Portside tenants sound alarm after years of documented violations; council urged to use subpoena power
Summary
Tenants from Portside Towers and tenant advocates used the public-comment period to press council to enforce rent-control and building code enforcement more aggressively after years of alleged unaddressed violations. Speakers asked the special investigative committee to subpoena records and prod municipal enforcement.
Jersey City — Dozens of Portside Towers tenants and tenant advocates addressed the council in a sustained block of public comments, reporting thousands of unresolved code and rent-control complaints and urging the council to use its investigative subpoena authority to compel enforcement.
Allegations and evidence: Tenant leaders presented a long, detailed record of complaints: more than 2,800 complaints reported over a 204-day period and repeated claims that municipal inspections and court remedies have not led to cures. Kevin Weller, speaking on behalf of Portside tenants, summarized the campaign: "This is our 66th consecutive meeting as a group, 3 full years," he said, calling for use of the council's investigative powers.
Court outcomes and penalties: Witnesses also described a municipal court case where the landlord pleaded guilty multiple times; tenants said negotiated reductions left modest fines in place and no effective remedial execution in practice. Tenants argued the statutory penalty structure (per-unit/day fines) was not applied as written and that plea agreements reduced mandatory penalties to levels they considered inadequate.
Council response and demand for action: Council members acknowledged the testimony and noted passage earlier this meeting of tenant-protective ordinances; many speakers urged the investigative committee (created earlier with subpoena power) to issue subpoenas for rent rolls, inspection reports, and emergency contact records to identify who authorized settlements and whether the city had accepted incomplete documentation.
Why it matters: Tenants argued that non-enforcement of existing law shifts costs onto residents and allows large corporate landlords to operate with impunity. They urged immediate action before the incoming administration and noted that continued inaction undermines public trust.
Next steps requested by tenants: Subpoena rent rolls, inspection evidence, superintendent certifications, phone records for emergency contact numbers, and any records of negotiated plea deals to determine whether enforcement practices accord with the municipal code and state law. Tenants provided an email contact (blowthewhistlejc@gmail.com) for follow-up and organized documentation that they asked the council to use.
