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Portside Towers tenants press council to enforce uniform security ordinance after repeated incidents
Summary
Multiple Portside Towers residents told the council that building security is inadequate despite an ordinance requiring uniformed security for buildings over 100 units; residents described attacks, unlocked access points and a shooting into a unit and urged the council to enforce rules already on the books.
Tenants from Portside Towers and other Jersey City residents told the Municipal Council on Feb. (2025) that they no longer feel safe in their buildings and pressed elected officials to enforce the city’s uniform security ordinance.
Multiple speakers described incidents they say show security at Portside Towers is insufficient. Jennifer, a resident who said a bullet entered her son’s bedroom eight months ago, told the council: "I begged you for help. I asked for something simple. Enforce the uniformed security ordinance so families like mine could feel safe in our own homes." Tenants and other speakers described a bleeding woman who ran into the building fleeing an attacker, unlocked doors between a public garage and the residential lobby, and front‑desk staff who are not trained for emergency response.
Residents and tenant advocates cited Ordinance 24‑005 (adopted June 26, 2024), which they said requires owners of dwellings with 100 or more units to provide a minimum of one uniformed security guard on premises 24 hours a day. Tenant speakers said that either the building is not complying with that requirement or exemptions have been granted without adequate inspection or enforcement. One tenant, Darnell Parker, said the lack of local job and housing opportunities compounds the problem: training programs produce certified workers who cannot get local employment.
Tenants asked the council to take specific steps: require and verify compliance with the resident superintendent and uniform security rules, ensure exemptions are not granted without on‑site inspections that account for residents’ security complaints, and compel management to secure garage entry points and complete recommended camera upgrades. Several speakers urged the council to use its enforcement powers and to ensure the landlord‑tenant office is fully staffed to process complaints.
Council members acknowledged the seriousness of speakers’ claims and asked administration staff to follow up. Council President Waterman said the administration, not the council, appoints department directors and is responsible for ensuring departmental responsiveness; several councilmembers said they have tried to summon directors for briefings and urged the administration to make staff available for the council’s questions.
What was not decided tonight: the council did not vote on a new security measure during this meeting. Residents asked for enforcement of existing ordinances and timely inspections when exemptions are requested; several councilmembers promised follow‑up and said they would press department leadership for responses.
Why it matters: Tenants say safety failures are leading to injuries, displacement and fear; consistent enforcement of existing local ordinances is what residents requested.
