Portside Towers tenants press city to enforce ordinance after residents say building lacks required on-site security

Dozens of Portside Towers tenants told the Jersey City Municipal Council on Jan. 15 that their building is still operating without the uniformed security and on-site superintendent the council earlier required, and asked the city to enforce the ordinance they say is being ignored.

Residents said the lack of visible, on-site personnel leaves families, seniors and children vulnerable. "We have a law, which you all agreed upon, that's supposed to protect us with 24/7 uniform security," said Daniel Feldman, reading the ordinance text into the record: "every owner or agent of an owner of a multiple dwelling of 100 or more dwelling units shall furnish a minimum of 1 uniformed security guard for each residential building in the property or community upon its premises 24 hours a day and 7 days a week." He said Portside Towers has no such guards in place.

The tenants’ testimony described repeated safety and access failures they say persist at Portside Towers, a building they say is owned by Equity Residential. Mark Boyles, who said he toured the west tower with others, described multiple unlocked or malfunctioning doors and nonworking key-card locks that allow public entry. "Portside's been in blatant violation of the law for a staggering 3,441 days," he said.

Other tenants described recent incidents they said illustrate the risk of noncompliance. Jessica Brand, a scientist who said she leads a systems team, told the council that visible, on-site personnel are more effective than remote call centers in protecting residents. "The ordinance mandating uniform security is not arbitrary," she said. "Without enforcement of this law, what happens? Tenants like me are counting on you to ensure our safety, not just with words, but with action."

Speakers asked the council to compel the owner to hire both the required uniformed guards and a live-in superintendent, and to prosecute or fine noncompliant landlords. Several said they had documented incidents — including a lobby attack, a bullet through a window and a building fire — and said they felt the city had not followed through after the ordinance passed last year.

In response, an administration staff member said departments have compiled a list of properties that appear subject to the ordinance and that a "continuous spot assessment" of identified properties will begin next week. The staff member said that "if anyone had a violation, summons will be issued on a continuing basis," and that the administration would provide a report to the council.

Council members also pledged follow-up. Councilperson Rivera said she would coordinate with the law department and aides to pursue tenant concerns, and Council President Waterman asked the administration to provide memos and ongoing updates.

The council did not take a formal vote at the meeting to pursue enforcement actions beyond the staff-led assessments; residents urged the city to move quickly so what they describe as ongoing noncompliance does not lead to a preventable tragedy.

The council meeting included other business, but Portside tenants dominated the public-comment period, repeatedly urging enforcement of the ordinance they say requires 24/7 uniformed security and on-site superintendents for large apartment buildings.