It’s official. Lawrence “Larry” Wainstein, founder and leader of the North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group (NBCCG), is running for mayor of North Bergen against incumbent Nicholas Sacco in the May election.
Wainstein made the announcement at a crowded event in Schuetzen Park on Friday night, Feb. 13.
It will be a tough battle and one that promises much mudslinging on both sides. The name-calling has already begun, with Wainstein peppering his speech with fiery rhetoric that slammed Sacco, who is also a state senator.
Sacco’s side fired back almost immediately, questioning Wainstein’s legitimacy as a candidate and citing alleged connections to disgraced former local politicians.
Successful businessman
Pledging to fight for better education, open government, and lower taxes, Wainstein was enthusiastically cheered by a large audience that braved the cold to attend the event, advertised as a Valentine’s Day party with free food, entertainment, and dancing.
“My story begins with my parents who traveled to this country from Latin America in search of a better life, full of hope that their children could have a brighter future,” Wainstein told the audience in a speech that alternated between English and Spanish. “They came here without knowing how to speak English. They came here not knowing if they could make enough money to survive. Yet they were willing to take that chance. They taught me through their example that some things are worth fighting for. I believe my story is a lot like many of your stories, and that our story is the story of America.”
Mario Blanch, attorney for the NBCCG and an outspoken critic of the current administration, introduced Wainstein at the event, saying, “I truly believe that Larry Wainstein is a genuine example of the American dream.” He stated that Wainstein, who graduated from St. Peter’s University, “became a successful businessman who has achieved through hard work and perseverance, starting all the way at the bottom and working his way to the top.”
The child of Argentinean immigrants, Larry Wainstein founded and leads the North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group.
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However, questions have been raised about Wainstein’s residency, with allegations that he and his family don’t actually live in North Bergen.
“Wainstein lives in a $2 million mansion in Franklin Lakes where his children go to public school,” alleged Sacco campaign spokesman Paul Swibinski. “Yet he refers to his home as a ‘vacation property’ – which is… an insult to the voters of North Bergen.”
Wainstein did not return calls from the Reporter for a comment.
Classes and clashes
Wainstein founded the NBCCG three years ago. “The North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group is a community organization made up of North Bergen residents dedicated to promoting open/honest government, safety, and quality of life throughout North Bergen,” reads the NBCCG website.
The group has provided classes and seminars in topics including math and reading, personal finance, starting a business, tax assistance, ESL, and even dance and zumba. The organization has held numerous events such as Hispanic parades, neighborhood barbecues, and a well-attended free Thanksgiving meal last year.
“I meet with hundreds of constituents and I must get at least 50 or 60 phone calls a day at this point, people just needing help, all different types of issues,” Wainstein told the North Bergen Reporter prior to announcing his candidacy. “And I’m happy to help. I’m happy to sit down with them. I’m happy to listen to them. It makes me feel good.”
But the NBCCG isn’t just about classes and parties. They also descend periodically en masse on North Bergen commissioner meetings, filling the chamber with Wainstein’s highly vocal supporters while he takes the podium to launch into angry tirades about the state of the township.
Having served on the board of the Union City Urban Enterprise Zone Program, Wainstein could formerly count on the support of Union City Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack, a longtime political adversary of Sacco. But relations between the two Hudson County mayors have warmed over recent months, and Stack has already pledged support for Sacco in the upcoming election. Stack even sent a short letter to the editor of the Reporter newspapers explaining his kinship with Sacco.
Sacco has been mayor of North Bergen since 1991. He encountered little opposition in past elections, and has often won in a landslide. This time a deeply hostile contest is anticipated.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.