West New York: A Message from Dr. Felix Roque!
Dear Resident,
I hope this note finds you and your family well. Our town has been the center of much political activity lately, and I request a few minutes of your time today to update you on the current situation regarding the proposed recall of Mayor Silverio Vega and the Board of Commissioners of West New York.
On April 16, 2009 several of my colleagues and I, accompanied by attorney Arthur M. Neiss, officially filed recall petitions for all five of West New York’s commissioners. Should the recall papers be approved by the Hudson County Clerk, the members of my organization, Together We Can, and myself will begin collecting signatures from residents that approve of the move for a recall election before the end of the year.
West New York is in disarray and I am sure that you and many of your loved ones are at least feeling the pressure from the tax increase. West New York cannot stand for another two years of the kind of leadership that brought us the following problems:
• A 47% tax increase in the past two years with little to no indication of relief in our future.*
• A $15.7 million deficit where former mayor, Congressman Albio Sires, had left a balanced budget, surplus, and competent financial team
• A completely sterile government. Now that Mayor Vega has called in the state to intervene in the current financial crisis, the Board of Commissioners has lost most of its power to government. What this amounts to is an auto-recall that leaves the commissioners with all their high salaries but none of the responsibility.
• An elite $200,000+ salary club that includes but is not limited to Superintendent of Schools Robert Van Zanten ($231,234), Assistant Superintendent Rosemary Donnelly ($206, 536), and Janet Passante, Vega’s secretary ($109.000).
• A town with very visible signs of decay. Our streets are littered with potholes, are schools are increasingly ravaged by gang violence and crime, and our police officers live in fear of unemployment in a town of 50,000 that boasts all of 115 police officers.
Our mission is clear and simple: to rid West New York of the negative vestiges of the Vega regime and restore this wonderful place we call home to the prosperity we all deserve. We hope you join us in our efforts and are very excited to bring you the news that change is finally on its way.
Sincerely,
Dr. Felix Roque
*Mayor Vega recently sent a citywide mailing claiming that 19% of your taxes will be reduced. With a 15 million deficit, and the state takeover of the town’s finances this is difficult to believe. Most likely this is a desperate move by Vega’s political machine trying to confuse our residents. We’ll clarify this “message” soon. For the sake of our property owners I hope this is true, however up to now it isn’t clear who “qualifies” to get the 19% off the 47% he already raised. If Mr. Vega is not telling us the truth about this and his political propaganda would add insult to injury. I will always tell you the truth against the tricks of the professional politicians and their “friends”. Thank you for taking the time to read my message, and I will see you soon.
Photo: The Jersey Journal
Making history in Hudson County, New Jersey: Attorney Arthur M. Neiss presents recall petitions to West New York town clerk Carmela Riccie on Thursday, April 16, 2009. (Photos: Mario Valladares)
