May 20, 2025

Council President. Council members, that Council President. Council members, that concludes the agenda. Public comment. concludes the agenda. Public comment. Yes. We are now in the 30 minute public Yes. 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. Please approach the podium and speak. Please approach the podium and direct your comments to the council. Is direct your comments to the council. Is there anyone wishing to address the there anyone wishing to address the council? [Music] Deborah Salters. So in this election Deborah Salters. So in this election season, I've been hearing a lot of season, I've been hearing a lot of better to go with the devil you know better to go with the devil you know than the devil you don't. Now again, I than the devil you don't. Now again, I gave you the history on that before. gave you the history on that before. That's an Irish proverb from 1539. It That's an Irish proverb from 1539. It has I believe it's 1539. Yeah, 1529. has I believe it's 1539. Yeah, 1529. That has nothing to do with us. So stop That has nothing to do with us. So stop adopting phrases that have nothing to do adopting phrases that have nothing to do adopting phrases that have nothing to do with us. That's number one. Um and if with us. That's number one. Um and if you know the person is the devil, what you know the person is the devil, what you voting for him for? Make that make you voting for him for? Make that make sense. Why go why go with the devil at sense. Why go why go with the devil at all? Right? So it's time for us to make all? Right? So it's time for us to make decisions based on uh what is going to decisions based on uh what is going to benefit us. In Genesis 2, uh, the benefit us. In Genesis 2, uh, the serpent rolled up. Genesis 3, he rolled serpent rolled up. Genesis 3, he rolled up on Eve after God gave the commandment up on Eve after God gave the commandment up on Eve after God gave the commandment to the man. You have free range of to the man. You have free range of everything in this garden. Just don't everything in this garden. Just don't touch the tree of the knowledge of good touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So, you know, he gave it gave and evil. So, you know, he gave it gave the commandment to the man. Eve was the commandment to the man. Eve was there. But what does the serpent do in there. But what does the serpent do in chapter 3? He rolls up on Eve. Well, did chapter 3? He rolls up on Eve. Well, did chapter 3? He rolls up on Eve. Well, did God really say that? And she knew what God really say that? And she knew what the truth was. But see, when you listen the truth was. But see, when you listen to the devil and you know what the truth to the devil and you know what the truth to the devil and you know what the truth is, you get is, you get beguiled, meaning sllicked out of your beguiled, meaning sllicked out of your spot, knocked off your square, tricked spot, knocked off your square, tricked out of your position, right? If you know out of your position, right? If you know out of your position, right? If you know what the truth is, why are you going to what the truth is, why are you going to allow somebody to make you go along to allow somebody to make you go along to get along and then get shot down out of get along and then get shot down out of your position? Because that's exactly your position? Because that's exactly what he did. When you look up the what he did. When you look up the definitions in the concordance because definitions in the concordance because it's not the same as a regular it's not the same as a regular dictionary, you will see exactly what is dictionary, you will see exactly what is dictionary, you will see exactly what is being said there. And the point of this being said there. And the point of this is again make your own decisions because is again make your own decisions because is again make your own decisions because the decision you make may cost you your the decision you make may cost you your life. Read the facts for life. Read the facts for yourself. Stop being beguiled or yourself. Stop being beguiled or tricked. And here's the point. If the tricked. And here's the point. If the serpent himself can walk up to somebody serpent himself can walk up to somebody that was dealing with the true and that was dealing with the true and living God oneonone, knew his voice, living God oneonone, knew his voice, walked in the cool of the day with them, walked in the cool of the day with them, walked in the cool of the day with them, but they can be beguiled or tricked or but they can be beguiled or tricked or slipped out of their position by what my slipped out of their position by what my slipped out of their position by what my grandmother would call a silver tongue grandmother would call a silver tongue devil. What you think going to happen to devil. What you think going to happen to devil. What you think going to happen to you? How is that going to benefit you? you? How is that going to benefit you? Proverbs tells us that the blessings of Proverbs tells us that the blessings of the Lord make rich and add no sorrow. the Lord make rich and add no sorrow. And a lot of you are upset in the And a lot of you are upset in the positions that you work and this is why positions that you work and this is why the people can't get good character and the people can't get good character and services because of what you had to do services because of what you had to do to get the job and what you have to do to get the job and what you have to do to keep the job. But when God's to keep the job. But when God's blessings bless you, you can be kind to blessings bless you, you can be kind to others. You don't have to cancel them others. You don't have to cancel them out. You don't have to be angry and out. You don't have to be angry and nasty to them. So, I'm saying to you, nasty to them. So, I'm saying to you, the position that you're in, how did you the position that you're in, how did you the position that you're in, how did you get there? Why are you there? Why are get there? Why are you there? Why are you staying there? And are you a benefit you staying there? And are you a benefit you staying there? And are you a benefit to the those people who need you in the to the those people who need you in the city of New city of New York? Thank you for your comments. Next York? Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. Good morning, George Tilman, Jr. Good morning. Um, I had the the the clerk morning. Um, I had the the the clerk give you a copy of the agenda from the give you a copy of the agenda from the tax abatement committee meeting on May tax abatement committee meeting on May 14th, 14th, 2025. Um, if you turn to that second 2025. Um, if you turn to that second page, you will see an application there page, you will see an application there for a new community homes development LP for a new community homes development LP for a new community homes development LP for a $78 million development to be for a $78 million development to be constructed in the central ward. I sent constructed in the central ward. I sent you an email um Councilman Crump um you an email um Councilman Crump um discussing the abatement process that discussing the abatement process that occurred that was discussed in that occurred that was discussed in that hearing. I also sent you a email uh hearing. I also sent you a email uh Councilman Gonzalez um discussing the Councilman Gonzalez um discussing the list of the abatements. Um those who list of the abatements. Um those who aren't aware, I sent an email um with aren't aware, I sent an email um with all the council people involved in this all the council people involved in this email so that you'll understand this email so that you'll understand this process of this abatement. So, if you process of this abatement. So, if you understand the history of what's been understand the history of what's been going on with New Community Corporation, going on with New Community Corporation, going on with New Community Corporation, the the council members the the council members um have been engaged with over the years um have been engaged with over the years um have been engaged with over the years trying to get things done with new trying to get things done with new community corporation with those senior community corporation with those senior buildings. Um there's been uh buildings. Um there's been uh complaints, numerous complaints from the complaints, numerous complaints from the complaints, numerous complaints from the tenant association about those buildings tenant association about those buildings tenant association about those buildings and there has been no resolution from and there has been no resolution from New Community Corporation. So, when I New Community Corporation. So, when I first got this email from um the first got this email from um the invitation for this this uh tax invitation for this this uh tax abatement committee meeting, I reached abatement committee meeting, I reached out to the tenants of new community um out to the tenants of new community um building 140, 180, and 265. And they building 140, 180, and 265. And they came in and they testified to the came in and they testified to the deplorable conditions that were in New. Also, Councilwoman Roundtree also testified to the fact that she had been testified to the fact that she had been engaged in trying to get things with new engaged in trying to get things with new engaged in trying to get things with new community done and has not been community done and has not been successful. You also have been up there successful. You also have been up there to that building. Uh, Councilman Council to that building. Uh, Councilman Council to that building. Uh, Councilman Council has also been up there to that building has also been up there to that building without any resolution. So when we get without any resolution. So when we get opportunities like this, when we get a opportunities like this, when we get a tax abatement before the before our tax abatement before the before our committee with a a developer who already committee with a a developer who already committee with a a developer who already has existing properties in this city and has existing properties in this city and has existing properties in this city and is running it like a slum lord, there's is running it like a slum lord, there's no way that we should approve any tax no way that we should approve any tax abatement until any those abatements are abatement until any those abatements are abatement until any those abatements are done. And so I sent you um uh the email done. And so I sent you um uh the email of the list of the abatements that we of the list of the abatements that we sat down with the tenant association sat down with the tenant association president uh Ramona Derek from 140 uh president uh Ramona Derek from 140 uh the tenant association president Miss the tenant association president Miss Darlene Davis from from building 180 and Darlene Davis from from building 180 and Darlene Davis from from building 180 and a representative from 265 Morris Avenue. a representative from 265 Morris Avenue. a representative from 265 Morris Avenue. So I just ask that you continue to watch So I just ask that you continue to watch So I just ask that you continue to watch this process as it unfold. Thank you. this process as it unfold. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Next Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. Good morning everyone. Good morning. Can Good morning everyone. Good morning. Can you pull the mic down so we can hear? Uh you pull the mic down so we can hear? Uh you pull the mic down so we can hear? Uh my name is Mada. I live in Lake Street my name is Mada. I live in Lake Street and I'm here for an issue. Uh some my and I'm here for an issue. Uh some my other neighbor they come and talked other neighbor they come and talked about it. The issue is the parking in about it. The issue is the parking in Lake Street. Uh uh we have many issue Lake Street. Uh uh we have many issue with the parking there but the main with the parking there but the main issue is safety. It is very dangerous issue is safety. It is very dangerous for us to pull out of our driveway for us to pull out of our driveway because the cars drive in a speed of because the cars drive in a speed of higher than 35 miles per hours. And I higher than 35 miles per hours. And I know the city they came and they painted know the city they came and they painted know the city they came and they painted to slow down the traffic and that did to slow down the traffic and that did that did zero. Nothing has slowed down that did zero. Nothing has slowed down the cars. Um I myself I had an accident the cars. Um I myself I had an accident coming out of my driveway and it was a coming out of my driveway and it was a really bad accident and luckily that day really bad accident and luckily that day really bad accident and luckily that day my children were not in the car. It was my children were not in the car. It was a day off of a school. The whole a day off of a school. The whole backside of my car was total and it cost backside of my car was total and it cost backside of my car was total and it cost me about me about $37,000. Now the issue to be resolved is $37,000. Now the issue to be resolved is $37,000. Now the issue to be resolved is simple. No parking there. There is other simple. No parking there. There is other simple. No parking there. There is other issue. There is uh disposal of trash. issue. There is uh disposal of trash. There is noise. There is fight at night There is noise. There is fight at night time. This is bring un uh bring time. This is bring un uh bring uninvitable you know environment for us uninvitable you know environment for us to sleep at night time. And just the to sleep at night time. And just the parking coming out of the driveway is a parking coming out of the driveway is a safety is a big safety issue. Why do we safety is a big safety issue. Why do we put a stop uh sign? For safety. Why do put a stop uh sign? For safety. Why do we put red light? It's for safety. And we put red light? It's for safety. And at this point, coming out of a driveway at this point, coming out of a driveway is like going from a driveway with a is like going from a driveway with a zero second straight to the highway. And zero second straight to the highway. And zero second straight to the highway. And people intentionally they speed up when people intentionally they speed up when they see a car coming out of the they see a car coming out of the driveway. I don't know why the intention driveway. I don't know why the intention driveway. I don't know why the intention of just hitting you, you know. And of just hitting you, you know. And again, my children were not in the car again, my children were not in the car that day. If they were, they will be that day. If they were, they will be hurt very bad. I myself had a still hurt very bad. I myself had a still shoulder pain from that accident. And shoulder pain from that accident. And guess what? My insurance went up for my guess what? My insurance went up for my car. I lost my car. I had to buy a new car. I lost my car. I had to buy a new car. Another thing, my neighbor next car. Another thing, my neighbor next door, she's over 70 years old and her door, she's over 70 years old and her husband just turned 90 this week and husband just turned 90 this week and they cannot see. And sometimes she have they cannot see. And sometimes she have to call me, come on, you know, you have to call me, come on, you know, you have to take me out of my driveway. And I go to take me out of my driveway. And I go and sometimes she leave at 5 6 a.m. and and sometimes she leave at 5 6 a.m. and it's still is you cannot see. You have it's still is you cannot see. You have to take a guess sometime to come out of to take a guess sometime to come out of the driveway. I do have a car with a the driveway. I do have a car with a camera but it's not not enough that the camera but it's not not enough that the the vision you can't catch it all the the vision you can't catch it all the way to the light. People are speeding way to the light. People are speeding and uh I know you guys sometime you seen and uh I know you guys sometime you seen and uh I know you guys sometime you seen a police car to uh manage the traffic. a police car to uh manage the traffic. It doesn't work if they're there for 2 It doesn't work if they're there for 2 hours or about the the rest of the 22 hours or about the the rest of the 22 hours. So the issue here is safety. The hours. So the issue here is safety. The other issue they dispose the trash uh other issue they dispose the trash uh noise fight. I have video of people noise fight. I have video of people fighting in my street because those fighting in my street because those people just you know you don't live people just you know you don't live there. So this is the issue and the only there. So this is the issue and the only there. So this is the issue and the only solution I know it can be oh we're going solution I know it can be oh we're going solution I know it can be oh we're going to bring a patrol or we going to do to bring a patrol or we going to do that. No the only solution be no parking that. No the only solution be no parking that. No the only solution be no parking or parking by permit for people there or parking by permit for people there and each one of us who live there we do and each one of us who live there we do have we do have a driveway so it's have we do have a driveway so it's enough of us. I live there and my son is enough of us. I live there and my son is enough of us. I live there and my son is turning 16 this summer and he's about to turning 16 this summer and he's about to turning 16 this summer and he's about to drive. So, I'll be very worried for him drive. So, I'll be very worried for him to come out of the driveway. Thank you to come out of the driveway. Thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Thank very much. I appreciate your time. Thank very much. I appreciate your time. Thank you for your comments. Uh, next speaker. you for your comments. Uh, next speaker. you for your comments. Uh, next speaker. Uh, good morning. Can we get Can we get Uh, good morning. Can we get Can we get your address? I'm sorry. Your your your address? I'm sorry. Your your address. Where you're address. Where you're saying what what's your address? What saying what what's your address? What part of Lake Street? 413 Lake Street. part of Lake Street? 413 Lake Street. Say again. 417 Lake Street. 4017. 417. Say again. 417 Lake Street. 4017. 417. 4017. 417. 417. All right. Thank you. 4017. 417. 417. All right. Thank you. Good morning, council. Good morning. Um, I am the uh spouse of uh my lady that just came up. We have uh been here that just came up. We have uh been here many times before speaking about this many times before speaking about this issue. Um, on December 19, 2018, there issue. Um, on December 19, 2018, there was an amended section 23 column 5-14E was an amended section 23 column 5-14E of Newark Municipal Code designating of Newark Municipal Code designating parking by permit only on Rich Street parking by permit only on Rich Street between Second and Abington. Now, I have spoken with all of my Now, I have spoken with all of my neighbors. I have 90% of the signatures neighbors. I have 90% of the signatures on my block. Now, if we are to push on my block. Now, if we are to push forward with residential parking on our forward with residential parking on our block, we are only going to push the block, we are only going to push the problem to our neighbors behind on problem to our neighbors behind on Highland, on Parker, and on Clifton. Highland, on Parker, and on Clifton. Now, understandably in the ordinance, Now, understandably in the ordinance, Rich Street is already covered. So, I Rich Street is already covered. So, I believe that we need a zone districting believe that we need a zone districting so that we have residential parking from so that we have residential parking from so that we have residential parking from Second to Abington to allow us to Second to Abington to allow us to have nice homes like our honorable have nice homes like our honorable Councilman Gonzalez, right? We live on Councilman Gonzalez, right? We live on the same street and it's very nice where the same street and it's very nice where the same street and it's very nice where you live, but unfortunately, as you you live, but unfortunately, as you know, we are very close to Second A um know, we are very close to Second A um Avenue. Um, Councilman Ramos um fought Avenue. Um, Councilman Ramos um fought to have residential parking permits on to have residential parking permits on Bloomfield to allow the um people who Bloomfield to allow the um people who reside on the Montley Apartments to park reside on the Montley Apartments to park reside on the Montley Apartments to park there. Um, many of the residents there there. Um, many of the residents there have multiple cars and they're allowed have multiple cars and they're allowed to, but they come and dump their to, but they come and dump their vehicles on our side and as my wife just vehicles on our side and as my wife just vehicles on our side and as my wife just spoke, they throw trash outside. We're spoke, they throw trash outside. We're constantly picking up their trash. They constantly picking up their trash. They leave the cars there. They're blocking leave the cars there. They're blocking our driveways. Um, all of our neighbors our driveways. Um, all of our neighbors are having issues. The accident she had, are having issues. The accident she had, are having issues. The accident she had, it affected us financially. And as she it affected us financially. And as she said, my son is about to start driving. said, my son is about to start driving. Um, and it's a concern for Um, and it's a concern for us. The next meeting that I'll come us. The next meeting that I'll come here, I will come with the signature of here, I will come with the signature of the entire zone and I would like to the entire zone and I would like to present it to the council and speak with present it to the council and speak with present it to the council and speak with my Northfor councilman, councilman at my Northfor councilman, councilman at large, um, so that we could find a large, um, so that we could find a solution for our zone. Um, it's become solution for our zone. Um, it's become very dangerous. This is a safety very dangerous. This is a safety concern. As my wife mentioned, I have to concern. As my wife mentioned, I have to concern. As my wife mentioned, I have to mention it. Perhaps the other streets or mention it. Perhaps the other streets or mention it. Perhaps the other streets or where you live, you don't have this where you live, you don't have this issue. But Lake Street, being that it's issue. But Lake Street, being that it's right in front of the park, vehicles right in front of the park, vehicles speed up. They're very they go very speed up. They're very they go very fast. And if we come out, we cannot see fast. And if we come out, we cannot see it. This is always a recipe for an it. This is always a recipe for an accident. And we're trying to avoid accident. And we're trying to avoid that. We already lost a vehicle. Our that. We already lost a vehicle. Our neighbors have also lost vehicles. and neighbors have also lost vehicles. and this is just a matter of safety at at this is just a matter of safety at at this moment. So, thank you for uh for this moment. So, thank you for uh for listening. Thank you for your listening. Thank you for your comments. Any other speakers, Mr. comments. Any other speakers, Mr. President? Let's close out. Any other President? Let's close out. Any other speakers? And then we'll come back. It's speakers? And then we'll come back. It's speakers? And then we'll come back. It's a Okay. Good morning, council people. Good

my name is Derek Lampley to Colgate Drive. I believe you have my phone Drive. I believe you have my phone number Councilman Trump and my email number Councilman Trump and my email address. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, good morning. Good morning. My name is Michelle. I can you speak into the is Michelle. I can you speak into the mic? I can. Hi, good morning. My name is mic? I can. Hi, good morning. My name is mic? I can. Hi, good morning. My name is Michelle Scantalberry and I also live in Michelle Scantalberry and I also live in Michelle Scantalberry and I also live in Society Hill uh phase 2. Um I live at 34 Society Hill uh phase 2. Um I live at 34 Society Hill uh phase 2. Um I live at 34 Satan Hall Drive and I am the vice Satan Hall Drive and I am the vice president of the board. As the president president of the board. As the president president of the board. As the president said, the MUN municipal services act is said, the MUN municipal services act is there to help our communities um with there to help our communities um with garbage removal, with snow removal. And garbage removal, with snow removal. And as he said before, um we do have uh um a as he said before, um we do have uh um a as he said before, um we do have uh um a uh deficit because of COVID and the uh deficit because of COVID and the pandemic as well as the uh reserve uh pandemic as well as the uh reserve uh study that has been placed um that has study that has been placed um that has placed a burden on all of the um the uh placed a burden on all of the um the uh the phases or the uh private I shouldn't the phases or the uh private I shouldn't the phases or the uh private I shouldn't say private the associations so that you say private the associations so that you say private the associations so that you know for roofing projects for repair of know for roofing projects for repair of uh roadway ways for repair of um uh the uh roadway ways for repair of um uh the uh crumbling uh systems that are in the uh crumbling uh systems that are in the associations that have been here. Phase associations that have been here. Phase 2 has been uh present in Newark I 2 has been uh present in Newark I believe since 1994. So we have a number believe since 1994. So we have a number of things that have to be uh uh fixed. of things that have to be uh uh fixed. So that we would really like the council So that we would really like the council So that we would really like the council to consider this M municipal services to consider this M municipal services act that has been put in place again as act that has been put in place again as Derek said since uh 1993 to help our Derek said since uh 1993 to help our association to become you know a uh or association to become you know a uh or actually to help us uh repair what needs actually to help us uh repair what needs actually to help us uh repair what needs to be repaired and to also help us to be repaired and to also help us maintain the property. maintain the property. Thank you for your comments. Thank you Thank you for your comments. Thank you for the time. Good morning. Good morning. Recovering from laryngitis. So I also reside I from laryngitis. So I also reside I can't I can't really hear you. Speak up. can't I can't really hear you. Speak up. can't I can't really hear you. Speak up. I'm recovering from laryngitis. I was I'm recovering from laryngitis. I was Oh, okay. That's why. All right. Yes. So Oh, okay. That's why. All right. Yes. So

my name is Ja Duncan. I also reside at Society Hill and I am also on the board Society Hill and I am also on the board and I am the treasurer um of the and I am the treasurer um of the association and to second um my association and to second um my neighbors um it's been a complete neighbors um it's been a complete hardship on the residents and this is hardship on the residents and this is something that other um municipalities something that other um municipalities are um doing for their residents. And we are um doing for their residents. And we are um doing for their residents. And we pay a great deal of money for services pay a great deal of money for services that um our other neighbors outside of that um our other neighbors outside of the community have already have taken the community have already have taken care of because they pay their taxes. care of because they pay their taxes. But we also pay taxes. And these are But we also pay taxes. And these are things that we are not afforded. And things that we are not afforded. And people don't know how much it costs to people don't know how much it costs to do trash removal, to pay for lighting do trash removal, to pay for lighting the area, our water, our um roadways. the area, our water, our um roadways. And these are big um capital projects. And these are big um capital projects. And as you know, the community has been And as you know, the community has been around for over 30 something years. We around for over 30 something years. We are no longer um in an abatement and a are no longer um in an abatement and a lot of our residents are seniors and lot of our residents are seniors and they're looking to us to solve some of they're looking to us to solve some of their um financial hardships, but it's their um financial hardships, but it's really hard when the cost of goods are really hard when the cost of goods are going up and services. So, we're just going up and services. So, we're just asking for the city to also help us and asking for the city to also help us and meet us as we are also taxpaying meet us as we are also taxpaying citizens. we pay our property taxes and citizens. we pay our property taxes and it's a beautiful community that is it's a beautiful community that is across from the courthouse. So, it's a across from the courthouse. So, it's a lot of uh attraction and popularity, but lot of uh attraction and popularity, but lot of uh attraction and popularity, but a lot of people don't know the amount of a lot of people don't know the amount of a lot of people don't know the amount of money that it costs to maintain that. money that it costs to maintain that. And we're at the point now where a lot And we're at the point now where a lot of our structures are at the point where of our structures are at the point where of our structures are at the point where it does needs to be replaced. So, as my it does needs to be replaced. So, as my neighbor said, this structural integrity neighbor said, this structural integrity neighbor said, this structural integrity act because it is to protect communities act because it is to protect communities act because it is to protect communities across the state from having very um across the state from having very um terrible tragic accidents as we've seen terrible tragic accidents as we've seen in Florida, we have to complete these in Florida, we have to complete these projects, our roofs, our facades, our projects, our roofs, our facades, our roadways, and all the infrastructure roadways, and all the infrastructure that keep us safe as um citizens. So, we that keep us safe as um citizens. So, we that keep us safe as um citizens. So, we just would like your help, and we thank just would like your help, and we thank you for your time. you for your time. Thank you for your comments. Uh, next Thank you for your comments. Uh, next [Music] speaker. Any other speakers? Seeing none, uh, public speakers? Seeing none, uh, public speaking is now closed. Councilman Ramos