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ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REPLACE TITLE 19, RENT CONTROL, CHAPTER 2: RENT CONTROL REGULATIONS; RENT CONTROL BOARD BY PUBLIC INITIATIVE ORDINANCE.
Deemed to have had first reading pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:69A-190 on August 15, 2017.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED THAT:
19:2-1. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
a. The Governing Body of the City of Newark does hereby declare that an emergency continues to exist within the City of Newark with respect to the rental of housing space in dwellings by reason of the demands for increases in rent, which are hereby determined to be excessive, unaffordable, and unwarranted; and
b. This emergency has been created by the continuing deterioration of a substantial portion of the existing housing stock, insufficient construction of affordable housing units, increasing costs of construction and finance, and, on the demand side, the fact that a substantial portion of current Newark residents rely on fixed or stagnating incomes. This has caused a substantial and increasing shortage of rental housing accommodations for families of low and moderate income and excessively high rents; and
c. Unless residential rents of tenants are regulated and controlled, such emergency and the further displacement pressures resulting therefrom will produce serious threats to the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Newark; and
d. The fear of being evicted without just cause and being forced to seek housing in such a market discourages Newark tenants from complaining about excessive and unjustified increases in rent and about the continued deterioration of housing, and this fear also contributes to these persistent harmful conditions; this warrants legislative action by the Governing Body; and
e. Under the police powers granted to the City of Newark and in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Newark, it is necessary to regulate, control and stabilize rents and create a Ren...
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