To the Editor:
So a journalist from the local paid paper messaged me seeking an opinion on their story titled, “3 Bayonne Council Members Accepted Health Benefits In Violation Of State Law.” They used only two sentences of my three paragraph response. So today I would like to share my response to the reporter in its entirety to the readers of the Bayonne Community News.
In a case like this we know that negligence isn’t an excuse. There’s an obligation for elected officials to make themselves aware of the laws. The law changed in 2010 while Mr. La Pelusa was serving as a councilman. In 2011, when he was voted out of office he was no longer grandfathered under that law.
It’s important to note that the 2011 council consisting of Ruane, Greves, Hurley, Gillespie and Czerwienski didn’t receive benefits. I think the residents of the community will decide what they want to believe but if you ask me I don’t think they are going to buy that story that it was a clerical error with the benefits coordinator. I mean those who took the benefits were issued insurance cards. Wouldn’t it then occur to them to maybe ask if in fact this was a mistake?
How does one measure intent but by the integrity of the persons accused? This is the same crew that made promises on the campaign trail of ending nepotism, yet hired family and political operatives. They wanted an independent school board and then the mayor issues endorsements of politically connected people. This same administration seems to selectively respect the law, whether it’s the state law regarding the mayor’s pension or the city ordinance that requires staff to live here. I believe all of this is relevant to residents forming their opinion on this matter.
PETER FRANCO