1 speakers · 3,418 words of public testimony
Good morning. Good morning. Uh, Council President, first I want to give my President, first I want to give my deepest condolences to the passing of deepest condolences to the passing of your your your Um, I just want to um ask um Councilwoman I just want to um ask um Councilwoman Roundtree as chairman of the affirmative Roundtree as chairman of the affirmative Roundtree as chairman of the affirmative action committee that that brought that action committee that that brought that meeting of the administration to share meeting of the administration to share the findings with the with the entire the findings with the with the entire council. And I asked because of the council. And I asked because of the findings that were brought forth in that findings that were brought forth in that findings that were brought forth in that meeting were very um meeting were very um important to getting New York residents important to getting New York residents into these construction sites and to all into these construction sites and to all into these construction sites and to all these jobs that we need to have done. Um these jobs that we need to have done. Um these jobs that we need to have done. Um I'm asking um because at the conclusion I'm asking um because at the conclusion of the meeting, we all agreed that the of the meeting, we all agreed that the administration was non-compliant. administration was non-compliant. The disagreement came in as to what were The disagreement came in as to what were The disagreement came in as to what were the strategies going forth. the strategies going forth. My position is the same when I first My position is the same when I first came to this mic a year and a half ago came to this mic a year and a half ago is an injunction on these tax abatements is an injunction on these tax abatements is an injunction on these tax abatements until the administration come into until the administration come into compliance. I believe that the community compliance. I believe that the community compliance. I believe that the community has to have a meeting now that it it it has to have a meeting now that it it it was uh admitted by the administration was uh admitted by the administration that there are problems…
Good morning. Good morning. Uh, Council President, first I want to give my President, first I want to give my deepest condolences to the passing of deepest condolences to the passing of your your your Um, I just want to um ask um Councilwoman I just want to um ask um Councilwoman Roundtree as chairman of the affirmative Roundtree as chairman of the affirmative Roundtree as chairman of the affirmative action committee that that brought that action committee that that brought that meeting of the administration to share meeting of the administration to share the findings with the with the entire the findings with the with the entire council. And I asked because of the council. And I asked because of the findings that were brought forth in that findings that were brought forth in that findings that were brought forth in that meeting were very um meeting were very um important to getting New York residents important to getting New York residents into these construction sites and to all into these construction sites and to all into these construction sites and to all these jobs that we need to have done. Um these jobs that we need to have done. Um these jobs that we need to have done. Um I'm asking um because at the conclusion I'm asking um because at the conclusion of the meeting, we all agreed that the of the meeting, we all agreed that the administration was non-compliant. administration was non-compliant. The disagreement came in as to what were The disagreement came in as to what were The disagreement came in as to what were the strategies going forth. the strategies going forth. My position is the same when I first My position is the same when I first came to this mic a year and a half ago came to this mic a year and a half ago is an injunction on these tax abatements is an injunction on these tax abatements is an injunction on these tax abatements until the administration come into until the administration come into compliance. I believe that the community compliance. I believe that the community compliance. I believe that the community has to have a meeting now that it it it has to have a meeting now that it it it was uh admitted by the administration was uh admitted by the administration that there are problems that have to be that there are problems that have to be fixed and it was told that it was going fixed and it was told that it was going to take at least 5 years for them to to take at least 5 years for them to come into compliance. My problem was come into compliance. My problem was their immediate solution to how we get their immediate solution to how we get to to on these construction sites right to to on these construction sites right now and there was no answer to that now and there was no answer to that right now. So, I believe that we should right now. So, I believe that we should have a community meeting the way the have a community meeting the way the administration met with me because now administration met with me because now this is not about um is this legislation this is not about um is this legislation this is not about um is this legislation um compliant or the administration um compliant or the administration compliant or non-compliant. We know that compliant or non-compliant. We know that compliant or non-compliant. We know that they're non-compliant. So now what do we they're non-compliant. So now what do we they're non-compliant. So now what do we do for New Yorkers to get workers to do for New Yorkers to get workers to work on these construction sites? There work on these construction sites? There has to be some sort of community meeting has to be some sort of community meeting has to be some sort of community meeting where the community now is engaged where the community now is engaged because it was admitted corporate because it was admitted corporate council was there. I appreciate he was council was there. I appreciate he was there that the administration is non-compliant. non-compliant. Miss Gaylord was there from New York Miss Gaylord was there from New York Works to know that their department is Works to know that their department is non-compliant with this ordinance. So non-compliant with this ordinance. So there's no tax abatements and there's 10 there's no tax abatements and there's 10 there's no tax abatements and there's 10 that's already scheduled for a hearing. that's already scheduled for a hearing. I believe that these 10 that you just I believe that these 10 that you just placed on here today should be um placed on here today should be um deferred until we have a community deferred until we have a community meeting to decide how new residents get meeting to decide how new residents get on these construction sites knowing that on these construction sites knowing that on these construction sites knowing that this administration is non-compliant. this administration is non-compliant. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Next Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. good morning. Good morning. Uh, first of all, pull Good morning. Uh, first of all, pull pull the microphone down a little. pull the microphone down a little. I know. So, you can see my face, right? I know. So, you can see my face, right? Yeah. Thank you. And secondly, I just Yeah. Thank you. And secondly, I just before before her time starts, um, before before her time starts, um, unfortunately, you just missed we had a unfortunately, you just missed we had a presentation by the tax assessor presentation by the tax assessor regarding reevaluation, right? And I think you're here for that to talk And I think you're here for that to talk And I think you're here for that to talk about that. No. Oh, okay. I take it about that. No. Oh, okay. I take it back. I just want to throw that out back. I just want to throw that out there. So, Mag and um I'm here at first. I want to start off I'm here at first. I want to start off by wishing you the utmost condolences um by wishing you the utmost condolences um by wishing you the utmost condolences um to such a pioneer that is um no longer to such a pioneer that is um no longer here. But within that vein, that's why here. But within that vein, that's why I'm standing here today because our I'm standing here today because our organization week sports authority, we organization week sports authority, we also doing business week park sports also doing business week park sports authority has name has been used um authority has name has been used um unauthorized. So when we found out this unauthorized. So when we found out this information, we're expecting the city to information, we're expecting the city to information, we're expecting the city to act just like we intend on acting with act just like we intend on acting with this information. And I do have nine this information. And I do have nine copies that I want to present to you all copies that I want to present to you all copies that I want to present to you all about the information that's available, about the information that's available, whoever wants to take it. Um, but whoever wants to take it. Um, but whenever we have somebody who's supposed whenever we have somebody who's supposed whenever we have somebody who's supposed to have the public trust in mind because to have the public trust in mind because to have the public trust in mind because they do have a a seat on a public they do have a a seat on a public interest in this city, we we expect you interest in this city, we we expect you to act and remove people who are not to act and remove people who are not being truthful and misleading the being truthful and misleading the public. Um, so you can read at your public. Um, so you can read at your leisure. Anybody who would like to leisure. Anybody who would like to operate that information, it's available operate that information, it's available operate that information, it's available for view. Thank you so much. for view. Thank you so much. Thank comments. Uh, next speaker. Thank comments. Uh, next speaker. Uh, good evening, Dr. Freeman. Uh, good evening, Dr. Freeman. Good evening. Nope. I also want to give Good evening. Nope. I also want to give my condolences to the Crump family. my condolences to the Crump family. I hate to say this to you. Can you put I hate to say this to you. Can you put the mic up? Thank you, Bab. Okay. All right. So, like I said, I want to All right. So, like I said, I want to also give my condolences to the Crump also give my condolences to the Crump family. Um, in these exact chambers is family. Um, in these exact chambers is when I made a testament of my life back when I made a testament of my life back in 2012 to Miller Crump. So, I'm also in 2012 to Miller Crump. So, I'm also going to be here to defend the elders of going to be here to defend the elders of going to be here to defend the elders of this community. When you have this community. When you have individuals, individuals, we have over a thousand nonprofits. I we have over a thousand nonprofits. I keep saying it over and over again. Do keep saying it over and over again. Do you even know what they do in the city you even know what they do in the city of North, right? We have proof now that of North, right? We have proof now that under the community based u violence under the community based u violence intervention, some of the active intervention, some of the active organizations organizations have been open. And uh one particular have been open. And uh one particular group came before you with group came before you with misinformation, misinformation, false information, and lies. Uh they false information, and lies. Uh they acted as if they're doing these acted as if they're doing these different things in the community. Years different things in the community. Years different things in the community. Years of service by the elders cannot be um of service by the elders cannot be um the ruins of their legacy. And what I the ruins of their legacy. And what I mean by that is when you educated us as mean by that is when you educated us as youth to step up and return to the youth to step up and return to the elders who have now passed away, some of elders who have now passed away, some of elders who have now passed away, some of the forefronts and pioneers, you putting the forefronts and pioneers, you putting the forefronts and pioneers, you putting it into the wrong hands of individuals it into the wrong hands of individuals who do not have the interest of this who do not have the interest of this city. They have the interest of outside city. They have the interest of outside individuals brag about putting people in individuals brag about putting people in individuals brag about putting people in the water group in jail and all these the water group in jail and all these other things, right? Always come before other things, right? Always come before the council talking about they want to the council talking about they want to put somebody in jail. I'm calling for an put somebody in jail. I'm calling for an put somebody in jail. I'm calling for an investigation because it's going to go investigation because it's going to go further. So to avoid the embarrassment further. So to avoid the embarrassment by actually mentioning names and how by actually mentioning names and how they actually use documentation and we they actually use documentation and we call some of the people say that they call some of the people say that they didn't even write the uh acknowledgement didn't even write the uh acknowledgement didn't even write the uh acknowledgement saying what work they did in the saying what work they did in the community community right how do you get a applicate put in right how do you get a applicate put in an application with no EIN number no an application with no EIN number no DUN's number and still stand before this DUN's number and still stand before this DUN's number and still stand before this board and this microphone and cause a board and this microphone and cause a ruckus in his chambers and disrespect ruckus in his chambers and disrespect this city and disrespect our elders. So this city and disrespect our elders. So before it goes further because I will go before it goes further because I will go before it goes further because I will go to the media as they said they wouldn't to the media as they said they wouldn't go to us. They also sued my family, lost go to us. They also sued my family, lost go to us. They also sued my family, lost the case. It's in them documents. All the case. It's in them documents. All right. Caught us everything. Called the right. Caught us everything. Called the county stuff, called uh elected county stuff, called uh elected officials um extorting and all these officials um extorting and all these other things. I'm asking for this board through the history of our families and through the history of our families and our friends and our community to sit in our friends and our community to sit in those positions and hold these people those positions and hold these people accountable for what they say on this accountable for what they say on this microphone and what they say out here in microphone and what they say out here in microphone and what they say out here in the community and what they say out here the community and what they say out here the community and what they say out here that has damaged our community over and that has damaged our community over and over again. over again. Thank Thank you for your comments. Next Thank Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. Anything from the council? Uh, anything from administration? Uh, councilwoman, I I do want um either corporation council I do want um either corporation council or Miss Gaylord to respond to Mr. or Miss Gaylord to respond to Mr. Tilman's uh statement regarding what Tilman's uh statement regarding what took place in that meeting. Thank you. thank you, Karen J. Lord, executive director, Newark Workforce Development director, Newark Workforce Development Board. Uh Board. Uh we are actually grateful that um the we are actually grateful that um the community um seeks to know more about community um seeks to know more about the efforts to uh include more the efforts to uh include more Newark residents in infrastructure and Newark residents in infrastructure and construction work. Why? construction work. Why? There are four mega projects coming to There are four mega projects coming to this region this region federally funded and we have to ramp up federally funded and we have to ramp up a workforce for those projects which are a workforce for those projects which are a workforce for those projects which are anywhere from 6 to 16 years in length um anywhere from 6 to 16 years in length um anywhere from 6 to 16 years in length um a couple of generations and then a couple of generations and then generations beyond that of of large generations beyond that of of large projects. And in order to do that we projects. And in order to do that we need everybody. We need laborers. We need everybody. We need laborers. We need people who've done this work for a need people who've done this work for a long time. We need high school age kids long time. We need high school age kids uh in this which means the school's uh in this which means the school's cooperating. Um we certainly need the cooperating. Um we certainly need the community and especially the community community and especially the community of people who've done this work as their of people who've done this work as their of people who've done this work as their livelihood. So we invite uh everybody livelihood. So we invite uh everybody who's doing the affirmative action work who's doing the affirmative action work to um come to the conversation and come to um come to the conversation and come to the table uh and help us do what's to the table uh and help us do what's going to take at least 10 years. um going to take at least 10 years. um starting with uh the most important work starting with uh the most important work starting with uh the most important work the apprenticeships which take about the apprenticeships which take about five years to grow people who are going five years to grow people who are going to be skilled laborers as plumbers, to be skilled laborers as plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc. Um I do electricians, carpenters etc. Um I do want to say that the advances that we've want to say that the advances that we've want to say that the advances that we've made in the last couple of years I think made in the last couple of years I think made in the last couple of years I think are not insignificant. are not insignificant. Newark is represented on three of the Newark is represented on three of the affirmative action committees for the affirmative action committees for the four mega projects that are happening four mega projects that are happening right now in our area. Um these are EEOC right now in our area. Um these are EEOC right now in our area. Um these are EEOC committees with the office of federal committees with the office of federal contract compliance. Um which so we're contract compliance. Um which so we're doing the local work but we're getting doing the local work but we're getting the attention of um those people who are the attention of um those people who are the attention of um those people who are doing these massive infrastructure doing these massive infrastructure projects and that's going to help the projects and that's going to help the city of Newark. Uh so it's important um city of Newark. Uh so it's important um Mr. Tilman he's been invited and he's Mr. Tilman he's been invited and he's agreed to come and uh do that work with agreed to come and uh do that work with us and and come to the New York OneTop us and and come to the New York OneTop and meet with us regularly and we and meet with us regularly and we appreciate that and expect to take appreciate that and expect to take advantage of he and the others who um uh advantage of he and the others who um uh advantage of he and the others who um uh want us to do more and want us to do want us to do more and want us to do better for the residents of Newark. better for the residents of Newark. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Glory. Uh any Thank you. Thank you, Miss Glory. Uh any Thank you. Thank you, Miss Glory. Uh any questions before questions before All right. Uh we uh thank you very much. All right. Uh we uh thank you very much. All right. Uh we uh thank you very much. Go in executive session. So move. Oh, I I said that but we didn't need Oh, I I said that but we didn't need that. Just as a whole Absent. Scott Brown. Yes. Silva. President.
We are now in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where comment portion of this meeting where each speaker will have three minutes to each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Once you approach the podium, speak. Once you approach the podium, please state your name for the record. please state your name for the record. Is there anyone wishing to address the Is there anyone wishing to address the council? BA, I don't know about that winking eye and and laughing. and and laughing. Please state your name for the record, Please state your name for the record, Mr. Bummani. thank you. But this ain't no joke and I ain't your But this ain't no joke and I ain't your friend. Trump said it best. politric is here driving into the politric is here driving into the ground. That's exactly what y'all doing in full throttle. in full throttle. So the last council meeting, So the last council meeting, the mayor, deputy of police the mayor, deputy of police and director of the office of violence and director of the office of violence allowed their employees and agencies to allowed their employees and agencies to come to this podium to call lifetime come to this podium to call lifetime lifelong New Yorkers to defame us, intimidate and infringe upon our freedom of speech. and infringe upon our freedom of speech. and infringe upon our freedom of speech. And I just want to give you one message. And I just want to give you one message. And I just want to give you one message. Cease and desist. Cease and desist. There's already litigation There's already litigation against the city against the city for ejecting us, banning us from the for ejecting us, banning us from the meetings. One message to you, cease and meetings. One message to you, cease and desist. desist. And now let me just lay down the work And now let me just lay down the work that I've done because I've done a lot that I've done because I've done a lot of work here of work here and I did for the city and for the and I did for the city and for the people of Newark at no cost and without people of Newark at no cost and without grants. A labor of love and give backs. Turkey…
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We are now in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where comment portion of this meeting where each speaker will have three minutes to each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Once you approach the podium, speak. Once you approach the podium, please state your name for the record. please state your name for the record. Is there anyone wishing to address the Is there anyone wishing to address the council? BA, I don't know about that winking eye and and laughing. and and laughing. Please state your name for the record, Please state your name for the record, Mr. Bummani. thank you. But this ain't no joke and I ain't your But this ain't no joke and I ain't your friend. Trump said it best. politric is here driving into the politric is here driving into the ground. That's exactly what y'all doing in full throttle. in full throttle. So the last council meeting, So the last council meeting, the mayor, deputy of police the mayor, deputy of police and director of the office of violence and director of the office of violence allowed their employees and agencies to allowed their employees and agencies to come to this podium to call lifetime come to this podium to call lifetime lifelong New Yorkers to defame us, intimidate and infringe upon our freedom of speech. and infringe upon our freedom of speech. and infringe upon our freedom of speech. And I just want to give you one message. And I just want to give you one message. And I just want to give you one message. Cease and desist. Cease and desist. There's already litigation There's already litigation against the city against the city for ejecting us, banning us from the for ejecting us, banning us from the meetings. One message to you, cease and meetings. One message to you, cease and desist. desist. And now let me just lay down the work And now let me just lay down the work that I've done because I've done a lot that I've done because I've done a lot of work here of work here and I did for the city and for the and I did for the city and for the people of Newark at no cost and without people of Newark at no cost and without grants. A labor of love and give backs. Turkey giveaways. Running a basketball camp out of Garden Spires. Spires. Founding member of Local 55 that Wayne Founding member of Local 55 that Wayne came in and came in and let me tell you what he did to it. is let me tell you what he did to it. is this bad to sitting on committees to this bad to sitting on committees to form the Newark re-entry and second form the Newark re-entry and second chance campaign act new community courts chance campaign act new community courts chance campaign act new community courts courts alternative to incarceration courts alternative to incarceration volunteering at seat and hall's volunteering at seat and hall's self-help legal clinic self-help legal clinic the American friends service committee the American friends service committee prison watch program prison watch program homes for all Newark and Newark water homes for all Newark and Newark water coalition just to name name a few. And coalition just to name name a few. And by the way, I do have two college by the way, I do have two college degrees and also served on Essis County degrees and also served on Essis County and Jersey City Student Government and Jersey City Student Government Association. Giving back. I just want to say Ruckers Newark I just want to say Ruckers Newark should be offering free education should be offering free education to New Yorkers for being taxexempt on to New Yorkers for being taxexempt on our land. our land. There also should be a moratorum There also should be a moratorum and a thorough audit and investigation and a thorough audit and investigation on every tax abatement program in this on every tax abatement program in this city. Thank you for your comment. Land and city owned properties that's Land and city owned properties that's being for sale. There should be an being for sale. There should be an independent. independent. Thank you for your comments, Miss Bmani. Thank you for your comments, Miss Bmani. Thank you for your comments, Miss Bmani. Next speaker