[{"_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",6520717,"mediaKeyId","5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6","parentId",5127117,"title","Tenants press Newark officials over mold, elevators and security at New Community senior buildings; council schedules follow‑ups","audioSeconds",2296,"startMs",7720000,"endMs",10016000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6&start=7720&end=10016","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6/thumbnail_7720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520717/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Tenants-press-Newark-officials-over-mold-elevators-and-security-at-New-Community-senior-buildings-council-schedules-followups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520717-c60e392046f782fb04106f03bea2f952/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445566&Signature=aNFl~c~04LfHl87I6CEI6Hl32sq42f2dUJM3POoS9yqQMGsGJorIkCLbDB7TTOrCYh5vHwkLkpIrnFEOHvSLgcvbBwSJYpyzajY9qf~R4Rmqgjfv14mybZ68F5laom3C3EcKGjv~ZQWX0fqo88ezh0xMB3CjSJ8Apwgd3amLE-EmKu2DkycRBPNaGae0BBJqNDRNQsSjrPIoQR5xtZRY~2e7~TQEaIROJHCop43DtiJPrIkoWqIahMu3pQQ1Og9b5G1IJ9Lvn07b6hTtcGcBn1cZhuuFydezMueOfzHgV0iyrg4acEHA0dsl8HYcGaQyj3S4GzLFjd5KgBRf73jIPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newark","date","2025-07-02T22:38:08.937Z","article","Residents of several New Community senior buildings told the City Council they are living with persistent maintenance problems — including mold in apartments, malfunctioning elevators, pest infestations and security concerns — and asked the city to require faster, more complete repairs and clearer communications from management.

About a dozen residents spoke in a series of public comments focused on New Community properties, naming specific sites (including 140 and 180 South Orange Avenue and 516 Bergen Street) and describing ongoing indoor air and infrastructure issues. Tenants said earlier promises of repairs had not been completed and that some fixes were only cosmetic.

Why it matters: Older apartment buildings can pose health risks if leaks and mold are not remediated; seniors and people with respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable. Housing management and municipal oversight affect both residents’ living conditions and the city’s obligations under housing and health codes.

Multiple residents described the same pattern: management or contractors visit and perform a short‑term cosmetic repair, but mold and water intrusion return. Darlene Davis, a tenant and tenant‑association leader, said, “The mold is so bad. I have a lung problem, and the stuff has took in my breath, got me sore throat…The elevators they still jumping.” Darnella Lee told the council that inspections in 2021 had identified mold and that residents continue to see reappearing contamination.

Other tenants raised safety concerns. Sharon Bell described security staff who “stand outside, they smoke, they laugh…then when they have to come inside and sign somebody in, they have an attitude.” Several speakers reported bed‑bug infestations and alleged inspections were being skipped or incomplete.

Council response and next steps: Councilwoman Scott Rountree said she had already scheduled spot‑check meetings with New Community staff and would convene a series of follow‑up meetings. Rountree told the chamber she had asked the provider and housing team to deliver a report and set deadlines and that the council would hold a community meeting in mid‑August to review progress. “Between July 9 and July 16…we’re doing a community meeting with the team and the community,” she said.

Councilman George Tillman Jr. urged a broader approach: he said the planned multi‑million‑dollar new construction across the street increases urgency for capital improvements inside existing senior projects. Other council members said staff would pursue documentation and press management for required long‑term capital work rather than temporary fixes.

What residents want: Tenants asked for thorough mold remediation (not surface painting), clearer scheduling and access policies so exterminators and repair crews can enter apartments, improved elevator reliability and camera coverage, and a standing channel of communication between council offices, the housing authority and building management.

Administration response: City staff and council offices confirmed they will document outstanding cases and continue to press for timely, verifiable repairs; council members asked for written follow‑up from the management company and additional spot inspections by city inspectors.

Sources and quotes: On‑the‑record testimony from Darnella Lee, Sharon Bell, Darlene Davis, Bobby Wynn and others; Councilwoman Scott Rountree (who organized follow‑up spot checks).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Meeting - Newark Municipal Council - 07/02/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents of New Community senior properties told the City Council they face persistent mold, broken elevators, pests and security problems. Council members said they will hold spot checks and community meetings with management to press for repairs.","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},6520721,"Council expands Affordable Housing Trust Fund uses for homeownership; debate continues over inclusionary zoning and 430 Market project",1469,1206000,2675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6&start=1206&end=2675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6/thumbnail_1206000.jpg","/articles/6520721/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Council-expands-Affordable-Housing-Trust-Fund-uses-for-homeownership-debate-continues-over-inclusionary-zoning-and-430-Market-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520721-9d6ec2fea26e27c64060018f9645a8be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445566&Signature=Yf1S00xC1IectLB-3diGyWp9kWqrDLJVosD1KS0-LH8aBjqko-c28SZW~D14Byv5MBoOtIy9m6mjfkukFbbGiuU6ah6zCl8SYL-8tkvNJH6LdjPBHpwXPRPGjwfJO1KShEIKbJipmuIWNPl3DUC~vUrAlr9FjGhz5IXb7xBrQ3g1QG7iS65eQIJoN3LYa99MUvqy1jBdmrH2W0mkJfj~1kWmV8g6UtsnSPMIhtWhiIDrxhPjJt66sffWIpkzaTFmLS6LoO8pfcYAbwfV0Y~-OmibBnPTP7029o7V5ardKRm1ejTRDMlNaO4Rhp1bk9Whc6exE0OtMv6HPU7qi~FSkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newark City Council voted to expand how the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund may be used, adding affordable homeownership to the list of eligible expenses, and heard a separate public hearing and questioning about a 225‑unit mixed‑use project at 430 Market Street.

The trust‑fund amendment amends Title 10 of the city code to permit trust funds to support affordable homeownership construction as well as rental development. Deputy Mayor and Director of Economic and Housing Development Lisonbee Ladd told the council the change is intended to boost homeownership for Newark residents and allow the city to provide construction or “gap” funding to build affordable for‑sale units. She also said the city already runs down‑payment assistance programs and “we are able to provide $20,000 to people who wanna buy a house in the city who are first time homebuyers.” The council approved the amendment on the council floor.

Why it matters: Affordable homeownership programs aim to convert federal, state and local resources into permanent ownership opportunities. Expanding allowable uses of the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund shifts the city’s toolbox toward helping residents buy homes in place of or in addition to rental subsidies.

At the same meeting, developers and residents debated a proposed 13‑story mixed‑use building at 430 Market Street that would contain 225 rental units, of which project materials show 196 are market‑rate. The project sits one block from Penn Station; city staff said the site received site‑plan approval under the older inclusionary zoning rules and therefore falls under the prior ordinance rather than the city’s newer IZO requirements.

Deputy Mayor Ladd said the developer agreed to provide on‑site affordable units rather than pay a full payment‑in‑lieu (PILOT). She told councilors the city will receive a payment in lieu “about a half a million dollars” to offset the discrepancy between the number of affordable units on site and the current inclusionary requirement. Ladd said the project’s original site plan was approved about four years ago; because the city’s amended inclusionary zoning ordinance uses the site‑plan application date as the benchmark, the project remains subject to the older standard.

Residents and advocates asked the council to press for more on‑site affordable units and questioned how “affordable” would be defined. Public commenters said the project’s affordable percentage appeared to be below 20 percent and asked whether proposed rents would be affordable to Newark residents at local incomes. City officials said the project will include deed restrictions and certificates of completion to ensure long‑term affordability for any units built under the program.

Deputy Mayor Ladd also described how the city would use the Affordable Housing Trust Fund if the council approved the amendment: funds would be available to nonprofit or private develop ers to build ownership units with deed restrictions similar to those used for rental projects; developers would be required to submit documentation to release deed restrictions later if necessary.

What’s next: The trust‑fund amendment passed on the council floor and will be incorporated into city practice. Council members signaled they will continue to scrutinize projects that rely on older approvals, and several asked administration staff to provide more detail on specific projects’ affordable unit counts, AMI targets and parking plans before final votes on abatement or PILOT requests.

Sources and quotes: Deputy Mayor Lisonbee Ladd (Economic and Housing Development); public commenters including Felicia Austin Singleton and Miss Freeman (community activists); developer and site‑plan history as described in the city presentation.","The City moved to allow Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars to be used for affordable homeownership and discussed a separate downtown 225‑unit project where developers say an older site‑plan approval keeps the project under prior inclusionary zoning rules.",{"_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},6520727,"Council hears hours of public comment on proposed 30‑year Robert Treat Hotel tax abatement; consideration deferred",4957,335000,5292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6&start=335&end=5292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5127117-01226062c2f0552c368b65134d59b5d6/thumbnail_335000.jpg","/articles/6520727/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Council-hears-hours-of-public-comment-on-proposed-30year-Robert-Treat-Hotel-tax-abatement-consideration-deferred","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520727-7ab05e1e8d5ced6986404cbafa2a35fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445566&Signature=D4AQGERI0d5w5wz3Gx8sCaw2oCVnm3X0uGm8FtE6njD49LsmAhRCG7vFyOzJkYzkR2USGuM1xtm24wVpVd7nYX9CVZsxknlNGgFeHg6oVROuv5a~OhDqIRsN0Q~wUM3muvvhzjJGStEMd356klrKPPLt8ysFMmtrWYtcsfmIHyEalApUE08MzZ9Q450AI0PKwdhE1dBXyCFkJJavNdgOAJz4f5FEs9Bw0HEw6Ia~w8BVfsfcqnP83HxoZSLE05re4yialTXUKMmoBgSuBBzsFNa~7GyAMPOyQ8UTL0EWUpbbfXeNnilqygjWWlGsTdR~eUL6dBC14AGHML5zcrGkzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newark City Council opened a public hearing on a proposed 30‑year tax abatement for the Robert Treat Hotel on an ordinance listed as 6PSFA, hearing more than three hours of testimony before deferring final action.

The ordinance, as introduced, would grant a 30‑year tax abatement to Robert Treat Hotel Urban Renewal, Inc. to support a major renovation the developer says is needed to upgrade the downtown hotel. The council took public comment before questions from members and then recorded a roll call to defer further consideration.

Why it matters: Tax abatements move future property tax revenue and are often used to spur renovation or new construction. Supporters say abatements can preserve landmark properties and protect jobs; opponents say they must be tied to enforceable community benefits, including worker protections and adequate wages.

At the microphone, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council’s deputy political director, Shane Mitchell, urged the council to reject the abatement unless the city confirmed better workplace standards. “I’m here today to ask you to vote no on this 30 year tax abatement for the Robert Street Hotel,” Mitchell said, telling councilors the union had documented alleged threats to workers and claims that many employees are paid minimum wage without affordable health care or retirement benefits.

Former hotel employees and translators gave specific accounts. David Capito, who described himself as a former Robert Treat worker, said, “The Robert Tree Hotel paid me the minimum wage, and I was discouraged from taking the health plan and had no retirement benefits.” Josefina Mercedes told councilors she opposed the abatement because, in her view, taxpayer dollars should not support “bad jobs.” Other speakers recounted long careers at the property and urged approval, saying the hotel has provided stable jobs for Newark residents.

Owner Miles Burger addressed the chamber, disputing that outside organizers drove the employee testimony and defending long‑term staff who support the renovation. “We’re back now. You heard from many employees who actually work at the hotel, some for 30 years…They’re telling you the truth,” Burger said.

Several council members and the mayor’s representatives took questions from attendees about how any abatement would be enforced and whether a community benefits agreement or other legally binding conditions could be required as a condition of support. Councilwoman Scott Rountree said she had arranged spot checks and follow‑up meetings with management and tenant groups to verify claims made at the hearing.

Outcome and next steps: After public comment and brief council discussion the matter was deferred. The council recorded a roll call to defer consideration of ordinance 6PSFA; formal action on adoption was postponed pending additional information and administrative review. The council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting.

What remained unresolved at adjournment: Speakers pressed for verifiable, binding commitments on wages, health benefits, and workplace safety; the union requested that the city require those commitments before approving a tax abatement. Supporters asked the council to weigh job retention and long employee tenures. Council members said they wanted documentation from the administration about enforcement mechanisms and the hotel’s record before advancing the ordinance.

The council agenda shows the item as deferred; staff told the chamber they will return with documentation and recommended conditions if the developer wishes to proceed.

Sources and quotes: On‑the‑record public testimony from Shane Mitchell (Hotel and Gaming Trades Council); David Capito and Josefina Mercedes (former and current hotel employees, public commenters); Miles Burger (owner, Robert Treat Hotel).","Dozens of current and former Robert Treat Hotel employees, union representatives and community members addressed the City Council on a proposed 30‑year tax abatement for a planned renovation. Speakers were sharply divided; councilors deferred formal action to a later meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tenants press Newark officials over mold, elevators and security at New Community senior buildings; council schedules follow‑ups

Council expands Affordable Housing Trust Fund uses for homeownership; debate continues over inclusionary zoning and 430 Market project

Council hears hours of public comment on proposed 30‑year Robert Treat Hotel tax abatement; consideration deferred