Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Ceremonial Street Designation
Honoree: Harold Williams
Date(s): Monday, March 13, 2023
Official Street Name(s): Intersection of Halsey Street and Market Street
Ceremonial Intersection Name: “Brother Harold Williams Way”
Sponsor: Council President, LaMonica R. McIver
Additional Information:
The Ceremonial Street Dedication will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023, at 2:00 P.M.
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WHEREAS, Ordinance 6PSF-f, adopted on May 20, 2015, authorizes the designation of an intersection, etc., for honorary and ceremonial purposes; and
WHEREAS, Harold “Check it Out” Williams was born March 13, 1940 in Savannah, Georgia, where he attended high school and later attended North Carolina A&T, an historical black college university (HBCU); and
WHEREAS, affectionately known as “Brother Harold” for his pro-black business and social ideology, he briefly taught business classes as an Adjunct Professor at CUNY College in New York City before his introduction to the City of Newark’s more lucrative entrepreneurial opportunities street vending; and
WHEREAS, although street vending or peddling was legal in Newark, numerous new restrictions were being imposed at that time, encouraged by brick and mortar store owners attempting to eliminate the competitive street vending trade in its entirety; and
WHEREAS, “Brother Harold” along with several other prominent and courageous peddlers and community activist, filed a ground-breaking lawsuit, challenging the onerous laws, constant harassment and ticketing by City law enforcement; a case that went all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court, where it was successful and provided expansive rights and privileges to street vendors; and
WHEREAS, through the pioneering efforts of “Brother Harold”, minorities and aspiring entrepreneurs were able to successfully enjoy economic opportunities and access to local capital previously denied them; and
WHEREAS, “Brother Harold” established his place of business at the corner of Halsey Street and Market Street, where he was an endeared fixture in downtown Newark for over fitty (50) years, noted for his booming voice, enlightening personality and the iconic phrase “Check it Out.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council does hereby authorize the honorary and ceremonial renaming of the intersection of Halsey Street and Market Street, “Brother Harold Williams Way.”
2. The official name of said streets shall remain Halsey Street and Market Street in its entirety.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the naming of the intersection of Halsey Street and Market Street “Brother Harold Williams Way”, for honorary and ceremonial purposes.