I want to petition the city to remove the illegal cease-and-desist order that was used to close my business. Prior to buying this abandoned building in 2013, the Township former Business Administrator Mr. Brandley told me that the building is perfect for a banquet hall. In 2014, the Township Engineer Mr. Wiggins wrote in his report that the "banquet hall is a permitted use". In 2017, I applied for and obtained zoning approval from the Township Zoning Officer Mr. James. All the necessary permits were obtained prior to construction. All the inspections were conducted by Township Inspectors prior to opening of the business in 2017. In 2023, I was told that the Township was trying to shut down my business because they are not aware of the business. I reached out to the officials; they told me that they do not have any record of the business zoning approval and certificate of continuous occupancy. I email them the zoning permit, building drawing, all the Construction Permits, Certificate of Continuous Occupancy for the business, Certificate of Occupancy for the building, 6 years of Township Annual Health Inspection certificates, 6 years of Township Business Annual License Renewal, NJ Division of Fire Safety Bureau of Fire Code Enforcement certificates. Weeks after sending these documents, on July 1, 2023, Township police officers showed up during a 1-year-old birthday celebration and ordered everyone to leave the building because there is a cease-and-desist order prohibiting the business from operating. I told the police that I don’t have any citation, the officer told me that I may get it by next week. Right after the holidays, I went to the police station, they told me that they were ordered by the new Township Zoning Officer Mr. Sowell. On July 7, 2023, I met with Mr. Sowell in his office, and he handed me the order that says cease-and-desist operation by July 14, 2023. When I asked why my business was shut down before I received the cease-and-desist order, he told me that he was ordered to give the order, but he never told me who ordered him. Mr. Sowell wrote and said that the former Township Zoning Officer does not have the right to issue my business the Zoning Permit that was issued in 2017 and that both Mr. Bradley and Mr. Wiggins made a mistake. After the amount of money spent in rehabbing the building,  I wounder why my business should bear the consequences of Irvington top officials mistakes. I want to petition the Township of Irvington to authorize my business to reopen because it’s been 11 months since this cease-and-desist order. My clients are residents of Irvington and neighboring cities, they need my place to be open. My employees are still looking for a steady job to help them support themselves and their family. It has been very hard for me and my family because I’m still scraping up from family income to pay property tax on a building that is not been used for business which was permitted and licensed by both City and State.