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Residents press Newark council on eviction, slumlords, public safety and youth services during lengthy public comment period
Summary
Dozens of residents used the March 19 public-comment period to press the council on illegal conversions, slumlords, lack of landlord accountability, homelessness and public safety after recent violent incidents. Speakers also urged expanded youth programming and job training.
Dozens of residents and community leaders spoke during the Newark Municipal Council’s public-comment period on March 19, focusing on housing affordability, landlord accountability, homelessness, rec center programming, and public safety after recent violent incidents.
Illegal conversions and landlord accountability
Several residents described what they said were unsafe or illegal conversions and chronic landlord neglect. Sean Paul, who identified his address as 80 Grand Avenue, said a legally permitted four-family building had been converted to an 11-family property “without permits, without anything,” and asked the city to address that specific property. Manager and program developer Jimmy White urged the council to hold landlords to higher enforcement standards and proposed increased fines and more frequent inspections: “Support initiatives for NJ…
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