Union City (Oklahoma)

STACK: PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSALS
WILL PROVE BENEFICIAL TO ALL NJ SCHOOLS

(UNION CITY) – Assemblyman Brian Stack, a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform, released the following statement regarding the property tax reform proposals released today by committee co-chairmen Senator John Adler and Assemblyman Herb Conaway M.D.:

August 30, 2006
Assemblyman Richard Merkt/908-850-1595(ext. 520)
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

MERKT ASKS INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LOOK INTO QUESTIONS ABOUT UNION CITY SCHOOLS

QUESTIONS ABOUT PATRONAGE, CONTRIBUTIONS UNANSWERED

Assemblyman Richard Merkt today sent a letter to New Jersey Inspector General Mary Jane Cooper calling for her office to look into questions about the Union City school district that were raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform.

"Clearly there were questions raised yesterday about how state taxpayer dollars are being spent by the Union City school district that went unanswered," said Merkt, R-Morris. "We need to get answers to these serious questions and I think an independent investigation is the best way to do so."

At Tuesday's school funding hearing questions were raised about allegations that the Union City school district has become a patronage haven for the politically connected.

Specific instances were cited, including that of a city commissioner being appointed to a newly created position in the district. This line of questioning was cut off by the committee chairman who said it wasn’t the focus of those hearings.

"These are very serious questions that impact the amount of money state taxpayers are paying to support schools in Union City," Merkt writes in his letter. "I think we need to get answers and I believe your office is uniquely positioned to get those answers."

A copy of the letter is attached.

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Senator Gerald Cardinale, (R-39), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform issued the following statement in response to a presentation today by the Superintendent of the Union City School District.

I applaud the success of certain aspects of the Union City School System, but there’s another side. There are many who contend that Abbott money has created a cesspool of corruption in Union City schools.

Many employees are hired because of their political connections to the governing authority of Union City. The Union City School Board is composed almost entirely of mayoral appointees who hold additional political positions in government and are subject to the influence of the political majority. They have 300 lunch room aides, and only months ago a newly elected Union City Commissioner was hired by the school system in a $75,000 position created specifically for him. This position had previously not existed.

It’s unfortunate that at today’s hearing the committee chairs would not allow me to continue my line of questioning that would have exposed the other side of Abbott funding.

Union City Schools: Best (of WORST) Practices
School Funding Committee Insults Taxpayers By Holding Out Bastion of Politics As Model

YOUNITY TO STACK:
COME CLEAN ON THE SCC
Tell us your role in how You and Your Friends Profited From The Inflated Sale of 1501 Palisades Avenue
Explain Why You let the SCC Buy a Polluted Site on 39th Street

YOUNITY TEAM VOWS TO END STACK STRANGLEHOLD ON UNION CITY
Days of City Run For Politicians Only Will End
“This building symbolizes what’s wrong with Union City,� said Scarafile. “This is an insider deal controlled by Mayor Brian Stack and his minions. "

INVERSO CALLS FOR SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO PROBE SCC

Senator Peter Inverso, (R-14), announced that he will introduce legislation Monday, March 13 which would require the Governor to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate allegations of waste fraud and mismanagement at the Schools Construction Corporation (SCC). This bill is identical to A-2807 introduced in the General Assembly by Assemblyman Malone and Assemblyman Baroni.

Senator Martinez, Forrester Meet with Community Leaders
Former HUD Secretary joins Forrester’s 'Take Back New Jersey' Tour in Hudson County

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez of Florida and gubernatorial nominee Doug Forrester today met with Hispanic community leaders and business owners in Union City.