Candidates are set to face off in Hackensack council raceSunday, March 17, 2013
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER
The Record
HACKENSACK — As the city emerges from a turbulent period that has seen endless litigation, the criminal conviction of a police chief and continued warring between the city administration and its critics, two opposing candidate slates and a single independent contender are facing off in the May election at a crucial point for municipal government.
All five City Council seats are at stake, and only one incumbent is seeking a new term, making it certain that new faces will populate the city’s powerful governing body on July 1 when the council is sworn in.
Five candidates are running on the Hackensack Citizens for Change line, with a pledge to end corruption, cronyism and intimidation. Another five are running under the Hackensack Coalition for Open Government banner, promising to improve residents’ quality of life and increase transparency. Victor Sasson, the only candidate running solo in May’s election, said he is seeking public office to limit noise, step up traffic enforcement and boost tax revenue.
The candidates will have to convince weary voters that they can be trusted as the city continues with an ambitious plan to redevelop the downtown, which is already seeing traction with a proposed 222-unit apartment building on State Street. Some voters say new council members also should not have ties to the Zisa family political machine that has dominated through a time of turmoil.
In the past few years, the city has been hit by numerous lawsuits filed by police officers over alleged abuses by former Chief Ken Zisa, who was convicted of official misconduct and insurance fraud last year. Several officers have also faced charges, including three who pleaded guilty on Monday to their roles in a 2011 assault.
The Building Department came under fire for its handling of violations at a property owned by the zoning board attorney, while the head of that department fights a sexual harassment lawsuit.
"The tax burden caused by corrupt, crony government is enormous on our taxpayers," said Kathleen Canestrino, a Hackensack Citizens for Change candidate who has criticized the city’s legal spending.
Aside from Canestrino, the slate includes Leonardo Battaglia, Rose Greenman, David Sims and the incumbent John Labrosse.
"We are a team of hardworking, ordinary citizens, with one extraordinary goal: to clean up Hackensack’s corrupt and abusive city government and return it to the citizens and taxpayers," said Labrosse, who was elected to the council four years ago.
Team members want to make city records and meeting agendas available to the public and televise meetings. They also want to establish commissions to investigate ethics complaints and oversee redevelopment decisions.
Slates square off The candidates accuse the Coalition for Open Government slate — which includes Joseph Barreto, Joanne Mania Colon, Kenneth Martin, Jason Nunnermacker and Scott Young — of having ties to the same Democratic Party power brokers who have exerted influence in the city for years.
The team’s manager, former Councilman Roger Mattei, responded: "There’s no secret agenda to try and bring back any political forces that were present in the city at any given time. What you have are sincere people looking to elect qualified committed candidates to best serve Hackensack."
Mattei said he, the Board of Education attorney Richard Salkin, and zoning board member George Diana worked together to assemble the slate with input from community and business leaders.
The candidates say they will make it easier for citizens to get information with improvements to the city’s website and televised meetings and that they will establish civilian review boards. The group also touted its record of service, which includes volunteerism with community groups, the ambulance corps, recreation leagues and business associations.
"We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Hackensack," said Martin, a retired Hackensack police officer.
Sasson, under the banner "A Vote for Peace and Quiet," has pledged to work to reduce aircraft noise from Teterboro Airport, ban landscaping work on Sundays and encourage police to crack down on loud motorcycles and stop-sign violators. He also has called for a street repaving program and for the city to use more energy-efficient vehicles and solar panels.
"At the street level, people want their streets paved. They want to crack down on speeding cars and stop-sign violators," Sasson said. "They want changes that will affect them personally."
Sasson, a former reporter and copy editor with The Record, also called for more payments in lieu of taxes from Hackensack University Medical Center, which he said has an "enormous amount of tax-exempt property."
Residents’ concerns In street interviews, Hackensack residents said their top issues varied from lowering taxes, to helping the homeless, to ending racial profiling by police.
"I care about the homeless and the quality of the shelters," said Angela St. Claire, 50, adding that shelters were often "overloaded."
Duanne Cobbs, 38, who is unemployed and trying to find work, said he wanted more economic improvements and job opportunities.
Sue Carroll, 54, a learning consultant, called for road repairs and more activities for seniors and handicapped residents. Carroll said she believes the city is moving past its problems with corruption. Mostly, she said, she wants people in office who know their community.
"I’d like to have people as candidates who are Hackensack residents for a long time and who know the issues," she said.
The election is May 14.
Email: adely@northjersey.com