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Local Government

Sudden Death Of Hoboken City Council President Jen Giattino Stuns Community Sudden Death Of Hoboken City Council President Jen Giattino Stuns Community
Sudden Death Of Hoboken City Council President Jen Giattino Stuns Community Hoboken City Council President Jen Giattino died suddenly on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said. She was 52 years old. Hudson County View shared a statement from Jen's husband, Joe Giattino: "I am heartbroken to share that my beloved wife, Jen—the love of my life and mother of our three children—passed away suddenly. She was not only an incredible mother but also a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about this community,” her husband Joe Giattino said in a statement. “Jen’s unwavering commitment, kindness, and passion touched so many lives here in Hoboken. We are devastated by …
'Bunch Of Lies:' Hackensack Councilman Won't Apologize To Soccer Coach Over Racial Remark 'Bunch Of Lies:' Hackensack Councilman Won't Apologize To Soccer Coach Over Racial Remark
'Bunch Of Lies:' Hackensack Councilman Won't Apologize To Soccer Coach Over Racial Remark Hackensack's mayor is demanding an apology from a councilman accused of making racially insensitive remarks about a local soccer coach. Several city residents showed up to the city council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8 council meeting detailing alleged remarks made by Councilman Leo Battaglia, who was apparently overheard making derogatory comments about Royals FC Coach Shaun Holder on Sept. 12. Battaglia, at the Oct. 8 meeting, said: "I want to make it very clear I never intentionally made any kind of racial statement about any person. I've been very involved in the recreational program in t…
18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board 18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board
18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board Lifelong Sparta resident Chad Wood has been elected to the town’s Board of Education just five months after graduating from high school. The 18-year-old is one of the state’s youngest to hold a BOE position. Wood ran alongside Jennifer "Lonsky" Grana and Kaitlin Gagnon. The trio incumbents Christina "Longo" Keiling and LeeAnne M. Pitzer. Wood might be young, but he comes with plenty of experience, having served as Student Council President for three years at Sparta High School, and was elected Executive President his senior year. Wood was also elected as the BOE’s Student Representative d…
NJ Councilwoman Shot Dead In Car Outside Home NJ Councilwoman Shot Dead In Car Outside Home
NJ Councilwoman Shot Dead In Car Outside Home A 30-year-old Sayreville councilwoman was shot dead outside of her home Wednesday, Feb. 1, authorities confirmed. Eunice Dwumfour was found in a vehicle on Samuel Circle around 7:20 p.m., Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Sayreville Police Chief Daniel Plumacker said. Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick released a statement Thursday morning, Feb. 2 mourning Dwumfour's loss. “Eunice was a dedicated member of our borough council who was truly committed to serve our residents,” Kilpatrick said. “The fact she was taken from us by this despicable criminal act makes this incident all the mo…
'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies 'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies
'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies Vincent Doffont spent much of his life serving and protecting his country as a U.S. Marine and, later, his community in Hudson County as a sheriff's officer, police officer and firefighter. Doffont, 37, died suddenly this weekend, leaving those who knew him in shock and profound grief. "He was one of the hardest men I have ever met," wrote friend Blake Upton. "I always thought of him as invincible." Doffont, indeed, seemed indestructible as a football running back, defensive back and placekicked for the St. Mary's High School Gaels from 1999 through 2002. He was praised for his "speed, s…
'Smackdown' Is Over: Kids Throughout NJ Can Now Sell Lemonade, Mow Lawns Without A Permit 'Smackdown' Is Over: Kids Throughout NJ Can Now Sell Lemonade, Mow Lawns Without A Permit
'Smackdown' Is Over: Kids Throughout NJ Can Now Sell Lemonade, Mow Lawns Without A Permit New Jersey youngsters can no longer be shaken down by local governments when they want to sell sidewalk lemonade. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a measure into law Monday that allows enterprising children looking to make a few bucks to operate pop-up businesses without municipal permits or licenses. Hard to believe, for sure, but dozens of states still make the summer pastime illegal without local government approval. The same goes for mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Health-code violations and child-labor laws are their concerns, officials in those states claim. New Jersey joined nearby New Yor…
NJ Town's Borough Attorney Steps Down After Assault Charge NJ Town's Borough Attorney Steps Down After Assault Charge
NJ Town's Borough Attorney Steps Down After Assault Charge The borough attorney in one Union County town is temporarily stepping down following an assault charge. Mountainside's attorney, John Post, was charged with domestic violence simple assault on July 28, on accusations he punched someone and wrestled with another in an incident that caused a skin tear resulting in bleeding, NJ Advance Media reports. Post sent the following message to the news outlet and council members: “Like many families, there are times when certain family issues can become overwhelming and demand complete focus.  "For that reason, I’d like to inform you that I am t…
Maywood Council Fires Business Administrator Maywood Council Fires Business Administrator
Maywood Council Fires Business Administrator Maywood’s Borough Council unanimously dismissed Borough Administrator Roberta Stern during a brief Zoom meeting Tuesday night, Daily Voice has learned. Stern, 75, of Englewood Cliffs, has had a lengthy career in local government. She was first appointed as Maywood’s first female borough administrator in January 2012. At the time, she’d been an Englewood Cliffs councilwoman, a Ridgefield borough administrator, the director of the Bergen County Department of Human Services and a one time aide to former Sen. Robert Torricelli. A resolution was read at Tuesday night's virtual Mayor & Coun…
Hillsdale Officials Vote In Favor Of Drive-In Theater, Expected To Run 7 Days Per Week Hillsdale Officials Vote In Favor Of Drive-In Theater, Expected To Run 7 Days Per Week
Hillsdale Officials Vote In Favor Of Drive-In Theater, Expected To Run 7 Days Per Week The summer movie series at Demarest Farm is on -- and movies will be allowed to run seven days a week. The majority of Hillsdale council members during a special meeting Tuesday voted in favor of passing a resolution to temporarily suspend a zoning ordinance in the farm's section (R1) to allow a drive-in theater. The resolution was formally passed at the end of the meeting and will be signed by the mayor and borough clerk once finalized. Frank Pizzella voted and Zoltan Horvath were the two council members who voted against the resolution. The permit will be for the summer season only a…
Throngs Expected For Memorial Tribute To Legendary Hackensack HS Principal Harold Bloom Throngs Expected For Memorial Tribute To Legendary Hackensack HS Principal Harold Bloom
Throngs Expected For Memorial Tribute To Legendary Hackensack HS Principal Harold Bloom It seemed more fitting than a funeral: What organizers expect to be a spectacular tribute this weekend will try to reflect the impact that the late, legendary Harold Bloom had on Hackensack High School and beyond. The celebration of Bloom’s life scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, April 27, in the auditorium of the school where “Hal” served as principal for 22 years. Members of the sending districts of Maywood, Rochelle Park and South Hackensack will join the city Board of Education, the Bloom family and close friends, returning students and colleagues.  All will…
New Elmwood Park Program Provides Food, Christmas Toys For Families In Need New Elmwood Park Program Provides Food, Christmas Toys For Families In Need
New Elmwood Park Program Provides Food, Christmas Toys For Families In Need Local businesses, residents and others in Elmwood Park pitched in to buy Christmas toys, gift cards and food cards for borough families in need. Launched this year, the borough's Residents Assistance Program (RAP) also provided meals to the families of 50 local children for Thanskgiving and the current holiday season. Coordinated by Mirella Hernandez and boosted by the mayor and council, the RAP provides a variety of services, including leaf and snow removal, language translation and income tax preparation, in addition to the holiday drives. Participants included the Elmwood Park Polic…
Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet
Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet has lost his job. Voters on Tuesday decided to recall the twice re-elected mayor, replacing him with former councilman John Roth. Roth challenged Laforet for mayor in 2016 and will take over once the township clerk certifies results later this week. Former Mahwah councilman John Roth will be replacing Bill Laforet as mayor.John Roth Laforet will be the first public Bergen County official to be recalled in more than 25 years. "Every elected official will swear on the bible to uphold the constitution of the United States of America," Laforet said Wednesday on F…
North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77, Dies North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77, Dies
North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77, Dies North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi has died, authorities confirmed Wednesday. "His cancer came back and nobody knew," a colleague told Daily Voice. Bianchi, a 77-year-old Republican who was seeking re-election to a second term in November, owned Pal Joey’s Barber Shop for nearly 55 years. He died around noon Wednesday, colleagues said. Bianchi was a lifelong borough resident, a 26-year borough firefighter, president of Hose Company #1 for four years and, at the time of his death, the department's financial secretary.  He also was among the 9/11 Ground Zero responders. Bianchi …
Westwood Police Chief Rebuts Mayor: Marijuana Isn't A Partisan Issue, It Doesn't Belong Here Westwood Police Chief Rebuts Mayor: Marijuana Isn't A Partisan Issue, It Doesn't Belong Here
Westwood Police Chief Rebuts Mayor: Marijuana Isn't A Partisan Issue, It Doesn't Belong Here LETTER to the EDITOR: "I was shocked and disappointed to read on the front cover of a local newspaper that I was accused by Mayor John Birkner of being involved in a partisan stunt with respect to the ordinance banning marijuana in Westwood.  "Clearly, the marijuana issue is not a partisan one, as both Republican- and Democrat-controlled towns have both banned marijuana and its sales in the confines of their communities. "I have not been contacted by Mayor Birkner at any time about this issue or where my decision was derived from, nor, sadly, has he engaged in any discussion,…
East Rutherford Councilman's Death Leaves Vacancy On Election Slate East Rutherford Councilman's Death Leaves Vacancy On Election Slate
East Rutherford Councilman's Death Leaves Vacancy On Election Slate East Rutherford Councilman George Perry, 67, died of natural Wednesday morning during a bid for re-election, Mayor James Cassella announced. The East Rutherford Republican County Committee will submit the names of three prospective nominees to fill his vacancy for the rest of his term, NorthJersey.com reports. Perry's death also leaves a vacancy ahead of the November election. Perry was remembered by Cassella as a "dedicated servant" with the recreation department and then the Council. Dozens of people left their condolences on social media, noting the longtime councilman was a &…
PalPark Mayor's Mom Was 'Protecting Son' In Racial Tirade, Supporters Say PalPark Mayor's Mom Was 'Protecting Son' In Racial Tirade, Supporters Say
PalPark Mayor's Mom Was 'Protecting Son' In Racial Tirade, Supporters Say In a city with one of the highest concentration of Korean immigrants in the U.S., you might not expect to hear the following words -- and especially not from relatives of the mayor. "Go to hell PALISADES PARK, let the GD Koreans have this F'n town," Palisades Park mayor James Rotundo's mother Lorraine Rotundo wrote on Facebook, according to multiple reports. "All of us AMERICANS are so done. I am going to suggest that only English be spoken in our Boro Hall at least while an AMERICAN is still the mayor." Two days after primary elections in which Rotundo was losing to op…
Radburn Residents See Upcoming Election As 'Equal Playing Field' Radburn Residents See Upcoming Election As 'Equal Playing Field'
Radburn Residents See Upcoming Election As 'Equal Playing Field' Residents in Fair Lawn's Radburn community are celebrating after the state ordered the association to hold elections for open board seats. In January, Radburn United (a self-government advocacy group within the community) filed a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). A letter issued Monday by DCA Director Edward M. Smith orders the planned community to open four trustee seats for election, and invalidates 165 votes that illegally adopted bylaws had given to a developer. "We are profoundly grateful to the DCA,” said Alba Lucia Morales Jiménez, one of the …