April 14, 2026

We are in the 30-minute public comment portion of this meeting where each portion of this meeting where each speaker will have 3 minutes to speak. speaker will have 3 minutes to speak. Please state your name for the record. Please state your name for the record. Is there anyone wishing to address the Is there anyone wishing to address the council? Thank you. Good morning, Council President Crump Good morning, Council President Crump and council members. My name is Nicole and council members. My name is Nicole Love and I came here today because I Love and I came here today because I felt it was important to address the felt it was important to address the council and say I'm impressed with the council and say I'm impressed with the job that you guys are doing. I love what job that you guys are doing. I love what job that you guys are doing. I love what Mayor Baraka has done for the city. I'll Mayor Baraka has done for the city. I'll Mayor Baraka has done for the city. I'll continue to support you as my family continue to support you as my family members that went on before me, my members that went on before me, my mother Wilma Love, Hope Jackson, Eloise mother Wilma Love, Hope Jackson, Eloise Darby Thomas, Lorraine Whitaker, who all Darby Thomas, Lorraine Whitaker, who all Darby Thomas, Lorraine Whitaker, who all supported this administration. I look supported this administration. I look forward to working with you in the forward to working with you in the future on a project that I have planned, future on a project that I have planned, future on a project that I have planned, Love Pull Up Platters, a restaurant with Love Pull Up Platters, a restaurant with Love Pull Up Platters, a restaurant with a nonprofit arm that'll have a community a nonprofit arm that'll have a community a nonprofit arm that'll have a community garden, a library, and a financial garden, a library, and a financial literacy component. Thank you, council. literacy component. Thank you, council. I look forward to working with the city. I look forward to working with the city. I look forward to working with the city. Thank you very much, Ms. Love. is in high form. >> No reason to insult anybody in the >> No reason to insult anybody in the >> No reason to insult anybody in the chambers besides us. chambers besides us. >> I Did I say anybody's name? Yes, you >> I Did I say anybody's name? Yes, you >> I Did I say anybody's name? Yes, you did. Yes, you did, but it's okay. Just did. Yes, you did, but it's okay. Just continue with your continue with your >> was it? I said mental slavery >> was it? I said mental slavery >> Continue with what you >> Continue with what you want to say. >> in the city. I ain't say nobody's name. You're I ain't say nobody's name. You're absolutely right about that, though. absolutely right about that, though. >> Thank you. So, don't interrupt my time. >> Thank you. So, don't interrupt my time. >> Thank you. So, don't interrupt my time. Go ahead. Munirah El Bey Muhammad. equals no vote. No jobs at a livable wage No jobs at a livable wage equals no vote. equals no vote. No adequate low-income housing for the No adequate low-income housing for the people of Newark equals no vote. I've said several times here the corrupt breeding more corruption. And you allow it. And you allow it. Cuz we got two ordinances. We got one Cuz we got two ordinances. We got one ordinance for the city and we got one for the state. and we got one for the state. And it's about time that you get rid of And it's about time that you get rid of Dente's Towing Dente's Towing and also B&C Towing. And I'm quite sure and also B&C Towing. And I'm quite sure and also B&C Towing. And I'm quite sure you got numerous complaints about them. you got numerous complaints about them. But they all struck a rock with the But they all struck a rock with the towing of my vehicle. NUMBER ONE, UNAUTHORIZED PARKING MANAGEMENT. UNAUTHORIZED PARKING MANAGEMENT. Unauthorized Unauthorized landlord who didn't have parking tax landlord who didn't have parking tax with the city of Newark. with the city of Newark. Also, they put a post the the sign out Also, they put a post the the sign out the night before they came and TOWED MY the night before they came and TOWED MY CAR. NOT EVEN 24 HOURS. AND according to this AND according to this they VIOLATED THAT. they VIOLATED THAT. THEN ALSO, I WAS THERE RIGHT IN THEIR THEN ALSO, I WAS THERE RIGHT IN THEIR FACE WHEN THEY TOWED MY VEHICLE. SO, WHY FACE WHEN THEY TOWED MY VEHICLE. SO, WHY FACE WHEN THEY TOWED MY VEHICLE. SO, WHY YOU GO FROM THE PERSON YOU CAME TO tow YOU GO FROM THE PERSON YOU CAME TO tow when you see me, you started towing my when you see me, you started towing my vehicle. vehicle. AND YOU STARTED TOWING IT WHILE I'M AND YOU STARTED TOWING IT WHILE I'M RIGHT THERE TALKING TO YOU. THAT'S RIGHT THERE TALKING TO YOU. THAT'S ANOTHER VIOLATION. ANOTHER VIOLATION. ALSO, THEY'RE GOING TO BARGAIN WITH ME ALSO, THEY'RE GOING TO BARGAIN WITH ME WHILE THEY HITCH MY WHILE THEY HITCH MY VEHICLE UP TO PAY THEM $275. WHEN YOU GOT A PERSON RIGHT THERE ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE FROM THE ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE FROM THE STATE AND THE CITY, you're supposed TO STATE AND THE CITY, you're supposed TO DROP MY VEHICLE RIGHT THERE AS WE SPEAK. DROP MY VEHICLE RIGHT THERE AS WE SPEAK. DROP MY VEHICLE RIGHT THERE AS WE SPEAK. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU LET AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU LET EVERYBODY IN THE PARKING LOT GO WHO WAS EVERYBODY IN THE PARKING LOT GO WHO WAS ILLEGAL PARKED WHERE WE LIVE AT. WE WAS ILLEGAL PARKED WHERE WE LIVE AT. WE WAS GRANDFATHERED IN WITH NO PARKING. I'M GRANDFATHERED IN WITH NO PARKING. I'M SORRY, MS. MUHAMMAD. I'M SORRY. I JUST SORRY, MS. MUHAMMAD. I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT TO STOP YOU FOR A SECOND. MS. MS. WANT TO STOP YOU FOR A SECOND. MS. MS. BRADLEY, ARE YOU OKAY? >> I WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT SHE I'M GETTING >> I WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT SHE I'M GETTING MY TIME IN. MY TIME IN. >> I Yes, stop the time for her. I just >> I Yes, stop the time for her. I just >> I Yes, stop the time for her. I just want to make sure Ms. Bradley is okay. want to make sure Ms. Bradley is okay. You all right?

>> my time back. Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead, Ms. Muhammad. Go ahead, Ms. Muhammad. And then they refused. And then another And then they refused. And then another thing, when you when you when you tow thing, when you when you when you tow somebody's vehicle somebody's vehicle where the police was at. where the police was at. WHY I HAD TO JUMP IN MY VEHICLE THAT you WHY I HAD TO JUMP IN MY VEHICLE THAT you WHY I HAD TO JUMP IN MY VEHICLE THAT you illegally towed, YOU CALL THE POLICE illegally towed, YOU CALL THE POLICE AFTER the fact when they was supposed TO AFTER the fact when they was supposed TO AFTER the fact when they was supposed TO BE THERE? AND WHEN I SAY THE CORRUPT BREEDING MORE AND WHEN I SAY THE CORRUPT BREEDING MORE CORRUPTION AND CRIMINALITY, YOU ALL CORRUPTION AND CRIMINALITY, YOU ALL ALLOWING IT. Thank you, Ms. MUHAMMAD. ALLOWING IT. Thank you, Ms. MUHAMMAD. >> YOU ALL ALLOWING IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO >> YOU ALL ALLOWING IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO >> YOU ALL ALLOWING IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUED for that. Thank you for your BE SUED for that. Thank you for your comments. Good morning, council members. Morning. This is for Large the Free Kelly. My name is Raqueerah Bradley and I stand My name is Raqueerah Bradley and I stand you you represent Pretty Hustlers and you you represent Pretty Hustlers and Certified Hustlers, a social club Certified Hustlers, a social club proudly operating out of the heart of proudly operating out of the heart of the West Ward in Newark, New Jersey. the West Ward in Newark, New Jersey. We are not just an organization, we are We are not just an organization, we are a direct reflection of the community we a direct reflection of the community we serve. Every day, we are actively serve. Every day, we are actively impacting lives in the West Ward. We We impacting lives in the West Ward. We We are present where help is needed most are present where help is needed most among our children, families, and those among our children, families, and those who often feel forgotten. who often feel forgotten. Our mission is rooted in service, unity, Our mission is rooted in service, unity, Our mission is rooted in service, unity, and real community engagement. and real community engagement. This past Easter, we served 100 children This past Easter, we served 100 children This past Easter, we served 100 children right here in our community, but it right here in our community, but it wasn't just about giving out baskets, it wasn't just about giving out baskets, it wasn't just about giving out baskets, it was about creating a moment of joy, was about creating a moment of joy, stability, and care. We fed families stability, and care. We fed families with hot food, hot dogs, sausage, with hot food, hot dogs, sausage, chicken, macaroni, salad, macaroni and chicken, macaroni, salad, macaroni and cheese, and made sure every child left cheese, and made sure every child left with candy and a smile in abundance. with candy and a smile in abundance. That's real hands-on impact. It's just That's real hands-on impact. It's just one example of what we do. We operate one example of what we do. We operate out of the hall We Excuse me. We operate out of the West Ward school, We operate out of the West Ward school, the home of the Hustlers, which is the home of the Hustlers, which is located in the heart of the West Ward. located in the heart of the West Ward. That space is more than just a building, That space is more than just a building, That space is more than just a building, it's a safe haven, it's a where it's a safe haven, it's a where community members gather, where events community members gather, where events are held, where support is given, where are held, where support is given, where people feel seen and valued. We also people feel seen and valued. We also provide event space that allows the provide event space that allows the community to come together in positive, community to come together in positive, productive ways, whether it's productive ways, whether it's celebration, outreach events, or celebration, outreach events, or community meetings. We are creating community meetings. We are creating environments that promote unity and environments that promote unity and growth. Our presence reduce harms, growth. Our presence reduce harms, builds relationships, and creates builds relationships, and creates opportunity. opportunity. We are helping to keep our community We are helping to keep our community engaged, supported, and connected. We engaged, supported, and connected. We take proud pride in our civic duty. We take proud pride in our civic duty. We are active, and we are consistent, and are active, and we are consistent, and we're committed to Newark. We don't just we're committed to Newark. We don't just we're committed to Newark. We don't just talk [clears throat] about change, we talk [clears throat] about change, we work every single day to make that work every single day to make that change. And with that, we are here to change. And with that, we are here to say we are ready to do even more. We are say we are ready to do even more. We are say we are ready to do even more. We are open to collaboration with the city of open to collaboration with the city of Newark, with council leadership, and Newark, with council leadership, and other organizations that are committed other organizations that are committed to uplifting our communities. There is to uplifting our communities. There is power in partnership, and we are ready power in partnership, and we are ready to be part of the solutions that bring to be part of the solutions that bring real, lasting change to the West Ward real, lasting change to the West Ward and beyond. We ask to be recognized just and beyond. We ask to be recognized just and beyond. We ask to be recognized just not for who we are, but for the impact not for who we are, but for the impact that we are making, because we invest that we are making, because we invest Because when you invest in Pretty Because when you invest in Pretty Hustlers and Certified Hustlers, you are Hustlers and Certified Hustlers, you are Hustlers and Certified Hustlers, you are investing in our community, in the investing in our community, in the people of Newark. Thank you for your people of Newark. Thank you for your time, Mayor Alicia. Definitely time, Mayor Alicia. Definitely appreciate it. appreciate it. Thank you for your comments, Ms. Thank you for your comments, Ms. Bradley. Next speaker? No other speaker appearing, public speaking is now closed.