2/26/18 Caucus & 2/28/18 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – At the 2/26/18 Caucus, Tommy Hudanish, Executive Director of the Jewish Renaissance Foundation, appeared before the Council. He explained what the Jewish Renaissance Community Development Corporation would be using CDBG grant of $33,079 for. Hudanish apologized for not attending the 2/14/18 Council Meeting because of a prior commitment. Hudanish stated that the Jewish Renaissance has used CDBG money for 5 straight years in order to rehab properties. “These homes are then sold to qualified, moderate income families. We’ve used three non-local contractors for this work because they are the ones that qualified.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez asked Hudanish if he could provide the addresses of the last five houses that were awarded to qualified homebuyers and the budgets spent on the houses. “I would like to drive by these homes and see how they’re being maintained.”
Hudanish responded, “After the homes are sold, I have to make sure all the guidelines are met. I will provide the information that you ask.”
During the public portion, Resident Ken Balut asked that the Council do an investigation on a house that was bought by the Jewish Renaissance. “A City Employee benefited from another house bought through the Jewish Renaissance. You are giving HUD money to people who are not poor. City Employees got the houses.”
Balut continued his criticism of the Jewish Renaissance at the 2/28/18 Council Meeting. He wanted to know if Resolution R-98-2/18 – A CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) of $33,079 which was requested from the Jewish Renaissance was to make up for the property at 439 Johnstone St. “The deed for this property is being rerecorded. The first person (applicant) was discriminated against. The Jewish Renaissance paid $150,000 for this property and sold it for $146,000.”
Council President Petrick questioned whether the rent money was used for housing repairs.
Balut continued, “You are voting for this. It’s all taxpayer’s money. All these people are connected with the Jewish Renaissance, plus these are the same people who worked on some of your campaigns. It’s a misuse of money or it’s improperly used.”
Business Administrator Adam Cruz responded, “I advise you (Balut) to go to the Attorney General’s Office with your information.”
Resident Alan Silber came up to speak about the same subject, “The Jewish Renaissance spokespeople misled you. Tell Alan Goldsmith to come here. He signed the deed, along with Hudanish, George Cruz, and Attorney Jay Zisniewski. Was there evidence showing how much money the applicant was making?”
Council President Bill Petrick asked if he could get a copy of the information that Silber had.
For the Consent Agenda, when it came time to vote on the Resolutions, R-79-2/18 thru R-96-2/18 and R-99-2/18 was moved by Councilman Irizarry and seconded by Councilman Helmin Caba.
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez asked that Resolution R-97-2/18 Authorizing the person-to-person transfer of Consumption Liquor License from Santo Domingo Invita to Santo Domingo Invita Restaurant, LLC, t/a Santo Domingo Restaurant, 223 Market St. and imposing special conditions on the license and Resolution R-98-2/18 (CDBG for the Jewish Renaissance Community Development Corporation) be pulled to be discussed and voted upon separately.
Gonzalez stated this was because of additional information that he received, and he needed more time to look at it, R-97 was moved to be tabled. Councilman Joel Pabon seconded it.
R-98 was moved by Irizarry and seconded by Caba. Pabon had a couple of comments in regard to this issue. “We should not continue to do this. It has not been done the right way. This group dropped the ball.”
Business Administrator Adam Cruz told the Council, “The grant money for the property in question (439 Johnstone St.) was grant money through the State (not CDBG) and is not what is to be awarded now.”
Council President Petrick stated, “Some of the grant money may not have been used properly.”
Councilman Irizarry asked, “What happens to this money if it’s not awarded?”
B.A. Cruz responded, “It goes back into the CDBG pool.”
When the vote was taken separately by each Council Member, they all voted, “No” except Councilman Irizarry who abstained.
During the last public portion, Balut came up again to speak. He stated, “We were told two different stories by the Jewish Renaissance. Are they in the business of losing money? We have a homeless problem. Maybe the Puerto Rican Organization (PRAHD) needs it. The same thing is going on as the last administration where someone won a house on a fake lottery. You (the Council) took money away from the schools. All grant money is taxpayer’s money. The transit village was also Vas’ plan. Our town is going backwards.”
Resident Jeremy Baratta came up next, “This Organization (The Jewish Renaissance Community Development Corporation) is funded by public money. The man who came up speak (Hudanish) should have been here on the 14th.” Baratta was not pleased with the presentation. He also was confident that the availability of this house (439 Johnstone St.) was not properly advertised. “Did they try to reach out to organizations such as Veteran’s Groups, etc. to see if anyone wanted this property? Now the deed shows it to be for low income housing. The CDBG means Community Development Block Grant.”
Resident Alan Silber suggested the money be given to Habitat for Humanity.
Resident Vince Mackiel made an appeal, “There are a lot of homeless people. There’s $800,000 available in grants. The Salvation Army had requested a similar amount of money as awarded to PRAHD. Maybe some of these developers can give money to build a new community center. The Salvation Army has been here for decades. The Salvation Army should not have to go through loopholes. You need to address urgent needs.”
For Council Comments, Gonzalez and Pabon had no comments.
Councilman Helmin Caba commented about an article in New Jersey Magazine that highlighted Businessman Sergio Diaz and Chief of Staff Irving Lozada. Ken Balut had shown this magazine at the Caucus and Council Meeting showing those two individuals on the front cover. Balut stated that Caba should be upset about this. Caba stated in his comments that he was not contacted by anyone from this magazine. He also stated he was appalled that others in the City were not contacted as well to be part of this article such as Milady Tejada (Board of Education). “I don’t know if this was done intentionally.”
Councilman Irizarry talked about upcoming street projects such as road repairs. “We need to notify the residents 2 weeks in advance, especially if repairs are made on their streets.” He also saw in the City’s Liquor License Retirement fund there is over $245,000. “I see in the New Jersey Division of Taxation there is one seized license for $51,000. Can the City bid on this?”
City Clerk Jasko responded, “No.”
Council President Bill Petrick thanked everyone for coming to the meeting or watching it on TV.
