October 7, 2025

>> yes. >> We are in the 30 minute public comment >> We are in the 30 minute public comment >> We are in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where each portion of this meeting where each speaker will have three minutes to speaker will have three minutes to speak. Please state your name for the speak. Please state your name for the record. Is there anyone wishing to record. Is there anyone wishing to address the council? Good morning everyone again. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Uh Donna Jackson. So I see you deferred >> Uh Donna Jackson. So I see you deferred >> Uh Donna Jackson. So I see you deferred the budget again but still it's not the budget again but still it's not clear even on the city website and the clear even on the city website and the state website. There's no breakdowns. I state website. There's no breakdowns. I asked at the last meeting uh what is the asked at the last meeting uh what is the asked at the last meeting uh what is the amount being spent currently for amount being spent currently for executive protection and I'm not executive protection and I'm not playing. Is it up to $30 million? playing. Is it up to $30 million? because the police budget has increased. because the police budget has increased. because the police budget has increased. Um, and I have a problem paying officers Um, and I have a problem paying officers Um, and I have a problem paying officers outside of my city. Yes, the mayor's outside of my city. Yes, the mayor's going to travel, but we don't need to going to travel, but we don't need to take 13 with him. He could take one. Uh, take 13 with him. He could take one. Uh, take 13 with him. He could take one. Uh, J drive with one. Uh, if you guys had J drive with one. Uh, if you guys had one, you'd be driving with one. You one, you'd be driving with one. You wouldn't have two in the back and a car wouldn't have two in the back and a car behind you. I don't know what this behind you. I don't know what this presidential stuff that Corey Booker presidential stuff that Corey Booker started. And then we we continue the started. And then we we continue the nonsense, but that's too much money on nonsense, but that's too much money on executive protection and you guys need executive protection and you guys need to start pushing back. I like that you to start pushing back. I like that you push back on this budget today, but I'd push back on this budget today, but I'd like to know what direction is the state like to know what direction is the state like to know what direction is the state giving you. How much fines have you guys giving you. How much fines have you guys giving you. How much fines have you guys paid till today for this budget not paid till today for this budget not being done? Um, this also falls on being done? Um, this also falls on Congresswoman MacGyver's shoulders Congresswoman MacGyver's shoulders because this is the president that she because this is the president that she started as she sat in that seat where started as she sat in that seat where Mr. Trump is now. You guys are not doing Mr. Trump is now. You guys are not doing Mr. Trump is now. You guys are not doing what needs to be done. we're not being what needs to be done. we're not being fiscally prudent in terms of doing the fiscally prudent in terms of doing the things that we need to do. You guys need things that we need to do. You guys need things that we need to do. You guys need to look over the $6 million that you to look over the $6 million that you just gave to the housing authority. You just gave to the housing authority. You need to see what's going on with that need to see what's going on with that because people are testifying at the uh because people are testifying at the uh NHA meetings and it's not going well. NHA meetings and it's not going well. You can't take people You can't just You can't take people You can't just take Donald off the street. I've been take Donald off the street. I've been sleeping in Penn Station for 10 years sleeping in Penn Station for 10 years and put me in an apartment with no and put me in an apartment with no support. And it's not happening. I'm support. And it's not happening. I'm telling you, the seniors are angry. telling you, the seniors are angry. They're upset. They're trying to work They're upset. They're trying to work some things out, but y'all destroying some things out, but y'all destroying the senior buildings with this program the senior buildings with this program with no direction. with no direction. The other thing is um the police budget, The other thing is um the police budget, The other thing is um the police budget, the fire budget. I got a fire truck with the fire budget. I got a fire truck with the fire budget. I got a fire truck with a ladder sitting on 18th Avenue and a ladder sitting on 18th Avenue and stops and been sitting there three stops and been sitting there three years. The window is broken. How do we years. The window is broken. How do we have equipment that's not working? I have equipment that's not working? I didn't hear anybody in their budget didn't hear anybody in their budget presentation doing that. The budget presentation doing that. The budget presentations that were given horrible presentations that were given horrible and it needs to be redone. the and it needs to be redone. the disrespect you guys show us by allowing disrespect you guys show us by allowing these departments run by the these departments run by the administration to just give half hazard. administration to just give half hazard. administration to just give half hazard. I didn't hear anybody ask for extra I didn't hear anybody ask for extra staff. staff. What are you doing in code enforcement? What are you doing in code enforcement? What's being recouped in code What's being recouped in code enforcement? How much money are we enforcement? How much money are we making from the parking authority? How making from the parking authority? How much of that comes back over here? I'm much of that comes back over here? I'm very serious because you talking about very serious because you talking about we operating in a deficit. We over here we operating in a deficit. We over here we borrowing money. Y'all asking the we borrowing money. Y'all asking the state for money. That's fiscally state for money. That's fiscally irresponsible. And that's been happening irresponsible. And that's been happening irresponsible. And that's been happening before some of you got up here. with before some of you got up here. with this Barack administration since 2014. this Barack administration since 2014. We spending what we don't have and We spending what we don't have and that's got to stop. Y'all getting ready that's got to stop. Y'all getting ready to slam these homeowners. I talked about to slam these homeowners. I talked about to slam these homeowners. I talked about Urban, but y'all getting ready to kill Urban, but y'all getting ready to kill these people. And I'm out there with the these people. And I'm out there with the these people. And I'm out there with the senior freeze applications and the senior freeze applications and the anchor applications letting people know anchor applications letting people know what you guys are doing because Urban what you guys are doing because Urban doing the same thing. They don't have a doing the same thing. They don't have a budget, but they put in their budget, but they put in their assessments for the revaluation. And assessments for the revaluation. And average homeowner is getting a $2,000 average homeowner is getting a $2,000 increase in one quarter. Y'all getting increase in one quarter. Y'all getting ready to do the same thing to us. is ready to do the same thing to us. is wrong. wrong. >> Thank you for your comments. Next >> Thank you for your comments. Next >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> Good morning everybody. My name is >> Good morning everybody. My name is Edison. >> Morning. >> I'm the investor like I came last month >> I'm the investor like I came last month >> I'm the investor like I came last month like three weeks ago something like like three weeks ago something like that. So I own the properties from 633 that. So I own the properties from 633 to 645 South 18th Street. You guys when to 645 South 18th Street. You guys when I come in 2017 was worse much better I come in 2017 was worse much better look at these days in South area but we look at these days in South area but we need more the taxes increase because you need more the taxes increase because you need more the taxes increase because you know a lot of investors they come know a lot of investors they come because they believe in this this city because they believe in this this city like I say last time I do believe that like I say last time I do believe that you guys doing but guess what last night you guys doing but guess what last night you guys doing but guess what last night 6:45 South 18 they vandalize the 6:45 South 18 they vandalize the property at 1:00 in the morning I have property at 1:00 in the morning I have the videos but the detectives they are the videos but the detectives they are over there right now you know they keep over there right now you know they keep calling me I say, you know what, I'm not calling me I say, you know what, I'm not calling me I say, you know what, I'm not going to answer because I would like going to answer because I would like especially for councelor Kelly, you're especially for councelor Kelly, you're doing good job. We have a nice park over doing good job. We have a nice park over doing good job. We have a nice park over there, the streets. But like I say, you there, the streets. But like I say, you know, the properties, you know, the tax know, the properties, you know, the tax increase, the people who who increase, the people who who doing the tax assess assessors, you doing the tax assess assessors, you know, because know, because the citizens, you know, they do their the citizens, you know, they do their job. Me, other investors, you guys doing job. Me, other investors, you guys doing job. Me, other investors, you guys doing the job. But you know at this time I I the job. But you know at this time I I lost like a $5,000 in materials. So lost like a $5,000 in materials. So who's going to respond this? I need more who's going to respond this? I need more who's going to respond this? I need more police in the my area. Like I say 633 to police in the my area. Like I say 633 to police in the my area. Like I say 633 to 645 and I have other properties around 645 and I have other properties around in west in west war area. So like I say in west in west war area. So like I say you feel frustrated you know when I see you feel frustrated you know when I see police police all day long in the home depot area. I all day long in the home depot area. I do believe because you know the Home do believe because you know the Home Depot they give a job to a lot of people Depot they give a job to a lot of people Depot they give a job to a lot of people and also I I do I give apartment for a and also I I do I give apartment for a lot of citizens and also you know and I lot of citizens and also you know and I pay higher taxes because you know when I pay higher taxes because you know when I pay higher taxes because you know when I do improve like a fix the house do improve like a fix the house renovations renovations is better for the city is better for the is better for the city is better for the is better for the city is better for the other people believe that and also other people believe that and also I asked last time if it's possible more I asked last time if it's possible more signs like I say Police whoever people signs like I say Police whoever people eat put it in the garbage trash in my eat put it in the garbage trash in my neighbor. neighbor. Many times I have to myself barrels Many times I have to myself barrels some people who eat throw in the some people who eat throw in the sidewalk. So we need more education more sidewalk. So we need more education more sidewalk. So we need more education more sign is saying sign is saying place the the food in the garbage. Now I place the the food in the garbage. Now I place the the food in the garbage. Now I have to call the exterminator to do the have to call the exterminator to do the the job. the job. So like I say, appreciate what the job a So like I say, appreciate what the job a So like I say, appreciate what the job a guy is doing. Like I said, you're going guy is doing. Like I said, you're going to see more often because you know this to see more often because you know this has to be changing. You guys did the job has to be changing. You guys did the job has to be changing. You guys did the job change already. But I need change in my change already. But I need change in my my westward area. Especially for you,

>> My name is Ariel Leavitz. Uh I grew up here in Essex County and I live in here in Essex County and I live in Jersey City currently. Um I'm also a Jersey City currently. Um I'm also a public public policy specialist with public public policy specialist with Humane World for Animals, uh formerly Humane World for Animals, uh formerly known as the Humane Society of the known as the Humane Society of the United States. I've come here today to United States. I've come here today to urge this council to consider joining urge this council to consider joining 150 cities in New Jersey and over 500 150 cities in New Jersey and over 500 nationwide in passing an ordinance that nationwide in passing an ordinance that bans the retail sale of dogs and cats in bans the retail sale of dogs and cats in bans the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. I'm urging this action pet stores. I'm urging this action because Newark's one puppy selling pet because Newark's one puppy selling pet store is currently breaking state store is currently breaking state consumer protection law um has been consumer protection law um has been operating without a license uh and is operating without a license uh and is sourcing from outofstate puppy mills sourcing from outofstate puppy mills that no one would knowingly support. Um that no one would knowingly support. Um there are also city officials that have there are also city officials that have admitted that the city does not have the admitted that the city does not have the admitted that the city does not have the ability to regulate this store. Um, on ability to regulate this store. Um, on top of this, there's currently nothing top of this, there's currently nothing stopping another store from opening in stopping another store from opening in Newark. And so, now is the time to say Newark. And so, now is the time to say enough is enough. So, 150 cities have enough is enough. So, 150 cities have passed a humane pet shop ordinance, as I passed a humane pet shop ordinance, as I passed a humane pet shop ordinance, as I mentioned, because puppies stores uh mentioned, because puppies stores uh harm residents by deceiving consumers, harm residents by deceiving consumers, selling sick puppies, and using selling sick puppies, and using predatory financing practices. Most predatory financing practices. Most recently, Union City passed an ordinance recently, Union City passed an ordinance recently, Union City passed an ordinance like this um which affected three puppy like this um which affected three puppy selling pet stores in that district. selling pet stores in that district. This offers pet stores an opportunity to This offers pet stores an opportunity to This offers pet stores an opportunity to move to a more humane business model to move to a more humane business model to expand their, you know, services and expand their, you know, services and goods. They could sell uh dog toys, dog goods. They could sell uh dog toys, dog food, offer boarding or grooming, things food, offer boarding or grooming, things food, offer boarding or grooming, things like that. things that um folks who have like that. things that um folks who have like that. things that um folks who have pets are willing to spend a lot of money pets are willing to spend a lot of money pets are willing to spend a lot of money on. The pet service and and retail on. The pet service and and retail industry is a multi-billion dollar industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Um and no pet shop needs to industry. Um and no pet shop needs to sell puppies in order to be successful. sell puppies in order to be successful. Additionally, under an ordinance like Additionally, under an ordinance like this, residents would still be able to this, residents would still be able to get the pet of their choice by going to get the pet of their choice by going to their local animal shelter, a local their local animal shelter, a local rescue, including breed specific rescue, including breed specific rescues. Um, and they would still be rescues. Um, and they would still be able to go to responsible breeders who able to go to responsible breeders who are only selling directly to the public, are only selling directly to the public, are only selling directly to the public, showing folks, you know, where the showing folks, you know, where the parents, where those puppies have been parents, where those puppies have been raised and people can make that decision raised and people can make that decision raised and people can make that decision for themselves. Um, going forward, if for themselves. Um, going forward, if this is something that you consider, I'm this is something that you consider, I'm this is something that you consider, I'm offering myself as a resource. Um, we offering myself as a resource. Um, we our organization has uh language that we our organization has uh language that we our organization has uh language that we can help draft that would fit into the can help draft that would fit into the city code of Newark. and um I'm I'm here city code of Newark. and um I'm I'm here city code of Newark. and um I'm I'm here for any questions that anyone may have. for any questions that anyone may have. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you for your comments. Next >> Thank you for your comments. Next >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. It's been a minute since I did this. Donald Jackson, New York resident, Donald Jackson, New York resident, good friend of mine good friend of mine few years ago told me that few years ago told me that we govern through effective policy we govern through effective policy and either the policy is ineffective or we're not governed properly. It could be a combination of both. It could be a combination of both. We're less than 90 days away from 2026 We're less than 90 days away from 2026 and we do not have an approved budget and we do not have an approved budget for 2025. for 2025. How is this effective governing? How is this effective governing? How is this good governance? Convince me as a Norcer that the city hasn't already over spent that the city hasn't already over spent what is proposed budgeted for 2025. Sounds like mis fiscal mismanagement to me. And unfortunately, the taxpayers and the citizens are being extorted. If you do not properly pay the meter and If you do not properly pay the meter and in some parts of downtown you can't feed in some parts of downtown you can't feed in some parts of downtown you can't feed the meter, you will receive a $91 the meter, you will receive a $91 parking ticket. parking ticket. How much money is coming back to the How much money is coming back to the city of New York from these fines? city of New York from these fines? I don't have too much for today as I'm I don't have too much for today as I'm still trying to comb through the budget still trying to comb through the budget because quite honestly it's a little because quite honestly it's a little hard for me to understand. hard for me to understand. um could be due to me forgetting how to um could be due to me forgetting how to read certain things since my time on the read certain things since my time on the read certain things since my time on the school board. Some things look familiar, school board. Some things look familiar, school board. Some things look familiar, some things don't. some things don't. But I do have to ask the question, how But I do have to ask the question, how is this good governance? is this good governance? Before any of you talk about the Before any of you talk about the beautiful America bill, before you talk beautiful America bill, before you talk about the federal government shutdown, about the federal government shutdown, just know that the city of North has not just know that the city of North has not just know that the city of North has not adopted a 2025 budget. adopted a 2025 budget. How is that good governance? How is that good governance? The residents are demanding The residents are demanding good governance and I think we're owed good governance and I think we're owed that here in the city of North. that here in the city of North. You can't run on a platform for 20, 30 You can't run on a platform for 20, 30 years and talk about a previous years and talk about a previous administration, a previous administration, a previous administration and here we are 10 years administration and here we are 10 years later later and have no representation. Things are and have no representation. Things are not getting better. not getting better. Do you drive through this city? Where Do you drive through this city? Where are the street cleaners? are the street cleaners? I can't tell you the last time I saw a I can't tell you the last time I saw a street cleaner. street cleaner. So, I'mma get off my soap box and I'll So, I'mma get off my soap box and I'll be back. be back. But again, I have to beg the question, But again, I have to beg the question, is this good governance? is this good governance? >> Thank you for your comments. Next >> Thank you for your comments. Next >> Thank you for your comments. Next speaker. >> Looks like public speaking. Uh, no other >> Looks like public speaking. Uh, no other public speakers now closed. Council President, council members, that Council President, council members, that concludes the agenda for today. concludes the agenda for today. >> Roll call to adjourn. >> Roll call to adjourn. >> Council, >> yes. >> Council members, we are now in the >> Council members, we are now in the >> Council members, we are now in the special conference portion of this