Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tenant Safety Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Portside Towers tenants press city over missing superintendents, security enforcement
Summary
Residents of the Portside Towers rental complex told the council the landlord has not provided required resident superintendents or uniformed security staff; callers urged the city to enforce existing municipal code and to compel compliance.
Tenants at Portside Towers told the Jersey City Municipal Council on Tuesday that the building’s owner, Equity Residential, is not complying with city rules requiring residential superintendents and uniformed security for large multifamily buildings.
Multiple speakers at the meeting said both towers at Portside — each housing more than 200 units — lack the staffing the municipal code requires. "We could have used 24/7 uniform security when an attacker chased a woman into our building last year," a tenant said during public comment. Residents asked the council to enforce existing ordinances and to require the landlord to provide on‑site superintendents and uniformed guards.
Councilman Daniel Rivera told residents, "We're hearing you," and said his office would follow up with the law department about citations and enforcement status. Several residents and tenant organizers said they had filed repeated see‑click‑fix tickets and reported summonses but had seen little change.
Speakers described incidents they say underscore the risk: a lobby disturbance that required a multi‑officer police response, reports of assault and weapon incidents inside or near the buildings, and periods when lobby entrances were unattended. "When the wolf of emergency comes, whether it's flooding, fire, medical, or security breach, we're left with no one to call within our buildings," said a long‑term resident who addressed the council.
Residents referenced City code (chapter 2‑18, multiple dwellings) that requires a minimum of one uniform security guard for multiple dwelling properties of 100 or more units and a superintendent for buildings with more than six units. Tenants and several council members asked the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office for updates on summonses and court dates; the city attorney’s office said multiple violations had been issued and that staff would follow up with the prosecutor for specific ticket and court‑date information.
Speakers urged the council to use all available enforcement tools and to consider a working group with residents and the landlord to reach compliance. "Establish a working group, including council members, residents and equity representatives," a resident asked; another urged a firm compliance deadline. Council staff said they would pursue citations and report back on compliance activity.
