UNION CITY — Mateo Perez, who has served as an attorney for various city agencies, has filed a lawsuit, via his attorney Louis Zayas, against Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Stack’s civic association, one member of the Union City Housing Authority, and the UCHA itself alleging that he was fired from his job for exercising his right to freedom of speech and political association.
Perez has served as an attorney for Union City’s library board, Housing Authority, and Planning Board.
The lawsuit states that Stack allegedly made Perez feel his job depended on his contributions to the Brian Stack Civic Association.
The lawsuit also alleges that Stack has created a “pay to play culture” where, “based on the financial donations given to the Civic Association, Mayor Stacks [sic] directly or indirectly provides government benefits…not otherwise available to non-contributors or political supporter [sic].”
The suit cites several specific incidents of this climate that Perez says he experienced, including allegedly being told to inform a local businessman that his business would not open unless he bought tickets to a fundraiser.
“It’s completely baseless brought about by a money-hungry attorney,” Stack’s Spokesman Mark Albiez said Thursday. “It’s filled with lies and it’s stretching the truth. They’re using the judicial system as a platform to shake down the administration.”
Perez’ attorney, Zayas, has represented several former employees and police officers in local cities in their suits against town hall.