A recall effort launched against West New York Mayor Sal Vega has caused some loud confrontations in the usually quiet town lately. The latest clash occurred on Tuesday afternoon, Election Day.
Dr. Antonio Gines, owner of the “Mi Casa Es Su Casa,” group of adult day care facilities including one in West New York, said he placed various political signs on the vehicles that are used to pick up and drop off elderly clients.
Gines said that for Election Day, he put up signs supporting Gov. Jon Corzine, Union City Mayor Brian Stack, and Dr. Felix Roque, who is currently leading an effort to recall West New York Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega.
“It’s my business,” said Gines. “I can do what I want with it.”
But West New York Commissioner Gerald Lange, an ally of Vega, said last week that since Gines gets Medicare and Medicaid revenue from some clients, he should not have those signs on company vans.
A police report was made. No one was arrested.
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Video evidence suggests it got physical
Gines said that on Tuesday, Commissioner Lange and his attorney, Frank Julia, entered his facility. Gines said Lange’s attorney asked Gines if he had an attorney he should be speaking to, and Gines told him that his attorney wasn’t there but that Julia could explain what their visit was about.
According to Gines, Lange and his attorney told him to take down the political signs on the vehicles. Gines said he responded “no” and started walking away. He said Lange and his attorney followed him and told Gines they should talk in his nearby office.
Gines said that Lange [allegedly] and began to impose his body onto Gines and “bellybump” him while shouting.
Gines said his own son, a part owner of the facility, was there and suggested they call police.
Video footage seen by the Reporter shows Lange appearing to force Gines into the corner while social worker Angelica Fernandez is squeezed in the middle, and a group of four or five people, including Lange’s attorney, try to push him away from Gines. The scuffle continues from the corner back into the reception area and then finally outside.
Lange asserts vehemently that Gines’ accusations are not true.
“He [allegedly] became confrontational with my attorney and then with me. Then his son [allegedly] came in and became confrontational, and we were at the point where they [allegedly] wouldn’t let us leave the room,” Lange said.
The video appears to show that Lange had the ability to leave but instead went in the direction of Gines.
As Lange leaves, video shows Lange alone outside while the crowd of people stays near the doors. Lange leaves for a few seconds, then returns.
“I don’t know Commissioner Lange. I didn’t meet him until yesterday,” said Gines Wednesday.
According to the facility’s social worker, Angelica Fernandez, there were at least 60 elderly clients who witnessed the scuffle. In the reception area, there are two monitors which show approximately 32 video camera angles.
Gines also alleged that Lange called him names. “The video speaks for itself,” Gines said.
Lange says Gines was wrong
Lange said that it is illegal for a publicly funded entity to be involved in politics or used for politics.
However, Gines said Thursday that his facility does not receive state or federal grants. It does get reimbursement from Medicaid for those patients who use it, but he also gets payments in cash or from other insurances, he said. He also said that he spoke with state election officials who said it was acceptable for him to put the signs up.
Lange claimed that a third party had already filed an injunction in Superior Court regarding the signs, even before the confrontation. Lange said he wanted to warn Gines about the problem before the court matter went further, “out of the goodness of my heart.”
“A party went to the Superior Court and an injunction was issued, and the State Police went to his facility with the injunction and took all his busses off the street,” Lange claimed.
West New York Town Spokesman Paul Swibinsky said Thursday that he was still investigating to try to find out whether an injunction was sought.
However, Gines said he hasn’t received any type of notice. He also said that it was untrue that the State Police forced his vans off the street.
On Wednesday, the day after the confrontation, Lange said that he filed a complaint with Medicare and Medicaid against Gines and his facility for insurance fraud.
The police have been called to deal with Lange in connection with other alleged confrontations in the past six years, but Lange has not been charged in any of them.
The video will be posted on the website www.hudsonreporter.com as soon as the newspaper receives a copy.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com