets in the
Bible in the Old Testament were hunted down because nobody wanted to hear what they had to say. That's the truth. Thank you, Commissioner. Next speaker, man Clark. The next speaker is Cameo Black. Good evening everyone.
Um, let me start off by saying um, y'all know I don't bother people unless I'm bothered. Last week, I'm going to clarify it. It's over something from August over a gizzy. If y'all don't know what a gizzy is, it's a hot dog. And last week when I was sitting there, I
was threatened that I'm going to get spit on the back of my neck. That's what made me perform. People do stuff in the dark and then it comes to the light. Alex Mendes, you removed me last week. You didn't know the whole story. I spoke to you regarding the resident. As y'all
can see, I continue to do the work in the city. I reach out to y'all when I have issues. If y'all pick up the phone, I will appreciate it. when I come to this council meeting and then I speak up, don't judge me and not pick up the phone. Y'all not help hurting me. Y'all hurting the people in the community
that's reaching out for help. So, I'm going to let you know that the conversation that we had. Um, another thing, whoever sent the person, I don't care because at the end of the day, I keep telling y'all, I'm covered by the blood of Jesus. That's who I walk with.
Yes, I go to church. I've been going to church. My church family, they're going to always back me. They know what type of person I am. So, do not judge me off of what y'all think last week. I was provoked. But it's taken care of by the
men upstairs. Amen. So, I don't have to go back and forth. I'm too old for the bush bull crap. Excuse me. And at the same time, I'm going to continue. Everybody that's out there that seen that video that wanted to know what was
going on. I just wanted to clarify it. It was over a hot dog from last year that I didn't give up. That nobody was invited to my family memorial cookout. That's what it was over. I don't have time for it. So if y'all wanted to know
what happened, that's what happened. Text messages don't lie. Harassment don't lie. Police charges, yes, has been fouled. And still to this day, I'm still continue to be harassed. I don't know if y'all see the pictures of me sticking my
middle finger up at the council meeting last week. That's stalking. I'm in the front getting pictures tooken of me sticking my middle finger up. That's why my middle finger was stuck up because it was stuff that was said and I was ignoring it to the point when somebody said, "I'm going to spit on you." All
bets is off the table. That's the nastiest thing you can do to somebody. So, I wanted to clarify that. And I'm going to continue to come here. I'm going to continue to speak up and I'm going to continue to fight for the community. And like I said, when I call y'all, I appreciate if y'all answer y'all phones. When I call y'all, if
y'all feel like I'm bothering y'all and y'all don't want to help, just shoot me a text back. I don't want to help you. I don't want to be bothered cuz I don't have time for it. Like I said, y'all only hurting the community, not me. It's going to still get done one way or another. Long as that man upstairs is here. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Come
in. Next speaker, Monitor. Next speaker, Chanel Fields. Please state your name. Good evening, council. I had something written, but I'm not even going to read that. I'm just going to speak from the heart tonight. Council President, you
have to do better. We have Mr. McNeel in the audience. He's 73 years old. When you do things of this nature, it really makes it look like you don't care about the public. To wait until 11:00 at night, I know you guys are going to hit the sunshine law in a little while, but
to wait till 11:00 at night to allow the residents to speak is absolutely despicable. We've had this discussion once before and it really didn't go well. You're not even paying attention. I'm listening. I hope so. We should
never come to a point where we're speaking at 11:00. It really shows the public that you really don't care about what we have to say. There are people that have to go to work. You guys play these little games where you're asking about don't curse. You should be more concerned with
these kids getting to school in the morning. You should be more concerned about the residents that have to go to work tonight and the residents that have to go to work in the morning. You should be more concerned with hearing the cry and the pleas of the community. This has to stop. And it's crazy because you know
where to perform best at. Had it been an Arabic community, and this no disrespect to the Arabic community, cuz I love any community. I want to be real clear. You would have responded very quickly. Had it been the
Caucasian community, you would have responded very quickly. But when it comes down, there's something deeply seated and wrong with you when it comes down to the urgent needs of the black community and the Hispanic community. You have to do better, especially in a
city where it's mainly populated with that community. We should not have to wait this long to speak. It's outrageous and it's ignorant. Last week, you asked for three minutes. I obliged you and I gave you the three minutes to follow the decorum. Please practice what you preach
and start doing things in a timely manner. It makes no sense that we have to hear him go round and around about if you close your eyes, it's there. If you close your eyes, it's there. If you He shouldn't even be here. He shouldn't even be here. Charges should have been
filed. I don't understand what's going on where a person gets to kill a person and they get to walk. Where a person gets to t-bone a person and they get to walk. Where a person gets to urinate in public and they get to walk. where a person gets to pull a fire alarm falsely and they get to
walk. What is going to be done? You got your funny looking head mayor who I saw earlier today that was in the building during the time of the meeting that still fails to show up for a meeting. Noa, she faced the t-bone. You think he reached out to her family? Nah, cuz
black people don't matter. But black people, our lives have to matter to us before it starts mattering to them. Have a good night. Next speaker mon next speaker is James Evans.
[Music] Please state your name. Uh my name James James Evans. Um you know I was here down last week. First, let me apologize, you know, uh for the way I talked last week, but like I meant every word that I said.
Let's clarify that. Like I noticed they have pictures up in here. Like I was going to uh I had some things I wanted to talk about, but I was sitting here listening to everything that was being said, and I see y'all mentioning things that really have nothing to do like it has a lot to do with the community, but it's not that important. It's not as important as the other things that's
going on. Like for one, I see you have Malcolm X in here. You have Martin Luther King, you have Jackie Robinson and all these people, but nobody's following anything that's going on like with them. Like the way that they move, nobody up here is moving like that. Just like y'all say, y'all for the people,
but I don't see none of y'all doing anything like for the people. Like like the lady said, you procrastinated. You sat there for about two and a half, three hours voting on things that people really have no idea about. Like, and it's little things. Like what about the
big what about the big things like the killings and people shooting people and all of that? Like it's a lot of that going on but nobody's handling those type of things. And just like I said like it starts from if I if I think it starts from y'all because y'all the
people that you know that we put our votes into and we're putting votes into people that's not doing anything really for the community. Like I don't see like like like this guy right here like this this that's really that really irks me that that y'all still allow this man to
be up here on this panel after he has a a vehicle homicide and y'all swept that under the rug and it would have never came out if this other situation didn't occur and you still allow him to be up here. He's sitting up here sleeping while people's talking. He's walking back and for like he's not paying
attention. It's like it doesn't even exist to him. Like, and I came down here last I came down here last year and you, like I said, you was telling me the same thing. Like, my thing is jobs. Like, I know a lot of people that need jobs. And then, and and I'm talking about real jobs, paying jobs, not 16, $17 jobs. I'm
talking about jobs. I done putting jobs with the city, still ain't get it. I have jobs telling me that I'm overqualified for the job. That's just telling me that I'm black and you don't want to hire me. I prefer you to tell me that you don't want to hire me than to tell me that I'm overqualified for a job. Like like I'm like it's it's just
this town is like it's it's sickening, bro. Like I I'm 47 years old. Like you feel what I'm saying? I'm 47. Like and I have I I I've seen so much, man. And I'm looking at how the board is and everything like that. This goes back to when you had Marty Barnes as mayor. Marty Barnes did one thing and they sent
him right to jail. Right now you have you have all these other mayors that do things that they're not supposed to do and y'all are giving them automatives like, "Oh, you resigned and then you can run the next year." why that wasn't done to uh Marty Barnes, Spanish, like you know what I mean? I I love all people,
but I'm just telling you like the Spanish community is basically taking over and it's pushing us out, man. Basically, man, like and I don't know if y'all see that, but y'all need to wake up, man. It's it's starting to become sick. Other things other pardon me, other things are going to start happening that's going to get a lot
worse, man. It's going to be a race. It's going to be a uh it's going to be a race war, bro. And that's what it's going to Thank you. Let's pick up Mana Clark. Yes. The next speaker is Victor Abayas. He left. Next speaker. Next speaker is
Marshall Huetas. He left. He left. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Next speaker is Ros Rosalinda Warmer. Lev. The next speaker is Zakiyia Mack. Good evening everyone. Good evening.
State your name. Thank you. Uh Zak. Thank you. Um I'm not going to do too much tonight. I did enough last week. Um but something that was said tonight by a councilman that said that um when he did the
presentation for the young man, which congratulations to him, that's a big step for um from being in the city of Patterson for you to get accepted to those many schools. Blessings to him. But Councilman Khik made a a comment and
said it starts at home. And he's absolutely right. The Bible does speak. Charity starts at home and spreads abroad. So my question is as this being the people's home, what is it that you guys are teaching the community? Because
at the end of the day, we have kids here, they're watching us. They're everything they're emulating. So when we sit here and we bicker back and forth about nonsense and we have people here that are losing their lives left and right, it's a shame that we're sitting
here talking about celebrating parks, building new parks that children are not even going to be able to play in because the amount of atrocity that's going on, the garbage, the unhoused.
But we're still putting money towards parts. Once again, I'm going to say it. Charity starts at home. And that means for the parents that have these kids that are running a muck in the city of Patterson, control your kids. Control
your kids. Because right now, we're in a time that our kids lives are at stake. Okay? I have a 17 and a 13year-old. And if anything happens to my 17 and my 13-year-old, war will break out.
I live in a fourth ward. I'm tired of hearing gunshots on the weekends. I'm tired of hearing it. We have substations in the sixth ward. Where's the substations in the fourth ward? Where's the substations in the second ward? Where's the substations in the first ward? Where's the police in
the first, second, and fourth ward? It's not there. When we talk about how everything is being uh uh dished out inappropriately, that's what we're talking about. One ward over the other, which should never be. You go to six
ward clean as I don't know what. You'll probably eat a piece of candy off the ground. But you come over here, I got to walk over human crap. I got to walk over dog crap. I got to walk over needles. I got to walk over baggies. I got to walk
over bodies. But yet again, we still talk about how we are moving the city forward. Where's it going? Because if I'm It's still back in 2020 when the mayor first started. Nothing has changed. No one has
challenged him on nothing. No one is telling him like, "Yo, get in these meetings." I don't want to curse, but that's where his leader to get in these meetings. Face your people. Don't do no virtual uh um uh budget hearing that doesn't even work.
get him in these meetings so he can get the right that you guys are getting. That's it. Thank you. Next speaker, I'm going to clerk. The next speaker is Mr. McNeel. Please state your name. My name is David
McNeel. I've been in Patterson ever since 1960. I think this town changed so much. I think it's time to change a right way. Right now, it's not the right
way. I got problems. You got problems. We all got problems. Right now, the problem I got is in the place I live in. We got tenants dying in apartments we live in and they don't know they dead
because I'm going tell you what, the neighbor next door don't walk on the door, check on it because I'm 74 years old, but I've been around. There ain't too many. I don't know. I know you cuz I
am the mailman. But what I want y'all to do, step up. Step up. Because when you step up, you'll grow. Cuz right now, you're not growing cuz you're standing still. Move.
That's what the Lord said, move. I got a place that I want to change. And the only way I can change it is by y'all stepping up and helping. I got a communion room. I've been in this place almost 5
years. There's nothing going on. People are dying. We are their brothers and sisters. We are your brothers and sisters. So show me the love that you have for the senior citizen. because
I'mma take you'll be there. You will be there one way or another because I'm there almost at the end. But I want to change something and make them look like they doing something with their time because when
you don't do something with your time, you gone. That's right. So that's do something. That's right. I want to need y'all help to show them that somebody cares about each and every one of you. If you ask saying you want to get to do
something right, you got a problem because each one of these in here the one that put you in that seat. So show them the love that you have in your heart because you got it and it's so easy to do is by stepping up and
putting your hands out. You think the homeless is there? You ain't seen nothing yet. Wait till June and July. That's something that you got to look at because there's people coming from all parts. There's six wards
here. The only W in your house. Mhm. That's right. Remember what I say because you going to dream about it. Yeah. Yeah. Thank Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Next speaker is Eva Razak.
Please state your name. Eva Razak. Wow. I don't even know where to start, but I guess I'm going to start from the heart. Last week when I saw the city council, I was coming. And I was coming not to fight, but there it is. You know
me. I come and say stuff. But here it is. I'm really meaning this. the gentleman that just spoke a few minutes ago and this is not a lie what I'm going to say and I didn't want to cry. He said something that things are
going to happen that nobody's expecting. That is not a lie. I've been having a lot of dreams and a lot of downloads of things that are going to happen to a few of you in this town. And if you guys don't change your way now and people out
here are not feeling you guys, we're all doomed. I bumped into a former student last week and you could tell that they weren't doing great and I asked them what is in there you need different to be you know to do better and he says for the people
to believe in us and I got something to say like I may be nobody in this city but this nobody cares about my people and I care about you guys too whether you believe it or not. We want to see
some change. And yes, it starts at home. The families that have children, you have to tell your kids, you have to talk to them every day about the situations. Mhm. You can't be trusting everyone. And please, please listen, you guys might
think I'm crazy, but people who really know Eva or Eevee, whatever they want to call me, they know I have an extra sensor. I'm connected to the universe and I get downloads. And what I see for our city, it's a lot of bloodshed. And we're all going to feel
it. It doesn't have to happen to your son or to your daughter, to your brother, to your sister. We're all in it. Please, I'm here to say one last thing. I'm picking out a card, Mr. Mandis, real quick of the prayers today. And this is for all of us today. It
says, "To you they cried out and were saved. In you they trusted and were not put to shame." Come on, ladies and gentlemen. Let's do do our job. And if we see somebody on the floor, pick them up. You
don't know if it could be you. Please. This town was never like this. I love my town. I I ended up in this town without wanting to be known cuz I told you guys I was kidnapped and I've been here since I was a year and a half and I've been through hell and
back. But I'm a good person. And I want to let you guys know that if you guys stay in your lane and do the right things for the our constituents out here, they'll feel proud that you guys are representing us because we vote you guys in. And I have to say something on
Eevee's end. I don't care who you see me with or what parties you see me with. If you I'm sorry for two seconds. If you don't invite me to your party, I cannot go. But if you invite me, you know who you are and I go. Thank you. I'm here to
say once again, love and peace and please continue to listen to what the our residents are here because whether you believe it or not, we know what's happening. We care and we want you guys to care. Thank you. Let's pick a mic clerk.
Next, thank you for your event. I'm sorry. Thank you. It was banging that event for Mother's Day for the Dominicans and it was nice and you do a lot for a lot of people. So, I got to just rub that in. Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Yes. Next speaker is Elvis Durham.
Please state your name. Thank you. Mr. Elvis Dorm, fourth war, Patterson, New Jersey. Thank you. Um, what he First thing I want to start off with, y'all already know the downtown area of Patterson. I
need walk-in policing in the downtown area. One store got robbed in the daytime. Wow. Everything was open. I need walking policing in the
downtown area. need some maintenance crew in the downtown area. Just want to say um to everyone that support my music production, Elvis Door Outreach Music
Production, the ones that supported 21 years, well 29 years, and the one just got on board a couple years ago. I just want to say thank you. I love my city.
Don't know the future, but I love my city. Just want to say thank you to Councilwoman Wubby Cotton of the fourth war, Councilman of the Second World War, Councilman
Khalif, Councilwoman at Laws, Marissa Daria. Just want to say thank you. don't know what the future holds, but whatever the future holds for Elvis Door Outreach Music Production and
myself, I know God is with me. Amen. Also, just want y'all to know we got some black businesses going to be opening up soon. Um, a ice cream shop on 59 Broadway, downtown Patterson. Black own
59 Broadway downtown Patterson on Friday, June 13. Also inside Center City Mall. Oh my god, this is going to be so amazing. Fast Break Cafe. I'm talking about the best Philly cheese steak
sandwich you will ever have in your life. Woo! Good god almighty at Fast Break Cafe. And it's going to be open in June 2025. Okay. Also, don't forget the African Heritage Parade. Okay, African
Heritage Parade is sat Saturday, June 21st. It start at 10:00 a.m. It's starting from the Masonic Temple on 225 224 Broadway and going all the way to East Side Park, 800 Broadway. Okay. And
that's Saturday, June 21st. Also, um, the Junth festival starts at 12:00 at Eastside Park on that same day, June 21st. Okay.
Um, don't forget also celebrating Junth celebration, Friday, June 13 at Center City Mall, 301 Main Street, Downtown Patterson, 11:00 a.m. to 300 p.m. Okay? And don't
forget in the month of July, June July 27, it's the Peruvian Festival. Y'all do not want to miss that. Yes, I'm a part of that community. Yeah. Yeah. I'm very proud to say I've been part of that community what for 21
years. I'm I'm going to eat. Thank you, brother. And I will be working. Thank you. Eating at the same time, Council President. Oh. Um, Councilman at Law. Um, I need to talk to you. Need I need to talk to you. Okay. It's about my
community, my city, my downtown area. God bless you. Thank you. Let's pick it up, Madam Cler. Thank you. Next speaker is Eddie Olivarez. State your name, please. Eddie Olivarees. Good evening all. Hi, Ava.
Love you. I uh for the record, I just want to say that I've never really said any profanities here. The worst the very worst thing that I've said is I've called some of you with comebacks and I'm not taking it back.
Uh because that's exactly what you are. It's nasty, but that's what some of you are. Uh Luis Veles and Alex Pendes have uh talked much tonight about celebrating. Word of advice, stay away
from alcohol. Stay away from a vehicle. Stay away from urinating in public. Alex, stay out of basement. basement, parties in basement, drinking and all kinds of illegal activities here
in the city of Passion. Uh you know, in the beginning, Alex B was complaining that he the last week he was here on 2:30 in the morning. Um I I have a suggestion for you. If you want to go home early, you can watch this meeting from home. Resign
um take advantage of that PTI that was offered you uh in court. Um, Councilman Jackson and I usually do not I do not agree with you, Councilman, uh, at least in public. We we disagree
on many things in private, but tonight I'm going to disagree with you in public. You said that everything this administration uh has done is a failure. I am here to correct you, my
friend. This council has has been the failure. Your colleagues have been a failure. You're supposed to hold the administration accountable, not the mayor. Yeah, he's come back. So, what do you want? What do you want? It's you
people. You have to hold them accountable. It's because you don't hold them accountable. Anything he presents this council with passes. So, Mr. Jackson, you happen to be wrong. Before I came here, I was in uh in a viewing.
It's so sad. It's so sad. There was a young man that was shot in front of a grocery store. He was just sitting watching some people playing dominoes. It is so sad. Um last week I also spoke about um you know the the the the pregnant lady that was it's it's
shootings. It's every day. And I quoted you guys um especially Louis Veles saying that unless we come up with a plan um things are are going to get out of control. Are we there
yet? Oh, don't look back. Don't look back. I'm talking to you. Are they out of control? The city is out of control. The trash is everywhere. Killings. kids killing themselves in the streets and
you guys are largely responsible. The next speaker is Anna Martinez. Please state your name. Good evening, Anna Martinez. Um, faith ward blessings. Buildings can be bought but not
growth. Buildings can be bought but not growth. Visionary intentions are necessary seeds to be cultivated and grown to bring development in fruition. Presently development has
turned to be a double-edged sword. The investment is focused in real estate space for people and businesses to move in and out while its purpose is to make money for the builders and investors with no
interest in growth. A true development is developing a space designed for the people and businesses to thrive and value. While its purpose is to ensure sustainability, evolution and cultural
legacy for the community with interest in growth. That is a true and much needed investment. in Patterson. Development is not a money-making process and leave it to the people and
businesses to succeed or fail mentality. Development is investing on skillful people in the right location to succeed and be sustainable through the best of times and the worst of times in the city of
Patterson. People of Patterson, you are the solution. Bring out your skills and creative business plans and seek the right space to ensure progress, growth and sustainability. Or support incoming
skilled and visionary people and companies. Because with the right visionary intention and skillful people with a mission, a building or property will in turn generate lasting jobs and
become a magnet destination. Thank you. Yes. Speaker, Mad Clerk. Here is Daniel Mahia. Daniel. So, hello. State your name, please. My
name is Daniel Mahia and I am the CEO of Silk City1. Uh today I just uh released the silkcity1.com page uh where you could sign the initiative petition for a recall referendum um that's based on if you feel that the
council member is not doing their job then you could vote them out of office but at the same time do you have somebody that could step up and take their position. It's not just about removing and uh you know we have to understand that we as a community must improve all together. We
can't just set the blame on the council members because uh within the the city you have people that throw away the the garbage. Even if if it's a a gum wrap, you throw it in the street instead of putting it in your pocket, you're contributing to the to the mess.
So, we got to work together at the end of the day. And that's all for today. Feel free to check out the silkcity1.com or visit our Facebook page for more info. That's it. Thank you. Next speaker might clerk. Next speaker is A
Robertsonace and just pray. God bless you. Good evening. Please state your name. Good evening. God bless you all. God bless you all. God bless you all. This is going to be real quick. Um, I just want to point out that um on uh the address
26-34 North 9th Street, um there I went to a zoning meeting on March 27. There was a proposed demolition uh of an existing two family house to build a 12 unit dwelling. And
um some of the specs were uh five two bedrooms, three onebedrooms, and I don't know where the other bedrooms fit in at, but I did some calculation and basically providing
uh parking for 24 vehicle. Okay. So, with doing the calculation, and this is my guesstimation, that's to say if the five bedroomedroom units went for $2,000 and the three-bedroom unit uh excuse me,
the three one-bedroom unit went for $1,500. The 2,000 unit at excuse me, seven units because there's 12 units. Okay. But I don't know what the other rooms were, the calculation of the other bedrooms. So, that's to say seven uh
two-bedroom units. That's to say calculation at $2,000. My calculation, $10,000 a month. Uh the other five one-bedroom unit se uh 14,000 uh excuse me, 7,500 a month. Uh a
total being 21,000 a month. Uh the year 252,000. So, I said to the person, the uh the uh the prospective buyer, uh what if someone could not afford and they bring a an additional person into all of those
12 units? You're talking about 12 additional cars. And where are those cars going to go? Now, this uh uh demolition is supposed to happen. Well, I think it was denied uh right past Oxford the park on uh on Oxford Street,
Common Field. Okay. So now with that being said, we're talking about parking accommodation, household size, and uh if other members had to be added to the dwelling because of affordability in terms of rent. Okay. And with that being
said, this is the type of demolition or construction that impedes our city already. We got dwellings going up on Mary Street, which is right across from St. Joe's ER. We got two dwellings going
up on Marshall Street right past uh Barkley Street going to towards Main Street and we got the dwelling going up on Levine Street. Parking look admission the parking there. Um which is flooding
our streets, our street corners, our corners. We're talking about ADA walkways impeding. Okay. And what's going to happen? The weather is getting warm. They're going to hold the constituents responsible and start imposing parking tickets violations,
which is unfair. The other thing is one I waited a couple hours. The other concern is why do our vendors have to display their furniture outside of the stores on Main Street. That is not necessary. We already know what the
stores are selling. That is not necess. The other thing, East Railroad A, right before 21st AB, there's a food truck that's out there every single day. My question is, how is that allowed? And
where's handashing? How is that occurring? Okay, it's been out there for years. The other important thing is this uh this afternoon, this evening after 5:00, two children on a mini scooter.
young boys. I'm going down towards Broadway. They're going up towards Market Street in the middle of the road. They were He was riding that scooter as if he was just coming off a train and he had a passenger on the back. That's a
safety concern. Thank you. Uh that's it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. M clerk. The next speaker is Deborah Hannibal. State your name, please. Thank you. Good evening, council. Deborah Hannibal,
taxpayer, Patterson, New Jersey. Uh, congratulations to the new BA, you have your work cut out for you. Um, let's see. Where will I begin? If
residents were given more than three minutes to speak, here are some of the issues I would bring to your attention. I would talk about the import the importance of attending planning and zoning meetings. Where are the
schools? Where is the CFO? Where are the recreation centers? What did we do with the $63 million? I won't talk about the retroactive pension withholdings that
were taken from my paycheck in 2022. that as as recent as yesterday, I spoke to pensions and was told that the city of Patterson has not yet sent the money over because the first quarter of
2025 has closed. So, I won't talk about that. I won't talk about the senseless shootings cuz I don't have enough time. I will not bring up the fact that people that you
voted for and you placed in these seats told you tonight that they're going to take away the list. If you drive around five or six or seven times like I did last week and could not find parking and
you call someone and ask them to put your name on the list, they're acting like you're stealing time. This is not a time clock. This is the public wanting to have their concerns addressed, but I don't have enough time to talk about
that. I will not bring up the fact that is being reported that over $4 million was returned for affordable housing in a town where people are complaining
because they can't afford the rents here. and that we see people living on the streets that are unhoused. I don't have time to talk about that. I won't talk about the deafening silence when a council person got up out of their seat
and I heard I was home that night, but I heard the word word gun and I saw that councilman put his hands on a police officer, but I didn't hear the mayor call for the resignation of that person.
I don't have time to talk about that. I don't know why Councilman Blesz, and I'm going to just go over 30 seconds, was so upset about hearing, and the BA will attest to this.
This is a CI civil service uh employer, the city of Patterson. Why he was so upset about hearing that every job description that this that civil service puts out says
must have the ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English. That's every position, even bilingual positions. But what I came here tonight to talk about was that and it's kind of too late that this is the
last day to register to vote. You do have until 11:59 p.m. to do that. And please vote. Vote in every election because your vote matters. When people that you put in position tell you that
you can't sign up to speak at a public meeting and when the mayor holds a virtual budget meeting where there was no public portion. Something is terribly wrong. The cover up is bigger than what
you can see. Thank you speaker time to talk about that. One second council president. Can this person already speak? person right here. I I'm sorry, council president, but I'm thinking that someone has already
someone signed twice. They Yeah, we're going to have a lot of people that are on the list, but they left because they came to address all the matter. It is Tessy Kushton. I'm not sure if that's the right pronunciation. Left. Okay. The next
speaker is Councilman Bill McCoy. You left. Okay. Left. The next speaker is Audrey Sterling. William Carrington McCoy. Lev. Okay. Mariela.
Lev. Okay. For the Peruian. Chappie. Um, not sure the last name. Okay. Chabby. Not speaking. GMO Garcia left. Left. Okay. Harvey Carlos.
Tammy Freeman. Okay. Before I start, I just want to apologize. I came in here. State your name, please. Everything, but you guys had a lot of people up here. That's why I didn't sign it. But anyway, thank you for granting me to speak. Uh, first of
all, I want to congratulate that young man who went to Harvard and who's going to Harvard. Yeah, I'm a former teacher. I've sent kids to Ivy League schools also right here at Panther Academy. All
right. So, I know education is very important. What I liked about that kid was he said he didn't do it by himself. He said he had his family, right? He had his community. Yes. And he got two council people right here that
known this kid ever since he came up. That's what he talk unity and that's calling people to expect their kids to excel. I want to thank Councilman Udit who has invited me to tutor some of
those kids. All right. I tutor calculus. I was an engineering student. So I know and I was a good student when I was in college and high school. So I know with these kids our expectations see in certain communities they expect their
kids to be a students at PCC and Marissa knows this. Most of those international students Bangladesh African Palestinian those kids are top students.
When I walk in that college, I see them studying together. When I see my people, I see them playing video games. I see them doing everything else. I worked at school six twice. And believe me, it was the lowest
achieving school in the nation in the 90s. So, we designed programs. Dr. Fulmore let us do all kind of programs. that I got a student here who was one of my witnesses. I keep
saying about Project 2000. Why? It's proactive. I have criticized other organizations who address things. Oh, the violence happened. Oh, this kid got stabbed. Oh, this kid got shot. Why? I'm
going tell you why. There's no black man in the black household. If we don't have unity in our home, we're going to have unity. The failure of black kids is
because the failure of black men stepping up as fathers, husbands, and and and mentors. I have created so many mentoring programs and I gave you my my resume. There's nothing on earth I
haven't done in this area. But brother Udit, brother Khalif are the only two people who asked me to help their community learn. When I was at
school six, I did this pull out program for testing. We test our kids in third grade, fourth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade. I worked under Loretta Kols who was the testing coordinator. I learned everything about these tests. I
had to pull those kids out to pass the test. And there's no test on earth I can't pass. And I grew up on government street without a father and everything else. It can be done. But we have to do more. Thank you, Mr. Fre. You know what
I'm saying? I'm retired educator. You guys are not using us. I work for free. Thank If I was a council person, I work for free and give all my money away to scholarships. Nobody can say that. I can't. And people know I'm broke, but
I'm not broken. Thank you. Next speaker, Mad Clerk. Yes. The next speaker is Brian Russo. Please state your name. Hi, my name is Brian Russo. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. I was born in Patterson, went to William Patterson University, Pake County
University, worked in Patterson. I'm proud to be from Patterson, but I didn't know that Patterson was the home of the labor of the labor movement. So, Patterson was the first industrial city. Uh Patterson workers were treated like trash and they started the labor
movement. And I heard somebody say before that there might be a race war. I don't believe that. There's one group of people that is destroying America. That's billionaires. So, I heard a lot of people say a lot of negative things about this council. I don't think they're true. I don't I don't really know. But I'm going to give you I I came
here with an opportunity to give you all a layup. This is an opportunity to represent the people of Patterson because the people of Patterson are victims. Our ruling class are dumping their trash in Patterson. Methane, natural gas, is
poison. The fossil fuel industry knew the impact of burning fossil fuels since the 60s. They covered it up. They lied. They spread misinformation. It worked. All the particulate matter in the atmosphere causes all our storms to be more destructive. It's affecting our
health. And we're paying for the we're paying for it with our lives and we're paying for it for with the cleanup. So, I became a climate activist when I realized that I was most likely going to die because of climate change or climate related events. And as the emissions continue to rise and as temperatures
continue to rise, it's affecting our health. Cost of living is going up, life expectancy is dropping, and right now we have billionaires that are grasping for power, hoarding resources, and limiting our civil rights. But legislation was
introduced. There's over 30 states that have climate super funds act. And basically what they are is uh charging the fossil fuel industry for their their methane, their pollution. The idea is for the big oil industry,
the big oil polluters to pay and it's only a small percentage of their profits. It's less than 1% of their profits. And what that does is that money goes into what they call a super fund. And that money is used to uh provide relief to communities that need it, such as cleaning up the methane
emissions. when they have fossil fuel power plants and they lease public lands, they leave the public land and they leave that mess right there, destroying the environment, destroying the ecosystems, affecting our healths. So, other climate activists asked me, "How come nobody in Patterson is doing
anything? How come nobody's doing anything?" Y'all got a very difficult job. I feel bad for you. I was happy to see BLM here before because I know that they're the only group in this area and they're focused on crisis prevention. Nobody's worried about the climate crisis, but it's not something that's
happening in the future. It's something that's happening now. So, I'm asking y'all to sign a resolution in support of the New Jersey Climate Super Fund Act, and that's to make the the biggest polluters, the oil industries, set aside some money to clean up our communities
because we as taxpayers, we shouldn't have to deal with the rising cost of living. It should be those that knew that they they were responsible. So, I was here a month ago. I gave the information to you all. I know you got your hands. I know you're very busy, but I'm asking you to vote in support of
this resolution to make history and join the rest. Now, Patterson was the leader of the of the labor movement. Patterson should be involved in this movement right now. Thank you. Thank you. Um, next speaker, M clerk. Yes. Next speaker
is Connie Watson. How many state your name? How many more? Last speaker. I'll speak Connie Watson. Good evening. Um I'm here cuz I come to apologize for last week. Um I'm the one that Kim Black
was just talking about. Okay. Last week when I was here, I came to support the the young lady that had something to do with ballet. Y'all know me from the past and I came here with my neighbor problems
which they moved out and that been settled. So I just came here to support the girl. I'm sitting over here minding my business. Kimo come and sit right here in the front row. Turn her face looking at me.
That's why I pulled out my phone and recorded and took a picture of her because she stuck her middle finger up at me for no reason. Now, when she mentioned a Gizzy, which is a hot dog for that those that don't know,
um last last summer, I mean, yeah, last summer they Yeah. They had a um a so-called community cookout, which I have messages saying that that was for only for her and her family, which um Cory um attended too. And they mentioned
alcohol. They had gallons of henning hennessy and all that stuff in the park with kids when they didn't even feed the rest of the kids. So the problem was with the hot dogs is that I told her that I had high blood pressure and they tried it was jerk chicken on my my plate
and I I couldn't eat that. So I just wanted another hot dog to substitute for the chicken. So she made a big thing out of that. That was a problem. So like I said, the hot dog had nothing to do with it. I came to support the girl and you
know I had the problem with her but um if y'all w go back and watch the video I said to her that um I was assaulted and she laughed at me. So I'm in Aan's Diner um like a month and a half ago and a guy
been sexually that sell drugs downtown been sexually harassing me harassing me and harass me when I go down there and eat breakfast. Kimo find out because I put it on Facebook that the you know to embarrass the guy. I put it on Facebook. She made
it her business to come downtown and laugh with the drug dealers and I I caught a little bit. I got a little bit on video. So that's why I was upset. I came to support the girl. I'm sitting over here minding my business. She comes to sit in front of me which I never s
see her sit on the side. And then she turn her face going like this like looking at me. And then I um I said you could stick that finger up your butt. I don't want to curse tonight, but I told her I said you could stick that finger up your butt. And then that's when I I took the picture. So now she's saying
that she she pressed charges on me for what? As you could see, she's the drama, the problem. She come down here yelling at y'all. It it's not my fault. None of this is not my fault. She said I'm harassing her. I'm not harassing her. I have text messages. I have messages
saying that she said that I haven't bothered her ever since the cookout. She said this lady haven't said nothing to me since the cookout. So, how is I'm harassing her? I never said to this lady. The only problem we had from was last week when um I took a picture of
her sticking her middle finger up at me for no reason and for the spit. That's why she signed a complaint against me because she knows she was wrong on camera for jumping at me and threatened that she was when she see me outside, she was going to fight me. Now, back to
the spit. That light-skinned guy that you see me took his number. Well, me and him enter this building. He was sitting right here last week. Um, of course, if somebody say spit, they going to jump out the way. Nobody jumped out the way
cuz I never said spit. She doing that to have that against me because she know she was wrong. She jumping at me for no reason. Thank you. I appreciate it. I have the guy is my witness. That's why I took his number. If you see on camera, I took his number before he left because
he said I didn't say nothing like that. So, she's lying on me and it's wrong. And it it's sad that she mentioned God in her whole thing. And like I said, they is so full of crap. They pull people stories to build their egos. Yes, I did say that. Yeah. Thank you. Good
night. Next. Um motion to close by clerk. Moved by councilwoman Dav. Second by council. Once again, council president, you pulled the list. There's people who are here who were here well before the list
or we closed the public portion who desired to speak. Is there anybody who was denied opportunity to sign the list? There you have it. He was not. No, not let's continue the motion to close. There was a motion to close. There was
He's not a what? There was a motion to There was a motion to close. And And this is what happened. This This is what happened. This is what happened. This is what happened. I'm We definitely I I would definitely love for a minute for us to try to just conduct this meeting
without without just just sir. Just a minute. No. No. Just a minute. Well, if you screaming, we're not going to be able to understand each other. question. No, no. You're not asking me a question. You're screaming. I will answer to you back. If you need to speak, do you address Do you address the clerk? No.
We're not going nowhere like that. Do you address the clerk to ask them to add the name of the list? Yes or no? No. I'm not used to having to address the clerk. The paper's usually there. No, the paper is not there until 9:00 at what time you came in. What time you arrive? We took
the paper around 7:45 out and we give it to the clerk. And Mr. Mr. Freeman, let me speak. Sir, sir, let me speak respectfully. Let me speak. No, no, no. I'm not going to let you speak. You're not going to let me speak. Okay. So, so we continue the motion to close the public portion. That's fine. Motion to
close, madam clerk. Move. Move. It was moved by council. It was moved by Councilman Dav. Second by council me roll call. ML to close public portion. Roll call to close the public portion. Yes. Roll call to close the public portion. First of all, point of order,
council president. Point of order. We're roll call. You don't just get to say no point of order. Again, that's not how this works. Roll call to close the public. Point of order. There's no point of order. Point of order. No point of order. We're in roll call. There's no such thing as we're in roll call. There's We have other items in the
agenda to take the point of order is always the privilege of the council. So, we're in roll call. We are We are in roll. And this is what happened. This is what happened last week. Last week we have Listen, the problem is that the problem is like you try to instigate so
much people that knows me as council president. I'm the most flexible council president here and my council colle at 2:30 in the morning which is okay with me. I have no problem. Kenny Friedman came in. He addressed he addressed me. He addressed the clerk. I
asked him please add it to the list. I asked the gentleman respectfully do you address the clerk? Because if you want to speak, you could get close to the clerk. I don't deny nobody. And he comes so aggressively with me try to u get into online ticket show. I'm not here to I'm not here to get into listen you know
my main job I'm speaking sir. My main job is to conduct city business. Patterson if you want to have a discussion with me city is to conduct city business not to address you not to address you. We are desiring to
speak. We are roll. Oh, but city business is dancing in somebody's basement that somebody gets murdered at. Right. But that's city business. City business is allowing somebody to sell alcohol in your ward. But that's city business here. Here a member of the
public is here asking to speak. The point of order is the list is never taken down prior to the public portion being open. You opened the public portion at4 to 11, but you took the you confiscated the list at 7:00. So
therefore, what the resident is saying, he he normally would not have to address the clerk unless he walks in after the public portion started. But he did not because you confiscated the list and you gave the clerk instructions not to let allow people to sign up. Because when I
went and asked her, she said you told her not to allow people to sign The problem is I don't like entertaining you, but you're such a liar that you got there was a four other members of the community that I came and they signed into the list. You were such a liar and you so concentrating to get into an argument with me. What am I lying about?
Yes. No, you are. Listen, Kenny from three other added five people to the list that you was chastised by another council. No, absolutely. Listen, absolutely. So, you didn't you didn't add the first five me names to the list. You're wasting You're wasting. I'm asking you a question. I'm not asking
you that question. add the first five names to the list. No, no, I'm not. That was me. Let's check my handwriting. I don't do that. And the clerk's my witness. You didn't have a discussion with the witness to the list. I don't do that. Did he not
add five people to the list? Is that why was pulled? I would never add anybody to the list. You could check my handwriting. So that's insane. He's saying he did not add it. He's saying he didn't write it there. No, you could check my handwriting. I'm sorry, madame clerk,
after the meeting to just to to give it to Councilman Jackson and check my handwriting. I don't do that. I don't need to do that. Listen, this is the people's house. This is the people's house and I open the floor to everybody. Why is it the people's house and you're denying someone from the public the opportunity to speak? There's a motion.
There's a motion on the floor and I'm ready to close the public portion. Councilwoman Cotton. Madame Clerk, you know, I think that you maybe need to clear this up. Um, you arrived here at what time? 10:00. What time did you arrive here? Like 10 o'clock. U Madame Clerk, what
time did you pick up the list? Madame Clerk, what time was the list picked up? 7:45, 8:00. Time was listed. So, what time was it picked up? 8:15 the list was picked up. Madame clerk, did council president put five names on the list?
No. Council president? No. Did he put I'm asking you a question. Did he put five names on the list? No, he did not. So, Councilman Jackson, you said that he put five names on the list. No. So, you're saying, madam clerk, nobody council president didn't request for those five names to be added to the list
that Councilwoman Dava challenged. No. Did the council president request for five names to be placed on the list or not? My apologies, Councilman Jackson. I think there's a misunderstanding. I said when I we were in a finance meeting, we came to speak
to the Madame Clerk at that time. It was still not time for the um the public to come upstairs. There were already five names written and I said, "Who wrote those names?" And I respectfully asked
our clerk to remove that page because there was no one here and no one should have be privy to be able to call somebody and have their names added at 5:30. And so at that time, madame clerk
removed the page, opened up, and at the time when everyone came upstairs, cuz when I got here at 6:00, there were people downstairs. Then she removed it and she put them the um the signing sheet a little before
7:00. And if I may, Council President, uh we added those names to the end of the list. They were included. We just didn't put them at the beginning. Okay. Roll call on a mad clerk. Who requested for the names to be added? We we already we already roll call. It's 11:45. The
five names that Councilwoman Davis pulled up this the form. Who requested for those names to be added? No one requested. I just put them at the end of the list. I'm talking about when they was at the beginning of the list. How did they get in the beginning of the list? I don't know, Council President.
They were just there. There were people in here. And just for the public because I do apologize to our viewers at home. This this council meeting is televised. We are roll call but let me just plain in the beginning of the meeting before 6:00 there was four or five name on the list. We don't know how those name
appear. They might saw the list and they signing counciloman Davina noticed I noticed we correct the problem. I don't know who put those name on. Um and and as I as I mentioned before I'm extremely open. This is the people's house. All I want is people to be respectful to the chamber to just don't come here like
acting like the way you don't know you. People know the process. I'm very flexible. From 30, we went to 47 last last Tuesday. Uh today we added far more people and we open the meeting at 7:00. We take the list at 8:15. So we give you enough time for you to come to the chamber, add your name on the list
because we don't want to turn nobody in. And even though right after that, I allow people to speak because I want to hear my community. So, madam cler roll call. Motion to close. No. Yeah, we're roll call. So, madam clerk, we call it the rope. We pass by council.
Please. Madam clerk, first of all, from last week, you should have made an announcement that we're picking the list up at 7:15, 8:15, 7:30. You make an announcement the week before. We're picking up the list. If you come in after 8:00, you're not going to be able
to speak. You You make the announcement. That's what you do. No announcement was made and it should have been made. So with that being said, Madame Clerk, the announcement should have been made and it wasn't. My vote is no. Well, go ahead. Like I'm just saying
well you know I be in a lot of meetings. I be in a lot of meetings and if that board is picked up nobody comes in after that can sign in. It shouldn't be anyhow, but no is no announcement was
made last week that after 8:15 you cannot sign in. If you come in after 8:15, you cannot speak. That needed to be announced last week. That's all I'm saying. If somebody council president, that's it. I wasn't instructed to make an announcement. I didn't I don't know.
No, I voted no. I didn't I wasn't instructed to make any kind of Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm just explaining why my no vote is. Okay. Um, so he got to make that announcement when he when he closed the meeting. Okay. Roll call to close the public
portion. Councilwoman Cotton, I said no. Councilwoman Dava, with all of the discussion that we had back and forth, the young man could have spoken for three minutes, but I am going to say this. Okay. There there's there's a
process that's in place that has been I'm I'm going on 12 years here. There's always a signing sheet and it is up to the council president who's presiding the meeting to give um a concession to someone that has come after the list has
been taken. It's been done. He did it last week. He just said it a few times when madame clerk read council president asked how many speakers she said 31. We ended up with 47. He gave the concession to those to come and to be able to
speak. So I'm just saying there is a process and yes, madame clerk said it correct. Madame clerk doesn't do anything unless the president, okay, or council member requests something, but it is through the chair. We have to even when we speak, we have to say council
president. It is Roberts rules of order and there's there should be a level of respect. I may not agree with things with the council president. I may have, you know, disagreements, but for the most part, I take them behind closed doors. And I'll let people know, no
matter who it is, when we come to the council, we do have to have a certain level of respect amongst each other. And unfortunately, sometimes that's not the case. Um, there was a lot said today. Um, and you know, I'm not going to even
touch base on all of the speakers here today. I just want to thank the community. Um I am going to apologize. I will be removing myself as um P County Community College has two graduations. Uh and I have been working every day very late and so it is almost midnight.
So council president um if if we are able to finish this um closing by before midnight, I can stay for another 15 minutes. But if not, I'm letting the community know that I'm going to have to step up. Um, with that said, um, my vote is yes. Thank you,
Councilman. Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. First of all, there's something called common practice or the practices. And one of the people who was phenomenal in pointing this out was Jane Warren.
Nobody knew the parliamental procedure better than Miss Jane Warren. And when the council adopts what's called the common practices of the council, that's what what we move by. Every single meeting, the list remains there until
the public portion is open. Now, for whatever reason, maybe it's because the the the he's in the hot seat because he's been on video partying in illegal basement that he's going around telling everybody that he's here to stop the
illegal activity. And then when somebody loses his life, he actually should be charged as an accomplice. And so should the owner of that house where somebody was gunned down at an illegal bar party that's going on every single day, not
even just on the weekends. But he comes here and callously denies a a an an opportunity for the member of the public to speak. He doesn't even understand the process. When someone calls for a point of order, the point of order must be answered. All you got to do is just
watch TV. Just watch YouTube. You can figure that out. You don't even have to read. Was our venture that that reading is not fundamental around here. But let's talk about the blatant disrespect to the public. The blatant disrespect to the public. Miss Tia Holloway, another
member of the third ward who was carjacked in front of her house right across the street where this killing took place. you know, the the amount of crime that's taking place here while these people sit here and act like act as if they're doing something spectacular. And it's very simple. Allow
the members of the public to speak. That's it. It's not that hard to do. But they don't want to face the music. That's the reason why he let he pushed this thing on all the way to to 11 o'clock before he allowed a public portion to take place. But
yet you have all this illegal activity going on while he's being taking part in it. Taking a part in it. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure he will. I'm sure he will. I'm sure he will. No. No.
Public. We closing the public portion. There's no more speaker allowed. Please. No. No. No. No. No. No. We clearly We clearly Please continue. Councilman Jackson, I am continuing. Nobody asked you to interrupt. We clearly see this man stumbling on the
video. Clearly see him strike a v strike a vehicle, running a red light. Clearly seen on video. When asked on on on the news conference, was he incarc intoxicated? Oh, absolutely not. These two are clear blatant
liars. That's all that they are. He's calling me a liar. He can't point out one lie. Last week I said if there's anyone that could point out one lie and all you heard was crickets in the room. Just one lie. Prove a lie. Don't say I'm a liar. Tell me what I'm lying
about. Tell me what I'm lying about. All of the the the contracts that we vote on for people to continue to get pay increases and and favors while the communities continue to suffer. like it. Listen, ex all I tell
you is take it take it for what it is. Take it for what it is and make sure you go out and you let allow people to understand what kind of treatment you're getting from your government. The the same people that claim, "Oh, my brother, my brother, I'm all for you." But yet,
when you come to the podium to express yourself, you receive with with callous uh behavior. Every single person that comes to the podium at minute three, next speaker, next speaker, not one thing is answered to years ago, you would never pass over the next speaker without
having their concerns answered to. Tell me one person who's gotten one concern answered to since he's been the council president. Name one. He can't name one because every single speaker that comes to the microphone is skipped over. Their
concerns are are pushed over. And you know what I'm going to do tonight? Tonight was gonna be a lengthy one. What do they what is it called in in in in the uh in the at Congress? Um I'm sure you can help me. Yeah, we're going to have a a wonderful
filibuster tonight. And I want to see who's going to dare me to stop because see this is the kind of disrespect that they pass on to the community. I mean, all you got to do is go to my page. You you'll see the video. this man partying in somebody's basement
right next to a bar, people drinking, and then somebody comes out. Do you Did he mention one time the person that lost their life and the party that he was attending to? Not once. Where's the respect for life for that? Where's the respect for life for
that? How about the the young man that was in a passenger vehicle that has now has a fractured vertebrae from this dude from them partying together? As a matter of fact, listen, we all know they both mayor candidates. If you want another dancing mayor, all you got to do is look
right there. If you want another mayor that's going to come to your barbecues and do the do the do the uh chaa slide, all you got to do is look right there. You want another mayor that's going to BS you and lie to you, come and dance at your party, come to your baby's bar
mitzvah, eat all the food up, and then when you have a concern, turn you away from the microphone. Who else does that? The mayor we currently have. If you have an issue with him and you want to address some of his concerns, the dude don't take your phone call any longer. He blocks you on Facebook. This is what
you're going to get right here as he's calling you brother. The the the disrespect. The disrespect. We went through a whole we had a presentation for almost 40 minutes to an
hour and then he's going to try to deny me the opportunity to see that's I don't X you're going to have to go back and watch the video and watch how I had to chastise him. Watch how I had to correct him because he doesn't even understand where his authority lies. See, sometimes
people get these positions and they feel like they're bigger than life. And everything he does revolves around the fact that he's a councilman. He walks to a policeman's vehicle. Oh, council president, council. Listen, when that resound when that rings out bigger than
your name, then you realize the people in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong job that they should not be accountable to doing. And that's just true. That's the facts. Because not only did he not hold his fellow council person accountable for
being intoxicated, for leaving that party intoxicated, for drinking and driving, for striking the vehicle. Not only did he not hold them accountable, what does he do? He goes in somebody else's house where they're promoting these basement parties all throughout the third his
ward and and then somebody lost their life. You you would think he would be he would be courageous enough to show up. If I if I'm lying, let's see if he goes to that funeral. Let's see if he attends that funeral of that person who was who was gunned
down. He's not. He's not He won't be welcome there. He will not be welcome there. That's a guarantee. And if that's a lie, I I I I would hope he would post that on his page. Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me
me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me members of the public please. Um so we continue the public portion please. Uh what is that matter? Please continue the public portion roll call. Please continue rolling five months, five days, five
weeks. It's an illegal party going on in somebody's basement taking up parking spaces in somebody's neighborhood. Okay. Hey, don't worry about they don't have they don't have parties. Council members council members where they
promoting council members clerk. Can we put the two minutes for and they're charging for um alcoholers? You you want to see the flyers? Oh, okay. Councilwoman Cotton wants to see the flyers. So, you want to see the
video, too? Stay tuned, Councilman. Council members, stay tuned. Yeah, we just tried to finish. Uh, we got more idol. I'm here for it. I'm here for it. He says these are the flyers from from 5 months ago. Flyers with with name DJs
coming down to do these parties where somebody loses their life. Wow. In someone's house. Mr. BA this is the responsibility of yours now these parties and let's get to the video where the councilman is having a wonderful time
oh we definitely want to see it don't worry it's here oh here we go and and look look who's at look at that familiar Please, Madame Clerk, um I mean council members, can mad clerk, can we continue the roll call? Yes, we have to because it's
midnight. It's m it's midnight. So that that's Raphael, can you zoom in? Just can you zoom in here please, Raphael? Yes, please continue the public portion. I got that. No, not at all for now. See what we talking about 5 months ago.
Councilman um Cad Cler, can you continue? Roll call. This is what we're getting. This is what we're getting. We're We're continuing. I'm I'm still going. Bad clerk. Rafael, let's take five minute break. Raphael. Rafael. Why? You don't want to see You
don't want the public dancing. Yeah, let's take the public to see you dancing. Thank you. You don't want the public to see you dancing. No, you I could I could dance for you if you want. You have to see me dance in the party.
You got to see me dressed. He He does. He drops it like it's hot. Like a little He drops it like it's hot. Like a little Promoting parties in people's basement. That's funny.