Dear Editor:
I am requesting my name not be used. As a retired UC employee, they still control my benefits, and I do not want to be retaliated against. In a recent letter to the editor, Union City Mayor and State Senator Brian P. Stack accused the Union City Reporter of being irresponsible for failing to provide the full name of a party who submitted a letter critical of the Mayor/Senator. Mayor Stack was further critical of the Reporter for publishing letters submitted by parties who wished to remain anonymous.
First, I would like to applaud the Union City Reporter for allowing people to express themselves in an anonymous fashion. After all, it is not the messenger one should be concerned with, but rather the message itself. As a follower of the Union City Reporter, I have read many of these letters and felt each writer brought forth a legitimate point or asked a valid question. In the most recent letter, Mayor Stack took offense with a P Brennen for questioning Stack on voting with the Republicans on the new state budget. By voting yes with the Republicans, Mayor Stack hurt the people he was elected to represent. The current budget hurts the working class, the very people Stack was elected to serve. Rather than explain his vote to his constituents, Stack attacks the Union City Reporter and those who wish to remain anonymous when expressing themselves.
As a former Union City employee, I can fully understand and appreciate why a person would wish to remain anonymous when expressing their opinion. One would have to look no further then the Frank Scarafile matter to understand why Union City residents may be fearful of freedom of expression. Mr. Scarafile was exercising his right to free speech when he was arrested and charged by Mayor Stack’s police department- charges that a grand jury dismissed. Additionally, there have been current and pending lawsuits against Mayor Stack and the City of Union City involving claims of political harassment and retaliation. As a former Union City employee, I can truthfully state that when I worked for the City of Union City I was fearful of speaking out. As a former Union City employee, I am still fearful to speak out against things I perceive as being wrong or unfair.
Therefore, I would like to thank the Union City Reporter for first verifying my identity and then allowing me to express myself. I would also encourage my fellow citizens to speak out and express yourself when you, too, disagree with a politician or a political position.
Former Union City Employee