[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6573857,"mediaKeyId","3146826-a5e9ee572d7d138c01508df4df335854","parentId",3146826,"title","Council holds special conference on airport pickups, directs meeting with Port Authority and state partners","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4080000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3146826-a5e9ee572d7d138c01508df4df335854&start=4080&end=4080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3146826-a5e9ee572d7d138c01508df4df335854/thumbnail_4080000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573857/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Council-holds-special-conference-on-airport-pickups-directs-meeting-with-Port-Authority-and-state-partners","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573857-bf17dd1e03b4ab8a4a9e82cde94644e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180402&Signature=YePNJX0Zzs01w4jvV39-Lq4unNu6UyCyual65UACpv3FMu4TLix~a8J1N70i0IrgW8-2C570h6asFSAtTUXUgkhUNIMQdrqK9pEtEeJtu-2VaFkJjGMTHHFQw6qSRHxl8JvI9LDC0q2sLDpEclJJswTSWWL9kvOtK8qhTBNK5TNEHbfWfq8H9EdwON6VvmH~UaSyyZ2CaJYZQF4VYQbzfaErYK2-X-HfcNM3I9JlFOVXggZomb7UI9snwZWibO-pLVoNdOTlZgiwu~6GYdqBYj6dgN0ZLTuyDZSdfpZTMfaQe9a8yJNnfOyh2LkP52vFDSM63QZmdVkR29xlCZTowQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newark","date","2025-04-29T15:26:16.063Z","article","City of Newark Council members on April 29 held a special conference focused on complaints that out‑of‑state drivers and app-based services have been picking up fares at Newark Liberty International Airport in ways city taxi officials describe as illegal. The council heard presentations from Richard Kirkland, Director of the Taxi Division; Pamela Butterfield, Chief Transportation Inspector; and Miguel Dorsenville, president of the local taxi association, and directed staff to arrange a prompt meeting with the Port Authority and state law‑enforcement partners.

Richard Kirkland told the council the Taxi Division has been meeting with the Port Authority and has requested that the authority stop illegal pickups by drivers coming from New York. “We’re here today to talk about this illegal activity that’s going on at the airport and around the airport in Port Authority and with Lyft and Uber drivers at the terminals,” Kirkland said. He said the city had requested a written commitment from the Port Authority and that Port Authority staff indicated they would comply with written requests but could not unilaterally alter app-company geofencing.

Pamela Butterfield, Chief Transportation Inspector, said the division conducts annual inspections and that a detective and a sergeant perform routine enforcement work; she asked residents to report incidents with visible identifying numbers on taxicabs to aid enforcement. The division noted taxi vehicles carry base/association identifiers; Butterfield asked that witnesses capture those numbers when reporting alleged violations.

Miguel Dorsenville, representing the Newark taxi association, and other taxi-industry speakers argued the activity reduces fares and undercuts local medallion drivers. Dorsenville said app and out‑of‑state drivers pick up passengers at the airport and take them to New York at lower rates, which he said local drivers cannot match because of insurance and operating costs. Eric Pennington, the city’s business administrator, told the council the issue requires a coordinated meeting with the Port Authority and the State Police to identify enforcement options.

Council direction and next steps
Council members instructed the clerk to schedule a meeting as soon as possible that includes the Port Authority, the Department of Public Safety/State Police (to address jurisdiction on Route 78), the Taxi Division and other city enforcement partners. Council members and staff emphasized three concurrent tracks:
- enforcement and on-site monitoring (documenting incidents, providing identifying numbers and increasing visible enforcement at terminals and surrounding roadways);
- coordination with the Port Authority to seek written commitments and removal of app geofencing that enables out‑of‑state pickups; and
- review of taxi ordinances and fare rules to identify regulatory changes (including rate review) that could protect local medallion drivers.

Council members asked staff to document incidents (photographs, time and vehicle identifiers) so city enforcement and Port Authority partners can build cases and to report back on a proposed meeting date and agenda. No formal ordinance change was voted at the conference; members directed staff to bring options after the interagency meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Meeting - Newark Municipal Council - 04/29/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members heard city taxi officials and the Newark Taxi Association describe illegal pickups by out‑of‑state and app-based drivers at Newark Liberty International Airport; council directed staff to schedule a meeting with the Port Authority and state law enforcement to pursue enforcement and consider ordinance changes.","taxTitle","Newark, Essex County, New Jersey","taxId",2741,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6573860,"Newark council advances several redevelopment amendments, approves 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry",330,3240000,3570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3146826-a5e9ee572d7d138c01508df4df335854&start=3240&end=3570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3146826-a5e9ee572d7d138c01508df4df335854/thumbnail_3240000.jpg","/articles/6573860/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Newark-council-advances-several-redevelopment-amendments-approves-30-year-tax-abatement-for-317-Mulberry","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573860-551ccd7c503340875eacaf788d4f6aef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180402&Signature=n5Wexq1Yu2qLL174cdsXXtAqkEhYaJFK8XaI8bA2~L-Aict2ms98e6MWij1YRPz1-lmyz5A64eGe7K0ZBxOzwrMRJS2DGebV18jHYn2d7oay12a67eZQyPhpA1cG4SFSzZ4Qh9HUMiDMR-yDCvhmvhdq1vDWKZ4Lq-2AD7J5tRPUC4XrweJB876WYdFF3FtqBJt7Zhj96DZzOfXsSCEFu9vEmOwfNkIWORNr-Dhr3hm1mVr~jS14M4oAk9q6BrNrUg3959jLaweOptxsN~MfaelLwlYJIgPX7KLv7n2ADrYNMNoTb~Zggt98pkehuvb8RckfULGNC8GBovYxordRQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Newark Council on April 29, 2025 voted to advance and adopt a series of first amendments to redevelopment and sale agreements affecting projects in the South Ward and approved a 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co. LLC. Council members also authorized filing a final Green Acres application for a major diversion of a portion of Minish Park in the Central Ward.

The most detailed amendment involved a previously approved sale to CO Enterprise LLC that the city said must change because of zoning limits and requirements tied to HMFA funding. Randy Daniel, Legislative Representative for Economic and Housing Development, said the original plan called for about 67 affordable units at 60% of area median income. Under the amendment the project will be renamed Sheila Y. Oliver Senior Housing Community LLC and re-scoped to 48 newly constructed, 100% affordable senior units, including 42 units at 60% AMI, five units at 20% AMI for a special-needs population and one superintendent apartment. “It will still be 100% affordable and still for seniors,” Daniel said.

Brandi Daniel, also a legislative representative for Economic and Housing Development, explained a separate amendment involving 760 Clinton Avenue, SoHo LLC. That earlier sale went into default amid COVID-era funding issues; the first amendment reinstates the agreement and gives the developer an extension after it secured new financing, Brandi Daniel said. “This reinstates the agreement without it going into default and giving them an extension on their project,” she said.

Council members asked for brief explanations before voting. Councilman Jose Gonzalez and others emphasized affordability levels as projects were reviewed; a council member noted that one cluster of projects had exceeded a 20% affordable threshold and was producing about 35% affordable units across several sites.

Other council actions on the consent/legislative calendar included:
- Authorization to subordinate the city’s reverted rights for a project in the South Ward so the developer could obtain necessary financing.
- Authorization of a first amendment for the sale and redevelopment of 760 Clinton Avenue to reinstate the project after default and allow an extension for completion.
- A city resolution to file a final Green Acres application for a major diversion of a portion of Minish Park in the Central Ward.
- A ceremonial street designation honoring singer Gloria Gaynor.
- A waiver of special-event permit fees for a Mother's Day festival sponsored by Councilman Quintana.
- An ordinance (Communications 8a) granting a 30-year tax abatement to 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co. LLC for a project to construct 24 market-rate residential rental units in the East Ward; council discussion noted that the package of related projects includes higher-than-threshold affordable set‑asides in some cases.

Votes at a glance
- First Amendment — CO Enterprise LLC → Sheila Y. Oliver Senior Housing Community LLC (project re-scope): adopted. Vote (recorded roll call): Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott Roundtree (yes), Silva (yes), President Crump (yes).
- First Amendment — subordinating city reverted rights to permit financing (South Ward project): adopted. Vote (recorded roll call): Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott Roundtree (yes), Silva (yes), President Crump (yes).
- First Amendment — 760 Clinton Avenue agreement reinstatement and extension: adopted. Vote (recorded roll call): Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott Roundtree (yes), Silva (yes), President Crump (yes).
- 7R2DS — Determination of need for housing project pursuant to housing and mortgage finance guidelines: adopted (recorded roll call as above).
- 7R2ES — File final Green Acres application for portion of Minish Park (major diversion): adopted (recorded roll call as above).
- 7R8As — Ceremonial street designation for Gloria Gaynor: adopted (recorded roll call as above).
- Waiver of special-event permit fees for Mother's Day festival: adopted (recorded roll call as above).
- Communications 8a — Ordinance granting a 30-year tax abatement to 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co. LLC: adopted on first reading; council discussion noted related projects and affordable set‑asides.

Context and next steps
Council staff said the amendments were requested because developers sought alternate financing and had to change legal entities and project scopes to meet funders’ requirements. Staff named HMFA as a funding-related constraint on one amendment. Council members directed staff to continue coordinating on project financing, Green Acres filings and the tax-abatement review noted during the meeting. Several council members requested follow-up detail on combined project packages and affordability levels as the items proceed through second readings or final filings.

The actions on redevelopment and the Green Acres filing will affect project approvals, timing of construction and future reporting to funders; council members said they expect staff to circulate follow-up materials about affordability percentages and financing conditions.","The City of Newark Council on April 29 advanced and adopted multiple first amendments to redevelopment agreements that alter project scope or ownership and approved a 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry Street; the council also authorized a Green Acres application for a portion of Minish Park.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council holds special conference on airport pickups, directs meeting with Port Authority and state partners

Newark council advances several redevelopment amendments, approves 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry