7 speakers · 4,726 words of public testimony
Alif Muhammad, president of Alif Muhammad near school. I'm gonna deviate because of Gonzalez and Pat. Pat, when I was talking to the FBI in November of 2023, And I was telling them that you had hired Spicer and that things was going to change because of Spicer. And three months ago when it was in my office, the FBI, they said, you right, Alif, things did change. So I'm happy that you're going back on appointment. But you know, my problem always was you would deviate and I would ask Rahman Ali, I mean, Muhammad. where somebody had came in a landscape or a pest person and they got a contract for a bid for 150,000. He said, that's the way, Ali, where you cheat on the bid. in a special meeting about Wanda Wilson, the mayor's sister, and it was about LaMonica's sister that she was on working for the House of Thoughts I said, shut up, I'm your elder, and he did. So he didn't know about that, that that was illegal. But I think I'm gonna have to go with Trent. I think I'm gonna have to go with Trent Ramos. You're the only one that's really, really speak up. You, whoever taught you how to be a lawyer, even if you lose, you still put it on a record. where you need to have the rest of your life. Cause I had a call in, and I opened up a school 30 years ago, and if I don't open a school, I'm working for about 10, 15 million dollars right now. we got the gentleman over in the East Ward. He don't say none unless it's the East Ward. And then my little sister, she has to understand, not just going to people and seeing them, See what she do, she runs up there, she's there, and I'm with you, but the problem's the same. no, y'all can't get no, you can't get it. You got to learn that you can't just be there. You know, I go back a little further than that and stuff, the Office of Investigative General HUD. Every major federal agency has an office And I was telling them, come on, man, hurry up, man. So I said to them, I said, you got MIDI already? I said, I know you got it, but we want Roz. I said, but…
Alif Muhammad, president of Alif Muhammad near school. I'm gonna deviate because of Gonzalez and Pat. Pat, when I was talking to the FBI in November of 2023, And I was telling them that you had hired Spicer and that things was going to change because of Spicer. And three months ago when it was in my office, the FBI, they said, you right, Alif, things did change. So I'm happy that you're going back on appointment. But you know, my problem always was you would deviate and I would ask Rahman Ali, I mean, Muhammad. where somebody had came in a landscape or a pest person and they got a contract for a bid for 150,000. He said, that's the way, Ali, where you cheat on the bid. in a special meeting about Wanda Wilson, the mayor's sister, and it was about LaMonica's sister that she was on working for the House of Thoughts I said, shut up, I'm your elder, and he did. So he didn't know about that, that that was illegal. But I think I'm gonna have to go with Trent. I think I'm gonna have to go with Trent Ramos. You're the only one that's really, really speak up. You, whoever taught you how to be a lawyer, even if you lose, you still put it on a record. where you need to have the rest of your life. Cause I had a call in, and I opened up a school 30 years ago, and if I don't open a school, I'm working for about 10, 15 million dollars right now. we got the gentleman over in the East Ward. He don't say none unless it's the East Ward. And then my little sister, she has to understand, not just going to people and seeing them, See what she do, she runs up there, she's there, and I'm with you, but the problem's the same. no, y'all can't get no, you can't get it. You got to learn that you can't just be there. You know, I go back a little further than that and stuff, the Office of Investigative General HUD. Every major federal agency has an office And I was telling them, come on, man, hurry up, man. So I said to them, I said, you got MIDI already? I said, I know you got it, but we want Roz. I said, but if you get MIDI, you got Roz. So people say, why they ain't been here? And I said, because every time they tell me, every time something come up, some new stuff come up. Friend of mine, I tell you Felicia in the live, They took the gym while they came to my salon.
I am Anthony D'Angelo, the owner of Tony Service Center Also purchased the three story multi-dwelling the two units came with four officers, all professional. As you see on the door, it's a brown lock. that you cannot change any locks and so forth, okay? So the officers asked the tenant for a key. He refused to give the officers a key to give him in case there's a fire or whatever have you, all right? They refused to give him a summons, all right? you have a copy of the summons at 319 2025 that I went to issue a complaint against the person. we can't see the statute, we can't understand it. I went down there so they could type it up, I went there, called them several times. On the paper, you'll see the woman's name, That's the municipal court that called me up. And within that, they refused to file a complaint a notice to cease to the tenant to take the lock off. Now my thing is, the statute of limitations, I'd like to know if the city could put pressure to reinstate that complaint from 31925, all right? And I have multiple properties throughout the state, And it's a woke city, because this is the second time. In 2007, I had both chains cut on the locks of the shop The person had the vehicle stolen out of my property. The one lock was still hanging with the chain, with the police unit with the lights on, Now, here I am, the police are telling me that their office, their superior told them me, the owner of the property to file a complaint, they refuse to sign a complaint, type up a complaint. It's right there, it's received March 19th, 25th. They refuse to type it up for me to sign it, to send the tenant the complaint to go to court, I want you all to know that they're all professional. This was their orders from their superior. They asked the tenant for the key for the apartment. Okay, I just want to know if you could give pressure to the municipal court and to see if they can reinstate that. Mr. D'Angelo, unfortunately, your time has expired. Have a seat and somebody should address you.
Queen Danisha Claiborne, 38 A 14th Avenue, New York, Before I say anything, I just want to say this We don't need to be quiet because somebody is saying but we need the family to have something inside. because if we allow whoever this officer is the next killing is going to be your family member. Then what are you going to do now for what I came for? So this is for all y'all except for one council member. that cannot be placed in homeless shelters. I mean, drugs that's making them transform I don't care how much money you make in a business, whether it's a restaurant or a warehouse, you should not be paying for broken windows, Nobody should be jumping over your counters So at West Market, I have a live that went viral has over a hundred thousand people following it. A lot of people have some disturbing things to say we don't always get good people to say something. But when it comes to what I do, I need proof. My other weapon to that phone is my Facebook Live I'm worried about my city, my town first in a moment of silence for their Sabrina. We have so many homeless people, individuals It was over 300, something of them then. But again, I need y'all to know I have a solution. If y'all ready to work with me, I have a solution. Because if you can't get these people off the street, they're either now dying being frozen from cold. that people were hand making in their kitchen And then when something happened to them, and start saying, my family, my cousin, my auntie. No, we need you to worry about them now. Because I embarrassed them by going live I was bringing awareness to the situation. My employees was running out the back door And when we do call them, they barely come. and anybody else that's at large, Katana, Gonzales, you could do a lot because you're about to leave. And they ain't gonna hold you accountable They're smoking blunts as big as the mic. People were walking nasty homeless people. It's spinning blunt on the floor inside the stores. The same way you voting on whatever it is because your parking is crazy down there. If we park and double park and go to sleep, I am hosting a meeting…
Queen Danisha Claiborne, 38 A 14th Avenue, New York, Before I say anything, I just want to say this We don't need to be quiet because somebody is saying but we need the family to have something inside. because if we allow whoever this officer is the next killing is going to be your family member. Then what are you going to do now for what I came for? So this is for all y'all except for one council member. that cannot be placed in homeless shelters. I mean, drugs that's making them transform I don't care how much money you make in a business, whether it's a restaurant or a warehouse, you should not be paying for broken windows, Nobody should be jumping over your counters So at West Market, I have a live that went viral has over a hundred thousand people following it. A lot of people have some disturbing things to say we don't always get good people to say something. But when it comes to what I do, I need proof. My other weapon to that phone is my Facebook Live I'm worried about my city, my town first in a moment of silence for their Sabrina. We have so many homeless people, individuals It was over 300, something of them then. But again, I need y'all to know I have a solution. If y'all ready to work with me, I have a solution. Because if you can't get these people off the street, they're either now dying being frozen from cold. that people were hand making in their kitchen And then when something happened to them, and start saying, my family, my cousin, my auntie. No, we need you to worry about them now. Because I embarrassed them by going live I was bringing awareness to the situation. My employees was running out the back door And when we do call them, they barely come. and anybody else that's at large, Katana, Gonzales, you could do a lot because you're about to leave. And they ain't gonna hold you accountable They're smoking blunts as big as the mic. People were walking nasty homeless people. It's spinning blunt on the floor inside the stores. The same way you voting on whatever it is because your parking is crazy down there. If we park and double park and go to sleep, I am hosting a meeting the 20th of February The people of the community need to know because they still don't know who you are.
Still thinking we have the last night meeting. Good evening to the residents of Newark, and to our youth who I also see in the audience here. I want to begin by having a moment of silence and that you guys who sit on the municipal council would even begin to help his family and this community We understand the process, the bureaucracy, and them telling Newark police hands off and everything going to the attorney general and all. and let them know that the people here in Newark, is urgently seeking answers to this situation, And I'm urging and asking you all to do that because again, Mr. Bay, no matter how you look at him, no matter what the reports were that you heard of him, to better this community every day could call on to help resolve issues in the streets of this community. And if whatever you were reported to with, whatever they're talking about him, saying about him, because I am Wally Bay and I'm speaking for him right now. And then people will still be able to come to you I guess what you would do, sit back the way you do People need to get involved and as Dinesha just mentioned, That's with respect to many of the issues And that's what we're seeing needs to happen today. We need to stop questioning organizations like OVPTR and BCPC and the collective organizations around them. These are the guys who, and women who we can put in the McDonald's and the hot spots in our community where we're seeing an uptick in violence or fighting amongst the kids and the youth. These are the people that we should be putting It is a shame that we can't even walk on the sidewalks really don't have access the way that they should.
Good afternoon, members of the New York City Council.
and I stand in front of you as a community servant, in full compliance with New York City Council decorum. I stand before you as a returning citizen. I did not return to society to disrupt public order. and participate constructively in my community. Since my reentry, I have been an upstanding citizen. in the public forums, including this chamber. I have never cursed in a city council meeting, and never acted violently or disruptively that has serious implications for my civil rights and my integrity of civic participation in New York. in his council chambers made false allegations Those allegations were later escalated beyond this form. I want to correct the record carefully and responsibly. in which I called that individual a name. I apologized and I had never done it again. And that was because of what was done to me. I did so because accountability matters to me. That context mattered because prior to these allegations, I supported this individual in good faith. I canvassed for her without getting paid. believing the civic engagement and mutual respect My character, my conduct became their focus. What followed was escalation of resolutions. I'm currently scheduled to appear at municipal court at 31 Green Street on March 3rd and March 24th, 2026. in this change at October, I remember vividly. One allegation relies on a single momentary hand gesture. If I harass you, why would you come get me harassment requires and since conduct needs to threaten, seriously alarm or repeatedly target another person. Criminal law is not intended to punish isolated, when expressive conduct is mischaracterized especially for returning citizens as myself. This raises a broader civil rights concern. The first amendment protects free speech and expressive conduct in public forums. The fourth amendment guarantees equal protection In 42 USC 1983, the Civil Rights Act of 1871 Reentry does not mean permanent punishment. Reentry does not mean selective enforcement I am not asking this council to adjudicate my case. so returning citizens who do everything right are not punished to speak truthfully and respectfully. and I will not accept violations of my rights because of one individual's feelings towards me. and accountability should never be confused What I am now asking is for my constitutional rights
that concludes the agenda for this meeting. If I'm what I think you're talking about. I wanted to make sure that we could set up a time to meet, talk about how we can assist you. I would love to hear your solutions that you have and to our director of our homeless, Zariah, so we can just try to get some, bring this matter to, the matter is the mayor has been dealing with it and the weather, the inclement weather that we have. So if you have some solution, we're all open ears and I'm sure that the council at large up here as well and the other council member with McDonald's and their wards would love to hear what you have to say and see how we can partner and work together I'm sorry, councilman Scott-Rodrigue, can we get out? Stated she worked with the homeless population we had an operation and I am with councilman Kelly. even when we were working with the homeless. The mental situation is a whole another operation. why don't you just build a big building? You can't put them all in the same place Some of them, it took us maybe two or three days to convince them not to sleep in Penn Station. You have people that are chronically homeless that have been homeless for 10 years staying in Penn Station. Then you have some that might have just had a domestic case that just left and you have homeless people that are literally making a living dealing drugs. which means that once you do find the solution, whatever that is or however that comes together, Unless you have professionals that are willing The thing with the businesses and people doing that is so unfortunate that a lot of businesses can't afford security on their businesses. If you go up to Wendy's on Chancell Avenue, I don't know that they have the homeless problem. They do have people standing off baby in place. If it's a chronically homeless situation, I think that those addresses that you have about the West Ward operations or any of the other wards, that those addresses should be documented And let them come out to an assessment one by one You have people that, there's a young lady, Everyone should know Shani used to stand on 16th Avenue, They would call me and I would…
that concludes the agenda for this meeting. If I'm what I think you're talking about. I wanted to make sure that we could set up a time to meet, talk about how we can assist you. I would love to hear your solutions that you have and to our director of our homeless, Zariah, so we can just try to get some, bring this matter to, the matter is the mayor has been dealing with it and the weather, the inclement weather that we have. So if you have some solution, we're all open ears and I'm sure that the council at large up here as well and the other council member with McDonald's and their wards would love to hear what you have to say and see how we can partner and work together I'm sorry, councilman Scott-Rodrigue, can we get out? Stated she worked with the homeless population we had an operation and I am with councilman Kelly. even when we were working with the homeless. The mental situation is a whole another operation. why don't you just build a big building? You can't put them all in the same place Some of them, it took us maybe two or three days to convince them not to sleep in Penn Station. You have people that are chronically homeless that have been homeless for 10 years staying in Penn Station. Then you have some that might have just had a domestic case that just left and you have homeless people that are literally making a living dealing drugs. which means that once you do find the solution, whatever that is or however that comes together, Unless you have professionals that are willing The thing with the businesses and people doing that is so unfortunate that a lot of businesses can't afford security on their businesses. If you go up to Wendy's on Chancell Avenue, I don't know that they have the homeless problem. They do have people standing off baby in place. If it's a chronically homeless situation, I think that those addresses that you have about the West Ward operations or any of the other wards, that those addresses should be documented And let them come out to an assessment one by one You have people that, there's a young lady, Everyone should know Shani used to stand on 16th Avenue, They would call me and I would go running to get her. Now there's some people, but you gotta keep going. Some people wouldn't come with us the first day. If it's drugs, I've had people in blizzards that told me when the blizzard was on the way. with the homeless population have to be equipped to deal with all of that when they're going out there So I don't think we've done, and homeless keep coming because they keep dropping them in the city of Newark or they put them on buses and bring them here or they know that Newark is one of the only places that it's easy accessible until we find out The mental illness is a whole nother operation. Even we can't go down there and protect you So what I'm saying is that your life is in danger based on them, but we have to find solutions If your McDonald's is chronically mental, and that means that's gonna be the focus So the real, the real, the real work piece, You have your own proposal, your name is on it. You can't nobody take it if you wrote it. Because it's not gonna be done by you, by yourself. So I'm gonna work with Councilman Kelly, Councilman Ramos, you said you'd have no problem as we'll work with the ward council people. And maybe we can have a collective meeting and set up a timeline of how we're gonna address it Thank you, Councilwoman, Councilman, Council. Real quick, Mrs. Chair, to Mr. Vaughan's point and I'm quite sure the VA will speak about it, but if there's addresses that Mr. Vaughan has is responsible for making sure the properties in front of their businesses are taken care of, then we should give that information to them so that we can send code to enforce violation or abatement. Councilman Crump, I need to ask one more question. In reference to sidewalks, bus stops, those areas. Now, is New Jersey Transit, I believe, is responsible If they're not responsible, it is our responsibility to clean those shelters if we do not know, of where New Jersey Transit buses stop to pick you up. I don't believe there's a council person up here that don't have a staff member that answers the phone. And some of us, we have our personal lines. I believe that aside from coming to the council meeting just in case you don't get an immediate response, that you called your council person or you're at large. I called the office, nobody picked up your office phone. So make use of the services that you hire us for personally. And I have to add, just on top of what you said, Councilwoman, I think it's important for those here and those watching to understand that a lot of times, It's important that instead of just throwing something on Facebook to address us, reach out to us, You could throw your hands in there all you want. A lot of things happen and you know better. A lot of things happen that we may not know, And if we're not responsive and we don't respond, But don't just put something on Facebook and just think that we're gonna know what's going on That's just not reality and that's just not is there anything from the administration? Good afternoon, Eric Cunnington, Business Minister. I was actually hoping that our Interim Director of DPW is here to give an update on snow removal. but I'm not sure what he may wanna say today. but this afternoon we're gonna post a list That's for public safety on the cars removed. Could you say that again so that we can all. The sign says your car shouldn't be parked BA was asking, do we need the cars moved? I was telling him most of it says snow covered roads. That's for the public safety to get that message out. So we're working together to remove the snow. So Councilman, Council President, Councilor Kelly. the bull horn, when the police come out, they make the noise and say move your car. you do hear the police telling people to move their car before they even attempt to tow you or remove your car, So just for clarity, the list is on DPW site? By this evening, we'll put the list on the site. You already had the other list on there. This is the list of remaining stuff that we completed All right, now we're going into motions. We wanna welcome the students and faculty and staff They are here participating in council member for the day And we just wanna thank them for being here. Today, Councilwoman Louise Scott-Rowntree and I are in partnership with University Hospital, sponsored a mobile mammogram and cervical screening It's still going on right now from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We want everyone to be healthy and cancer free. Early screening and detection is the first step. We invite you to join us at a supplier engagement event where we aim to build lasting partnerships, explore opportunities and support the growth of small, local and diverse businesses in our community. February 17th at 4 p.m. at Abyssinian Baptist Church, 224 West Kenny Street, doors open at 330. Also, we wanna give kudos to Science Park High School on their Pan-African flag raising on Monday, I was honored to be the keynote speaker there. And also wanted to give note that the students there, many people don't know, authored a book. giving their stories of immigration to this country. And so we really want people to acknowledge And the last thing is that we are sponsoring our pre-Valentine's Day senior soiree brunch next Wednesday, February 11th at 11 a.m. It is free of charge and anyone can call the city's office of senior services to register I just want to, the motion of acknowledgement and commendation for the South Ward youth landscapers. Sean Williams, Michaela Williams, Myron Need, Jaylen Freeman, Jayvon Swain and Noah Teller. And they have been going around the South Ward working and helping folks shoveling bus tunnels down at Symphony Hall, cleaning out the parking lot. And so if individuals are interested in the services that are provided through the South Ward youth landscapers, and commending their entrepreneurial spirit looking at solution oriented opportunities to get out and create a branch of economic development And so we are encouraged about what they are doing and wanting to make sure that we acknowledge that. Also on this Saturday, doors open at 2 p.m. Our pre-Valentine's Day concert will be hosted at George Washington Carver Elementary School. We look forward to all of you coming out participation and oneness as we celebrate And we also have some wonderful comedic talent with one of our comedians as well as Jay And so want to thank each and every one of you So tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. here at City Hall, Black History was as councilwoman Bay said, pan African, pan American, African American, black history flag that will be raised tomorrow at 4 p.m. celebrating Black History Month. Though we know we celebrate it all year long. Someone questioned what flag are we raising? And then in 1967, there was someone from Newark So if you look up the history, there is a flag. But if you're not proud of the person that you are And on that's tomorrow, February 7th, 2026. I started a couple of years ago with casting calls for the great artists in the city of Newark, young and old, between the ages of seven and 72. There's a casting call for an upcoming production of one of Newark's musicians called Victory. Initials Entertainment will be hosting a final casting call on February 7th here at City Hall in the press room and Communities Incorporated with Pastor Pam Jones I'm gonna stop over with Councilman Council And then I'm gonna make it to the church house, are a part of a sponsorship of the Urban League And it's called the New Jersey Gathering, It's featuring Virginia Union University Gospel Choir and Hampton University Gospel Concert Choir. And Voices in Harmony hosted by Terrell Bell. Anybody that knows the Bell family knows Regina Bell. This young man is from Regina Bell's family and they are also related to Reverend Dr. Curtis Bell. This is going to be held Saturday on February 7th, 2026. And there's over 400,000 residents in this city. So there's something to do for everybody. It's not too late if you have not registered. I'm not sure the final amount of how many seats Clearview holds, but I'm sure it holds more than 275. we've been doing a Black History program along with the Department of Recreation, myself, This year, again, we are continuing to move more forward, remembering our past and embracing our future. partnering with our Department of Recreation Senior Services, again, and the Newark Interfaith Alliance, Mayor Baraka, and the Newark Municipal Council. Our speaker this year will be Minister Hilton Rawls III. If you don't know who he is, take a look him up. We will also have Junius Williams speaking. And you can't do nothing without young folk. You've got to have young people involved. or have representation for our young individuals. So Dorian Murray, Vice President of the Commissioners for Essex County, will be also speaking at this event. If you do need tickets, I do have a couple left. So please, please do not hesitate to call my office the mayor was sponsoring our MLK celebration. that prevented us from moving a whole lot of places. that we couldn't move in the city for three days, The snow was so bad, they shut down 280, So my prayer is that as we do better right now, Text me, text me, say, just like you text me, It's going to be Attorney Ben Crump is the speaker. Vincent Bohannon is going to be one of the musical guests. And that's going to be again, February 25th, 2026. I think it's a 38th annual MLK celebration And of course, our new municipal council is always supporting and a part of every event Again, the guest speakers are Attorney Ben Crump, Okay, this is my last one, Councilman Crump. Six statewide meeting for the Black Agenda. Being held Thursday, February 26th in Montclair. This is going to be held in conjunction with Ryan Haygood, Congressman Monica McIver, Mayor Wayne Smith, and a representative from Montclair. you can also call my office 973-733-379-4. in the last five meetings as we move forward. Last but not least, I want to extend condolences, express sorrow, and regret for a Hansberry Avenue family Sister's a long serving usher of Good Neighbor Baptist Church, so I am sending out express profound sorrow with the exception of thanking Nord for speaking out and having things to say to us that we need to hear. I don't think that God appointed me or that I was elected that there's only one perfect and that's the Father. and every one of us up here has to be reachable. So I just want to thank Nord for all that you've done, all that you continue to do to hold us accountable, to say what you have to say at the microphone, How it affects us is what we're supposed to do So thank you, Nord, for letting me serve you. So I'm not gonna say happy Valentine's Day. I'm gonna say this, every day we should be saying first thing you should be loving is yourself. And then you move on because if you don't love yourself, That concludes my announcements for today. And it's back in your hands, Council President. Seconded by Councilman Cantana, roll call. First is I wanna thank all the organizations for the victims of the multiple fires that we had. One fire was Sunday night, during the night of the storm, it impacted five properties on Wakeman Avenue, And then a few nights later, we had another fire, multiple two fires on North Fifth Street. we had representatives from the Red Cross, County Social Services, University Hospital was there. And I wanna thank the Forsale Community Association who donated gift cards with families that showed up, but it did provide at least some temporary relief Tonight actually is our University Hospital It's from five to seven at the Cherry Blossom Center on behalf of small businesses on how they can partner not only in the construction of the new facility, but also in providing services to the patients We're hosting our Senior Valentine's Day event next week on Friday at the Waterfront Recreation Center. So I wanna thank my colleagues who partner with us First, I wanna thank 211 Community Impact who actually volunteered and went out and shoveled some spaces that some of the seniors needed And also I want to say thank you to the administration to come to a solution over this heat situations that we do a followup and update within a week actually a couple of days to find out where we are with those complaints that we all receive so that we can make sure that our residents or those issues and concerns are being mitigated. I also want to say happy birthday to a lifelong Newarker who was also Lois of the Underground's manager, Hafiz Fareed, always says I'm from 8th Street. I wanna say happy birthday to the Newark legend. that once again we are having a love day, This is our fourth annual Senior Love Day. please contact the management office at GKV. And if you're not able to get through at GKV, please contact my office at 973-733-6427 I don't think there are any motions in there. I do wanna make a motion to congratulate Newark, New Jersey's own Shakur Stevens for his win. All right, second by Councilman Gonzalez. We've been leaving here too early today. Mr. Chair, I wanna wish a speedy recovery He's out there always doing a Herculean job. And sometimes people have surgery and things and we don't wanna be remiss to wish folks All right, with that being said, motion to adjourn.
We are now in the hearing of citizens portion please approach the podium and address the council.