24 speakers · 10,122 words of public testimony
The first speaker is Valeria Rivas-Castro. desde hace 12 años aquí en la ciudad de Newark. Soy delegada sindical del condado de Exis.
and I am a union delegate of Essex County. Hoy vengo a explicarle un problema que tenemos de cuidado infantil y familiar en Newark. that is affecting many childcare providers para el programa de asistencia de cuidado infantil luchamos mucho para la reapertura del programa. we fought hard to get the program reopened. And in December, they announced that in January, they would be accepting new applications Los pequeños centros no hemos visto muy afectados Small centers like ours have been greatly affected as the enrollment numbers have dropped significantly, it is because the program is being limited. Los ingresos de la familia no le permiten are not able to cover the cost of childcare. Todos sabemos que el costo de la vida está muy alto. al mínimo para poder apoyar a las familias. Porque si no, con quién van a dejar a sus hijos of having to lower our prices to the minimum Por ejemplo, yo tenía una mamá en mi cuido le habían cortado las horas en su trabajo, looking for a family member to watch the children. Pero quién sabe si esto es sostenible para su familia? But who knows if this is sustainable for her family? que se encuentran en esta situación precaria actualmente. This mom is one of many who are currently Esto es un problema que no afecta a todos. El Consejero Luis Quintana nos ha ayudado y presento una resolución que se llevará a voto hoy. Councilman Luis Quintana has listened to us and he's gonna be introducing a resolution Le agradecemos y pedimos al resto de los concejales que no apoyen de la misma manera y voten We thank him and ask the rest of the council members and vote yes on resolution number 26-0220.
Wanna start off what I just gave you was a letter. And the letter is when the mayor tried to remove me. It's not funny, but it was really criminal. to say that I made some kind of charges or something In this situation, Eddie Osborne refused. But the funny thing is Victor is my employee. It's stupid, but that's how desperate they was. they said I had 10 days, was less than six days. So Kenneth Lewis at the time said he'd get back to me. So a month later, I hear the knock on my door at two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday. With his sneakers on, with his cap is on. And he said, I want you to remove, you know, So he said, I said, you know what they removed me for? So I said, well, look, I said, well, look, you want us to, I'm dealing with the FBI. He said, the problem I have, this is all frivolous. He said, now listen to this carefully, Larry. If Mildred was here, this never would have happened. So he asked me in the video, was a good question. But at the time I told you, John act like Louie was there and Gonzalez said, hell with it. So the next meeting, I said, look, when I come, because I said, I didn't know I had audio. Eddie was there, Brian Logan's about seven witnesses. So he briefed me in this office and said, with this audio, I can't let this audio go in. He said, we'll be in a world of trouble. He said he was having a lot of problems. And she's like, she always called me black man or OG. So he said, the mayor want to meet with you, please. He said, he's supposed to come see you yourself. He was weightlifting or something like that. Then 15 minutes later, he said he did do it. my mom, Muhammad calls me the next day and say, I said, well, we can't walk away from the investigation. Five days later, after we made the deal, So what I'm saying to you is the man's a liar But the FBI told me when they first had me talking, if your mother was there, this wouldn't happen. Now I want to say, happy birthday, pastor. You know, I mean, before he was even a…
Wanna start off what I just gave you was a letter. And the letter is when the mayor tried to remove me. It's not funny, but it was really criminal. to say that I made some kind of charges or something In this situation, Eddie Osborne refused. But the funny thing is Victor is my employee. It's stupid, but that's how desperate they was. they said I had 10 days, was less than six days. So Kenneth Lewis at the time said he'd get back to me. So a month later, I hear the knock on my door at two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday. With his sneakers on, with his cap is on. And he said, I want you to remove, you know, So he said, I said, you know what they removed me for? So I said, well, look, I said, well, look, you want us to, I'm dealing with the FBI. He said, the problem I have, this is all frivolous. He said, now listen to this carefully, Larry. If Mildred was here, this never would have happened. So he asked me in the video, was a good question. But at the time I told you, John act like Louie was there and Gonzalez said, hell with it. So the next meeting, I said, look, when I come, because I said, I didn't know I had audio. Eddie was there, Brian Logan's about seven witnesses. So he briefed me in this office and said, with this audio, I can't let this audio go in. He said, we'll be in a world of trouble. He said he was having a lot of problems. And she's like, she always called me black man or OG. So he said, the mayor want to meet with you, please. He said, he's supposed to come see you yourself. He was weightlifting or something like that. Then 15 minutes later, he said he did do it. my mom, Muhammad calls me the next day and say, I said, well, we can't walk away from the investigation. Five days later, after we made the deal, So what I'm saying to you is the man's a liar But the FBI told me when they first had me talking, if your mother was there, this wouldn't happen. Now I want to say, happy birthday, pastor. You know, I mean, before he was even a councilman,
John, if we can get the second microphone. está ahogando a las familias trabajadoras de NORC The childcare crisis is suffocating working families in NORC and all across the state of New Jersey. Este año, yo no tengo acceso a asistencia de cuidado infantil y el dinero no me alcanza. This year, I do not have access to childcare assistance Cada mes, hago malabares para pagar las cuentas. Pago 1,675 de renta y 1,200 o más de daycare I pay $1,675 in rent and at least $1,200 Esto es casi $3,000 el mes solo de renta y daycare. That is almost $3,000 a month just for rent and daycare. La situación se vuelve hasta más complicada en verano necesito buscar cuidado infantil para mis dos hijos. This becomes even more difficult in the summer because my oldest daughter is not in school I need to find childcare for both my kids. it becomes impossible for me to pay for it. Cada año con esfuerzo intentaba llegar al verano sin angustia para dedicarme a mis hijos. Each year, I tried hard to make it to the summer without worry so I could devote myself to my children. But this year, I couldn't even manage that. Agradezco al Consejal Quintana por la resolución. I thank Councilman Quintana for this resolution. Es crucial que todos voten si a la resolución 26.0220.
You know, Quintana, how many times have we spoken and the illegals in a way that you have not stood up For years we have been here pleading with you. People have come here dying from the buildings And not one time has any one of you put forth a resolution when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn. Now it's 2026 and you all are updating things and, you know, trying to get the people on board. So Newarkers, I don't want you to be bamboozled. because you have been in an abusive relationship a woman abuses a man, I'm gonna smack you around How many more chances are you going to give for this city? It's already in ruins with this administration. May 12th, you have an opportunity to stop mourning. You all have been crying, the young and the old, What about the residents whose land this is? Developers, everything's for the developers. The 1400 unit, a project that you're doing, Later for the people of the city of Newark, or what kind of dream they're trying to sell you, But right now the oppressor will oppress you Get rid of the oppressor and the oppression will cease. You now have an opportunity to uproot the corruption Have you seen these folks up here in these meetings? Yesterday's pre-meeting was just disrespectful sideshow. Smacking and chewing into mic, it's laughing. And I'm watching this with professionals. You all have made Newark a laughing stock, a meme. You have taught the people how to treat us. They see you smacking your child around. They gonna come in and smack them around too. You have taught the outsiders how to treat the Norkers How many times have we been asking Silver my parking? You used to brag about how you didn't have the skills to use the Barakas to get elected. It was a whole lot of talk, chest stuck out. The community with the snow, piss poor job, had to keep calling and get you to come down there. The businesses lost thousands of dollars. Cause I kept calling you until you stopped
I want to talk, I want to address two issues tonight. Our 2025 budget and City Hall's current relationship with one of the best boxing trainers in the world, Wiley Moses, the grandfather of Shakur Stevenson. In New York City, a 33 year old mayor took office and quickly announced a $12 billion deficit in Jersey City, a 41 year old mayor took office They both claim their financial problems were caused by Eric Adams and Stephen Philip, Younger leaders are more willing to be transparent about government finances and change course I believe we must do the same thing here in Newark. I am concerned that we are using temporary money, short-term borrowing and savings from past years Here are three reasons why balancing the budget When residents believe everything is stable, in an attempt to make our budget look balanced, That means when the next emergencies occur, to protect residents and respond properly. the longer we are dishonest about our budget, the more residents will pay through higher taxes, and more city debt that residents will have to repay. For too long, a culture of secrecy and dishonesty has shaped how our finances are measured, and that culture is put in the future of our city at risk. So to Councilman Quintana and Councilman Gonzalez, who are prepared to lead with transparency, explaining how City Hall helped shut down so I will not speculate on any private matters. that the relationship between Wale and City Hall And I told them I would come here tonight to explain why this matters for our city. Wale was training more than 300 of our youth. His gym was not only producing elite athletes, who otherwise would have been in the streets. What looked like simple boxing training to most people that helped develop hundreds of committed young people. Wale's work was economic opportunity for our youth. These are areas where our city is falling short, and our young people are the ones feeling the impact. If City Hall lets relationships like this fall apart and connected to real life opportunities. Wale's system helped guide Shakur Stevenson and we still have the chance to help him guide more young people and change their lives as well, because all three of them truly love our city, and they want to give their time and resources to help young people live in what we…
I want to talk, I want to address two issues tonight. Our 2025 budget and City Hall's current relationship with one of the best boxing trainers in the world, Wiley Moses, the grandfather of Shakur Stevenson. In New York City, a 33 year old mayor took office and quickly announced a $12 billion deficit in Jersey City, a 41 year old mayor took office They both claim their financial problems were caused by Eric Adams and Stephen Philip, Younger leaders are more willing to be transparent about government finances and change course I believe we must do the same thing here in Newark. I am concerned that we are using temporary money, short-term borrowing and savings from past years Here are three reasons why balancing the budget When residents believe everything is stable, in an attempt to make our budget look balanced, That means when the next emergencies occur, to protect residents and respond properly. the longer we are dishonest about our budget, the more residents will pay through higher taxes, and more city debt that residents will have to repay. For too long, a culture of secrecy and dishonesty has shaped how our finances are measured, and that culture is put in the future of our city at risk. So to Councilman Quintana and Councilman Gonzalez, who are prepared to lead with transparency, explaining how City Hall helped shut down so I will not speculate on any private matters. that the relationship between Wale and City Hall And I told them I would come here tonight to explain why this matters for our city. Wale was training more than 300 of our youth. His gym was not only producing elite athletes, who otherwise would have been in the streets. What looked like simple boxing training to most people that helped develop hundreds of committed young people. Wale's work was economic opportunity for our youth. These are areas where our city is falling short, and our young people are the ones feeling the impact. If City Hall lets relationships like this fall apart and connected to real life opportunities. Wale's system helped guide Shakur Stevenson and we still have the chance to help him guide more young people and change their lives as well, because all three of them truly love our city, and they want to give their time and resources to help young people live in what we call the trenches. But Wale is not the only relationship we need to repair. There are many mentors, coaches, artists, and entrepreneurs across North who are invested in our youth but feel disconnected and ignored by City Hall. If we are serious about protecting our youth and providing them with more opportunity, we must treat community leaders like Wale Moses and do right by Moses and the Stevenson family. So thank you for listening, and justice for Wale Begg.
Queen Dinesha Prybong, 39A 14th Avenue, Newark, New Jersey. I want to say two things before I get the business. I want to say justice again for Wale Begg. Y'all need to keep saying this brother's name. thank you to Mother Nature for the rain. The rain cleared the rest of the snow, well, almost, but it's more than what we did as a city. So I'm gonna talk about what I got to go through at work. I am the community liaison manager for 14 stores of McDonald's for the Canton of them, right? Within these stores in the city of Newark, and it seemed like when I get to the mic, I'm coming for one thing, got to come for 10 more. I am tired of having to call the police. I just found out that the West Market McDonald's So Amina, I'm desperately needing your vote until the city decides to do whatever they're gonna do. I was called from Irvington to go to West Market, if you would like to please show her that, because I want y'all to see what I got to deal with. I want y'all to see what the kids have to deal with. There was a young Caucasian balled up in the bathroom, pants down, with feces hanging from his rectum, they wanted me to shoot him with an arcane, I have grandkids, I have children, I have work to do. I am not gonna be tempted to be stuck by a needle That is not even the people that work for McDonald's job, giving them what they like, fries and burgers, which some don't like, but they always in there, right? which I don't care about all that stuff, for reaching back out to me because I need it. That's all I need is somebody to upper hand, and I was in a building where there was holes, I'm talking holes from the third to the basement, where it was raining and it wasn't raining, in their apartments where they had garbage phials and buckets and it was a mess with babies in this building. And that building was at 658 Sanford Avenue. When I got there, I talked to the landlord, I told him who I was, I told him what I do. I said, sir, they can't live under these conditions, He was gonna do it and he…
Queen Dinesha Prybong, 39A 14th Avenue, Newark, New Jersey. I want to say two things before I get the business. I want to say justice again for Wale Begg. Y'all need to keep saying this brother's name. thank you to Mother Nature for the rain. The rain cleared the rest of the snow, well, almost, but it's more than what we did as a city. So I'm gonna talk about what I got to go through at work. I am the community liaison manager for 14 stores of McDonald's for the Canton of them, right? Within these stores in the city of Newark, and it seemed like when I get to the mic, I'm coming for one thing, got to come for 10 more. I am tired of having to call the police. I just found out that the West Market McDonald's So Amina, I'm desperately needing your vote until the city decides to do whatever they're gonna do. I was called from Irvington to go to West Market, if you would like to please show her that, because I want y'all to see what I got to deal with. I want y'all to see what the kids have to deal with. There was a young Caucasian balled up in the bathroom, pants down, with feces hanging from his rectum, they wanted me to shoot him with an arcane, I have grandkids, I have children, I have work to do. I am not gonna be tempted to be stuck by a needle That is not even the people that work for McDonald's job, giving them what they like, fries and burgers, which some don't like, but they always in there, right? which I don't care about all that stuff, for reaching back out to me because I need it. That's all I need is somebody to upper hand, and I was in a building where there was holes, I'm talking holes from the third to the basement, where it was raining and it wasn't raining, in their apartments where they had garbage phials and buckets and it was a mess with babies in this building. And that building was at 658 Sanford Avenue. When I got there, I talked to the landlord, I told him who I was, I told him what I do. I said, sir, they can't live under these conditions, He was gonna do it and he wanted me to take them to the hotel, call him when we got there, even if it was a sleazy to a upscale hotel, because they almost lost everything in the house but it's not raining in these three apartments. So I'm backing forth on the phone with the Pre Kelly, I had to really get one of y'all on the phone to make a slumlord do a job that's still currently I ain't never been on a roof in my life. to take snow off a roof and throw it on to the street. He paid two people, he didn't pay the other people, and he definitely didn't pay me for my influence. So I'm asking everybody at large and the Pre Kelly, The, I'm gonna give y'all the phone number, hold on. They are the Triangle Management of Spring Valley, not to mention he bragged in front of code enforcement the other day and said how he allegedly, because I don't know, allegedly, razzed his boy and he gave him $10,000 on his campaign. What does that have to do with you being a slumlord, So if he gave him 10 grand, I need my 400. We need to get these slumlords that don't live in the city of Newark out of the city of Newark.
I believe that when I come up here to tell the council about themselves, that I need to tell the people I would like to thank, in no particular order, Councilman President Crump and Roundtree who responded to me for the situation with my niece Queen. But I also would like to say my councilman, Russ Ward. Y'all made me feel like it was 2015, 2016, I had to wait a whole winter for this to happen. I put the email out, I put the text message out, I don't have to come to the mic all the time. I owe you some information and I'm gonna get it to you. For years we have came up in here and said, where is the prepared readiness program for the city? John couldn't even be there for the South for us. So we know OEM, he wasn't there through COVID. He hasn't made a statement about anything. Why did we expect anything different in these streets? And y'all had salt piled up in the street. and I got all this stuff here in my car. Y'all had a whole, we had how many inches? We had 11 and you still couldn't do it years later, We had 22 inches later, so I apologize, Pat. you didn't have a prepared readiness program. if something was to happen to our residents? if something was to happen in these buildings? we had eight brand new trucks with shovels on the front It was the lack of equipment that y'all had. And that one-minute man, that didn't impress me. Because if you had the staff that they needed in DPW when everybody wanted to take the jobs from the union and everybody in this place wanted to come shovel, You could have got trucks and put it in there Or you could have opened the school lots All we ask for you is to partnership with us Because we know the people here can't get it done. Y'all borrowing already probably from 2027 And I don't need everyone to come up here and say nothing to me about false advertisement, You said Ms. Parker was lying about that budget to come up that we $255 million in debt. $255 million, but we couldn't even remove snow. Oh, I'm sorry, that's not even every princess. We just ask for the council to assist the advocates.
Gonzalez, I wanna thank you for the years. Good day, criminal cult that's running our government. The same folks that lie, steal and cheat for their seats. The homeowner is paid for a property manager Why is your literature inside of the recreation calendar using every avenue to cheat to get elected. And now the mayor wants to install a 250 foot mural of his family member over in the South ward. Not an honorable mention to Shaw, Donald Bradley or none of the other greats that came before Take George Floyd's ass off City Hall steps. didn't find your landlord that was slumlords, give you unhealthy food, raffles, prizes Hell, they don't even care your children aren't educated I don't care about these political prostitutes and not advocating and holding y'all accountable, I honor Councilman George Branch, Buddy Gee. and undermine all the work that's been done, whether it be in senior buildings to pray, give them a little trinket and stay alas food, This young lady came here for two years. The three people in the South Ward, four, including Rad, didn't do jack to help her. Colleen Fields is living in Penn Station Councilman Quintana, that you're authorizing. to bring the funding back for the same thing. when the application reopened up in December no TNs and Gray-Saw can go apply for benefits because those who receive social services can still get that parenting assistance. But if we communicate and talk with each other, But yet, last week you made a statement, You know, our mayor came out with this big, But you're not thinking about the people if you don't understand the people you lead? But I had to move on to something better. And to be fair, Councilman Silva, thank you. I'm not gonna tie up other people's time. Councilwoman Amina Bay is the only person We can't even follow up and ask them for help Y'all still haven't talked to the people. Councilman Gonzalez, thank you for the years of service. Thank you for bringing up them questions. When I get in that seat, I'm gonna continue that too. Because this time, I don't sit up here just talk. It just got warm the last couple of days. How can you when the wiring is not right? let's bring up some legislation to help these residents. But you wanna have a cigar party though.…
Gonzalez, I wanna thank you for the years. Good day, criminal cult that's running our government. The same folks that lie, steal and cheat for their seats. The homeowner is paid for a property manager Why is your literature inside of the recreation calendar using every avenue to cheat to get elected. And now the mayor wants to install a 250 foot mural of his family member over in the South ward. Not an honorable mention to Shaw, Donald Bradley or none of the other greats that came before Take George Floyd's ass off City Hall steps. didn't find your landlord that was slumlords, give you unhealthy food, raffles, prizes Hell, they don't even care your children aren't educated I don't care about these political prostitutes and not advocating and holding y'all accountable, I honor Councilman George Branch, Buddy Gee. and undermine all the work that's been done, whether it be in senior buildings to pray, give them a little trinket and stay alas food, This young lady came here for two years. The three people in the South Ward, four, including Rad, didn't do jack to help her. Colleen Fields is living in Penn Station Councilman Quintana, that you're authorizing. to bring the funding back for the same thing. when the application reopened up in December no TNs and Gray-Saw can go apply for benefits because those who receive social services can still get that parenting assistance. But if we communicate and talk with each other, But yet, last week you made a statement, You know, our mayor came out with this big, But you're not thinking about the people if you don't understand the people you lead? But I had to move on to something better. And to be fair, Councilman Silva, thank you. I'm not gonna tie up other people's time. Councilwoman Amina Bay is the only person We can't even follow up and ask them for help Y'all still haven't talked to the people. Councilman Gonzalez, thank you for the years of service. Thank you for bringing up them questions. When I get in that seat, I'm gonna continue that too. Because this time, I don't sit up here just talk. It just got warm the last couple of days. How can you when the wiring is not right? let's bring up some legislation to help these residents. But you wanna have a cigar party though. But you gotta remember, what are you here for? I asked you three years ago, why do you service? But if my own councilmen don't even wanna help me, you take that out with your makeup when you get there. But people are gonna make some changes this May.
And they shared with me the issues that they have. And I emailed those concerns to the council members. And we have to do better by our seniors. because I live here and I see what's going on. roaches, mice, no blinds on the windows, dishwasher issues, gas in the apartment, this information was mailed to the council members. Also, I wanna mention that one of my coworkers the signs for handicap is being removed. So I wanna know if you guys could let us know, That the signs for the handicap is being removed. And then the other thing is that Councilman Kelly, Because we have issues that we have to deal with. And one of the key things that I come up you will see the slumlords didn't do anything. This is really getting to the point where I really don't understand what's going on. Because these slumlords are able to get away that the issues that they're dealing with If we don't care, we also see the difference. So why don't we start caring for our residents? And our senior citizens, as I said earlier, one of the key things that they need is housing. And a lot of the clients that I work with, one of the key things that they're dealing with And what I do is I call down to the mayor's office so they can give me referrals where to send them to. But there are things that we can make happen God has blessed you to be sitting up there We have to start doing better for our residents and stop paying, getting these slumlords
I reside at Vanderpool Street in Newark, New Jersey. recently I was just thinking of January 8th, 2019. But my understanding with her concern was whether or not we're going to receive jobs. how are the pennies, since it's discontinued, how are these pennies gonna be collected? That's one cents, two cents, three cents, four cents. And when they're collected, finally they are, like a government fund for the disadvantaged I think they said they were gonna be destroyed. that would somewhat prove that we've donated to a fund, each resident citizen could be able to apply for assistance from that donation of those pennies. Could we, I just, also the government has, I've noticed there's a sort of a question, some way if our government could fund somewhat the, not the corporate, but the companies and maybe we could qualify, maybe over hardship on the qualif, that to be qualified for the balance. And this would end our waiting for a governor that we're not, it's not the time for our minimum wage. If it's in the law, we should be able to receive it. which would be the Secretary of Treasury, the Board of Governors, Comptroller of Currency, and the Commodity Future Trading Commission, National Credit Union, Administrative Board, and when we talk about the funding in Title I, So that means that we would be able to use the loans
I come here today to address cultural erasure, but before we do that, justice to Walibi. Black History Month is a time to honor the people, the sacrifices, and the history that shaped black life because flags tell a story about who we are This is not an attack on Pan-Africanism. But Black History Month is about black Americans, The red, black, and green Pan-African flag through the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Its purpose was to promote global black unity across nations, cultures, and continents. But black Americans are more than just a global identity. We are a distinct people with specific historical experiences and the Reconstruction era beginning in 1865, represents formerly enslaved black Americans who were transitioning from slavery to citizenship. nation-building within the United States of America. It represents emancipation, reconstruction, When we replace or blend black American symbols with broader global ones during Black History Month, We blur the lines between African heritage And when that line is blurred for too long, The people who built America's infrastructure, not through hostility, but through substitution. Honoring the Freedmen's flag during Black History Month that black Americans and our contribution But when we honor Black History Month here in this country, we must be specific because symbols often disappear.
I worked at Newark Preschool for 17 years. in the place for four years in the city of Newark.
I've been an educator for over 50 years. I worked for Newark Preschool Council for 17 years. And I'm now a family child care provider We have been fighting for the last few years to have a medical insurance, a retirement plan, I would like to give the example of residents At first, about the needs of child care subsidy. We've been fighting recently for better pay, retirement benefits, and health care benefits for child care subsidies for the community. Example, there's a mom who came into my daycare She was not able to get child care assistance and two weeks ago, her home caught on fire. But now, she's not able to go out and look for a job and she's not able to pay for child care. I've been caring for her youngest son for free, But this is beyond what I'm able to give. Meanwhile, Prudencia Center is giving her was recently given a tax break of $300 million The state has told us over and over again But they prioritize giving this money to a corporation that makes a lot of money every year with all their events. Instead of using it to help poor families in New Jersey, that will support the need for child care. And we're asking, we need all of the council people to vote yes in favor of this resolution.
That's where you're gonna need it at, not in here. You spent about 15 million on snow removal. It cost to scoop up that snow down in the East Ward. because ain't none of y'all got the nerve. Still can't cross the street at Speedway. 80% of the students at Speedway are handicapped. me and him gonna have it out in that hallway. You asked for $232 million now this year My father walked these streets with Tom King My mother, with 31 years at Westside High School Lillian Jackson, the first black PTA president That's why y'all don't bring that mess to my house. That's why y'all don't send the threats to me. and people out here threatening and intimidating people. Parents gotta pay three, four, five, six hundred dollars per kid to do football and cheerleading. These grandparents who got these grandkids, they don't got $300 per kid to do no damn football. of these coaches and Pop Warner that's so dedicated? You ain't walking no kids home from practice. Where they was at last night with the shoot at NCAA. Because all these programs was built off of my back, who did this 20 years before this got here. Over 10,000 claims before y'all even thought With parents, with their kids on respirators, life support, didn't know if they was gonna make it. 300, 300, 3.5 million dollars for salaries. What you doing with that five million, Ras? maybe a little bit more in your election coffers. You do not have the right to put the employees of this city who are the lowest paid employees in this city who are not civil servants, have no protection. That's why they gotta kiss y'all behind. because he know he ain't gotta fix nothing. All these damn LLC boys contribute to all of you This mold and this asbestos and every building out here And Ras, you better bring that check over here tonight. Let me begin tonight by saying justice for Wally Bay. we understand that the claim is the attorney general But what I asked was that you guys as a council would reach out by way of resolution or letter, There were people present at the scene of the incident. And this officer certainly shouldn't be suspended with pay after he's murdered somebody in the city. But if he is, he will then now have collected…
That's where you're gonna need it at, not in here. You spent about 15 million on snow removal. It cost to scoop up that snow down in the East Ward. because ain't none of y'all got the nerve. Still can't cross the street at Speedway. 80% of the students at Speedway are handicapped. me and him gonna have it out in that hallway. You asked for $232 million now this year My father walked these streets with Tom King My mother, with 31 years at Westside High School Lillian Jackson, the first black PTA president That's why y'all don't bring that mess to my house. That's why y'all don't send the threats to me. and people out here threatening and intimidating people. Parents gotta pay three, four, five, six hundred dollars per kid to do football and cheerleading. These grandparents who got these grandkids, they don't got $300 per kid to do no damn football. of these coaches and Pop Warner that's so dedicated? You ain't walking no kids home from practice. Where they was at last night with the shoot at NCAA. Because all these programs was built off of my back, who did this 20 years before this got here. Over 10,000 claims before y'all even thought With parents, with their kids on respirators, life support, didn't know if they was gonna make it. 300, 300, 3.5 million dollars for salaries. What you doing with that five million, Ras? maybe a little bit more in your election coffers. You do not have the right to put the employees of this city who are the lowest paid employees in this city who are not civil servants, have no protection. That's why they gotta kiss y'all behind. because he know he ain't gotta fix nothing. All these damn LLC boys contribute to all of you This mold and this asbestos and every building out here And Ras, you better bring that check over here tonight. Let me begin tonight by saying justice for Wally Bay. we understand that the claim is the attorney general But what I asked was that you guys as a council would reach out by way of resolution or letter, There were people present at the scene of the incident. And this officer certainly shouldn't be suspended with pay after he's murdered somebody in the city. But if he is, he will then now have collected a dime I've seen cases come before this council where people were suspended without pay, went through the process and were then found not liable And so we're calling for some immediate justice here to the attorney general and impress upon them the importance of releasing that footage. Secondly, at the previous council meeting, Councilman Crump, you responded to something should be bringing these types of things but if the council isn't going to afford me or any of the residents who come here and speak when we were against police in the council chambers. I remember a time when we were against the police coming up to members and residents in this council and approaching them in an aggressive way, You don't care about hearing of the citizens and the people want to hold you here at work, to sit members of law enforcement on them. that I am running for council member at large And any council member that won't stand with me on that issue, I will try to get you out of here too. Housing has been the number one issue in this city. Listen, we need to address those homeless shelters. Please somebody out of you nine, help Ms. Ellsworth.
There's been a lot of talk about black history. However, I am part of the history of Newark. the city of Newark built no new housing. that I moved back to be a part of that group, I mentioned that specifically Councilman Bay You probably don't know how my name is pronounced, but I know you got all my emails about the snow plowing Yes, we started the history of Nainian came in, and said that the street had been plowed. half the street society Hill, the other side. That was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. someone in the community contacted sanitation directly I know I had told you where they could pile the snow. They could have taken the snow off the whole street and piled it at the end and it would have been fine. I am very, very happy that no one on that street I know that we can do better as a community. I mean, I can get you a contractor to fix the sidewalk. As we move forward, when you look at your vision,
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of Newark.
I'm a father, citizen, resident and worker. First, I wanna surrender 10 seconds of my time for Conrad Walibe and the other gentlemen that transitioned up in the weekway section. Ache, from the Coulter family and the Wright family, in the Newark community a blessed Ramadan and for the Christians in Newark to be comforting to the Muslims during this time of Ramadan. To the municipal employees, male and female, we appreciate the good municipal employees even if they don't have the benefits that they need, even if they're being caught in the bureaucracy within the government of the city that I love, Municipal employees, hold on to the ship because we might need to steer it a new direction. I was in a senior building on Broad Street, Oh, and me and this brother had some intense discussions but now we've come full circle to meet as citizens, But those seniors who spoke to me in Spanish, Che, what's going on with the meeting being streamed in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Creole? Now my challenge to you is, to y'all nine is, I'm gonna give the municipal language ordinance to these candidates behind me that are running. to bring the change in North that we need. K through eight academic infrastructure is failing. Our kids right now need more opportunities for our boys and girls than we've ever needed before. The office of employment and training with one stop It should be the office of employment and innovation, Mu Ta and Lamont and to the others at large. The seniors said, Gail is coming like a roaring lion. I don't know what they were talking about, Good job on the, I saw you out and about, stepping out of the Cadillac on a good foot, That's the Silva we like, the proactive Silva. y'all have not been vocal enough on our fiscal budget. We have section eight residents who are struggling At large, we need y'all to become much more vocal In Philadelphia, when I was 19 years old, I got involved with an organization called The lead lawyer who was from my college, We're going back to court in another 10 days. They got a real good female lawyer on it. And y'all, nothing's acknowledged them with a drum. So I support everything that Mutai said earlier. We built this nation to the Board of Education And I…
I'm a father, citizen, resident and worker. First, I wanna surrender 10 seconds of my time for Conrad Walibe and the other gentlemen that transitioned up in the weekway section. Ache, from the Coulter family and the Wright family, in the Newark community a blessed Ramadan and for the Christians in Newark to be comforting to the Muslims during this time of Ramadan. To the municipal employees, male and female, we appreciate the good municipal employees even if they don't have the benefits that they need, even if they're being caught in the bureaucracy within the government of the city that I love, Municipal employees, hold on to the ship because we might need to steer it a new direction. I was in a senior building on Broad Street, Oh, and me and this brother had some intense discussions but now we've come full circle to meet as citizens, But those seniors who spoke to me in Spanish, Che, what's going on with the meeting being streamed in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Creole? Now my challenge to you is, to y'all nine is, I'm gonna give the municipal language ordinance to these candidates behind me that are running. to bring the change in North that we need. K through eight academic infrastructure is failing. Our kids right now need more opportunities for our boys and girls than we've ever needed before. The office of employment and training with one stop It should be the office of employment and innovation, Mu Ta and Lamont and to the others at large. The seniors said, Gail is coming like a roaring lion. I don't know what they were talking about, Good job on the, I saw you out and about, stepping out of the Cadillac on a good foot, That's the Silva we like, the proactive Silva. y'all have not been vocal enough on our fiscal budget. We have section eight residents who are struggling At large, we need y'all to become much more vocal In Philadelphia, when I was 19 years old, I got involved with an organization called The lead lawyer who was from my college, We're going back to court in another 10 days. They got a real good female lawyer on it. And y'all, nothing's acknowledged them with a drum. So I support everything that Mutai said earlier. We built this nation to the Board of Education And I heard Big Sister Deborah Salters in my earshot. What is going on with the North Board of Education? They have no school board members negotiating the repayments Thank the Lord for waking us up this morning for blessing our family, our friends, the homeless, especially the homeless, the needy and our feminists. I wanna say a quote before I start with my complaints But I need all of y'all that come to activists to understand why we not getting answers. It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on him not understanding it. I wanna give a moment of silence for my nephew, So I'm waiting on safe travels for him to get here. He grew up and was raised down a dating street On Instagram, his name was O.G. Waa or the Wizard When it came to rapping, he traveled all over because that was what I was supposed to do at that meeting. I need the cameras to stay on at all times. Not this meeting that I missed my name called, Well, this young officer gave me three tickets I was so nervous, I told him it was my niece. she working ruckus over there, so security. So I'm coming from Bergen Street, heading over. On my way coming back, I saw the ruckus, whatever. If anything's wrong, you know they stop you. As I get about with Muhammad Ali Avenue and Bergen, it's a car that's over this park, car 413. They come in the course and they make a U-turn. which they don't enter, I'm right there. I'm thinking it's gonna be the other car, I rolled my window down, all windows up. I'm yelling out, what's the probable cause? He jumps out after he decided to run my plate asked me for my license and registrations. The Hispanic one, I tried to make a laughter out of it and asked him was he related to Quintana that tickets say Rolls, Street, and Bergen. do not enter, camera there, camera here. My sister on the phone, tell them it's a thing. They stopped me, asked me what's the problem. I did a job since the 26th of getting the ticket. I went around all different police departments, asking why they didn't give me a warning. but it was in my sister's name when they stopped me. They can't approach our young kids like this.
I got my key mark on, so I'm not gonna be cursing I'm sure all of y'all seen on that video B.O.N. is the county, the sheriff's offices, because I didn't want to miss the opportunity, how he's been targeted by the North police. So what they doing now, because we have technology, So if it's a high crime area with shooting or drugs, they get the flight of drones where people can't see them. Our young black men, our community members, whoever it is, and they get to watch the community. not even 15 minutes, I was called by somebody that said they got your son on Broad Street and Parkhurst. So I ran lights, because I know a lot of police, When I got down here, I seen them banging my son around, maybe like two minutes into what y'all seen they was doing that to him, and I was yelling, but also trying to get my phone together before an officer said I couldn't do it. And I know I could record, because two years ago, you was there, you took pictures with me, and understand how the North Police Department operate, You know, I'm from Strathen and Clinton Avenue. In our culture, we say, F-U-C-K to police. because of the various reasons that we have. It's by design for us to feel like this. Now they trying to lock me up for wandering. he has been locked up six different times A lot of times, I see people from the city because I'm still on Clinton Avenue, Avon. I can't stray away from the people that I know, because I'm dealing with the North Police Department, or I'm dealing with these various organizations, because before all this, I was community. that parole is not even actually supposed to send a offender or incarcerated returning citizen because I've been down here broke, I'm homeless. I mean, I've been getting help doing stuff, but I could not afford for him to be away he been telling me, illegal cavity searches. And that's the, like, I have never heard no house N-I-G-G-A sugar honey ice and tea. it was confirmed by the captain of police. Basically like wanting my son to work with him. pay for his MF-ing funeral if he work with them? Like we have a lot of people within this room they're not telling anybody that…
I got my key mark on, so I'm not gonna be cursing I'm sure all of y'all seen on that video B.O.N. is the county, the sheriff's offices, because I didn't want to miss the opportunity, how he's been targeted by the North police. So what they doing now, because we have technology, So if it's a high crime area with shooting or drugs, they get the flight of drones where people can't see them. Our young black men, our community members, whoever it is, and they get to watch the community. not even 15 minutes, I was called by somebody that said they got your son on Broad Street and Parkhurst. So I ran lights, because I know a lot of police, When I got down here, I seen them banging my son around, maybe like two minutes into what y'all seen they was doing that to him, and I was yelling, but also trying to get my phone together before an officer said I couldn't do it. And I know I could record, because two years ago, you was there, you took pictures with me, and understand how the North Police Department operate, You know, I'm from Strathen and Clinton Avenue. In our culture, we say, F-U-C-K to police. because of the various reasons that we have. It's by design for us to feel like this. Now they trying to lock me up for wandering. he has been locked up six different times A lot of times, I see people from the city because I'm still on Clinton Avenue, Avon. I can't stray away from the people that I know, because I'm dealing with the North Police Department, or I'm dealing with these various organizations, because before all this, I was community. that parole is not even actually supposed to send a offender or incarcerated returning citizen because I've been down here broke, I'm homeless. I mean, I've been getting help doing stuff, but I could not afford for him to be away he been telling me, illegal cavity searches. And that's the, like, I have never heard no house N-I-G-G-A sugar honey ice and tea. it was confirmed by the captain of police. Basically like wanting my son to work with him. pay for his MF-ing funeral if he work with them? Like we have a lot of people within this room they're not telling anybody that the policy and laws do not fit the description of the trauma First I'd like to say thank you to all those who, And let me thank all of those that came before me and some of the things we get to enjoy today. Also want to say condolences to Reverend Jackson you had the nerve to say to the director you talked about blood being on his hand, Because before there was a Renee Good or Alex Preti, Because those were ICE officers that you assaulted. You better thank your God you're here to tell about it This is how you know she don't go to church, and she don't go to nobody's Bible study. for the officers that killed somebody else? And then let me go here with our governor. Because all y'all talk about immigration, undocumented. All you wanna talk about is ICE, immigration. When you got black negroes at landlord's tenured court Those of y'all at landlord tenured court, report illegal activity of you being put out of your home. How dare you talk about four, five houses you have to be a developer that have experience. Oh my God, you almost made me call you something. So let me just think of who gonna get this, right? Because if they gotta be experienced, right? Won't be no Newark residents, that's for damn sure. Why would this Negro on the second floor why wouldn't he give residents an opportunity Give them an opportunity to become experienced The blood is on your hand, black woman, black man. Not talking about you Puerto Ricans and Brazilian. I'm talking about black woman, black man, black man, black black man, and you black woman. Every day y'all lay down in that year, Amina, because you went over to 24 hours a piece and you had the nerve to talk about what you do and tell them about the services that you offer. I don't have no money, I don't have no money. And Hakeem Jeffries, you black, you black, you black. Stop it with these undocumented immigrants. that we came on a farm and let's stay there. You know we had that Clean and Green program.
Good evening, esteemed members of the city council First, I must acknowledge the invaluable work that the city council and your many partner organizations have done to combat homelessness and new work. whether it's emergency shelter provision, or the tireless efforts of social services demonstrate a commendable commitment to those in need. For this, I extend my sincere gratitude. Yet while the progress made so far is praiseworthy, One that I believe requires urgent attention. of one of our city's emergency shelters, that to truly address homelessness and new work, we must begin by affirming the most fundamental truth, regardless of their background, their ethnicity, I wish to share an experience from earlier this year I attended a meeting where director of shelter services, Mr. Luis Galerio, addressed a room full of individuals, people like me, seeking shelter and hope. I raised a question that could spark a meaningful dialogue on how to improve the conditions in our shelters and the services provided to those who rely on them. A cruel, sarcastic joke was made at my expense. I was assured that I would receive a phone call As of today, that phone call has yet to come. This isn't merely about my personal experience. It's about a larger issue that impacts all of us. those who have the ability to shape policies how can we be certain that they will carry out their roles with the empathy and integrity that this city This is not just a matter of a single isolated incident. It speaks to how we as individuals facing hardship Inside that very shelter where I was mocked, individuals displaced due to religious intolerance, those ostracized for their sexual orientation, people battling mental illness, addiction and trauma. other simply people who found themselves on a path And yet despite the vast array of experiences we were all treated as though we were invisible. When public officials mock those they serve, how can we trust them to faithfully serve us Newark must be a city that respects all of its residents, It must be a city that sees the humanity even when life has dealt them a difficult hand. what none of you could have known in that moment, is that I am not just a person without a home. Last summer I was accepted into one of the world's top universities ready to embark on my graduate…
Good evening, esteemed members of the city council First, I must acknowledge the invaluable work that the city council and your many partner organizations have done to combat homelessness and new work. whether it's emergency shelter provision, or the tireless efforts of social services demonstrate a commendable commitment to those in need. For this, I extend my sincere gratitude. Yet while the progress made so far is praiseworthy, One that I believe requires urgent attention. of one of our city's emergency shelters, that to truly address homelessness and new work, we must begin by affirming the most fundamental truth, regardless of their background, their ethnicity, I wish to share an experience from earlier this year I attended a meeting where director of shelter services, Mr. Luis Galerio, addressed a room full of individuals, people like me, seeking shelter and hope. I raised a question that could spark a meaningful dialogue on how to improve the conditions in our shelters and the services provided to those who rely on them. A cruel, sarcastic joke was made at my expense. I was assured that I would receive a phone call As of today, that phone call has yet to come. This isn't merely about my personal experience. It's about a larger issue that impacts all of us. those who have the ability to shape policies how can we be certain that they will carry out their roles with the empathy and integrity that this city This is not just a matter of a single isolated incident. It speaks to how we as individuals facing hardship Inside that very shelter where I was mocked, individuals displaced due to religious intolerance, those ostracized for their sexual orientation, people battling mental illness, addiction and trauma. other simply people who found themselves on a path And yet despite the vast array of experiences we were all treated as though we were invisible. When public officials mock those they serve, how can we trust them to faithfully serve us Newark must be a city that respects all of its residents, It must be a city that sees the humanity even when life has dealt them a difficult hand. what none of you could have known in that moment, is that I am not just a person without a home. Last summer I was accepted into one of the world's top universities ready to embark on my graduate studies But when the government shutdown occurred, The graduate student services at the university suggested I did everything in my power to remain on course, reaching out to members of the British parliament, trying to make my case, but despite all my efforts, Every person facing hardships deserves to be treated with respect, with empathy and with dignity. What I ask of you Newark is that we do not merely but that we treat them as full and valuable human beings.
Newark resident, former senior program analyst in the mayor's office of affirmative action I appear before you tonight regarding statutory compliance and economic consequences of non implementation of the council's own enacted ordinances. Under the Faulkner Act, this governing body Under NJSA 40 colon 48 dash one and two, municipalities possess broad police powers to enact ordinances necessary for the protection This council used that authority to adopt binding, local hiring and affirmative action ordinances requiring Newark residents employment participation, minority contractor inclusion and compliance oversight in connection with development projects, receiving public approvals and economic incentives. Under established principles of municipal law raises seriously concerns under New Jersey constitution guaranteeing equal protection and due process. and federal protection under 42 USC and 1983, which provides remedies where constitutional rights When local hiring laws are enacted to protect residents, but enforcement mechanisms are not applied, Newark has experienced unprecedented development activity, including projects supporting through tax abatements under long-term tax abatement exemption law, the municipality assume heightened responsibility to assure that public benefit obligations are honored. Based on development volumes and workforce ratio, failure to rigorously enforce resident hiring provision has resulted in loss of approximately 1500 That should have been accessible to Newark residents at prevailing wage and skilled labor rates. That represents hundreds of millions of dollars In addition, procurement and subcontracting patterns suggest that such as much as a billion dollars annually in contracts may have flowed outside Newark rather than circulating through Newark-based Under basic economic multiplier principles, when wages and contracts leave municipalities, greater vulnerability of homelessness and incarceration. These are foreseeable economic consequences of poverty. When legislative protectors are not implemented as intended under New Jersey Conceptor Act, employees who disclose or object to practices they reasonably believe violate law protectors My federal action asserts that when concerns regarding enforcement deficiencies were raised, corrective measures were not implemented But more importantly, it seeks recognition of economic harm experienced by Newark residents over an extended period. of miniscule authority under federal law. Leadership requires enforcement, transparency, public reporting benchmarks for local hiring percentages restoration of meaningful oversight authority. To the council, I respectfully urge commitment but a calculation of government conspiracy It is often a conumeration of effective policy decisions. We are on page four of the regular agenda. First of all, I just wanna thank all of the people We did a follow-up and…
Newark resident, former senior program analyst in the mayor's office of affirmative action I appear before you tonight regarding statutory compliance and economic consequences of non implementation of the council's own enacted ordinances. Under the Faulkner Act, this governing body Under NJSA 40 colon 48 dash one and two, municipalities possess broad police powers to enact ordinances necessary for the protection This council used that authority to adopt binding, local hiring and affirmative action ordinances requiring Newark residents employment participation, minority contractor inclusion and compliance oversight in connection with development projects, receiving public approvals and economic incentives. Under established principles of municipal law raises seriously concerns under New Jersey constitution guaranteeing equal protection and due process. and federal protection under 42 USC and 1983, which provides remedies where constitutional rights When local hiring laws are enacted to protect residents, but enforcement mechanisms are not applied, Newark has experienced unprecedented development activity, including projects supporting through tax abatements under long-term tax abatement exemption law, the municipality assume heightened responsibility to assure that public benefit obligations are honored. Based on development volumes and workforce ratio, failure to rigorously enforce resident hiring provision has resulted in loss of approximately 1500 That should have been accessible to Newark residents at prevailing wage and skilled labor rates. That represents hundreds of millions of dollars In addition, procurement and subcontracting patterns suggest that such as much as a billion dollars annually in contracts may have flowed outside Newark rather than circulating through Newark-based Under basic economic multiplier principles, when wages and contracts leave municipalities, greater vulnerability of homelessness and incarceration. These are foreseeable economic consequences of poverty. When legislative protectors are not implemented as intended under New Jersey Conceptor Act, employees who disclose or object to practices they reasonably believe violate law protectors My federal action asserts that when concerns regarding enforcement deficiencies were raised, corrective measures were not implemented But more importantly, it seeks recognition of economic harm experienced by Newark residents over an extended period. of miniscule authority under federal law. Leadership requires enforcement, transparency, public reporting benchmarks for local hiring percentages restoration of meaningful oversight authority. To the council, I respectfully urge commitment but a calculation of government conspiracy It is often a conumeration of effective policy decisions. We are on page four of the regular agenda. First of all, I just wanna thank all of the people We did a follow-up and a check with them yesterday. Council President, you were on those calls as well. So we are dealing with them through a cold enforcement I know Councilwoman Roundtree has been involved So as a team, we have been all dealing with them, making sure that the residents are taken care of. So once again, I wanna thank Queen and Felicia and all of the people who brought that to our attention. So we were able to deal with it very fast So we're gonna be dealing with that ASAP as soon as we can get up both our schedules to lock in. Councilwoman Scott Roundtree, I'm sorry. I just wanna piggyback off of what Councilman Kelly said because when Queen and the individuals were talking about the tenant from 658, actually Tex, because they told us they were gonna fix this problem within two days and they literally did put them up but we spoke to them after our conversation yesterday. I text the resident to see where she's satisfied. So I think we should follow up just to make sure is they're not the only residents in their building. Also in reference to the crack sidewalks and whoever's in charge of overseeing that property, would you please make sure that's inspected because that is a liability on behalf of the city if someone, you hold residents accountable and I know we all get put into the melting pot together. situations that one of our residents had come in, she makes just a little bit too much to get the help to the end of the road with our residents to make sure that we've done everything we possibly can I put some of these residents that are speaking And if they don't, they know they have to call me back So we wanna continue to hold them accountable. I'm hoping that one of the residents that spoke today, that the young lady that was supposed to help her did. And if not, then we need to talk to her tomorrow morning and see what else we can do because she assured me. because everybody's business is not everybody's business. within the last seven days and it has not been done, and what is happening with the homeless population in the city and the homeless shelters in the city. For the record, I forgot about that part. We need to go back and revisit the services that are given to the homeless population but they are people that are now calling me saying, We put a lot of money into the services and the care. And it's a shame that someone will call me and say, I've been here for a year, I'm trying to get out. I have a young baby that has never worked a day And so we've got to look at the programs. especially with the ones who are putting all this money We vote on money for them to do services. And we have people in shelters for two years or a year. and where those shelters are in the city, we need to review what's going on at Miller. We need to review again, what's going on at 224. I've getting pictures of the type of food. One of the shelters were not allowing people they had a baby and like, you can't bring no food in. But they may have food delivered by Uber. She's still in spite of all she's going through, I want to congratulate you on your business with the hair and still pressing your way through your purpose So we're going to have to set up that meeting and I probably will read it before the meeting is over. Thank you council woman, council woman Bae. and we're getting a little reprieve from the snow. And it definitely was a very challenging situation, but just want to just make sure that it was clear that every call, every text, every email has been responded to, every single one. and everyone has been doing the best that they could to make sure that there was a proper response about the handicap parking signs were being removed that it could be a whole host of reasons why a sign was removed from a particular property, but again, I'm not here to deny the reality of the people who experienced challenges is review what went right, what went wrong, and he wants to say anything more about that,
but we'll be doing an after action report, again, to determine what went right, what went wrong, because we should not be repeating that again. so I experienced a lot of what you experienced in terms of stepping over snow banks, okay? So that's what I wanna say with respect to snow. it's customary when you start preparing a budget, and when that budget comes to the city council, Also, I would like to just commend Mr. Youngblood. that will come very soon, in a few weeks or so. But when that budget is submitted to the city council, is to come and ask those types of questions, of the most important things that local government does, and that needs to be transparent in that, We've been doing so well, let's go for it. So I know there has been a number of comments I think that's something that we all agree on, the fact that we can't let these folks get away with some of the things that they're doing to the people that live in this community. As you know, it's no secret we have gone over, we've gone after some of these landlords for a number of things, including issues with molds and leaks and holes in the walls and elevator issues and proper windows and things of that nature. Tomorrow, the mayor will be signing an executive order in reference to another way to combat this issue when it comes to slumlords going after the worst, going after the worst landlords there are in the city. We're gonna create a list that will give us an opportunity to stop them from getting tax abatements, you know, pilots and things of that nature. So he'll be doing that tomorrow at 10 o'clock. And then I also recognize that there was some comments that we are trying to move forward with, We know that there's affordable housing crisis we've done a number of things, including of course, you know, several things that we've done different things on section eight housing it's a specific opportunity for NORC developers to get involved with providing affordable housing All of the deeds have to have a 50% area meeting minimum income when it comes to rental of the properties All of the deeds have to have that as a requirement You know, I came, you know, I was the bacon red but…
but we'll be doing an after action report, again, to determine what went right, what went wrong, because we should not be repeating that again. so I experienced a lot of what you experienced in terms of stepping over snow banks, okay? So that's what I wanna say with respect to snow. it's customary when you start preparing a budget, and when that budget comes to the city council, Also, I would like to just commend Mr. Youngblood. that will come very soon, in a few weeks or so. But when that budget is submitted to the city council, is to come and ask those types of questions, of the most important things that local government does, and that needs to be transparent in that, We've been doing so well, let's go for it. So I know there has been a number of comments I think that's something that we all agree on, the fact that we can't let these folks get away with some of the things that they're doing to the people that live in this community. As you know, it's no secret we have gone over, we've gone after some of these landlords for a number of things, including issues with molds and leaks and holes in the walls and elevator issues and proper windows and things of that nature. Tomorrow, the mayor will be signing an executive order in reference to another way to combat this issue when it comes to slumlords going after the worst, going after the worst landlords there are in the city. We're gonna create a list that will give us an opportunity to stop them from getting tax abatements, you know, pilots and things of that nature. So he'll be doing that tomorrow at 10 o'clock. And then I also recognize that there was some comments that we are trying to move forward with, We know that there's affordable housing crisis we've done a number of things, including of course, you know, several things that we've done different things on section eight housing it's a specific opportunity for NORC developers to get involved with providing affordable housing All of the deeds have to have a 50% area meeting minimum income when it comes to rental of the properties All of the deeds have to have that as a requirement You know, I came, you know, I was the bacon red but I think it's important that I come up here because I was actually accused of a crime tonight because y'all done got my mother involved And to get her involved into this political foolishness It would actually be a quick pro-pro for me who actually is like a father figure to me because I've known him since I was a baby. and stuff, some of the stuff that he's just making up and the mayor have a conversation and said, And I said, I don't have anything to do with that. Whatever you wanna do with that is on you. That's what I wanted to do was to make peace. Whatever was going on, let's just move forward. He did say something about the investigation. I said, I don't have nothing to do with that. If you've done that, that's on that, let it go. And I really don't like the nonsense that's going on that now my mother is responding to this foolishness. So I'm asking my mother to be honest with you. I done been maced in this council field. I don't need you to get involved in this stuff. But I do need individuals to correct the facts. Brother, I at least like to talk about tapes. where Rockman, Muhammad said, let's make a deal. and you're gonna say something like that, because it is just one individual that he's upset with, I think this is just nonsense as we go on. Oh, we assassinating African-American developers you don't want to support them, you don't want to work. As a matter of fact, I want to be clear, that want to just keep on screaming out. Steve Aalimara used to say to me all the time, And we gonna make sure that we win again. Mr. President, in terms of what the corporation and council indicated about the slum lords,
Ms. Bermadi, can you please stop talking there was, and I commend the administration the human cry of people who live at Two Nevada but I'm excited that that executive order is taking place and shutting some of these places whether we have to revoke those tax abatements so that the people, the city can have a quality of life. Again, the other thing, I'm in a little trouble. I fought for issues around the National League of Cities, but every single person around the country. I have sponsored many resolutions on this body, and I believe in the diversity of the city. that I'm only looking to help somebody, it is not so. I stood when some of you were not around with CDBG grants that were being cut around the country, I stood that charge, Councilman Tucker and others, but I'm not gonna let people try to take advantage. It's very me-like, I'm only trying to help some parents that wanna have childcare for their children. And I know the homeless situation at a different level. with homeless issues at the National League of Cities, I have dealt with a lot of issues that concern us, but I'm not gonna be allowed to be taken that I'm just gonna do something for some group. to serve every single citizen of the city, But I'm not gonna let my name be put around like that. Sometimes I've been controversial on issues. that I was, that resolution was given to me, Citizens came before us to give us these concerns. anyone who doesn't wanna understand that, it's okay. All right, but before we get to moving on, You, Mr. Alameen, you will be removed from the chamber All right, do you wanna be removed from the chambers? Officers, please remove Mr. Alameen from the chambers. All I ask is just for you to let the process go. We're conducting the business of the city. I'm gonna say two other things I wanted to mention. to think that we don't care about our seniors. but I can tell you for almost four weeks in a row, I've been at that building three weeks in a row. I've met with the owner, the management, the tenants, everyone to try to help alleviate the issues Because we don't do things the way you want us to do it. but we may not all…
Ms. Bermadi, can you please stop talking there was, and I commend the administration the human cry of people who live at Two Nevada but I'm excited that that executive order is taking place and shutting some of these places whether we have to revoke those tax abatements so that the people, the city can have a quality of life. Again, the other thing, I'm in a little trouble. I fought for issues around the National League of Cities, but every single person around the country. I have sponsored many resolutions on this body, and I believe in the diversity of the city. that I'm only looking to help somebody, it is not so. I stood when some of you were not around with CDBG grants that were being cut around the country, I stood that charge, Councilman Tucker and others, but I'm not gonna let people try to take advantage. It's very me-like, I'm only trying to help some parents that wanna have childcare for their children. And I know the homeless situation at a different level. with homeless issues at the National League of Cities, I have dealt with a lot of issues that concern us, but I'm not gonna be allowed to be taken that I'm just gonna do something for some group. to serve every single citizen of the city, But I'm not gonna let my name be put around like that. Sometimes I've been controversial on issues. that I was, that resolution was given to me, Citizens came before us to give us these concerns. anyone who doesn't wanna understand that, it's okay. All right, but before we get to moving on, You, Mr. Alameen, you will be removed from the chamber All right, do you wanna be removed from the chambers? Officers, please remove Mr. Alameen from the chambers. All I ask is just for you to let the process go. We're conducting the business of the city. I'm gonna say two other things I wanted to mention. to think that we don't care about our seniors. but I can tell you for almost four weeks in a row, I've been at that building three weeks in a row. I've met with the owner, the management, the tenants, everyone to try to help alleviate the issues Because we don't do things the way you want us to do it. but we may not all have the same path to get there. But I can tell you that everyone up here somebody mentioned somebody in Penn Station. I received a text message regarding that matter. In fact, I got a picture of them with her of doing what they needed to do for her. So, you know, people say certain things, With that being said, and Ms. Doc, I mean, come on. we're not gonna keep going in and out like this. We are on page four, the regular agenda. authorizing an issuance of $30 million, $100,000. Is this the 30 million that we are paying back And can we get an explanation of what's going on here? So if Mr. Guzman or whoever finance can get up here. And I don't know why y'all are so mad, really. I asked the question because your actions We've been saying the same thing for years. And then you say, you try to work with the people. Yeah, and I asked the question about the ordinance. So, I want an explanation about the ordinance, So, we'll have a response when you finish your statement. I was gonna ask Mr. Guzman to come up and explain it. Because I just wanna know if this is the $30 million that Mr. Baraka talked about in the article so that he didn't have to raise taxes on the residents because he said the average salary in Newark was $36,000. Then why, when it comes to affordable housing, you saying that the minimum you can make is 45,000. So, I need to know if this is what that 30 million is, well, you keep deferring it, you're not voting on it, then come May 13th, if he so happened to win, and then he wanna go forward with raising the taxes. Is this the 30 million that was in the article, Larry, like the rest of the municipalities have already did. I know you are scared of him, you're afraid of him. And so you don't want to address, it starts with him. So is that the 30 million, Larry, or anybody else? Ms. Jackson, you come, okay, all right, Eric. Good evening, Council President, Council Members, Benjamin Guzman, Acting Finance Director. To the question as to this 30 million, $100,000, the borrowing, is it to pay back the state loan, We are doing a three-year bond anticipation note to be able to spread out the cost of paying That is the smallest impact that we can do it in Otherwise we would be required to raise that 30 million As to the second question as to whether or not that's, I cannot answer to that because I do not know the specifics as to what the mayor was speaking to. but I can say that this is to pay the $30 million that the city owes the state of New Jersey,
Raz, you got us in the worst position we could ever be in. We have not made the bond payment at the county, which means the bond holder is going to be owning we're gonna do this 30 million dollar bond, because you just asked the state for some more money. So if we don't make this payment on March 3rd, thank you for clarifying that, young man, because you know, Mr. Pinniton would have got up here and say, oh no, no, that's not for that. and Jahad, George Tillman, thank you, amen. Y'all don't know what y'all talking about. and I don't know when we gonna pay that. I guess my granddaughter, who's now four, and then we don't have a 2025 budget approved, Y'all talking about rolling over the retro pay You don't even know what 2026 budget look like and these people still waiting for their money. So how much more money we gonna keep borrowing? And I get it, y'all got this slick move, approving budget here, emergency appropriation. because y'all don't know nothing about that. Sharp James left $600 million on the table. Corey Booker spent that dag on money in two years, and boy, Dundon Lightning could come through here that you guys have truly given us the shaft up the shaft. you have to admit that you gotta roll the retro pay over. that you've been flying around the city. Guarantee you'll get half of this bond you want trying to go for the immigrants or whatever. But how about the indigenous norcas of this city? coming on that you know are pieces of crap. You can ban me because she going to get it. The lawsuit is just going to keep piling up. And I clearly had of all these corporations owe us money. Nothing that can say good about none of you. Seeing none, public hearing is now closed.
we are in the hearing of citizens portion of this meeting where each speaker will have five minutes to speak. please approach the podium and address the council members.