Remarks by Dupre L. Kelly
57 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
“Now, I know it was before you, but it's still alarming, right? Because we still have these code violations in these buildings, in these businesses, in these homes that still are unsafe. I know when I came in in 2022, there was a UCC incident. that was supposed to be taken down and it was considered inhabitable and it was condemned. And then it was taken back over a while by another organization, which still was unsafe. And then the part of the building attached to the barbershop next door, the ceiling fell in and could have really hurt somebody on the streets. So if that building would have…”
“Right. Can you do one thing? Can you please walk us through like the illegal conversion complaint from like how it happens from first report? No, we can't do that. Oh, I'm sorry. That's cool. That's cool. Yeah. I mean, when we start talking about UCC, it gets me excited because I'm here with Councilman Council, you know, and thank you, Councilman Council, because early on he schooled me on my ward. A lot of things that was happening in the South and in the West was similar when it comes to UCC. But back to Cole, once again, you are very responsive. I appreciate how when I call you, you make…”
“Yeah, this wasn't one that was closed down.”
“So I don't want to alarm them so they go get straight. I want to talk to you off camera so you know what it is.”
“HOW ARE YOU DOING, MR. GEORGE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I GOT SO MANY QUESTIONS. A LOT. I guess one is I'm trying to figure out, I know that this presentation describes the process, but I'm trying to figure out how does that work? How does the process actually work when a resident calls my office? Who responds and how quickly does that response happen? you know, just to make sure that the problem is resolved. And I'm talking just from prior experience, you know, since I've been in office since 22, UCC is like one of the departments that I have not been able to figure out because when I have issues,…”
“Um, just one quick question. So, like I said, I'm talking from experience. I'll give you one, one example. Uh, the office did all of that. They came, they sent inspectors, they deemed it, um, inhabitable and needs to be condemned. when those things do not happen, what is the process from there?”
“How is somebody else able to come and reopen the building and occupy the building before you guys do what you suppose, everything that you just said, you did all of that process work, those procedures, but it wasn't finite, right? You didn't finish it. So is the records lost? What can delay the process of doing what you said you were gonna do?”
“So you're saying that your inspectors haven't really been doing follow-ups properly?”
“Thank you, because I have about three properties in the West Ward since 2022 that no follow-up. My office hasn't been notified about it. and I keep calling and keep calling. Why? Because the residents keep calling me. And then they'll initially say, Councilman Kelly, you didn't do what you were supposed to do, but I can't do it if you guys don't do it, right? And I guess the last question I wanted to ask, can we get... I want to know how many open cases do we have in the West ward? I want to know what, as far as violations. Yes. I want to know, um, how many, how many, uh, conversions are, are…”
“I'm sorry, this is for the reports, right? Apologies. Yes.”
“You want to be a sponsor? I want to sponsor this.”
“Council as a whole to adopt Yes, madam clerk council president I just got one question about 7r 1f I Received the email today from the provider that kind of made me ask some questions And then I also received the email from a the ba after that email that kind of gave a little bit of clarity to those questions um but but it's still i guess the question that i'm asking is the provider said that the 500 000 that they need is actually more it's almost a million dollars that they need to operate And they said that they have been working without a contract with the city of Newark and have spent up…”
“So we owe them about 500. So this would take care of what we owe, and they won't be able to proceed business until we have that further discussion.”
“But this money will take care of what we owe. OK. Thank you.”
“Council President, I just want to add something to Councilwoman Jackson, even Councilwoman Roundtree. Can we request from the BAs off of the Corporate Council Office to do a site visit as well?”
“And just real quick, I agree with my colleagues. I just, let's treat it like we getting PSE&G or the cable man coming to the house. Let's give a Windows, you know, a time span within a week, and let's not let them know when we're coming. Let's not tell them the day. Let's just tell them between Monday and Friday we'll be there. And I think that'll give a better effect, impact on what we're trying to do. Councilman?”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Yeah, yeah, and I didn't mean to turn it into a Q&A, and I apologize, Council President, but you can see Terrell or Marvin from my office, and we'll give you more information about the Drill to Heal program that we've been doing.”
“And real quick, and my son is the one who actually teaches the class for us every other week so often. So it's a very good program. It's a great program, actually. And I see the difference in those artists. Thank you. It's all here. Your next speaker.”
“Thank you for letting me. I don't really have a motion. I just want to just give an announcement. October 16th at Don Payne Tech, we will be having the first State of the West Ward ever. where we're giving the state of just reflecting what was in the West Ward to now what's going on in the West Ward to what the future of the West Ward is going to be. My vision, I want to thank all my council colleagues who will be in attendance and my staff, especially for helping us put this together. And I also want to thank Joe D. from the county and all of the county representatives that allowed me to use…”
“I will say, I heard Council President say dinner, but there will be a meet and greet hors d'oeuvres in the foyer of it. After. After. You give people food before they're gone. So after.”
“A ticket. She has a seat right up front. Would you please let her know that?”
“OK, thank you. Real quick, too, Mama Bae. Is Nelson Long still here? There might be some synergy between you and that gentleman. I spoke to him before the meeting. Can you have a conversation with him as well? Nelson, have a go. Nelson, where is Nelson? Nelson, raise your hand. He's in the back right there. Thank you. Next speaker.”
“Madam Clerk? No, no, no, no. Just a quick question. Councilwoman, you said that there's a contract that they're supposed to abate these issues?”
“Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it.”