Council - Regular Meeting

OK, good afternoon again. We are ready to begin. On behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the reorganization meeting of July 1, 2026. It is 2.41 PM. The meeting is now called to order. And I will now call the roll. Councilwoman Alford. Councilwoman cotton here. Councilwoman Davila president. Councilman Jackson is absent at this time Councilman Kali president of the court.

Councilman Mendez after the Paterson press of my court.

Councilwoman Mims here, madam clerk.

Councilman Omar good afternoon, Paterson president clerk.

Councilman the land.

Good afternoon, Madam Clerk and the public. I missed the procession?

No.

No? Okay. My vote is yes. I'm sorry, present.

Councilman Velez is present. This afternoon's prayer will be rendered by Dr. Kay Banks, Associate Minister of Christ Temple Baptist Church, also President of the Passaic County African American Woman Inc., followed with the flag salute led by Mrs. Marilyn Brown, First Vice President of the Passaic County African American Inc., And Councilwoman Ruby Ann Cotton, second vice president of the Passaic County African American Women, Inc.

Let us pray. Eternal God, our Father, we come humbly bowed before you just to give you thanks. We thank you, God, for another opportunity that we're allowed to come into this place. We're thanking you, God, for your son, God. We're thanking you for those who have gathered. And as we lift these prayers up to a realm that we have not seen, God, but to a realm that we live in, our moral trajectory, God, we thank you that we live in with the challenges that we have on today. We thanking you, God, that we can come together as a community. And we ask right now that you would bless, God, what is going on in this place on this afternoon. We invite your spirit in, God, that you would hover over this place, God, and everything that would be done would be pleasing in your sight. And as, God, these political people that have been elected, inaugurated, we're thanking you, God, for their work. We're thanking you, God, for how you have strategically placed them, that they would be the good for your people, that they would understand their assignment, and they would work together in love, humility, and with the integrity, God. And as they go forth, continue to bless them and that they would know that they're here to serve the people. And we're thanking you for those who continue to sit in these seats, continue to bless them as they go forward. These prayers that we ask in your son. Amen. In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Please remain standing for a moment of silence for our military troops and those who have lost loved ones. Thank you. flag salute will be led by councilwoman mrs marilyn brown and councilwoman ruby khan allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. This is the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Now, if we may remain for a moment of silence. Thank you. At this time, I will read the Statement of Compliance. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act and JSA 10 colon 4 dash 6 at SEC, adequate notice of this meeting of the Patterson Municipal Council has been provided. Notice of the time and place was included in the annual meeting schedule adopted by Council at its reorganization meeting held on July 1, 2025, and subsequently revised. Said notice was posted in the public place at City Hall's bulletin boards, transmitted to the official newspapers designated to receive such notices, and filed with the Office of the Clerk in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices. At this time, I call for nominations for the Office of Council President of the Municipal Council. Madam Chair.

I nominate Councilwoman Mims.

I nominate Councilwoman Mims.

We have a motion to nominate. Second. Is there a second?

Second.

Okay. There being no other motions on the floor, Roll call for a motion. To nominate. Councilwoman Mims as president. Doing the roll call Councilwoman Alford. Councilwoman cotton, yes. Councilwoman dot a lot, yes. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, madam clerk to the public, I apologize for my tardiness just touched back down in Jersey. I get the memo on the dress code anyway, but my voice, yes.

Councilman Kelly, yes. Councilman Mendez.

I want my voice, yes.

Councilwoman Mims, yes. Councilman Omar, my vote is yes. Councilman Vales.

Madam Clerk, after having a deep conversation with Councilwoman Dr. Delisa Mims, I stand with my words and my vote is yes.

Motion has been adopted. Welcome back, Council President Mims.

BEFORE BEFORE HANDING IT A POINT OF ORDER, MADAM CLERK.

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE WERE TAKING A VOTE TO CLOSE THE CALL FOR MOTIONS. WE CAN'T.

THERE WAS A MOTION MOVED AND SECOND. THERE WERE NO OTHER MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR AND I CALLED FOR A ROLL CALL FOR THAT MOTION.

Okay, so from the point of practice is always call for the motions and then there's a roll call to close the call the motions because if there's no other call the motion is a roll call to close the motions.

There were no other motions president for the roll call was close for the motion.

Before.

I have to move. I have to move.

I have to get close. Just use my folder for tonight.

Thank you.

Before turning it over to you, Council President, I would call for nominations for the Office of Council Vice President. I would like to nominate Councilman Davila as my Vice President.

Second. Second.

Do we have any other nominations on the floor? At this time, nominations are closed. And I call for a roll call for a motion to appoint Councilwoman Maritza Davila as Council Vice President. Roll call. Roll call on that nomination. Councilwoman Alford? Yes. Councilwoman Cotton.

Yes.

Councilwoman Davila. Yes. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Kalik.

Yes.

Councilman Mendez.

You said Mendez?

Councilman Mendez.

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Omar.

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Villes.

Madam clerk and to the public in present, after having a long conversation with Councilwoman Davila, I stand with my word and I continue to work, my vote is yes.

Council President Mims. My vote is absolutely yes for my Vice President Davila.

Motion to appoint Councilwoman Davila is hereby passed. Welcome, Council. Council Vice President Davila.

God is so good. That is so good so at this time we'll have a few words from Council vice president and myself and then we'll have our mayor and we'll go right into the very short agenda we have some very important items we should get to this expeditiously as possible Council vice president.

So Council president may with all respect we do have a new member so she should also share some words, yes, I just quickly I'm going to say this. I am just thankful, thankful first and foremost to God for giving me the opportunity and the people of Patterson to be here for another term as your first councilwoman at large Latina, and this is a historic first time ever, four terms, so I'm thankful. But to my colleagues, thank you for entrusting in me. understanding that I lead with love and that I am willing and able to work with each and every one of you because that is who I am because I love Patterson is because I can work with all of you so once again colleagues you know to my council president thank you so much we ran a good race We ran on a theme, a team you can trust. And I'm going to tell you right now, this right here, nine members, is a team you can trust that will have the backs of the city of Patterson. madam clerk i i can't just thank you enough and to the entire team sophie and everyone phyllis riley and everyone from the council office who have worked very hard and mayor congratulations on your win congratulations and and mayor This message, as I shared privately with you, privately with the BA, I'm saying it openly, this term will be all about cleaning up this city. This city needs to look better because we are better. And I know under your leadership and the guidance of our BA, and I know that Corporation Council will be right there, okay, to make sure that we ensure and do what's right for our citizens. To our citizens, help us help you. This is not just about a council. I don't think there's any council member here who tosses garbage in the streets. I want to thank DPW for all they do, but we need to do more. I want to thank our Patterson Police Department, our Fire Department, once again, our DPW Department, to every constituent, to Team Davila. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, thank you for instilling in me the fear of god and to make sure that you always listen more than you talk so with that said thank you and councilwoman paula alfred we have had some good times together it's time for a new chapter And I'm willing to work here. As you shared, you are all about learning and understanding governance. Because one thing is looking on the outside and then having to sit here and make those difficult decisions that sometimes may not be for, and I'm just going to use a number, 100. But if it's good for 99 Patersonians, that's where we have to go. So I'm looking forward to working with you, our Dean of the Council, Councilwoman Cotton, We are now the four leading ladies of this council. To my men. To my councilmen. To my councilmen. All of you. And I'm going to start with Jackson.

Because Councilman Jackson... Nope.

I'm going to say something nice. Councilman Jackson has been here the longest serving with me. And under my leadership as president, he was vice president for two years. So I'm thankful that you're back. I'm looking forward to working together. To Councilman Mendez, see, people need to understand one thing is politics. And I learned from somebody that taught me so much, and I love him dearly. Not only was he at one point my partner, he's still my partner. He's my partner in progress. He's my strategist. He is my campaign manager. He screams at me all the time because he wants better for me. And that is Henry Sosa. He taught me that in politics, You have to be very careful. No permanent friends and no permanent enemies. If it's for the right of this city, you're going to work together. Now we don't forget. We just say that when it's right for Patterson, it will be right with me. So Councilman Mendez, thank you. and to the team who stood by my back has always had my back councilman kalik councilman omar and councilman velez thank you thank you thank you god bless you all and i know i could say so much more mr ba it's great having you here with us i'm looking forward so patterson thank you thank you councilwoman alford

I want to thank the city of Patterson for electing me to this seat. I am looking forward to working with the other members on this council, learning from them, growing, and pushing the city forward as a team, as a unit. I feel very blessed to be in this position. Serving is not new to me. I've been a servant here in this city for many years, and I'm just very thankful to be here and ready to get started. It's time to work.

So I just want to say thank you first and foremost to God, because we know that it is in him that we live and move and have our being. I want to thank my council members for another opportunity to lead and to serve this great council in this great city. I believe that if we collaborate, unify, and we do teamwork, and we do committee work, this city will get the best of what it deserves. I will definitely be working alongside of all my council colleagues, as they already know. I'm very fair and equitable amongst the council. We have to represent the city well, whether it's in the meetings, whether it's in the community, whether it's our conversations, no matter where it is, we represent you. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your wisdom. We are here for you. We are not here for ourselves. We're a seat at the table, but a voice crying out for you in the wilderness. Thank you so much and God bless.

and at this time uh very few uh brief words from our mayor and we're gonna go right into the agenda i noticed you emphasized brief with me good afternoon patterson i'd like to start by expressing my appreciation to everyone who joined us at vista park and brave the heat it was a proud moment for the city of patterson in fact if you saw in the background our city skyline and blurred was the new york city skyline but it speaks to what's on the horizon And I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Audrey Cartwright from my office, because she's decorated City Hall, if you notice all the decorations, and she decorated Vista Park with her team. Speaking of a team, the City of Paterson's counting on us to be a team, for us to work together. And I invite all council people to work with me because I am humbled and honored to have another opportunity to serve as the mayor of my hometown. And we need to be measured. The way we're judged is in the next 100 days. What are we going to do in the next 100 days? Are we going to fight with each other or are we going to fight for them? That is the barometer. Are we going to fight each other or are we going to fight for them? And Within the next 100 days, River Street should be completed. 25 more roads should be resurfaced. We just hired 15 new police officers. They started today. We just started another foot patrol program. They started today, another 16 police officers. And Council VP, you're right about cleaning the city. But keeping Patterson clean starts with all of us. And we'll do what we can with Ken Rosato and Urban Enterprise Zone and with the clean communities. We're catching illegal dumpers that amounts to over $100,000 in fines. We have cameras that we have yet to install, but the ones that we have, we've caught at least 25 of these violators. And jobs. Patersonians need jobs. I can't wait to break ground on this long-awaited film studio, a $250 million project so that it will create internship opportunities for our students, career opportunities for our residents, and opportunities for aspiring actors and actresses in the City of Paterson. Work with me, City Council. Work with me, City of Paterson. And affordability. Corporation Council and I have had this conversation. We want to introduce legislation to create more affordable housing opportunities for our residents. And finally, we want to continue programs that have worked, like the Financial Empowerment Center, like RealFix, that is helping people with drug addiction. Our reentry program, helping people who have paid their debt to society reintegrate into Patterson. So, Council, I've told you this incessantly. If you share the vision, you share the victory. And the win is for the city of Paterson. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mayor. Madam Clerk, item number two on the agenda.

Council President, before proceeding, traditionally, there would be a gavel that is presented. And so Councilwoman Cotton has something she'd like to present before we proceed with the meeting.

I'm going to call on my Council Member now to come up with their vote.

Are you up here. Thank you.

You know, it's truly an honor for me, first given honor to God, to be able to be here. And I say to everyone, when I came in 2012, I was the only female on the city council out of nine. And it wasn't easy. And I remember saying to my council colleagues, Councilwoman Mims and Councilman Davila, all kind of things are going to come at you, but you're going to learn how to deal with it because you've got God on your side. When you have God on your side, no matter what anybody do, you're going to get through it. And so for you, Councilwoman Alford, you're going to be with us as the leading ladies. And not to say because, you know, we as women, besides being elected official, we also are wives. We have children. We grandmothers. We take care of houses. We take care of grandparents. We do so much. But God gives us the strength to be able to do that. Because actually, we are here to serve. And you are and we ought to serve you so Councilwoman that the the lease amends. Here's your play for being the outgoing. President of the city Council. Dedicated. To honorable that the lease amends Councilman at large Council president for your dedication service to the Minnesota Council and the citizens of past July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026 by all our Council members of the City Council, thank you gentlemen for the fact that this is for you. And then I want to also, even though that's a, what's she do with that one? Uh-huh.

No, no, that's her. She keeps this one.

Oh, she keeps this one. Oh. Let me go ahead. Yeah, go ahead. And then you do that one. See that? Yeah, let's, uh-huh, yeah, huh. Let's pull a hold. Yeah, okay. And we got, and Councilwoman Davila, she came in in 2014. as the second female on the City Council. And you know, she talked about her colleagues like Maria Magna, Sonia Rosado, Councilwoman Luna. I've been around all those women. And you, when you be around great women, you become great. I don't care what anybody say, you become, when you're around great women, you become great. And I love it, and I want you to present the gavel to Council President.

It is an honor to stand before you and being able to hand this gavel once again to our council president. You, this past year, endured a lot. You led the way we're supposed to lead with love. Sometimes love can be a little hard, but it is important. The only thing that I ask, the gavel is given to you. And there are times you need to use it. This means something. This is not symbolic. Your presidency is one where we put you here. So we expect for you to continue keeping order and making sure that we are able to bring that agenda that needs to be covered for the city for a constituency. So with that say congratulations. Council president. Here you go is your new gavel and the other devil by the way it's her gavel because you keep a gavel every year and then you get as Councilman that is that you get a gold when you're out. Here you go.

I just want to say congratulations. Looking forward to being on the council, learning, growing, and really prayerful about the leadership that we will have in the next coming year under you. So congratulations.

Thank you.

Let's get to work.

Please come in.

All right, you ready?

Councilman Jackson, will you come to position? Okay. Come on, Jackson.

That's nice right there.

I mean he's an old one, I'm gonna kick that one. That's too nice to hit. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item number two on the agenda.

Item number 2 is a resolution approving a new agreement with the American Federation of County, State, and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, Local 3724. This is from the administration and is Resolution 26306. So moved.

Moved by Council President Mims and Davila, Vice President Davila. Second. Second by Councilman Velez, Councilman Mendez. Not a problem before. Madam clerk this vote was ratified 50 to one by the union, I want to thank the union president and her her staff was here so that everyone's on the same page this was a ratified vote they met with their membership 50 yes and one is now. COUNCILMAN VALLEZ.

MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ON THE FLOOR IF I COULD BE CO-SPONSOR AS YOU ARE THE SPONSOR TO BE CO-SPONSOR OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PATTERSON.

WE DON'T SPONSOR.

I SEE A SPONSORSHIP HERE.

IT SHOULD NOT BE. THAT'S A MISTAKE.

OH, OKAY. THERE'S NO SPONSOR. SO KEEP THE RECORD CLEAR THAT NO SPONSORSHIP SHOULD BE IN THE PAPERWORK?

Yeah, there's no sponsor.

I'm not sure that's what we're going to do about this is the cost of that I will we I will get sponsored here.

I'm not going to type of I yeah that yeah, so I just want to withdraw my my request okay.

Roll call madam clerk item number 2.

Councilwoman Alford yes. Councilman cotton, yes. Council Vice President Davila.

I know you all have been waiting for this. I know it is difficult and I need to put it out here. The council cannot negotiate your contracts, but we could definitely once you ratify it, right? And it comes back to us. If the majority, which we just heard from Council President, 50 yeses, one no, then we support it. I support it because I know you support it. My vote is yes.

Councilman Jackson, yes. Councilman colleague, yes. Councilman Mendez.

Congratulations to the union president and the leadership. The negotiation is clear, 51 to 1, and I'm very satisfied with this and long overdue. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Omer.

I want to thank the members of the union for their patience. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Velez.

So before I announce my vote, I want to congratulate all the members from the Union of Ant-Man. They've been waiting patiently with the previous BA. I want to congratulate the mayor for bringing a BA. They understand. that understand the city employees. Thank you, Mr. B.A. And Corporate Council, you had to do something with this to be the mediator to get it done also to you. This is the type of leadership we want. A mayor cannot work if you don't have a good B.A. Now, the mayor had to relieve the handcuff of the B.A. so he could do his job. So saying that, I hope all the contract coming forward, the employees are satisfied 50-0 or more. So congratulations and let's move the city forward. They deserve more. I always said ask for more for they could give you what they want. But ask always for more. God bless you. My vote is yes.

Council president means so now I see what councilman the last said because my name was on as a sponsor I could have really stayed as much as I hope but with that being stated, I'm excited and I pray that you're on to speak today, but thank you to our BA TO OUR MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION AS VICE PRESIDENT ALREADY STATED. WE ARE NOT, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT IN NEGOTIATIONS. WE'RE NOT A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE RESPECT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION AND THEN YOUR RATIFIED VOTE AND THEN WE SUPPORT IT AFTER THAT. WITH THAT STATED, MADAM CLERK, MY VOTE IS YES.

MINE YESES. THIS ITEM PASSES.

ITEM NUMBER THREE, MADAM CLERK.

Item number 3 is resolution setting the contents of the annual meeting notice pursuant to the open public meetings act including the time and meetings of the municipal Council as of August 2026 through July 1 of 2027 and addressing the virtual meeting and scope of meetings and setting the location at City Hall. This is resolution 26307.

So move by Council Vice President double a second by Councilman Mendes and the last roll call on item number 3.

and discussion discussion Councilman Jackson so I want to make this clear places on record. You know I did not support the reducing of of our monthly meetings from 2 to 1. Meaning to regular meetings into workshops. There was a number of different meetings this year that that very important information. That was not properly disseminated to the public had to be placed on a special meeting. And there this this should have been discussed further and considered to return back to the public has showed its displeasure and in the inappropriate or inconsistent meeting schedules, I know that we're now looking to rush out of these meetings but again i want it to be made public that i'm i'm not in approval of that and why haven't we had a discussion or at least an evaluation on on the uh the the success or failure of what last last year's schedule brought about thank you roll call madam clerk councilwoman alfred

My vote is yes, but I do hope that there could be a discussion about it.

I'll make a comment.

Yeah, that if we could add more meetings. I do think that I agree with Councilman Jackson that the public did show some concern about it there only being one meeting, but my vote is yes.

Councilwoman cotton.

Thank you, madam clerk. I think that it's really not. It's a matter of the staffing that we really need here. I'm in here every day. I'm helping the secretaries out every day. Yes, and a phone is more in detail. Then we realize was in detail of running these meetings and after the meetings are done what they have to do legally. published items in the newspaper look for them items in the newspaper, make sure they have it on record because if someone like you come and say I didn't see this notice this meeting published that they have to produce the proof this stuff was published on time. They got to have the 24 hours to 48 hours is more in detail and Council on the council president we will go into detail Councilwoman offer. If I'm not here every day, maybe I can't speak on it, but I know I'm here every day, and I see what these ladies go through of trying to put together a meeting, but somebody's sending paperwork up at 4.30 for a 6 o'clock meeting. You know, it's hard to get all that together. So we will have more discussion on that. And I think that we all need to know what Madam Clerk goes through and all the secretaries go through of putting together a council meeting there. legally legally could if they operate they better produce a proof that we did what he's supposed to do that that being said, madam clerk my vote is yes.

Vice president Davila.

So Councilman Jackson is correct we used to have 2 workshops of the meeting was one workshop on regular one workshop on regular. THE WORKSHOPS WERE NOT TELEVISED, ONLY THE TWO REGULAR MEETINGS. WHEN WE DECIDED, BECAUSE OF EXACTLY WHAT OUR DEAN OF THE COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN CONT, STATED, RIGHT, IT'S MORE THAN JUST, OH, THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING WE NEED MORE MEETINGS, RIGHT? YOU ALL WATCH THE MEETINGS. A LOT GOES ON IN THE MEETINGS AND NOTHING GETS DONE. BUT PEOPLE LOVE you know TV time right we got to get business done so guess what we did make the change and we the majority supported and that's what it's about the majority. And with that said we do care about a community, but guess what now the community has the workshop tell us what we can have all the discussions on the items and then regular should not be a workshop regulars when you come and you take action and unfortunately. That sometimes does not happen there is no reason why we should be having meetings that we start at 6.30 and we're here till midnight or one o'clock absolutely not so you know I am in agreement, madam clerk and I support I know that you said the agenda. So when we talk about not having discussions, we all receive the agenda beforehand. We look at it. We can make calls. We can call our colleagues. We can call the council president. We can email. We can do all those things. So I stand in full support of continuing having the two meetings a month. and that way and you all know that the workshops now are televised so as we're doing the business you know doing the workshop when we come take action you are able and listen when we have to do special meetings they're called and we do them we're getting ready to have budget hearings we're going to call special meetings for that those are things that we do and i'm just thankful that you know i now can speak a little more because i now understand the process madam clerk my vote is yes

Thank you Councilman Jackson.

Thank you madam clerk. So I'm glad to hear Councilman that you've now understand the process because considering the city's been in a budget deficit over the last several years and we continue to do make this poor decisions that's impacting the public the purpose of having meetings is so the public to stay readily informed. so that the public have access to was actually taking place not having hiding things in in in an agenda that's placed in a special meeting that wasn't properly discussed if there was a discussion Councilman Alfred this should have been a discussion allowed no one else was asked was their discussion I'm obviously the only person is going to bring opposition over to certain things is happening and I want everybody to be mindful not asking for anything in opposition of myself There's no self-benefit here for me pushing for an additional meetings for the public to have access to what was taking place. So the fact that we have to have special meetings and then those meetings are then conveniently converted to virtual meetings, the public is lacking access. As our budget just some for some unforeseen reason it is a requirement to increase our budget to $70 million dollars when in the past our request for transitional aid has only been 1519 20 million dollars. The need is a significant concern on what's taking place and it's really should be is is the concern is placed here in this Council. not on the administration on the council so the fact that we we minimized our meetings we reduced them by 50 we've increased council salaries we've added aids and all these other things and to say that things are getting done i guess i'm the only one driving around the city you can go outside city hall right now there's people sleeping in front of the building So to talk about we're getting services and getting things done and all this festive and all everybody wearing colorful outfits and things of that nature and acting as if we're accomplishing something, I don't know. I feel like I'm living in the Twilight Zone. Madam Clerk, my vote is absolutely no, no.

Councilman Khalid.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. We are voting on the meeting schedule for next year. A couple of years ago, with Councilman Mendes' leadership, council as a body, we decided to have two meetings a month. I think it's working perfectly. As it needed, we could add a meeting any time, special meeting. It is advertised. Even virtual meeting, I think it's very convenient for the community if they want to join, just a phone call away. We could make all the um, accusation and, and, and um, point fingering. But the end of the day, there's a lot of work for behind the meeting committee meetings. We have committees, various committees. We should, from now on, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE OF THE MEETING WHERE THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE WORKS GET DONE, REAL WORKS GET DONE. OKAY? SO I THINK WE SHOULD, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FROM NOW ON WE SHOULD HAVE ATTENDANCE FROM THOSE MEETINGS. talk to talk, they should walk to walk as well. They should show up on this meeting and work for the community, fight for the community. That's where the real fight goes on. That's all. My vote is this calendar is perfectly fine with me. It's working. If we need to add a meeting here and there, we could do that. Thank you. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Mendez.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Just thank you, Councilman Killeen, because we're just voting on the scheduling of the meeting, the annual meeting. We cannot connect this resolution with the condition of the city or any lack of enforcement. Let's not mislead the public. Let's speak about what we have in front of us. I think my only concern is that, Council President, you have a huge responsibility on your shoulder. to assign all our council colleagues to a different committee. But council members, they have to attend those committee meetings because a lot of people, they talk about, oh, backroom deal. You know, listen, we've got to get the job done at the committee meeting, and then we have to come back to the council to take those actions and to have an extensive discussion at the workshop, and that's what should be done. So I agree that we took that decision back then, and it's been working. my only recommendation is to have all those discussions at the workshop and then let's take action on the regular meeting now my only request council president as well once we have legislation that needs second reading uh let's try not to add those uh legislation on on virtual meeting let's make sure that people get the opportunity to speak out once we have a a public uh a um um discussion on that let's make sure people get the opportunity to speak about any ordinance other than that i think we're ready and move and ready to move forward my body has been a clerk thank you councilman omar thank you madam clerk my vote is yes councilman velez i guess my colleague here has got the message but i just want to say simple thing

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE MOVED FROM FOUR MEETINGS TO TWO MEETINGS MONTHLY, BUT THE WORKFLOW HAS NOT BEEN REDUCED. HAVE NOT BEEN REDUCED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA IN THE PAST YEARS WHEN WE CHANGED IT FROM FOUR TO TWO, We got parks done. We got road resurfaced. We got River Street getting approved. We got UEC funding for our community. We got more than 100 police officers hired in our city. We keep on doing the work, the work that the people want. If we want to keep the city informed, please visit the second floor, the first floor, and get the mayor's newsletter, and you see how we work and collaborate to move the city forward. Thank you.

that is my statement my vote is yes president mims so it's a lot of things has been stated but i'll say this this is not new every july 1st we vote on the yearly calendar we're not voting to reduce meetings we're not voting to add meetings the only thing we're voting on is the yearly calendar so every council member can adjust their schedules to know what date the meetings are Talking about adding special meetings and all that. If by chance the governor or any entity has money that can be allocated to Patterson and we have a deadline, we're going to call a special meeting because Patterson is not going to lose that money. We're not going to lose the funds. We're not going to lose the resources to ensure that the work is done. Reducing the meetings previously, which is not this item, but reducing them was a benefit because when there were four meetings, there was no televisions going except for twice a month, and sometimes the drama was less. As soon as we reduced the meetings and had the cameras full blast, that's when you saw the drama. So to me, it's about the work of the community and the work for the people. It's not about the empty rhetoric, because as stated, and I did start it, Councilman Khaliq, and we're going to go back to enforcing it, you will know who attends their committee meetings. It will be duly noted and attached to the agenda that will be on the dais. So you will know those people that do a lot of talking and absolutely do nothing for the city of Patterson. I think it's important that you know and understand that. Madam Clerk, my vote is yes.

Thank you a yes is one notice item passes. I don't format a court. I know for is the resolution designating newspapers to receive notice of Council meetings under the sunshine law. This is from our office and its resolution 26 number 3.

So we move by Councilman in the second by Vice President Davila roll call item number 3 discussion papers discussion discussion Councilman Jackson.

So I'm not going to talk much today. I mean, obviously, if one when statements are made for those who do a lot of talking, I'm going to be and I'm straight clear with the public. One, I have no inclination to participate in the committee process of which deals are made. And then when we come forward here, changes are done. So when we talk about the other day for us paying out close to a million-dollar settlement to an employee that was illegally fired, and when we lost the case against that employee, that was done in a special meeting. It's not just about when the governor comes here to give us money. It's not just about when the governor is coming here to give us money. It's about when decisions are made to pay out money that you guys don't know anything about. Additionally it truncates the public's opportunity to address the Council with their concerns I made a motion to increase the public portion time even if we didn't double it even if we didn't do 6 minutes in North. members of the public have 5 minutes to address the council but what we're doing here not only do we truncate the public's time but we make sure that we have police guard ready to extract any member of the public that's in disagreement with what's going on here listen I have no no issue with what we're voting on is the calendar is not it's not about that is about the public's access to the information. How many of you we're to just last night the night before last another 40 unit development got approved with 50% reduced parking. Their application required that they have more than 50% of the parking that they had available. But yet these are the things that's getting done. So not allowing the public to have access, yes, someone's going to say, that wasn't a council meeting. Absolutely. It was a planning board meeting of where the city is being sold at. But who makes those decisions?

Council President, I'll pose the question, please.

Second. Roll call and I'll pose the question to move on in the agenda, Madam Clerk.

That's not how a call to question works.

Madam Clerk, roll call. We need to do said it was all that I want to discussion is not on the agenda roll call to move forward, madam clerk roll call to move forward Councilman offered. We're moving forward so we can vote. The vote. We're voting on newspaper articles, yes.

Councilman cotton. Vice president Davila.

There was a first and a second and designated newspapers to receive notice of Council meetings that is what we're voting on right my vote is yes.

Councilman Jackson.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ONE, I CHALLENGE THE PUBLIC. I CHALLENGE ANYONE HERE, ANYONE SITTING HERE. IF THERE'S ANY TIME, ANY POINT IN TIME WHERE SOMETHING, A POINT THAT I BRING FORWARD DOES NOT HAVE VALUE OR DOES NOT RESONATE WITH WHAT THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS ARE, THEN I WILL YIELD. BUT ANYWAY, MADAM CLERK, MY VOTE IS NO. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN KALEEG.

COUNCILMAN JUST VOTED ON NO. on notice of the publication for the meetings. He doesn't want the public to know when the meeting and the agenda was going on there. That's what he just voted on. My vote is yes.

Councilman Mendez.

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Omar.

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Velez.

I say it in Spanish, if it wasn't for these days and the day we don't get paid, my life would be miserable. My word is yes to this.

Council president Mims to the public, I just want to say to those that are sitting we have 11 items that very easy items renewals entertainment, there's nothing on here except for we had the item for the union contract we're trying to move expeditiously you've been sitting in the heat for hours. So we as a Council we will respect your time we will move expeditiously my vote is yes, madam clerk.

Motion passes. Item number 5, Madam Clerk. We were on item number 4. There was a mover and a seconder. I need the roll call for item 4. This is the roll call to adopt item 4, Councilwoman Alford.

We already did.

We did. That was the roll call on the motion.

That was a roll call on the motion to call a question that now we've got a vote in the eye.

Now we're voting on item number for the adoption of it local Councilman offered. Councilman cotton. Vice president Davila yes Councilman Jackson.

In the effort to try to discredit is incredible. This and it. Okay, congratulations, congratulations, this is important business, the public's business is important and how we squander money and how decisions are made to to mistreat misrepresent the public is very important. It's very important is not something just just just pass over. So I understand you know you you're a fan and you you you know yet to colors on but but the these items are very important we're not just going to glass over it. Madam Clerk, my vote is yes.

Councilman Khaliq?

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Mendez?

So, I'm voting on resolution number four, that's stated in the newspaper, so let's be clear on that one. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Omar?

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk, thank you.

Councilman Valenz.

So resolution is an official newspaper and online and whatever, whatever, whatever, we already heard. But one thing I'm not going to allow, please, to disrespect a leader from this community have paved the road for us here to be seated in this table. You will not do it for nobody that look like you. Don't do it to her. My vote is yes to this.

President Mims.

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Resolution number 4 is adopted item number 5, madam clerk. Item number 5 is a resolution reappointing Vivian gains to the city of Patterson board of adjustment. This is a reappointment sponsored by Council president men's resolution 26, 3, 0, 9, so.

Moved by Council president that was second by men's Mendez and the last roll call item number 5.

Councilwoman offered. My vote is yes, and congratulations to Vivian Gaines on her reappointment.

Councilman cotton.

Thank you, madam. I just want to say also to I'm going to the Board of Adjustment maybe a game. Congratulations. She was on last night with the National Action Network with my assembly will release here at least evidence that's me and myself and and I definitely may get a big Daniel and we on a video games last night and I want to say congratulations. Thank you, Jamie plan for taking the case of the on about National Action Network. Thank you madam clerk, my vote is yes.

Vice president Davila congratulations once again, I would say yes.

Councilman Jackson, yes. Councilman colleague, yes.

Councilman Mendez correlation to my third war constituents is being gained by what it says about a clerk.

Councilman Omer.

Congratulations commissioner, my vote is yes.

Councilman the last.

CONGRATULATIONS, VIVI GANES, FOR YOUR REAPPOINTMENT FOR TWO YEARS OF TURNING ONE MEMBER FROM THIS BOARD. BY THE WAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. YESTERDAY I HAD A CONSISSION OUTSIDE SAYING THAT WE THE COUNCIL APPROVED PROJECT. WE THE COUNCIL APPROVED PROJECT. WE DON'T APPROVE PROJECTS. THEY MEET IN THE SAME CHAMBERS THAT WE ARE HERE LOCATED. SO IF YOU SEE A MEETING, THEY'RE NOT COUNCILMEN, THEY ARE COMMISSIONERS. SO, AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. THAT'S WHY THE VISION HAD TO BE SHARED, AND THEY'RE MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF THE CITY. CONGRATULATION, VIVIAN, AND MY VOTE IS YES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIMS. TO MS. GAINES, COMMISSIONER GAINES, WHO'S WATCHING, MY VOTE IS ABSOLUTELY YES.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS ADOPTED. item number 6, madam clerk. Item number 6 is a resolution addressing the renewal of point operated amusement device license for war and X lickers LLC at one pool table for 6, 7, union have in the first award says from finance resolution 26, 3, 10, so move second move by Council of the last second by Council and then there's roll call item 6, madam clerk. Councilman offered. Councilman cotton. Vice president that we love. Councilman Jackson, yes. Councilman Kelly.

But you know I don't know but 6 item number 6, but what it is.

Councilman Mendez, but what it says for the court.

Councilman Omar my vote is yes, madam clerk.

Councilman the lens, yes.

President men's yes, madam clerk.

Kevin, yes is one, no, this item passes.

Council Vice President.

AND I WANT TO I WANT TO JUST BE CLEAR ON THE NO.

I KNOW THAT IT'S A POOL TABLE LICENSE. OKAY. BUT I HAVE RECEIVED. BUT SHE ASKED FOR THE FLOOR I GAVE HER THE FLOOR. COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT.

So I just wanted to explain from the numerous complaints that I've received, all right, is the owner here? No. We asked the owner to come.

No, that's not the item.

That's not this one.

No, that's those are the other items that were moved there will be in the August meeting.

OK so that if I may if I'm able to change my vote.

I've already called this item has that's I was she called you call the vote.

I did OK, I'm sorry no problem item number 7, madam clerk.

Item number seven is a resolution addressing the renewal of coin operated laundry licenses for the following licenses. Best Wash Laundromat, transacting as Best Wash in the third ward. I may mispronounce this. Transacting as Omega laundromat in the fifth ward, finance resolution number 26311. So moved.

So moved. Moved by Council Vice President Davila and Velez, second by Councilman Mendez. Roll call on item number seven, Madam Clerk.

Councilwoman Alford. Yes. Councilwoman Cotton.

Yes.

Vice President Davila. Yes. Councilman Jackson, yes. Councilman Khalid, yes. Councilman Mendez, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Velez. President Mims.

Yes, Madam Clerk.

This item passes. Item number eight, Madam Clerk. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS A RESOLUTION ADDRESSING THE RENEWAL OF FLORES LICENSE FOR ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER GIFT SHOP AT 703 MAIN STREET IN THE SECOND WARD, FINANCE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 26312. SO MOVE.

MOVE BY COUNCILMAN KALEEG. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN VELEZ AND VICE PRESIDENT DAVILA. ROLL CALL ON ITEM NUMBER 8, MADAM CLERK.

COUNCILWOMAN ALFORD.

YES.

COUNCILWOMAN COTTON. YES. VICE PRESIDENT DAVILA. YES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON.

Yes.

Councilman Kalik.

Yes.

Mendez. Councilman Mendez.

My vote is yes.

Councilman Omar.

My vote is yes, panel clerk.

Councilman Velez.

Yes.

President Mims.

YES, MADAM CLERK.

THIS ITEM IS ADOPTED. ITEM NUMBER NINE, MADAM CLERK. ITEM NUMBER NINE IS A RESOLUTION UNDER PATTERSON CODE CHAPTER 129 ENTITLED BIZARRE'S FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR PUERTO RICAN HERITAGE TO CONDUCT A CARNIVAL IN PENNINGTON PARK. THIS IS FROM FINANCE AND IT'S A RESOLUTION 2630. SO MOVE.

Move by Council Vice President Davila and men second by the less and roll call on item number 10 now item number 9 Councilman offered Seeing that this has all of the attachments for EMS police Yes, my vote is yes Councilman cotton

Vice President Davila.

Before I vote, I just want to thank the organizers, the National Council for Puerto Rican Heritage. I know that my good friend Ila Villanueva for years was part of having the parade and festival, the Puerto Rican parade and festival. And we have not had that in years, bringing back this festival as there's many Puerto Ricans. When I hear people say, oh, absolutely not. The difference is, right? that puerto ricans have married dominicans colombians african-americans and so forth and guess what even with my son when you ask them oh what are you he goes i'm dominican i'm like hello you forgot about mama right but with that said you know i'm just so proud i'm happy i'm looking forward to seeing it the puerto rican community is a vibrant community it's a loving community and i'm just looking forward for the festivities and moving forward i would love to see that parade come back my vote is yes

Councilman Jackson.

Yes.

Councilman Khali.

Yes.

Councilman Mendez.

Yes, on item number nine, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Omar.

I'm looking forward to August 21st. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Velez.

So I want to comment. There is two organizations that always bring application a month, a month and a half, or two months before it. And that's William McCoy Foundation. And also now. Yes, give him a round of applause. It's true. They get it on time. They go visit the police fire department on time because they want to know what they're expecting. I hope the administration could look for more funding to help this nonprofit organization for probably one of these days. Instead of charging, they could have it free because this is part for the community. i i believe on that when we give back to the community but that's that's something as a will that means that the whole council had to approve it right it's me talking because i i have a i have a dream like martin luther king that we could serve the community without having a dollar behind it uh but in this case uh uh elia villanueva and the national council puerto rican We are alive. The Puerto Ricans are in town. They're here in the city. And one thing I say is this is a celebration for everyone from black, Jamaican, Puerto Rican. If you feel Puerto Rican that day, you are part of our celebration like we do celebrate others. So my vote is yes. And I have the approval of the former council clerk and Mayor James Warren. My vote is yes.

President Mims.

My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

Item number 9 is adopted. Item number 10, Madam Clerk. Item 10 is a resolution authorizing the award of contract to Land Deck Group, LLC, for renovations of Little Larry Doby Field, bid number 25.27 for the Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works.

So moved.

Resolution 26.314. So moved. Second.

Moved by Councilman Mendez. Second by Council Vice President Davila Mims and Velez. Roll call on item number 10, Madam Clerk.

Councilwoman offered yes. Councilwoman cotton.

Thank you, madam clerk, you know I have it in my office, but they were close to include in here to scope of work that they're going to do on the little field over for Larry Dolby, I don't see on here. BUT WHEN WE HAD OUR COMMITTEE MEETING THAT COUNCILMAN VELEZ AND I ATTENDED ON MONDAY, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT THIS IS TO APPROVE THE LIBRARY DOVERY FIELD, THE LITTLE PART, THE OTHER SIDE, AT THE BOTTOM OF EAST SIDE PARK. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY VOTE IS YES. I JUST TEXT THEM SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I MAKE SURE, MADAM CLIP, THAT I GIVE ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT'S GETTING DONE FOR THE LITTLE LABORATORY FIELD. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, MY VOTE IS YES.

VICE PRESIDENT DAVILA? YES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON?

YES.

COUNCILMAN KALEAK?

YES.

Councilman Mendez.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. There's a few projects in the third ward, right on Eastside Park. One of the projects is the gym that we're planning to put on Eastside Park. I'm very excited about that. I'm looking forward to do free training for my third ward residents. If you want to lose some weight, go to the park. I'll do free training. I got to lose some weight, too. But I'm very excited about that because we got to be healthy. It's all about being healthy. I see so many people walking around the park. I'm excited. Every morning at 7 o'clock, I go to Eastside Park. And I'm really excited to see our Paterson residents taking care of themselves while walking and doing exercise. And also, with the big Larry Dolby, we did a phenomenal job. That company did a beautiful job. and I'm looking forward to see the little Larry Dobby build the same way so I'm excited about that and with that being said my body just not clear.

Councilman no more of what is yes, but for council and the last so.

No this is I have to I want the audience to please When we don't where we don't when they say we know those things replay this. We be doing the work okay, so this is a low portion let it go report the one on the left side when you go to the park and we want to make sure that the quorum in the chambers mostly one second Councilman no speaking in the public please if you notice on the happy camper in this side so you should enjoy that. But ONCE AGAIN THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU ADMINISTRATION TO LISTEN TO THE COUNCIL WHEN WE ARE OUT HERE TALKING ABOUT WE NEED THIS, WE NEED THIS. JUST PLEASE, MAYOR WE HAD THE CONVERSATION BEFORE, B.A. WE HAD THE CONVERSATION BEFORE. IF YOU GO INVEST IN OTHER PARKS, I ALSO WANT TO GET INVESTED IN THE FIFTH WALL PARK, ROBERTO CLEMENTE PARK AND THE 16 AVENUE PARK THAT WE HAD THE CONVERSATION TO REBUILD THAT PARK. with money coming through so saying that you didn't want me to shut up now right i mentioned the 16th avenue park hey i'm here already but yes my vote is yet for improvement yes

President Mims. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Item number 10 is adopted. Item number 11, Madam Clerk. Item 11 is a resolution under Patterson Code Chapter 129, titled Bazaars, addressing a license for Charles Brown to conduct a picnic at Eastside Park, Upper Picnic Area. This is from Finance, and it's Resolution 26315. So moved.

Moved by Council President Mims, second by Vice President Davila. Roll call on item 11, Madam Clerk.

Council President, I did say move.

I'm sorry the second also by Council member the last roll call on item number 11, madam clerk.

Councilwoman offered yes.

Councilman cotton as you can see you you can get a chance to say move for a second but that's okay at all. Like sometimes this might do it resolution that that be the one to move it or second it anyhow. My for this for this item here, I'm glad that is getting off the ground, you know people can stop talking. It was never like the official fall at all so with that being said, I'm happy to see it going forward and that's what it is you know yeah. i say that make sure before you talk you understand what's going on and who's at fault and who's causing it and why they're doing it because sometimes they have you in the wrong place at the wrong time and you're going about the wrong stuff and something bad over here is happening that we need to worry about and we're not worried about it but that being said madam my vote is yes

Vice president of the land and clearly I would agree and just ask anyone that wants to receive any permits apply for permits just ask what the process is I would ask that you know social media could be a good thing, but it also could be a nasty thing And to go to social media and just put out there that there were agendas and there were things, it was very ugly. I read it and I was like, wow. And I didn't even know that there were meetings going on concerning all of that. But with that said, I am in support. the paperwork the application i'm happy that the applicant understood that there was a process that there's a new process things change and you know councilwoman cotton and i were part of uh sitting in those meetings with all of the departments to talk about the way that we handle uh bazaars or or um festivals and all that stuff so you know with that said i'm happy that now everyone is sitting at the table police fire dpw della everyone reviewing all applications right there and of proving it right and coming it forward to finance and to council workshops so with that said today tyron regler my vote is yes councilman jackson

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Well, one, in this community, you wouldn't have to turn to social media at times if things weren't being done unfairly. And in fact, this is an exact example of that, where they had to take it to social media in order to get the results. that they potentially needed. How many times, I mean, Councilman McCoy is back there. We've seen it where his event that he's had for years and years, all of a sudden there's changes and there's a disparity in treatment. And that's a fact. So my hat goes off to the organizers of this event, Mr. Brown, Ms. Hunt. for making sure that they didn't just take it in the face and they took it to social media and as the public had something to say about it, you see people made changes to what the agenda has to be. This item probably would have never even made it to the agenda if it wasn't for social media. But anyway, Madam Kirk, my vote is yes.

Councilman Pelley?

Thank you, Council President, on getting top of the situation. Corrected it and putting it on the agenda. Everybody's happy. My vote is yes.

Councilman Mendez.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I know we're voting on the bazaar, addressing the license for Charles Brown for the festival and picnic at Eastside Park. I'm looking forward to be there. But let me just make this comment and to make sure that every resident of the city of Paterson understand The you know our situation is canceled. We have no authority to decide whether how many police officer and event will be used that's not under the police department take that decision that's a decision for the police department, the job of public work is to decide how many member they're going to be they did we get they're going to have to hire we don't take that decision and it's important that the community and stand up. so so that way so we got to stop politics because you know people they might think that any council member have any power of the police department or of the public work that's not true that's a lie and i just want to make sure that the residents understand that each department they have to do their job and they will decide this the stuff that they that they need that they will request my vote is yes my clerk thank you councilman omar my vote is yes and thank you to everyone who played a hand in getting this on the agenda

Councilman the last.

I don't know but I don't know but you know. Mister McCoy councilman I never saw you taking your issues to social media. I never saw that I know that you have called us to say what we could do to help alleviate the situation as communication action and results in this case this is not just a picnic. People are missing something here. I'm looking at the word healing soul through music. That's what attracted me. So let's all celebrate. My vote is yes.

President Mims. So I just want to bring clarity because sometimes things are stated and they are not true. So there was information that was posted on social media. I reached out to the organizer to get some information, explain the process. worked with some other people in the community they reached out to Mister Brown Mister Brown therefore had another meeting with with our department heads to get to the bottom of getting his contract and and work done he signed the contracts once it was done I worked with him and made sure this came to the agenda today it was not on the agenda but I told that we would get it on as long as everything was fine We got this on, and Madam Clerk and the Secretaries will tell you, at the ninth hour. We had to get legal to come back into the office to do the resolution to make sure. So when it's stated that we don't do, it is a lie. When it's stated that people have to go to social media, that is a lie. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call council members and we can assist you. That's what we're here for. We approve when it comes to us after it goes through licensing. There's a process. But anything that you don't understand, please come to us. I did that. I didn't go on social media. I didn't say it was a lie on social media. Didn't need to do that. I spoke to the organizers and I am happy and I will be at that event in August as some of us will be here. Mr. Brown, I know you're watching. I told you to watch around this time. We're happy that this is approved. Please go back on social media and say thank you. The R&B cookout is back on. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk.

item number 11 is adopted.

To the public our agenda is completed we will now open public portion we have 11 speakers for public portion. You have 3 minutes each police we will in this year we will operate by the cold as we've been doing In our code, it says that you cannot use profanity at the microphone. I will be enforcing it as the council president that profanity is not allowed in the chambers. There's a way to speak and get your point across, but if you use profanity, it will be addressed. You only have one time to use it, and that is it. You will not disrespect the council, and the council will not disrespect you as well. Madam Clerk, First Speaker,

FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST, DID NOT PRINT, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSPELLED. ELAY, E-L-A-Y, I BELIEVE.

I THINK THEY LEFT. THEY LEFT, MADAM CLERK.

NEXT PERSON ON THE LIST IS LORENZO MARTINEZ.

It's on. Good afternoon, Mayor Cella, Council President, Council Vice President, members of the City Council, and elected officials, administration, members of the public. My name is Lorenzo Martinez. I'm the Director of Administration from the Hispanic Multipurpose Service Center, located at 911 East 23rd Street in Patterson. And I'm also proud to stand here as the grandson of the center's founder, the Honorable Maria Magda O'Keeffe. This year, the center is celebrating 50 years of service to the Patterson community. For five decades, the Hispanic Multipurpose Service Center has served as a place of support, dignity, and hope for families, women, children, immigrants, and every resident in need. Councilwoman Maria Magda was a trailblazer in Patterson's history and the first Latina ever elected to the Patterson City Council. She dedicated her life to public service and to building a center where our community could be seen, heard, respected, and helped. And today, we continue that legacy with pride and responsibility. As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we invite the entire community to join us for our Community Block Party and Resource Fair, which is to be held on Saturday, August 8th, 2026 from 11 to 7 at the Hispanic Multipurpose Service Center. This will be a family-friendly event open to the public with community partners, service providers, local organizations, resources, entertainment, and activities for families. It will also be an opportunity for residents to learn more about the services the center provides and connect with the organization ready to serve them. We respectfully invite the mayor, city council, elected officials, all community organizations, neighbors, and families to join us on August 8th. as we celebrate 50 years of service, resilience, and community. The Hispanic Multipurpose Service Center is still shining, still serving, and still serving with the people of Patterson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lorenzo. Ms. Ilya Villanueva, next speaker.

Good afternoon members of the City Council, congratulations to the new elected mayor, always at your side. I've been in this council since the May of 1984, when he was not even born yet. I was the assistant, the legislative aide, administrative assistant and one of the workers in the campaign of the election of the honorable first Puerto Rican elected to this city council, Maria Magda O'Keeffe. That means that I have come to this council and this chamber even before, with all the respect, none of you were here. Now that I'm here, I want to thank Councilman Velez, which I've been in your life of politics for many years. Thank you for standing for me, and thank you for your support and your confidence, and especially the two ladies that just came re-elected. It was my honor to work with you, to really believe in you, and to every moment, every day, every action. And I was glad Madam Council President Mims to be Miss Daisy driving you around during this campaign. I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind. What mine was, and what is important, that we did it. That the team you can trust, prove one more time that they are supporting that this council believes that the Puerto Rican community have their place in this city. Thank you very much for approving the Vassar license for this, and I invite everybody, everybody to be there with us. Thank you so much to the public, you're invited. Guys, from the bottom of my heart, every time that I have work for each and every one of you, it's been my honor. Thank you.

We love you. Next speaker, Ms. Andrea Flores. Andrea Flores.

Good afternoon, everyone. I greet you in the mighty name of Jesus. And I want to congratulate the mayor, president-elect, vice president, and the entire council team. I know I'm a new voice and I need to listen out, but I'm here to bring awareness of a particular company that runs housing in the city. popular name, Anais Management, Florio, new name Prime Construction. And their unfair business practice that they have been running in the city. And I know a lot of people are going through it, where they put this guy's fees in their leasing agreement. And it's not mentioned, when you're normally renting a place, you pay for deposit and rent and whatever fee. But they have a specific insurance that is mandatory, that is thousands of dollars. that they don't mention in their lease agreement, in addition to this so-called credit that you're supposed to pay upfront. And when you think that that credit is deposited, and as they mention it, It's totally not. And many people who are paying rent to them initially pay thousands of dollars. Some people end up paying $10,000 for a place that is initially $1,500. And it's not mentioned in their lease agreement. Unfair, and it's almost a scam. They took $2,000 from me as a disguised credit. And when I asked if it was a deposit, they said yes. Initially, that was supposed to be $3,500. It turned out to be $7,500. When I asked back for my money, they told me that it's not refundable. The court has ordered them to return the money, and they have not. And this is going on, you can check because people, it's mostly us that who are not represented here that because we don't have that voice to speak out. So it gets covered up, these guys. And so I'm asking that in any future license that's granted to them, because they keep changing their names for whatever reason. People should look into that. And I'm asking for it as an advocate for my own self that they return my money because it was ordered. And if I ask, it's on the record. All they have to do is pay it over to the court. They are aware of this. Okay? Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Next speaker, we have Elvis Durham.

Hi everybody doing happy new year for the city of Paterson July 1st me a new year, a new beginning and it's time to work just came here to say that I'm going to work with everybody that's up here. Okay, it's time to build a city may Andre say you you back in we got what to do this and I said we got what to do. Patterson, New Jersey, the third largest city in New Jersey. We need low-income apartments. Okay? Low-income apartments. We need a performing arts center. Y'all seen the performance. We need that. We need a major hotel. We got a national park with no hotel. Let's make it make sense. Time to work. Okay? My YouTube channel, it's 37,000 people watching today. My YouTube channel is Patterson NJ Good News. Patterson NJ Good News. My Facebook page is Elvis Good News. D-U-R-H-A-M. I am the promoter for the city. I am the real media for the city. I'm the legit media. It's nobody better than me. Everybody else is bootleg. Elvis Dorm Outreach Music Production presents Gospel Summer Jam, Sunday, July 26, 2026. It starts at 4 o'clock PM, and it's going to be at New Generation Kingdom of Power Ministry, 170 North Main Street, Patterson, New Jersey. Pastor Thomas Prairie is the pastor. For more information, this is a free world donation event. For more information, everybody can call me at 862-823-3895. Patterson, I'm here. Anybody got something to say negative about me, you can call me and find out about myself, okay? 862-823-3895. God bless you, and let's work together. Let's bring this city back like never before. In Jesus' name, amen? Amen.

Next speaker, Mr. Eddie Olivares.

Good afternoon, Council. Mr. Mayor, it's good to see you. And I am going to start with you. You know, I'm going to pretend that this is a private conversation the way that you and I sometimes talk. And I tell you, you know, I really have no faith in you. I think the city, eight years after you being in office, is as bad as it was. But I do like you. There's one thing I love about you, and that is the way that you use these buffoons here. You know, I am just going to use Louis Villescaz as an example. You kick him to the kerf and as soon as he starts complaining, you get his wife a job and everything is fine. As soon as he, you know, he starts complaining again, you give him a lollipop to suck on. and everything is fine, but let me tell you, I do hope that, I mean, you said that you need a council that you can work with. I doubt, I am being honest with you, I doubt that you're gonna do anything only because you had that within the last four years. You had eight of these council members at your service, and you were not able to fix the city. I hope that in the next four years you can do something. I'm going to move on to Ms. Alford. I have very little faith in you only because of the people that finance your campaign, but I hope and I pray that in the future I come to this microphone and apologize and you make me eat my words. I hope that you do work for the community and that you help the community. Today, I am not going to extend it. I am going to cut it short. And I am going to tell you that I am disappointed. I am disappointed. I was hoping, I was praying that they would appoint you, Louis Villaleste, to president of the council. And Omar as your vice president. Man, that would have been fun. It would have been an awful lot of fun watching the two of you who cannot string one sentence together.

Thank you. Next speaker, Marte, last name Marte. Mon Monty out my time on next speaker miss Robertson.

Good afternoon, congratulations to. Councilwoman at large and the re-election of this man's and the Bella and it's good great to see you at the meeting today. This a few highlight. I'm going to make a recommendation to the council, something that the Paterson Police Department does, which is the community listening session. I think we need to have some of our department heads, DPW, traffic, and whoever, other entities in the ward so that they could hear from constituents their concerns with the garbage, the parking. so on and so forth she was here before me um the other thing is on uh cliff street mike belmont towers is that cliff street that's no no coming up belmont towers that's on belmont aft coming up is that cliff street K it's anyway so anyway come it's like West Broadway presidential Boulevard, there's a tree right there the bread is right okay, it is extended out to the street okay, I have not seen any tree trimmings throughout the city during the summer sewer clean it and what have you been on North 9th is a lot of sewage. and about my nap in the sewer the sewer drains also recently one left 9th Street. There was a demo of a not a demo deal with some innovation done of a house okay and I was in constant contact with the situation service the trash that was a mounted out there. for almost a month, gradually being picked up. I was told that if it wasn't on the sidewalk, it does not impede the constituents. But that if it's impacted on the property, it's OK. But if everybody had that same mindset, the street would be horrendous i sent uh footage to several of the council people to see it it's a shame that you know people buy property in our city they rent them out multiple families move in and the landlords come by and collect the rent and have a disregard for the management of the property that belongs to him and what it does to the community and other residents that live there with the trash the cardboard the styrofoam blowing all across the street and then the thing is i reported it numerous times to department heads and stuff and i think what we need to do if something like that is reported We need to do follow-up to see what's going on with the property because it should not take the constituent to make repeated calls to department heads to see about what's going on in the city. Okay, we talked about the taxis in the license and another license might hope is that we get and they were these thank you.

So with the park to be a thank you miss Robeson we want to apologize to commissioner raise that we cannot read her signature on here and after this watching I noticed that this is possibly her signature, but no matter clerk would agree we cannot read the writing on this paper so it wasn't to dismiss her and not allow her to speak, but the writing was not legible enough to see whose name it was. But I believe it is her name. If she is in the hallway, if somebody can call her. Next speaker, Ms. Frances Harrison.

Hello, everyone. Congratulations on this team that you can trust. Good to see the mayor. Let's talk about this 4 time be a. 4 times. The year to 4 be a. And it is mayor there's a lot of work to be done. There's several things I want to address one is the tax uh... sewer tax that was put into a special meeting that nobody could get online to talk about okay understand that there are other municipalities that are supposed to be paying money into the city because they use our system sure would like to know how much money that is can we get a dollar because you can't seem to keep coming back to the residents for money. The retired people that are in their home me your help may or be a legal Council. Work on some things that apply to us as a community. We only know more parts. Did you ever get I would it call them. Somebody to oversee the work that's being done. Project manager. Okay, you're doing these parks right now. The engineering department of planning or whatever Montgomery Park. plans, whoever is saying, oh, good idea, we'll get another park. Maybe Velez will get all the parks that he needs in his ward. But it is wrong. Money got to go to the city, to the community, to the people who need it. Because those of us who are carrying this city, it's heavy. And something needs to be done. Now you've got another term. Look at the things that apply to the community. Not another park, not another street sign. I've been trying to get the signs changed in the Third Ward Eastside for over six years. One gentleman is in charge of signs up we already got the list don't point at my Councilman my Councilman does his work. But he is only one person. And when he comes before you guys or whoever else he has to talk to it seems to go on death ears because these signs are horrendous commercial parking. It's crazy. Before I get off I got 15 minutes. August 15 inside neighborhood Association 2.0 will be howling there jazz in the park. This said we not no matter how many festivals we have is so divided.

Ernie rocker. Mister rocker. No.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. First, let me take this opportunity to thank each and every last one of you that won. Mayor, congratulations on your historic third year, third term, I'm sorry. But what I want to talk about today, because I have been purposely staying away from this meeting. And not to be funny, I don't mind the strictness of having cohesiveness on this side, on decorum, but I need to have it on that side as well. you're asking us not to do xyz and i'm asking y'all stop the damn fighting every i mean and this started again today this is your first reorganizational meeting people stop out the planning board There is no way in the world we can continue to allow the planning board or any board of that matter to give out these whatsoever. People are parking eight, nine blocks from their homes. People, sometimes, have to leave what they're doing two hours early to get a parking spot. That is outrageous. But yet we will give a variance to cut off 25 or 35 parking spots, which you shouldn't be doing. And you have your zoning board operating differently than your planning board. We need to get both boards following the same rules because that's why everybody wants to go to planning. Second of all, the campaign's over. It is time now to govern. It is time for us all to get together. We've had our little thing on Facebook. We've had our campaign fights. We've done all that. Now it's time to govern. Now, everything is business with me. So when I fight, it's business. When I laugh, it's business. To see where we get things beneficial to the community as a whole. As a whole not just convenient for the city and I understand we're financially in debt. I don't have MOU so we have responsible for to get certain monies back but that situation where we're pricing the small group out of doing something free for the community has to stop.

Thank you Mister rocker that our last the final speaker is miss assemblywoman Elise Evans.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR NEW, I'M GOING TO SAY NEW, BECAUSE EVEN THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE REELECTED, IT'S A NEW TERM, IT'S A NEW YEAR. WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER OUTFORD. WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE, THAT TALENT THAT YOU HAVE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ALL OF YOU. AND SITTING HERE LISTENING, SOMETIME I LISTEN ON MEDIA, AND YOU NEED TO MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF Yes, both sides needs to conduct themselves in a manner, out here as well as over there. And there's a lot of work to be done, but there's a lot of chattering going on up there. And I think as you all work hard, as you go and attend your committee meetings, and get all the information because when you sit here you come with answers not questions come when you sit here we come to you for answers not you come to ask questions each council person responsible for everything on the agenda. You should receive your packet early enough read it if you don't have the answers get the answer. because when you sit there if I stand here and ask each one of you question about anything on the agenda. You supposed to have to answer you come with the answer not the question. But on behalf of all of the women. In the city of Patterson. This is so have it you might we bring it up to congratulate you. and hopefully that everything will continue. I think you all are making some progress you made a lot of progress last year and we hope you continue congratulations on being selected Council president again and for all the women in the city of Patterson. I'm presented this bouquet of flowers to you Councilwoman means it's so heavy it I'm serious it is so heavy I couldn't lift it and he offered to assist me

That's my queen right there.

And that's all of the women in the city of Patterson. And men, we thank you all as well. But let us not continue to be the laughing stock of New Jersey. As a matter of fact, you're all over the country. So please let us show that Patterson is a class act and show that we can do better. And we can and we don't have to chat a chat on every little thing that comes up. It's just too much and we've been sitting here you had 11 hours don't should have been out here, I will go thank you so much God bless. Thank you there are no more speakers.

It's a motion to close the moves the move move to close by Councilman the last second by Councilman Mendez and Councilman on my roll call to close that an or girl July 1st reorg meeting of July 1st 2020 of the public portion, I'm sorry to go vote, you know, ready to go to close the public portion of July 1st roll call not a clerk.

Councilman offered. Yes. Councilman kind yes. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you madam clerk so thank you to everyone came out today. Just some quick notes. I want to thank my legal staff for successfully defending me in having these charges fictitious charges dropped 2 days after the election. How convenient. um and i will be filing a civil rights lawsuit against the against the uh state for that those false um charges but anyway i want to congratulate all those winners the mayor uh councilwoman alfred uh councilman woman and dabbling mems and uh you know the mayor made a statement today oh i'm here to work with everyone and etc and when the mayor won his seat eight years ago was very optimistic I don't know if optimism was a good word, but I had some belief that things may go well. He appointed some stellar people from our community, Mr. Vaughn McCoy and Ms. Khalifa Shabazz, and I thought that his statement in which he made today of we're working together, I thought that would definitely ring true. Since then, we've watched over $150 million be squandered at the stadium where our children's time there has been reduced. We watched the former BA parlay himself into a business arrangement with the stadium to make money off of this situation. We've seen evictions at an all-time high. We've seen foreclosures at an all-time high. And I see Ms. June left, but when I get phone calls from people like Mrs. June and seniors who are on fixed incomes who are in fear of losing their homes, listen, I'm not here to be in opposition. Not one of you, anyone, no one here can place a recollection on me asking for anything for myself. Everything I fight for here is for the public. Even when I was falsely charged, even when the mayor and his staff falsely came to my establishment and refused to render my health license, you know, I've never sat here, never asked for anything for myself. I'm here to fight on behalf of the public. I'm going to continue to do so, and I'm hoping that those who are newly elected will continue to do so as well. Madam Clerk, my vote is yes.

Councilman Colleague?

Yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Mendez.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let me just take this quick time to congratulate our new Councilwoman-at-Large, Paula Arfor. Welcome to the City Council. I'm so excited to see you here. You bring a lot to the table, your knowledge about housing and how connected you are with the community. uh definitely you're gonna do an outstanding job and we're here to work with you alongside also to our council vice president congratulations on your new re-election and also as a vp uh and also to my council president my constituents in the third ward are you one of the one of the reason we have that the listing the revelation i want to say i wish you the best of luck and and and uh... we have a lot of work i have lost and to the ministration as well uh... the mayor know that i'm the one we could have a lot of this agreement but i'm the i might might my heart is in the city of paterson and i put politics aside to make the best decision in britain on behalf of our city i'll sit in this council president for two years in a row i work with them in the search when i work with every council member We have a lot of work ahead of us, and to the Mayor and the administration, the residents of the City of Paterson are expecting us to improve our services. Whether it's street cleaning, whether it's garbage collection, the ball pickup, they're expecting us to serve the City of Paterson in a better capacity, and we have a huge challenge ahead of us financially. So this is the time for us to come together and take those tough decisions to protect our homeowners to protect our taxpayer. And I'm looking forward to that alongside with my council colleague and work and make the best decision for the city of Paterson. Also, to my third ward resident, I'm excited. I'm ready to just to continue my work every morning at seven o'clock in the morning. I'm driving around my third ward getting those calls and I'm ready to continue advocating and fighting for my third ward and for the entire city. We get calls from everywhere, but I'm ready to address those quality of life issues that affected my third ward and those phone call where there's concern in terms of the garbage collection uh advocating for repaving of the road and and and attending those calls and serving my community i've been blessed i love to i love to do the job i could do this job you know without pay at all because i've been blessed to have this job and last but not least patterson let's keep venezuela in our prayer the earthquake took thousands of lives away and it's devastating what we see in social media I'M HOSTING A MARATHON ON JULY 12TH AT 4-14 BROADWAY. SO LET'S KEEP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY DONATION, WE HAVE A PLATE THAT YOU COULD DROP AT 4-14 BROADWAY. GOD BLESS THE CITY OF PATTERSON AND CONGRATULATION TO ALL MY COUNCIL ELECT AND COUNCIL COLLEGE. MY VOTE IS YES.

THANK YOU.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to thank the members of the public for coming out today and also the ones who came out and spoke. My vote is yes to close public portion, Madam Clerk. Who's going to officiate?

Councilman Velez.

I don't want a former assemblywoman at least ever get mad with me because I'm the last one to speak. but um there's some issues that comes to the public portion i tried to address it quickly to the young lady that came talking about any uh developers or renting company out there she mentioned one is in the record i just want to say that no matter who is it you had the right to read the lease you had the right to Read it up and down. If you don't agree, do not rent. And if there's any chance that lease did not come representing what you want, there's a court called Landlord and Tenant Court, and you could bring the issue to Landlord and Tenant Court, and they will address it. They will address it accordingly. If you have a good attorney and put the facts together, you probably win, okay? So that's my advice. Sometimes people come here thinking that we could go and whip... everybody out there, but it's not the case. I know you're exercising your freedom of speech, and I'm here to answer what I can't answer in this side. THANK YOU. IN THE AUDIENCE IS A GENTLEMAN. HIS NAME IS JAY. HE IS THE COMMISSIONER. PLEASE STAND UP FOR PEOPLE TO SEE YOU. HE'S THE COMMISSIONER THAT I APPOINTED AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. I'M NOT HIS BOSS. I DON'T TELL HIM WHAT TO DO. HE'S A FREE WILL AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. WE HAVE THE WHOLE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HE'S COLOR BLIND AND I KNOW HE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. to mr olivari he's a clown of every council meeting i'm not gonna upset i get upset whatever he said because everybody knows where he's saying and i know where i stand to move the city forward mr mayor please there was a request from one of the from the people that came here to talk i think is um FORGOT A NAME ABOUT REQUESTED LISTENING SECTION. THE SAME WAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES THERE. WE SHOULD GO BACK AT LEAST BY WAR ONCE A MONTH AND DO IT ALL THE WAY AROUND. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MS. HARRISON, NO MAYOR, NO ADMINISTRATION, NO PRIVATE COMPANY COULD GET IT RIGHT AT THE FIRST TIME. IF THEY GOT THE FULL ONE AND THE GOOD ONE, HE'S GOING TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. MY VOTE IS YES TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

Thank you Councilman Council vice president that the lie you were away, but we're on roll call for public portion. President Mims yes.

Public portion is now closed motion to close the meeting second move motion to close the meeting by Council vice president that was second by Omar Councilman Omar and Mendes of the last roll call to close the meeting it's time to go home and eat. Well come out court Councilman offer.

Yes, I just want to close the meeting by again saying thank you to the city of Patterson. I'm looking forward to working and serving and I think everybody that came is that out with us it is time to go yes.

Councilman cotton, thank you madam clerk.

I just want to say congratulations again to mayor Andre say on your third term I remember in 2018 when my big 80 and we were downstairs I want to say congratulations on your third term to newly elected councilwoman Paula Alford I look forward to working with you. I'm happy that you're sitting next to me and not I'm happy to sit next to council. To Council woman. The red lace on your 4th time came in in 2014. I guess it before you would a second female on the City Council. and to our council president dr lisa mims and you said it today you know we're we're here because of other great women that paved the way for us and i want to even say to our gentlemen you're sitting there because the men that paved the way for you all to be there you didn't get there on your own you had to work with people to get to where you are and i can say that we get our packet on friday We should look at our packet. We got Friday. We got Saturday. We got Sunday. We got Monday. We have our meeting on Tuesday. We should already know what's in our packet. And if you have any questions, and I want to make a suggestion to the council members, you know, go visit the different departments. I go to the BA office. I walk to the corporation council legal department. I go over to the tax collector office. I go over to the community improvement. I go over to the health and human services. They need to see us. When they see us, they know that we care. That's how I look at it. And they'll tell us some of the things that's going on. But you don't sit here and tell you all what they said to you, and you're going to call out names. No, you don't do that. When they tell you something, you have to say, this is what I need to do, and I'm going to do it this way. But I want to say congratulations. I'm going to continue to do what I need to do. I want to thank my brothers from American Lodge number 333 for coming out and supporting us. And this is so important. I want to thank my lady from National Council of Negro Women. Thank you, Shirley Alexander, our president, for coming out. Thank you, Madam Mayor Jane Warren. But thank you all. Thank you all who spoke today. We are listening. We are listening. And we hear everybody. But I don't need to tell everybody when you call me what you're telling me about. I don't need to, everybody don't need to know your problem. Because why would I want to tell your problem to the whole world out there? Let me work on your problem. Let me help you with your problem that that is that matter to thank you got bless you all have a happy 4th of July that my vote is yes.

Thank you council vice president not even. So once again Patterson, thank you so much. The president on your second term as council president, your 3rd term as council at large. TO COUNCILWOMAN ALFRED. I LOVE HOW YOU ANSWERED ME EARLIER TODAY WHEN I SAID COUNCILWOMAN LEX. YOU SAID, IN A FEW MINUTES, I'LL BE COUNCILWOMAN. SO, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. AND MAYOR, I'VE TOLD YOU THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A GREAT RUN. WE'VE RAN TOGETHER. WE'VE WORKED HARD. WE'LL CONTINUE DOING THAT. BUT JUST KNOW, THAT I, THIS TERM, I'M REALLY GOING TO BE ON A DIFFERENT WAVE. A GOOD WAVE, BUT ON A DIFFERENT WAVE. AND I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN TO WORKING, YOU KNOW, WITH MR. BA. WE DEFINITELY, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE NEED TO DO AND WE GOT TO GET OUR FINANCES IN PLACE. AND I KNOW THAT A LOT HAS TO DO WITH THE STATE. SO UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THAT, WE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY. AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, TO TEAM DAVILA YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TO TEAM OMAR THANK YOU YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT ACROSS FROM ME COMMISSIONER I SO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE ROSADO FAMILY THAT THE ABRAEL FAMILY THAT THE MONTIA FAMILY THAT SO MANY TEAM MEN'S YOU KNOW EVERYONE TEAM COLLEAGUE TEAM COTTON. AND I HAVE TO SAY IT THAT WAY BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT SUPPORTED MY REELECTION CAME WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT YOU AND THAT SUPPORT THE CAUSE. SO I TRULY, TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. MS. MCCOY, THANK YOU. I KNOW I KNOW THAT I'M ONE OF YOUR FANS AND I KNOW THAT YOU ONE OF MY FANS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALSO FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE FAMILIES WELL. MADAM MAYOR JANE WARREN WILLIAMS YOU HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION AND A GUIDANCE. as well as our assemblywoman, Elise Evans, who, when I decided to run at that time, and I'll be closing, was an assemblywoman, and along with Nellie Paul, was like, assemblywoman then, now congresswoman, you know, you should run for office, and you were a guidance as well. And just to everyone, everyone in this room, and again, you know, Phyllis, are you coming back to me? Okay.

No.

So I was the Phyllis she worked as my assistant for 10 years and truly as a deputy I understand I'm sorry so with that said thank you, thank you, thank you, God bless you all I'm going to have some dinner with my son my vote is yes. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you clerk. Let's get back to business. The elevator 125 presidential has been out for 6 months. Elevators now functional in buildings that have the capacity of such as against not only just local laws against the state law. I want to congratulate the real winners in this election. All those that put the money up to pay $300 a day to all these people working on these campaign trails. And all of those now who benefit from being able to continue to charge residents illegally that's against the city ordinance for parking. that could continue to rake uh additional charges and for the young lady that just left the room in the back you know she's not the only one so i want to congratulate all those winners and uh you know it's it's very unfortunate and it's i'm just hoping that the the conditions for the residents are soon to improve As we've watched rent values skyrocket more than we've ever watched before, I mean, it's gotten to the point where I've not even bothered to call the administration. But I have. I called the Corporation Council as well as the Director of Health and Human Services. I have a neighbor across the street from my house, a single mother, four children. She's been living in a house with no power for the last five months. Because the fire department came there and deemed the house to be inhabitable because of some electrical issue. And they're required to place these people in hotels. This woman with four children has been living in a house with no power, no electricity. and you would think that as a municipality we will hold these people accountable want to congratulate them again because as they have made these contributions to ensure certain situations to allow them not to be enforced upon to allow them to continue to charge residents parking and things of that nature. You know hat goes off not a sore loser just acknowledging the drew the real winners in this election and unfortunately we have to look at you know those of us who are homeowners who are taking, you know, the burden of carrying this tax burden and congratulate you as well as your taxes will start to increase. I look forward to seeing you at that microphone. Madam Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you.

Councilman Khaliq.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to welcome on board my second-world constituents, Councilwoman Paula Alford, also our re-elected Councilwoman, Council President Mims, Councilor BP, Marisa Dabula, as well as Mayor Andre Saia. I'm looking forward to, at least this year, to work with the administration and move the city forward. I want everyone here, and whoever watching on TV, just take a moment and go back eight years ago, when our mayor, Andre Saia, was elected. And look at what's going on in the city of Paterson. Eight years ago, as I recall, we had abandoned properties in every corner. And some of my council colleagues talking about foreclosure houses in the city, it's very hard to find one, as far as I know. It's very hard to find one today. Eight years ago, there was plenty of them in every corner. Look at the parks. I know we are tired of talking about parks, but City of Paterson in the competition with the parks, you could bring any city out there, any city in the United States. I think we are up there with the recreation. We are up there. I recall playing at pennington park on the rocks basically there was nothing but muddy and rocks not only pennington park buckley park because i grew up in that section i don't know about i did not play in any other sites in city of paterson i don't i want everyone to go visit them role resurfacing i sent an email to the administration and the mayor About, I'm sorry, I'll take another 30 seconds. Out of all the roads in the Second World, I found about seven or eight roads is not repaved yet since I've been a councilman. You have the list, Mayor. Over 90, I think about 85% of the road in the second world, I'm talking about specifically second world, has been resurfaced within last eight years. Hopefully, the rest of it, the eight or seven roads that I sent you will get done in upcoming years. I think positive, I weigh all the negativity out there. But at the same time, we have a lot more to do, specifically the cleanliness of the city. Let's clean up the city, let's work together, and let's move the city forward. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you.

Councilman Mendez?

I think about a clerk so once again, I want to listen to my counsel Cali into the administration. My third war resident we just continue to work. I'm very excited to see 19th Avenue repay, but please slow down to not speed now we have a bunch of potholes people was a slowing down, but now I see people speeding around there. And also, I'm getting a lot of calls from the constituents around Eastside Park. The gate at Eastside Park is being opened because it was damaged with an accident. But I spoke with the director, Billy. So in partnership with the county, we're looking forward to replacing it. I'm going to continue advocating for more resurfacing in the Third Ward to the administration. Mayor, East 24th, you're getting a lot of calls from East 24th, from 4th Avenue all the way to 2nd Avenue. 4th Avenue, East 23rd. So we're going to continue doing the work, checking the list, and adding those streets that need to be repaved in those lists. Happy 4th of July, Patterson. Enjoy this long weekend. Enjoy the Great Fall Festival. Let's be a good neighbor. I'm driving around the Third Ward addressing quality of life and loud music. I know there's some residents that they love to do those parties, but please be a good neighbor. If you're going to have a barbecue, invite your neighbor. And let's have a great time. Let's treat each other as a family. Let's enjoy this long weekend in Paterson. Slow down. We're going to have a lot of seniors, a lot of family around our city enjoying our parks. So let's slow down. Let's avoid any accident. And last but not least, when it comes to park and lighting, we need to improve our lighting in a lot of the parks and also in a lot of the area. So we should have a conversation. I know we're using funding from CDBG to improve the lighting in some of the commercial corridors, but we've got to look into our parks. We have to. We have to do that. So I'm looking forward to have a conversation. Once again, it's nice to see our queen. Our assemblywoman, Liz Evans, here. We love you. You know we love you. And you always belong to Patterson. And you're always going to be my constituent. I don't care where you go. All right? Keith, stop hugging. God bless you, Patterson. God bless the great city. And let's enjoy this long weekend. And let's keep Venezuela in our prayer. July 12th is our marathon. And if you have any donation, 414 Broadway, you can stop there and drop it over there. God bless you all. Thank you, Madam Clerk. My vote is yes.

Councilman Omar.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Well, first, I want to congratulate Mayor Andre Sayre, Councilwoman Paul Alford, my Council President, Lisa Mims, and our Vice President, Maritza Davila. To you two, I've had the pleasure of working with you over the past year and a half, and Ms. Alford, I'm looking forward to the next four years of working with you. Mr. Mayor, the progress you've made in eight years is tremendous, it's incredible, and we just want more of it. So four more years, and we're here to support you on this council. July 4th weekend. I want to wish everybody a happy 4th of July. Happy birthday, America. 250 celebration. Make sure you guys get a chance to stop by at the Great Falls. A lot of great things. I know I'll be there. Mr. Mayor, I know you'll be there, and I hope to see some of my colleagues there. And let's continue to pray for this city. With that being said, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Good evening, Patterson.

Councilman Velez.

Can I get a remaining minute for him? I'm just kidding. First of all, I want to say, Madam Clerk, thank you for being here and listening to us. and always use your wisdom with your eyes. Thank you for being here with us. Today was a great day. Mayor, Councilwoman Mims, Councilwoman Marissa Davila, and Councilwoman-elect, and now Councilwoman Soraya and Paula Arford, I noticed something today at the park. And I hope it's the only day I'm going to see it moving forward. We had a camp from Paula, a camp from Mims, a camp from Marissa Davila. in a row seat rolls right and it was nice because is organized for the families excel is there in this side now coming i hope all that camp get united to work with the city councilman paul offer if your agenda is the community you not by yourself you got us and if the agenda is the community don't feel by yourself I'm at this end and it's good for the community. I got your back. I got your back in this side. You are part of us now. Whatever hurt out there to you, it hurt us too. So we had to work together to move the city and congratulations. And I know that yellow mean peace. So saying that, I know that we're going to move the city forward. Mayor, as I stated before, you have a good B.A. He's willing to work with you. Please remove the handcuff. And if he gives you advice, take it from him. He was a former councilman, so he knows what we're looking for. So he got the experience there. Thank you. making sure that the city move forward. I know the communication there. Corporate Council, thank you for what you do. Madam Clerk, thank you for everything you guys do. Thank you for my secretary, my wife, a person I love a lot. She taught me that I look good in green. I know a lot of people did not, you know, say that. Whatever color is this, but it's beautiful. Last but not least, I want to send my deepest condolence to Reverend Donna Farah Warren and the loss of her husband. THAT SHE LOST HER HUSBAND THIS PAST WEEK. I KNOW YESTERDAY I WAS VIEWING, I BELIEVE SO. MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO HER AND THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW CHRISTIAN TAMANAKA CHURCH IN THE FIFTH WARD. MADAM CLERK, THANK YOU. V.P., PRESIDENT, EVERYONE, MY VOTE IS YES TO CLOSE THIS MEETING.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIMS. THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING FLOWERS. MY VOTE IS YES TO CLOSE THE MEETING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT. GREAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

The reorganization meeting is hereby adjourned.