[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6629479,"mediaKeyId","2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4","parentId",2703653,"title","Residents press Newark council on eviction, slumlords, public safety and youth services during lengthy public comment period","audioSeconds",3375,"startMs",604000,"endMs",3979000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4&start=604&end=3979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4/thumbnail_604000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629479/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Residents-press-Newark-council-on-eviction-slumlords-public-safety-and-youth-services-during-lengthy-public-comment-period","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629479-933b3276292c4f4bf2330d50d5dbb9be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174112&Signature=HtEIA-Lb6WyDhv3iyKBMk0m9tdCgqXS1aRIcYqwjHZzlM0MERAn5xmpwWm1eduE8mspbOyZt~27pRXputmr1DDWRojoqTXRduAp7dn-HuJpgGvpqF0~h1RR-R~FRQIBCoVoMIV5Agmw~In06C3HCj2iuJkWbR2PiDDP-oouyWC5sdHMPN6GB09l-6nuv2KEk52PYBbXRwS-VbJUI3hFHAzaBQViYiDK5T31uB6JsKMf0uLd8DPPvM2V8uuYwCrnW5klaUvFJATDam6-mMUs79rgIniNWjulfamPIgo1U4sHye~zExVE39JKMs0ePUMseoQPhrM6kZ7sCE9cCxA31Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newark","date","2025-03-20T02:08:56.82Z","article","Dozens of residents and community leaders spoke during the Newark Municipal Council’s public-comment period on March 19, focusing on housing affordability, landlord accountability, homelessness, rec center programming, and public safety after recent violent incidents.

Illegal conversions and landlord accountability

Several residents described what they said were unsafe or illegal conversions and chronic landlord neglect. Sean Paul, who identified his address as 80 Grand Avenue, said a legally permitted four-family building had been converted to an 11-family property “without permits, without anything,” and asked the city to address that specific property. Manager and program developer Jimmy White urged the council to hold landlords to higher enforcement standards and proposed increased fines and more frequent inspections: “Support initiatives for NJ Department of Community Affairs to increase inspections to every two years rather than every five years,” he said.

Public housing, homelessness and rehabilitation

Public commenters focused heavily on housing scarcity and the scale of need. Manera/Monera Albomani and other speakers said Newark faces an “eviction tsunami” and cited a client report that they said called for 16,000 low-income units. Several residents asked how the city prioritizes people for rehabs and new units and pressed the administration for a larger, long-term plan.

Senior and community services

Multiple speakers supported continued senior programming but asked why the city would pay for services at tax-exempt churches. Public commenters asked whether the Bethany Baptist Church senior lease referenced in the meeting was already rendered and who would pay; Melvin Waldrop, chief of staff to the business administrator, said the money would come from the Recreation budget.

Public safety and recent loss of an officer

A number of speakers referenced recent violence and the unexplained death of an officer, urging solidarity across the city. Several urged investments in youth programming, recreation and prevention work. Latoya Jackson Tucker told the council that “trauma and recovery” should be addressed as public health issues and asked city institutions to avoid widening community divisions.

Youth training and workforce services

Speakers praised local training programs and asked for more of them. Akeem Miller described a Wilhelmina Holder Fellowship he is creating to train young leaders and said the program will include stipends and partnerships with Rutgers and other groups. Karen Gaylord, executive director of the Newark Workforce Development Board, told the council the One-Stop career center has expanded hours and now offers drone pilot training, GED classes and OSHA and CPR certifications.

Why it matters: Residents used the hearing to press for concrete steps on housing safety and affordability, accountability for landlords, and more youth and workforce programming. Council members and administration staff acknowledged the concerns and, in several cases, asked for follow-up meetings or committed to provide additional information to the public.

What’s next: Council members asked the administration to produce follow-up materials on several topics raised in public comment (inspection schedules, program details and allocation criteria for housing rehab), and several speakers asked for town-hall-style follow-up so concerns could be addressed in more depth outside the five-minute public-comment format.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Meeting - Newark Municipal Council - 03/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents used the March 19 public-comment period to press the council on illegal conversions, slumlords, lack of landlord accountability, homelessness and public safety after recent violent incidents. Speakers also urged expanded youth programming and job training.","taxTitle","Newark, Essex County, New Jersey","taxId",2741,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6629484,"Newark council advances lease for homeless housing, ratifies senior site lease and approves emergency appropriations and contracts",1347,7175000,8522000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4&start=7175&end=8522","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4/thumbnail_7175000.jpg","/articles/6629484/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Newark-council-advances-lease-for-homeless-housing-ratifies-senior-site-lease-and-approves-emergency-appropriations-and-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629484-f59cd21e693d4bf1b9442e3c99916db8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174112&Signature=mwXlGXrjG7WlCRIY74KQhFy454SJ-kAiMWMNTioKnAU8adrk~TOsgg58UHepfzt~wBg0IoLFQeA2XeXNUzSgHN8BIs8myWmI90vJHzQGxiW3MPPCQ3smPAK5pyZTiiky1amvqAHJjXLaRU1Nifoovoqo66szJOmf1MTWK2mZ9YRMaE0KSUcqKMvXTvGLMHkPQz2mgzYpFYelPT0f2kKiPXJeXJZKdn0~a-pGFvi02MhmoT~ohdVBvwh5JiN2PgGuYtz3hgp7xG~KjP~Oc55~seRA~E38CA5W4Q3fKjjFJHrRsqiDWQEO1aPNNrr2eSCixCAX-1iIMTG~oj4DtuJPUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newark Municipal Council on March 19 took a series of routine and substantive votes: it approved temporary emergency appropriations, ratified a lease for senior services at Bethany Baptist Church, adopted multiple purchasing and professional-service contracts, confirmed bond sales, and advanced several ordinances on first reading including a lease intended to provide housing at 169 Clinton Street.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 6 PSFA (housing rehabilitation): Adopted. Appropriates $6,000,000 for rehabilitation of units managed by the Newark Housing Authority (see separate story).

- Lease with Bethany Baptist Church (senior services): Adopted. The council ratified a lease to use space at Bethany Baptist Church as a senior site; administration said funding comes from the Recreation budget. Some public commenters asked whether the church, which is tax-exempt, should provide services without payment; the administration said the lease covers program space and operations.

- Temporary emergency appropriations (7R1A–7R1H): Adopted. These included funding lines for pensions, Ryan White HIV health and support services, lead-hazard remediation, anti-violence youth programs, sickle-cell services, police and fire capital improvements, operating expenses ahead of the 2025 budget adoption, and public health infrastructure.

- Purchasing/contracts (items I–L, and others): Adopted. Contracts included state-approved vendor purchases for vehicles and parts, maintenance and masonry work, supplies for animal care, and cleaning equipment and supplies.

- Bond and debt items (B–D): Adopted. Confirmed bond sales and bond anticipation notes as part of standard municipal finance procedures.

- Grant acceptances and subrecipient agreements (N, O, X and numerous subrecipient items): Adopted. These included environmental justice government-to-government funding, rehabilitation of City Hall interior, and a Lead Hazard and Healthy Homes Reduction Program grant; council accepted multiple subrecipient contracts for Ryan White HIV/AIDS services.

- Civilian Complaint Review Board appointment (communication 8a): Adopted. Dewan Norwood was appointed to the Newark Civilian Complaint Review Board.

- Tax abatement and development items (communications 8b, 8h): The council advanced a 30-year tax abatement for 1098 Broad Street (a five-story, 35-unit market-rate building) on first reading. The council also advanced and amended an ordinance authorizing a lease with 169 Clinton Development Urban Renewal LLC intended to provide housing for people experiencing homelessness; the amendment added authorization for the mayor or his designee to execute documents to effectuate the lease.

- Traffic and minor ordinances (8c–8e): Adopted/advanced on first reading changes to parking and stop-sign designations in the Central Ward.

Administration and staff comments

Melvin Waldrop, chief of staff to the business administrator, answered questions about funding sources, confirming the Bethany lease would be paid from the Recreation budget and noting the city’s coordination with departments on planned capital projects. Karen Gaylord, executive director of the Newark Workforce Development Board, described expanded hours and training at the Newark One-Stop career center; the workforce board said it is running classes including drone pilot training, GED preparation and OSHA and CPR courses.

Why it matters: The package mixes routine administrative business (contracts, grant acceptances and bond confirmations) with high-priority local decisions on senior services, housing for people experiencing homelessness and lead-hazard remediation. Several items were advanced on first reading; the administration and council indicated follow-up reports and timelines will be provided as projects move forward.

What’s next: First-reading ordinances will return for public hearing and second reading at the council meeting scheduled April 2 or soon thereafter; the administration committed to sharing additional implementation documents for selected items on request.","At its March 19 meeting the Newark Municipal Council adopted multiple ordinances, resolutions and contracts including emergency appropriations, a lease for senior services with Bethany Baptist Church, and advanced a first-reading lease for 169 Clinton to provide housing for people experiencing homelessness.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6629489,"Newark council adopts $6 million bond to rehab Newark Housing Authority units amid resident skepticism",450,6289000,6739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4&start=6289&end=6739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703653-ca8f2f0166be4a2ca00b7cade5e302e4/thumbnail_6289000.jpg","/articles/6629489/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Newark-council-adopts-6-million-bond-to-rehab-Newark-Housing-Authority-units-amid-resident-skepticism","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629489-11b0dbac0b7175948393c914077dce46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174112&Signature=QOnLb9~S8H38-z8pszzEipJbEKPD-d-x6SPSCKDvIn7EFMoOqE3qM1GhJuINy1Casd9pyijvWJrwQoXPH3O1v91g0N3~yVybG~NaGgekuiYOgZ5iro5b0wiL9KkOtO5wV-7-cN9YNhQjbeXfc42~h-kzhMNhW7R-PkImE-4~y3uA9~qBeGEo3SmtRLoWw3CvI8CxgKxvIsEZdTM-1RhVgRHjxgI6kEfEpYp5o5nynUVB6UstYzI4w-sMOTF-Vsr9DGR6KbwVyUF-rpIved1wqSVfjpGjq7ou1VdQkBtTCw1S7GuessCUE0f5zCGpE8l7Zz~mNGqN0P9EwmBKUd~TVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newark Municipal Council on March 19 adopted ordinance 6 PSFA, authorizing $6,000,000 in bonds to finance rehabilitation of housing units managed by the Newark Housing Authority.

The measure, described in the ordinance as funding “rehabilitation of housing units managed by the Newark Housing Authority and other related expenses,” was the subject of extended public comment before the council’s recorded vote.

Supporters told the council the funds will address deteriorated public housing. “This is the type of legislation the city needs,” one supporter said during public comment, adding the funding could move up to 200 units out of unlivable conditions into transitional housing. Aleef Mohammed, identified in remarks as president and founder of Aleef Mohammed Nia School, urged the council to vote and praised Newark Housing Authority leadership he said would ensure the money was used as intended: “With Linda Spicer here, he’s gonna make sure this money go here,” Mohammed said during the hearing.

Other residents urged caution and asked for clearer criteria on who would get the renovated units. Cassandra Dock, speaking from the public, asked how the new units would be allocated and whether people who become homeless after eviction proceedings would qualify: “If a disabled tenant is being put out and landlord-tenant court, will they be eligible now to go back into a unit because they are now homeless? They fit the criteria,” Dock asked.

Several speakers warned the appropriation falls short of broader needs. A resident who identified herself as Monera Albomani said Newark’s housing shortfall far exceeds the appropriation: “Client report says we need 16,000… We gotta do something with a better plan here,” she said. Donna Jackson, another frequent public commenter, opposed the ordinance as insufficient and warned the units could be allocated politically.

Melvin Waldrop, chief of staff in the office of the business administrator, responded to questions about the funding source and implementation. He said the rehabilitation program is being coordinated with the housing authority and the city’s finance and engineering offices and that the appropriation follows procedures tied to issuance of bonds. He also said the city has provided reports on related capital work to the council.

The council adopted the ordinance on a recorded roll-call vote at the meeting; the members present recorded their approval.

Why it matters: Council members and residents framed the vote as a practical step to repair housing stock but not a solution to Newark’s larger housing shortage. The appropriation will fund renovation work in public housing, a short-term fix residents said must be paired with longer-term planning to address waiting lists and rising rents.

What’s next: The ordinance authorizes bond issuance and appropriation. The council and administration will move forward with implementing the rehabilitation plan through the Newark Housing Authority; commenters asked the city to publish selection criteria and a timeline for the 200 units referenced in hearings.","The Newark Municipal Council adopted an ordinance to appropriate $6,000,000 to rehabilitate housing units managed by the Newark Housing Authority. Supporters called it overdue; several residents and advocates said the scale is too small given reported housing need and asked how units will be selected.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Newark council on eviction, slumlords, public safety and youth services during lengthy public comment period

Newark council advances lease for homeless housing, ratifies senior site lease and approves emergency appropriations and contracts

Newark council adopts $6 million bond to rehab Newark Housing Authority units amid resident skepticism