Dear Editor:
Forty years ago, I was one of the five candidates of the Project 70 Team who overthrew the Bill Musto political machine of Union City. Thanks to our election, from 1970 to 1974, the priority of our city’s government was with the problems of the people and not with the ambitions of five politicians. In 1970, we promised our residents that the Union City government would treat each one of them like a member of its family. Yes, we delivered on that promise.
Union City has always been a haven for immigrant families who were struggling to start a new life. The Project 70 Commissioners were three Italian/Americans and two Irish/Americans who represented the majority of the heritage of its citizens. However in 1970, Union City was in a transition period, and the new immigrants were the Cubans escaping the tyranny of Fidel Castro. Since then, the influx of new nationalities have changed the ethic make up of our city, and now more than ever, we need a government who puts the people first.
In 1986, I ran on a Transformation ’86 ticket led by Lennie Altamura and again in 1994, I led a Coalition ’94 ticket trying to return a people’s government to Union City. Both times, I was unsuccessful, but finally with Brian P. Stack we have a mayor these last few years who cares about each and every resident of our city. Mayor Brian P. Stack has worked tirelessly day in and day out for the homeowners and tenants struggling to survive during a time of economic uncertainty.
It is ironic that after forty years of new immigrants the opposition ticket is led by an Italian/American. The majority of our city might be made up by new nationalities but there are still old timers like myself who have not moved out.
I support Mayor Brian P. Stack not because I fear his opposition but because the mayor has earned my vote. I have lived in Union City for 76 years, and I don’t want to lose a leader who practices what he preaches.
Sincerely,
A former Union City Commissioner
James Lagomarsino