Tensions Boil Over Outside of the Rahway City Council
SID funding, parking changes, and affordable housing planning advance, while public comments spotlight traffic safety, legal disputes, and simmering council-resident friction
Jeremy Mojica, Vice President, Rahway City Council. (Source: City of Rahway)
By Chris Howell | January 12, 2026
There were no major fireworks during Monday night’s Rahway City Council meeting—though tensions boiled over moments later outside City Hall.
After the meeting adjourned, Council Vice President Jeremy Mojica had to be restrained by several colleagues following a verbal confrontation with a resident, who acknowledged calling Mojica a profane insult. The resident said the remark was in response to what he described as Mojica repeatedly labeling him a liar during council meetings.
The Central Jerseyan is not identifying the resident, who is not a public figure, and whose comment occurred after the official meeting had ended.
While Mojica did not explicitly call the resident a liar during Monday’s meeting, he has frequently referred to a resident he accuses of spreading “misinformation,” particularly regarding the city’s use of Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements for developers. Although Mojica does not name the individual, the reference is widely understood, as only one resident regularly speaks against PILOTs at council meetings.
Inside the chamber, the council moved through a lengthy agenda focused largely on budgetary and policy matters, including advancing the 2026 Special Improvement District budget for downtown Rahway. Most other items were introduced on first reading or approved by resolution, meaning several measures will return for further consideration.
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Downtown SID Budget Advances
The council advanced the 2026 Special Improvement District (SID) budget to second reading.
The SID funds services such as sidewalk cleaning, street maintenance, marketing, and other improvements intended to support downtown businesses. The roughly $500,000 budget is financed through a special assessment paid by property owners in the downtown area.
Given the continued focus on downtown development and management in recent meetings, the SID budget remains closely watched by both business owners and residents.
Parking Ordinances Introduced
Several parking-related ordinances were introduced on first reading, affecting streets including Central Avenue, Essex Street, Johnson Street, and Campbell Street.
The proposed changes adjust permit parking rules and add or modify handicapped parking spaces. Because the ordinances were introduced rather than adopted, they will return for a second reading and final vote at a future meeting, with an additional opportunity for public comment.
Emergency Spending for Retired Employees
Council members introduced an ordinance authorizing the city to spend $970,000 to cover unused sick and vacation time owed to retired municipal employees.
State law allows this type of spending when costs were not anticipated during the regular budget process. The ordinance must pass a second reading before becoming final.
Affordable Housing Planning Begins
The council approved a resolution to hire Heyer, Gruel & Associates to prepare Rahway’s Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.
Required by state law, the plan outlines how the city will meet its affordable housing obligations. The resolution does not approve new development or zoning changes, but initiates a longer planning process that will inform future decisions.
Infrastructure and City Service Contracts
The council approved multiple contracts tied to city operations, including:
- Engineering and drainage work
- Environmental and stormwater compliance services
- Health Department case-management software
- Funding for the city’s 2026 Independence Day fireworks
All were approved by resolution and do not require additional council votes.
Budget Transfers and Tax Adjustments
Council members also approved routine financial measures, including transfers between budget accounts and tax refunds and deductions for eligible seniors and veterans.
Public Comment: Traffic, Lighting, and Legal Disputes
Several residents raised concerns about traffic accidents and inadequate lighting at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Westfield Avenue near Rahway Cemetery.
Athena Pappas, who lives on Jefferson Avenue, said a car crashed into her fence last winter. Jimmy Vargas, who lives on Westfield Avenue, said he once helped pull a person from an overturned vehicle at the intersection. His wife, Albertina Vargas, described the area as dangerously dark, saying pedestrians “seem to disappear” between streetlights.
Residents said conditions worsened after new energy-efficient streetlights were installed. Pappas also said a sinkhole formed next to a newly installed utility pole near her home, raising concerns it could collapse.
Councilman David Brown urged residents to contact PSE&G regarding lighting issues.
“The city is not responsible for the lights,” Brown said.
Vargas countered that his understanding is that the city must still approve any changes made by the utility.
In other public comments, Alan Levy accused township attorney David Minchello of making false statements during last week’s council reorganization meeting. Levy and his wife, Lisa Vandever, are currently involved in a legal dispute with individuals associated with the Rahway Democratic Committee after being banned from the Rahway Community Voice Facebook group.
During the reorganization meeting, Minchello incorrectly stated that Levy’s lawsuit had been dismissed. Afterward, Levy and Vandever provided The Central Jerseyan with court documents showing the case remains active. What was dismissed was the couple’s attempt to have a counterclaim for defamation thrown out under New Jersey’s anti-SLAPP law. Levy and Vandever are appealing the judge’s decision.
Minchello did not address those prior comments during Monday’s meeting. Instead, he defended the counterclaim, saying the firm of Rainone, Coughlin & Minchello would always vigorously represent its clients. Levy argued it presents a conflict of interest for the same firm to represent both the city and local party members.
Council Comments
During the council comment period, multiple members responded directly to a resident who accused the governing body of ignoring traffic concerns on East Hazelwood Avenue.
Councilman Al Montesdeoca read from several years of traffic studies conducted on the roadway, emphasizing the extent of analysis already completed. Other council members echoed that sentiment, pushing back on claims that the issue had been ignored.
Councilwoman Joanna Miles encouraged residents to attend several Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend events across the city.
Council President Jeffrey Brooks congratulated Garden of Ink and New Ink Association for winning the Rahway Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Both businesses received $200 checks and proclamations from the mayor and council before the meeting.
Brooks also thanked the Rahway Police Department for maintaining safety during Sunday’s anti-ICE protest along St. Georges Avenue.
“There are some agencies at other levels of government that are making people feel scared,” Brooks said. “The Rahway Police Department is not one of them.”
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