Jersey City Ward B Councilman Joel Brooks admitted his driver’s license was suspended for unpaid parking tickets after a detractor raised the subject at last night’s city council meeting that spilled into the early hours of this morning.
Facebook photo.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
At the meeting, Kevin Davis, an outspoken critic of Democratic Socialists of America members such as Brooks, began by stating a man with seven parking tickets had his driver’s license suspended last month, according to public records.
He further stated that he personally saw that man park his car in the City Hall parking lot on Monday before revealing the person he was talking about was Brooks.
“The records show 14 tickets dating from January 2024 through August 2026. Four were paid on September 13th, totaling $284. Ten more were paid September 22nd, totaling $812. That’s nearly $1,100 altogether,” Davis said, which HCV since verified was accurate.
“To be clear, these began as parking violations. But once NJ Courts says a driver’s license or registration suspension has been issued—registration suspension has been issued—the question is no longer where somebody was parked. The question is whether the driver and the vehicle were legally permitted on the road when I observed them driving.”
Davis continued that while public records could not answer that question, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Records, which are private, can. He added that he thought the matter was an issue of public interest since Brooks votes on the city’s parking rules.
“That is why today I am calling on Jersey City to launch an independent investigation, obtain the certified MVC records, determine exactly what happened, and publicly release the findings,” he stated.
“Then, the city can determine what action, if any, is warranted. I’ve emailed you and your staff documentation.”
While Brooks was under no obligation to respond, to chose to do so from the dais around 12:35 a.m. today, keeping his remarks succinct and to the point.
“[City Clerk] Sean [Gallagher] I would just like to address something one of the public speakers brought up. I had tickets, I paid them, my license and registration were suspended, I paid those fees and I will not be on the road until I get written confirmation that all that’s done,” he said.
“Ripping off the band-aid now, press is gonna ask questions, saving you the time Kevin, and that’s all I have to say, thank you.”
When reached by HCV, Brooks said he did not recall when his driver’s license was suspended or for how long, but noted he has paid all of his tickets (which public records reflect) and that he has paid the restoration fees for his license and registration.
The Ward B councilman narrowly lost the 2021 election to then-incumbent Mira Prinz-Arey before winning a seven-person race last year, defeating Efrain Badilla Orleans Jr. in the December 2nd runoff.
While Brooks ran independently in 2025, he traded endorsements with Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) and was largely regarded as the de facto Ward B candidate on that slate.
Along with the rest of the City Council, Brooks was sworn into officer for a four-year term on January 15th of this year.
