To the Editor:
I write from my annual family reunion in Helen, Ga., in order to rebut the scurrilous and slanderous remarks Mayor Smith made at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, July 15.
Fortunately, there are still enough good, honest, and hard working citizens of our great city who took the time to contact me and advise of this debacle. As a 14 year U.S. Army major with a “top secret” security clearance, on the staff at the United States Military Academy (U.S.M.A.), West Point, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, I welcome the scrutiny of my work at the Bayonne Parking Authority and reject Smith’s attack on my integrity. I also reject Mayor Smith’s “Scorched Earth” policy and “Politics of Personal Destruction,” in which he and his political hacks attempt to diminish the efforts of hard working individuals and tarnish their reputations. This is pure “North Hudson” politics.
Mayor Smith’s use of the “bully pulpit” is telling. As relayed to me, you questioned the multiple position assignments I have had and compensation I received while working for the City of Bayonne as BA, and the Bayonne Parking Authority. You intimated that I missed filing a report. 1) I was working in each of those positions since the day you took office Nov. 4, 2008 until you decided to release me effective May 31, 2009, and you never mentioned these issues. 2) I met with your touted transition team on or about Nov. 19, 2008 and provided them with all the documents, including job duties and payroll records, and again you never questioned my performance or accountability. 3) Ironic point number one: when you released me from my position as business administrator on May 11, 2009, you assigned those duties to Terrence Malloy, who also serves as chief financial officer (CFO), head of the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), and now the business administrator. That would be multiple jobs. 4) Ironic point two: while you continuously tout a “Reorganization Plan” to improve efficiency of government while asking people to do more and multi-task, you seemingly reject this arrangement for me despite the fact it saved the BPA money and resources. 5) No Parking Authority commissioners were present during your diatribe, nor have I ever received anything in writing or orally from a commissioner complaining of my performance.
Mayor Smith does not understand what an “Autonomous Agency” means. Boss Tweed is alive and well.
Mayor Smith’s impugning my integrity comes two days after I filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, July 13, alleging various violations of federal and state law against the BPA and Mayor Benefactor Rocco Coviello. The record will demonstrate the unlawful attempts to fire me from my post at the BPA, as well as other questionable practices. I loathe taking the lawsuit route, as in the end it costs the taxpayers. I would, however, point out that another one of Mark Smith’s political contracts to yet another out-of-town firm or person ends up costing the taxpayer more. Now with Mayor Smith’s actions, more lawsuits are sure to follow.
Rather than retaliating against me for exercising my rights, Mayor Smith’s time would be better spent: 1) Crafting a response to the U.S. Army as to how $40 million was transferred from the BLRA with no resolution by the BLRA commissioners to the City of Bayonne, without a resolution from the City Council, and not reinvested back into the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor; 2) How to contain yet another tax increase like the one we received in May with the substantial increase we expect in August; 3) Replacing a health officer as no licenses, inspections, or violations may be issued, which leaves the citizens at great health risk; 4) Stop hiring during a “hiring freeze” as mandated by the State Supervision Plan and certified to the bond holders.
During the election, we held so much promise for Mark Smith. “We’ll change Bayonne together” has become “We’ll reward election contributors with enough jobs for out-of-towners who lack historical and institutional knowledge and no one will question what we do.”
Mayor Smith’s austerity plan rolled out in December 2008 is long gone and ignored. He is running a deficit with no plan to improve our fiscal health. The taxpayers will be having a very open and continuous dialogue. The taxpayer will not be ignored.
PETER J. CRESCI ESQ.