NEWARK, NJ — They may need heat in their apartment, a leaky ceiling fixed, or hot water restored.
And when the residents’ requests to the property owner or manager are not addressed, they bring their concerns to their elected officials at City Hall — officials who are becoming increasingly impatient with the pace at which the municipal court in New Jersey’s largest city is handling code enforcement violations.
“We have to do something regarding the courts,” Council President LaMonica McIver said last week. “I have said this many times in the past. It’s no secret. Many of the council members have expressed the same frustration when it comes to many of the code enforcement violations.”
McIver’s comments made toward the end of the Feb. 7 council meeting reflected the steady stream of complaints from members of the public about living conditions.
“They are hurting with raggedy landlords every day,” she said. “This city has a few – more than we want to have – and when they call our office, they want to get some emergent help.