Council - Regular Meeting

was here. I got stuck. Welcome to the previewing of the Newark Municipal Council on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026. Council President, Council, I hate to say it. C uh uh uh Madame Clerk, I don't know if you can pull the mic up a little because we barely hear you. My apologies. Council President, council members, we are on page four of the agenda. Item five, reports and recommendations of city officers, boards, and commissions. Questions from the council.

Hearing none. Next item. Ordinances on first reading. 6FA is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to Neymar 763 South Orange Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a new five-story mixeduse building. Uh, Councilman Kelly. Yes. I'd like to sponsor this one. Please second. I'll second it. I just Yeah. Is my mic on?

Oh, we didn't hear you, Councilwoman. I'm sorry. Oh, did you? I'm sorry, Councilwoman. I didn't hear. You know, I normally hear you. I didn't hear you. Councilwoman Scott Brown seconds. Thank you. Dy noted. B is an ordinance that ratifies and authorizes the second amendment to the original tax abatement granted to Spruce Park Associates.

Questions from the council. Next item. C is an ordinance authorizing the mayor and/or his designate to enter into and execute an agreement with Bergen Street Partners LLC for the sale and redevelopment of city-owned property sponsored by Councilman Councel. Second by Councilman Kelly. Any questions on this?

I hear none. Next item. D is an ordinance ratifying and authorizing the mayor and or his designate to enter into and execute a lease agreement with South Orange, New Jersey, LLC for use as office space. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly, second by Councilman Council. Any questions from the council? Next item. Resolutions 7R1A and B are temporary emergency appropriations. A is the urban and community forestry program and B is the Ryan White HIV health and support services.

Questions from the council. Next item. C through F are purchasing resolutions. C is rescending a contract with Unique Security and Consulting. D is a state contract for water sewer equipment and supplies. E is an extension of an emergency contract for elevator inspections. And F is a bid contract for traffic sign materials. Uh uh any questions from the council? I do have a question um on 7R1C the rec re recision of the contract. H how do we proceed?

Good morning council president council members. Eric Pennington, business administrator. With respect to the recision of the contract, it was necessitated because that particular vendor failed uh in a couple of respects to comply with the terms of the agreement. One, they failed to provide the appropriate bond, which is a fatal flaw and cannot be modified after the fact. And two, uh, even though when we were trying to address that, they also failed to represent and certify that they're going to be paying the appropriate wage as set forth in the requirements under the RFP. So, that had to be terminated. In the interim, we have extended the emergency contract with the current provider for six months and we're going to go out with a new RFP uh to uh uh put out for security services. Okay.

I lost my train of thought there. Sorry. It's all right. Thank you, uh, Mr. B. Any questions for the VA? All right. Thank Thank you. All right. G and H are contracts with recipients to provide community-based violence intervention and prevention in youth mentoring and or safe passage healing academy LLC. Is there anyone from Rafale Healing Academy?

All right. Hearing seeing none, anyone here from Well, that's the same thing. I'm sorry. Next item. I is a competitive contract to provide a youth service provider for NORC residents. Anyone here from Morph Mentoring? I think someone's coming up.

Karen Gaylord, executive director for the New York Workforce Development Board. Morph Mentoring is not on site today, but I'm prepared to answer questions. I'm sorry. I hate to say I heard not one word. I could not. I'm sorry. Yeah, that's better. Um I'm prepared to answer any questions about this uh RFP if you have questions.

So the questions that we typically ask and as the council asked is number one, what are they currently doing or have been doing? And then what are they what what what are they going to do with the funds going forward? This particular No, this one's us mentoring. That's us. Sorry, this one is us. Uh the workforce board. Um this particular uh RFP was uh designed for opportunity youth ages 16 and 17. Uh we're looking for innovative programming to address that population in particular. the uh winner uh the awardee is expected to be colllocated at our one-stop location to perform uh the services under the WEOA act.

And I hate to ask you the cl and you might have said it but I I I'm really struggling to hear I don't know if it's getting over what I had but what services will they be providing? Uh they will be doing mentoring services and then uh I I I I don't know what it is, but today I'm struggling. They will be doing background services. Is that what you mentoring? Mentoring. Mentoring and other mentoring. Oh, thank you. Okay. It's all right. It's it's it's me, I'm sure. Go ahead. Mentor. Everybody mentoring says Okay. Thank Thank you. Any other any questions from the council?

All right. Thank Thank you, Miss Gaylord. Thank you. SevenR2 A through C are private sale redevelopment agreements. A is new construction of a two family home to be rented to section 8 housing choice voucher participants in the south board. Next item B is a new construction of two residential homes consisting of one four family home and one three family home both to be sold at market rate in the south and west board.

Council Kelly. Thank you council press. Um which is somebody here from from this project? Somebody here from this project. Developer here. Developer here from this project. No, developer is not here. Just wanted to know what which one was the four family, which one was the three family. Uh, okay. So, let's let's see if we can get that response from the uh EHD as to which I believe I have it in the in the background. My background. I just thought somebody was here, but Okay. Thank you. What's your pleasure Kelly?

Um, yes. I'm I went to a program. Uh, is somebody here from this this project? I went to a program where I met a couple of these the developers. It was a jump start program. I just wanted to know was excuse me were these anybody here from LevelUx LLC. I just wanted to know if they were from that program that I went to um this past summer. Okay. Thank you. All right. So, we'll move we'll move on, but if we can get a response, appreciate it.

Sure. C is to build three single family homes to be sold at an affordable weight affordable rate to income qualified households earning 100% area medium income in the west ward. Any questions from the council? Yeah, this is the west board as well, right? Yes. Um, this is the one I was talking about. Is there anybody from from this jump start program that the developer?

Good morning, uh, council president, council members. Allison Lad, director of economic and housing development. Um, they we do have a representative from Jumpstart, but I did want to share that this initiative started a few years back. um uh one of the um local community developers wanted to start a program to help teach others in Newark about how to become real estate developers. So they created the program on their own and have their own funding. Um but they do ask the city especially economic and housing development to come to sessions and trainings to help give information and I'm sure they do with others. This is the first um sale that we would be doing to that organization. Um and that that is the idea is to help train those that are um want to do business in Newark. So I'll let um the representatives speak, but I did want to give you a sense that we are familiar with the group. They have been doing work in Newark um and they've been training New Yorkers for the last few years, which has been great. Ju just one thing. Um, Deputy Mayor, can can you explain the 100% AMI just for the record for the people at home since we deal with a lot of 40 60 80 and what the 100% means to the people at home?

Sure. Uh, council member. So, Council President, uh, currently the HUD area median income for at 100% is approximately 125 $125,000 for a family of four. It goes up or down every year. And I'd say I don't know if they've reissued it in 2026. So my numbers might be 2025. And it's all done by HUD. We follow the federal government um rules. Thank you. Would you like to? Yes. Good morning. Hold the pull the mic up, please. Okay. Good morning. Thank you. Good day. Stay sh your name, please.

No, I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'm Kadija Caesar. I'm one of the founding mentors of Jumpstart Newark. So, are the the developers from this project were they in the class that I visited this past summer? I believe it was

correct. I believe you actually visited you and uh Councilman Council um our first our very first jump start um workshop which we were under the um operation with the Urban League of Essis County. Um they were definitely before we obtained our 5013C um certification. They were our fiscal sponsor um and they have still supported us but this is yes the same program. We have since uh completed five workshops and we've uh graduated over a hundred participants uh to date. Yeah. Council President, um I I would like to sponsor this. All right. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. Is there a second?

Second. Second by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree. I heard you that time. Thank you. Thank you. Uh any other questions? Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Councilman D is a professional service contract for on call consulting and E is a professional contract for on call environmental consulting. Questions from the council. Next item. F is a professional service contract for legal services for redevelopment as well as G and H. Questions from the council. Next item.

I is a grant agreement for the central ward. Any questions from the council? Next item. J is a loan agreement for the housing and urban development redevelopment project in the south and central ward.

Any questions from the council? Hearing none. Next item. K is to execute an affordable housing agreement for home funds with Rise and Plains Urban Renewal LLC to develop and construct a new four-story 19 unit affordable and supportive housing development consisting of three studio units, six one-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, and six of home funds are subsidized in the West Ward. Any questions from the council? Next item L is referral to the central planning board for an amendment to the zoning and land use regulations.

Questions from the council. Councilman Ramos. I'm sorry, Mr. President. Could somebody explain what changes you're looking to make? Yeah. I was going to ask come to come up.

I bleached you to the punch today. 7R2L on page 26, the proposed amendment and then Mr. president as they figure this out um with the home funds. Could we get an update in terms of how many how what kind of balances do we have available and over the last few years which projects throughout the city have we allocated home funds for?

All right. Through through you uh madame clerk get that information. Thank you. Good morning, Council President, council members. Allison Lad, uh, director of economic and housing development. Uh, council president on the second question that council council member Ramos asked which is about home funds we'd be happy to provide that to you. I think we try to do it on a annual basis so we'll be happy to provide that to you um as well. Uh second regarding the item before you uh thank you for your indulgence. Um I was making sure I was clear. Um this is a request for you to send um to the central planning board some modifications associated with the historic structures and how we actually look at naming historic structures. As you may know, the historic structure naming process and the historic registry is something that is managed by the state of New Jersey and that there is the ability for local um municipalities to also have a process that could be um sufficient and maybe more efficient so we'll be able to move through it faster. We have found through our planning director Palv Shindi that we know there are so many um historic um wonderments within the city of Norc and we'd like to be able to find a way to preserve them um in as much as move through adaptive reuse um and as opposed to having to demolish a structure that has character.

So that's something in which we've seen over the last couple um well last probably 5 years or so and we want to come up with a local approach to designating um historic structures and this is the first time you'll see it and then we'll come back with more detailed for you to consider it as an amendment to the ordinance. Councilman Canana,

you know, one example was the the Bpleas Pleasant Cemetery in terms of founding uh persons who founded the city of New York, right? So, there needed to be a space. So, it's at the historic uh cemetery uh which that historic cemetery has opened a new section uh for the folks who purchased plots already were going to be resting there. One of those first ones was Mayor Sharp James and there's others who have bought plots there to be and that historic cemetery uh Memorial Day. working on it to put that uh item that was on by the pack to place it at the um uh Mount Pleasant Cemetery which is the third second oldest uh cemetery in the state of New Jersey and again uh your efforts thank you so much and I want to make it public uh through your efforts and the business administrator and everyone and the mayor's office that took place and that's going to be something that people will be able to visit and say look this is what this is about in a cemetery where this story of the founding father of credential was in resting there so again I I thank you for that but you know the federal we also there's federal registries that are also and state and then our local one should be important too because we have a lot to say or who we want it to be what we wanted buildings to be recognized as historical landmarks.

Mr. President, thank you. Councilman Aramos, um just one thing, would would it be possible for us to send a copy of this to um the NORC preservation and landmarks committee? I' I'd like to get their their input um what these changes actually mean. I mean, they they've always been involved in identifying LA landmarks uh throughout the city, and I just want to get their feedback if possible. Uh yes, council president. Um and you'll be glad to know, council member Ramos, that the landmarks and historic commission has weighed in as well, and I'm sure they'd be happy to talk with you about it, but

I have no problem moving this forward because I know it's just a referral. it's going to come back to us. But just like to hear sometimes Miss Elufo reach out to us and ask, you know, why certain things are happening. She she'll call Louis and I about everything. Completely understood. And um and I apologize. I neglected to say that, but I do know that the um landmark and historic commission has been involved. Excellent. Um and that's how we were able to be comfortable also bringing it to the council. We know that it's a little bit of a shift. Um, but it's also important for us to preserve our history. So that's why we're looking for a local process in addition to what is already allowable through the state and through the um federal government. So thank you council member.

Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you deputy mayor. Thank you. Seminar 4A is approving form of sale of city secured bonds. Come on down.

Good morning, director. Good morning, council president, council members. Benjamin Guzman, acting finance director. Uh, this resolution is uh to authorize the sale of bond anticipation notes. The city has a number of bond anticipation notes that are maturing within the next uh I would actually say two months. So, we're actually combining a number of anticipation notes and together into one sale. uh mainly to uh minimize the impact to the market and to be able to uh be able to sell it to a broader range when we uh go out in pricing. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Thank you, director. You're welcome.

B is professional service contract for tax appraisal services. Questions from the council. Next item. 7R5A through D are amending resolutions for HIV AIDS health and support to increase amounts to subreients and extend the grant period. A is Newark Meth Israel Medical Center, B is Apostle House, C is Urban Renewal Corporation, and C is Hassan AIDS Foundation. Any questions from the council? Yeah, Mr. Chair, I would like to sponsor 7R5A and 7R5B.

Second. Second by uh Councilman uh Kelly on both items. And Mr. Chair, yes, Councilman, we can uh go back to uh seminar two if your permission. Sure. 7R2B. Yes. Like to uh defer that item. All right. Defer it as a whole. Anything else, Councilman?

That's it. All right. Thank you, Mr. President. That was me. I'm sorry. Council woman Bay. No. Uh thank you. Uh, I would like to uh sponsor 7R 5D. 5D as in David. Yes, sir. All right. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman. Mr. Chair, Council, I'm sorry. I just wanted to come back to uh 7R2J. Uh there may have to be an amendment. Uh the lots that are listed, two of them say South W. They are all in the central ward.

Could you repeat your question? I couldn't hear you. 7R2J, there are uh two blocks and lots that are listed as the south ward. Those blocks and lots are in the central ward. Yes, sir. All right. We'll do a scrivener's error for that. Okay. Council President, council members. Going back to Councilman Council's deferral on 7R2B. I didn't hear the second. You second by Councilman Kelly. Thank you.

All right. Next item. Okay. E is a contract with grant subreient to provide emergency shelter services, homelessness prevention, andor rapid rehousing assistance. Questions from the council. Hearing none. Next item.

F through Q are all contracts with sub recipients to provide HIV AIDS related health and support services. F is community health law project. G is Smith Center for Infectious Disease and Urban Health. H is Catholic Charities of Arch Dascese of Newark. J is Ruckers. I'm sorry. I is Ruckers. J is Newark AIDS consortium. K is St. James Social Services Corporation. L is Newark Community Health Centers. M is Rucker's the start program. N is AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. O is Urban Renewal Corporation. P is Catholic Family and Community Services and Q is North Jersey AIDS Alliance.

Any questions from the council? Hearing none. Next item. R is amending acceptance of grant funds to extend grant period for the COVID 19 local health department related expenses. Questions from the council. Next item. S is acceptance acceptance of grant funds to provide Ryan White HIV health and support services. Any questions from the council?

Next item. T and U are gift donations. T is a vehicle for homeless outreach from Port Container Terminal. And U is food from Cooper's Deli for the Give Kids a Smile Day. It's a good smile. That sandwich is good. Questions from the council. Next item.

7R6A and B are settlements for executive session. C and D are professional service contracts. C is for labor and employment matters and D is for litigation defense matters. Any questions from the council? Next item 78 A and B are ceremonial street designations. A is for Faith Evans, sponsored by council member Scott Roundtree, and B is for sport maritimo martus Ty. Ask for some help.

Excuse me. Sponsored by Councilman Silva. A minute. All right. Seminar 8A sponsored by Councilwoman Scott Brown. Is there a second? There's a second, but I sponsored that item in sponsor yet. Okay. So co-sponsor with councilman council councilman council but to say that all right what uh 72 7R8B is second second second by council woman day

duly noted C and D are both declaring intent C is declaring May 2026 as mental health awareness month sponsored by council woman Scott Roundtree and D is declaring May 2026 as lupus awareness month sponsored by Councilwoman Scott Roundry. I'll second both of those. Thank you.

E and G E through G are whole harmless agreements. E is for the National Youth Step Competition sponsored by Councilman Council. F is for the performance of I dream a world songs and verse to inspire a nation sponsored by Councilman Council. And G is the annual Mother's Day senior brunch sponsored by Councilman Ramos. We got a second for 8E. Second.

Second by Councilwoman Scottree 8F. I'll second that. 8G second. Second by Councilman Canana. Thank you. H and I are waving special event application and permit fees. H is for the South Ward Community Walk sponsored by Councilman Council. And I is for the Mother's Day festival sponsored by Councilman Gintana. Have we got a second for I'll I'll second um the mother's day I right.

All rightos for that one and back to 8H. Is there a second? A second. Second by Councilman Kelly. Thank you. Jay is establishing a sister cities relationship with Monrovia Liberia. Sponsored by Councilman Kintana. Second. Second by Councilman Kelly. Thank you. K is an exception to public bidding for the archives record management system. Any questions from the council? Next item.

L is a resolution of support for supporting the week of the young child. Any questions from the council? Yes. So, did somebody sponsor this or the council members? I just noticed it was blank. Council President, my apologies. Councilwoman Bay sponsor. I respons. Okay. I knew it was missing. What is What is it? So, ask ask your question, Councilman. Uh, what is the week of the young child? All right.

Is actually our sponsor will respond. Council woman actually. Yes, there's actually event today going on through um program for parents is um support for um mothers with young children who are experiencing hardship. All right. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Kelly about child care. Next item.

Thank you. 7R8M is recognizing commending resolutions and N is expressing profound sorrow and regret. 79A is a professional service contract to provide clinical and forensic psychological and consulting services. Questions from the council. Next item. B is the acceptance of grant funds for police overtime. Questions? Next item. C is an exception to public bidding for the emergency alert system renewal.

Any questions from the council. Next item. 712A is a settlement for executive session. B is a contract change order for the rehabilitation of the Pquanic aqueducts. Questions from the council. Next item. C is a professional service contract the first amendment to the professional engineering service for the evaluation design and construction administration for Virginia Street pump station.

Any questions from the council? Next item. Communications. Item 8A is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to Neymar South Orange Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a new fivestory mixeduse building. Any questions from the council? Councilman Kelly? Yes. Can we can we um move and adopt this pass and adopt a different block? It's another block across the street. Yes. Any anything else from the council? Sure.

Sponsor this. All right. Thank you. Next item. B is an ordinance granting a 25-year tax abatement to 1080 Bergen Developer Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the south ward to construct a new five-story mixeduse building. Questions from the council.

Next item. C is an ordinance granting a 20-year tax abatement to Marbim Holdings Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the West Ward to construct a new fourstory mixeduse building with 11 residential units. Questions from the council? Council Kelly. Yes, I would like to uh sponsor this as well. Sponsored by Councilman Kelly. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilwoman Scott Roundry. Let's advance and adopt this one. D is an ordinance. Sorry, madam clerk. Let's advance and adopt this one.

Thank you. D is an ordinance amending traffic parking, stopping, and standing to regulate the parking of construction related vehicles in residential districts. Council, I want to sponsor this. I'll

second. Yeah. Um, I just want to explain what this is as well. So, what's happening in the east ward and I think in other wards as well, uh, to have conversations with Councilman Ramos, is you have these construction vans that park on the street, but New York police cannot issue a summon because they don't have commercial plates. They have regular plates. And in fact, what's happening is that these vans are committing both insurance fraud and registration fraud with the state of New Jersey. They're clearly commercial vehicles with ladder racks on top and signs on the side and construction uh material inside. And so what they're actually doing is committing fraud. And it handcuffs North police because they really can't do anything about it. And so now uh with this ordinance, anything that has a ladder rack, anything that has signage on the side, anything that has construction material that leads us to believe uh that it is being used for commercial purposes could now be issued a summon and told.

Mr. President, Councilman Ramos,

yeah, I I want to commend uh Councilman Silva for for taking this initiative. It's it's a growing issue in our neighborhoods where we know that the cost of of parking commercial vehicles privately is is pretty significant. So many of these folks have taken um to park their vehicles overnight in residential neighborhoods. Uh we we we definitely need North Police Division to make this, you know, focus area even if we have to figure out a way to empower the parking authority to go out there and do enforcement. Um, but you know, Councilman's point is a really good one because some of these folks are operating commercial vehicles under the guise of having, you know, regular uh license plates. So, you know, it's clearly a construction vehicle, whether it's a van or pickup truck. And for whatever reason, when they registered their vehicle with the state of New Jersey, it still classifies them as, you know, a regular vehicle. So, it becomes difficult for the police to to summons them. And and I believe this ordinance is going to allow some discretion uh in their ability. I I know a few few meetings ago we were selling property to a guy who registered his construction business out of a one family home located at 255 Grafton Avenue. And if you drive by that property, he's got um commercial construction vehicles, but he also has a bunch of vans and SUVs parked outside his residence, which he identified as his business address that are clearly being used for the purposes of his construction business. But to Councilman Silva's point, they have a license plate that doesn't define them as commercial vehicles. So hopefully the police will be able to use this um to to further clean up, you know, this this element in our residential neighborhoods. And this is a problem because parking is at a premium as it is. And now you got companies that are

using our streets um to to store their business vehicles overnight when they should be figuring out private lots to park their prop their uh commercial uh vehicles. This I agree this this is a great ordinance. I I think we all see this throughout the whole city of of how in fact I think I have one in front of my house right now that's a commercial vehicle but with a regular license. So thank you Councilman Silva and thank you council Mr. Chair.

Councilman Y going through the the uh ordinance that Councilman Silva added in there. I think there needed to be a component about the uh attachment of the the trailers that are hooked on to the back. And I wanted to make sure that we had a a friendly amendment uh in there uh because not only do they have the uh commercial vans that are parked in the front, but they are hooked to the back of these long trailers that they uh unhook and have large amounts of debris and garbage and overhaul uh that uh periodically they may be taken to some dump location, but it is on our streets all night allowing other individuals to come and dump uh and just causing a nuisance uh to residents in the area. And so these long trailers also take up an enormous amount of parking spaces for individuals who live in these resident communities that can't find parking because individuals are hooking these trailers onto the back of these uh vans uh as well as other uh you know 4x4 vehicles that are causing a large amount of problems uh in there. So, it was my hope that want to reach out to Councilman Silva to see if we can add uh attaching those uh hitch trailers that are on the back of these vehicles into the ordinance as well.

Thank you. Next, uh uh two things. One, um I believe Well, let's do the last matter and then we'll come back. Sure. Item 10A is approval of the bingo and raffle license. Any questions? I see none. Council president,

we go back to what's it? Uh, I believe it's Rafael or let's see if I Rafael Healing Academy LLC. There's a representative here now. All right. Can you And this is for 7R1 just for the record. Seven arm one G and H. Good morning. Can you state your name for the record?

Good morning. My name is uh Shambay Burton and I represent uh Refile Healing Academy, more popularly and commonly known as the Community Safe Zone. We are located at 500 Springfield Avenue uh in the central ward. Um, so the two questions usually start off with one is what you're currently doing now and two is with the funds that you would receive if this is awarded to you. What are you going to do with those funds?

Right. So we currently do youth development. We we have we do six day programming um where we teach young people self-esteem, self-awareness, self-identity. We primarily work with at risk and high-risk youth. We get re uh uh excuse me um referrals from OVP and Newark Police Department to uh work with these young people. Uh we partner with Iban Ali's boxing gym to teach them um teamwork skills as well as other organizations. We have a therapist uh a a therapist on um staff with us. So our primary function is to get young people uh from doing negative actions and we redirect them to a more positive path. We also work with uh NSA, Gateway University, um Newark Street Academy um to get young people who are no longer in traditional education and we re uh redirect them to secondary and alternative education.

Thank you, Council President, if I may. Any any uh Yes, Councilwoman Bay. Thank you, Council President. Um I just wanted to mention that my my team and I have had the the honor and the pleasure of of of going by the the the organization and and seeing firsthand the wonderful work that they do. Um just want to thank you for what you do for the community and just want to let you know that I'll continue to support you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank Thank you very much. All right. All right. Um, all right.

We are in the 30 minute public comment portion of this meeting where each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Please state your name for the record. Is there anyone wishing to address the council?

Thank you. Good morning, Council President Crump and Council members. My name is Nicole Love, and I came here today because I felt it was important to address the council and say I'm impressed with the job that you guys are doing. I love what Mayor Barack has done for the city. I'll continue to support you as my family members that went on before me. My mother Wilma Love, Hope Jackson, Eloise Darby Thomas, Lorraine Whitaker, who all supported this administration. I look forward to working with you in the future on a project that I have planned. Love pull-up platters, a restaurant with a nonprofit arm that'll have a community garden, a library, and a financial literacy component. Thank you, council. I look forward to working with the city.

Thank you very much, Miss Love.

Next speaker.

Mental mental slavery. Uh, it's in high form. No reason to insult anybody in the chambers besides us. I I ain't Did I say anybody name? Yes, you did. Yes, she did. But it's okay. Just continue with your I said mental slavery. Continue with what you're going to say. Reform form in this city. I ain't saying nobody name. You're absolutely right about that though. Go ahead. So don't interrupt my time. Go ahead.

Lero El Bmani. Just uh a message to the people. No debate equals no vote. No jobs at a liveable wage equals no vote. No adequate lowincome housing for the uh people of New York equals no vote. Period. So we need to debate. I I said several times here the corrupt breeding more corruption. And you allow it cuz we got two ordinance. We got one ordinance for towing for the city and we got one for the state and it's about time that you get rid of Denty's Towing and also BNC towing and I'm quite sure you got numerous complaints about them but they done struck a rock with the uh towing of my vehicle. First of all, it's so many violations. Number one, unauthorized parking management, unauthorized uh uh landlord who didn't have parking tax with the city of New York. Also, they put a post the sign out the night before they came and TOWED MY CAR, NOT EVEN 24 HOURS. And according to this They violated that. THEN ALSO I WAS THERE RIGHT IN THEIR FACE when they towed MY VEHICLE. SO WHY YOU GO FROM THE PERSON YOU CAME TO tow when you seen me, you started towing my vehicle AND YOU STARTED TOWING IT WHILE I'M RIGHT THERE TALKING TO YOU. THAT'S ANOTHER

VIOLATION. ALSO, THEY GOING TO BARGAIN WITH ME WHILE THEY HITCH MY UM VEHICLE UP TO PAY THEM $275. WHEN YOU GOT A PERSON RIGHT THERE, ACCORDING to the ORDINANCE FROM THE STATE AND THE CITY, YOU SUPPOSED TO DROP MY VEHICLE RIGHT THERE AS WE SPEAK. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU LET EVERYBODY IN THE PARKING LOT GO WHO WAS ILLEGAL PARK WHERE WE LIVED AT. WE WAS GRANDFATHERED IN WITH NO PARKING.

I'M SORRY, MR. BMAN. I JUST I JUST WANT TO STOP YOU FOR a second. Miss Bradley, are you okay? I WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT SHE I'm getting my time in. Yeah. Yeah. Stop the time for her. I just want to make sure Miss Bradley's okay. You all right? I need my time back. Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead, Mr. Bmani.

And then they refused. And then another thing when you when you when you tow somebody vehicle where the police WAS AT. WELL, I HAD TO JUMP IN MY VEHICLE that you illegally told. You call the police after the fact when they WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. CRIMINAL. And when I SAY THE CORRUPT BREEDING, MORE CORRUPTION AND CRIMINALITY, YOU ARE ALL ALLOWING IT. Thank you, Miss B. FOR ALL ALLOWING IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUED FOR THAT. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker.

Good morning, council members. Morning.

This is for at large Dubrey Kelly. My name is Makira Bradley and I stand before you represent Pretty Hustlers and Certified Hustlers, a social club proudly operating out of the heart of the West of New Jersey. We are not just an organization. We are a direct reflection of the community we serve every day. We are actively impacting lives in West. We we are present where help is needed most among our children, families, and those who often feel forgotten. Our mission is rooted in service, unity, and real community engagement. This past Easter, we served 100 children right here in our community. But it wasn't just about giving out baskets. It was about creating a moment of joy, stability, and care. We fed families with hot food, hot dogs, sausages, chicken, macaroni, salad, macaroni, cheese, and made sure every child left with candy and a smile in abundance. That's real hands-on impact. And just one example of what we do. We operate out of the excuse me, we operate out of the west water. The home of the hustlers is located in the heart of the westward. That space is more than just a building is a safe haven. It is where community members gather, where events are held, where support is given, where people feel seen and valued. We also provide event space that allows the community to come together in positive productive ways. Whether it's celebration, outreach, events, or community meetings, we are creating environment that promotes unity and growth. Our presence reduce harms, builds relationships, and creates opportunity. We are helping to keep our community engaged, supported, and connected. We take proud pride in our civic duty. We are active and we are consistent and we're committed to NORC. We don't just talk about change. We work every single day to make that change. And with that, we are here to say we already do even

more. We are open to collaboration with the city of North with council leadership and other organizations that are committed to uplifting our communities. There is power in partnership and we are ready to be partnered solutions that bring real lasting change to the westward and beyond. We ask to be recognized just not for who we are but for the impact that we are making. Because we invest because when you invest in pretty hustles, certified hustles, you are investing directly into the people in North. Thank you for your time and your leadership. Definitely appreciate. Thank you for your comments, Miss Bradley. Next speaker. No other speaker appearing. Public speak is now closed. No added starter. Or did I just jinx it?

Don't jinx it. Hallelujah. Motion to uh uh uh for executive unless council has anything or the BA has anything. Uh we're going to go to executive session. Motion. I'm sorry. Counciloman Scott rounder. I think I spoke to the clerk about this week being maternal. You got it. Okay. Thank you. That's it. All right. Roll call for executive session. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes.