Photo courtesy of North Bergen Township website.
Changes are on the rise in Hudson County administration.
Within eight months of taking office, a line up of officials resigned from Jersey City Mayor James Solomon’ administration; the run of early departures has led residents to question what direction the city is heading towards. And up in North Hudson, longtime North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco has announced he is stepping down after 35 years.
On Thursday, Sacco announced at the annual Mayor’s Ball that he will retire on Oct. 28, not able to finish his current mayoral term due to health challenges.
“Serving as mayor of North Bergen has been the honor and privilege of my life,” said Sacco, who became mayor in 1991, and has been a commissioner on the North Bergen Township Board of Commissioners since 1985.
“…. Recent health challenges as well as many conversations with family, friends and colleagues have led me to decide that it is in the community’s best interest for me to pass the baton.”
The former state senator announced that he endorses Parks and Public Property Commissioner Hugo Cabrera to succeed him as mayor, making him the first Latino North Bergen mayor.
During Sacco’s administration, he launched the NB C.A.R.E.S. program, an expansion of North Bergen’s Emergency Relief Program, which assists residents and displaced families with emergency relief like temporary housing, food and clothing after disaster and expanded senior citizen services, recreational programs as well as public parks. Most recently, the North Bergen Public Library’s Main Branch went through full renovations and reopened in September.
Cabrera, who has worked alongside Sacco for decades, was elected as a Parks and Public Property Commissioner in 1999 managing recreation spaces and buildings and currently serves as the secretary for the North Bergen Board of Education.
Cabrera stated in a presser on the city’s site, “I look forward to working with Gov. Mikie Sherrill, our state legislators, county leaders and neighboring mayors to build on the progress we’ve made and create an even brighter future for North Bergen.”
With Sacco stepping down from all active duties, Cabrera is endorsing the mayor’s son, Nick Jr., to fill North Bergen’s board of commissioners seat once it becomes vacant, which comprises of five elected positions, all of which are elected at-large by the voters and will serve four-year terms.
Back in Jersey City, the news came at a shock as the names of Finance Director Bill Viqueira, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Keshav Poddar and Director of the city’s communications Megan Malloy resigning from the Solomon administration were listed in a presser sent to Slice of Culture.
“The Mayor is committed to not just stabilizing Jersey City’s finances but strengthening them by finding new, innovative ways to bring in revenue for Jersey City residents without negatively impacting their pockets,” according to an email sent by the city’s Chief of Staff Laura Bustamante.
“All are committed to ensuring an orderly and seamless transition as Mayor Solomon restructures his team.”The resignations of Malloy, Poddar and Viqueira were confirmed two days after City Hall announced that Corporation Counsel Sarah Levine was stepping down on Oct. 6, and two weeks after Communications Director Nathaniel Styer abruptly left his post, as previously reported by Slice of Culture.
The departures come as City Hall grapples with a $255 million budget gap. This year’s budget raised property taxes to 15.15%, an increase under the terms of the state’s loan of $120 million in state aid package.
The hike has drawn sharp criticism from residents, and Solomon’s administration has borne the brunt of it. Even the former mayor of Jersey City peppered in his statements on the resignations, “I’m sure he’ll [Solomon admin] blame me for that as well,” posted former Mayor Steve Fulop on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Last week, Gov. Mikie Sherrill vetoed two bills that would have given city leaders new ways to raise revenue and more flexibility in how they spend existing funds.
“The Solomon administration is at a disarray,” said Viqueira, who spoke to Slice of Culture, a day prior to the city’s announcement on parting ways with the city’s affairs.
“It has been a privilege to serve Jersey City and to have worked alongside Mayor Solomon during an important time for the City,” said Viqueira in a presser.
Poddar, the city’s deputy mayor, touted his efforts with the Solomon administration.
Public outcry translated into social media posts.
“Serving the people of Jersey City has been a privilege,” said Poddar. “I have appreciated working alongside so many dedicated public servants and being a part of the City’s work to build more affordable housing.”
Malloy paid tribute to the Solomon administration.
“I’m thankful to Mayor Solomon for the opportunity to serve as Jersey City’s Digital Director,” said Malloy. “It’s been a privilege to uplift the stories of residents at a time when transparency and responsiveness is of the utmost importance. I am grateful for my time with the City and to have been a part of that work.”
“Asking for a friend’s city: How hard is it to recall @SolomonforJC?,” said X user @shteivred.
Another plot twist that caught residents off guard was the switch in city personnel.
Stuart Thomas, who served as the mayor’s Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs and the administration’s principal liaison to the City Council, will now serve as Councilwoman-at-Large Mamta Singh’s chief of staff starting Oct. 19 as confirmed in an email to Slice of Culture. Residents expressed their disappointment and frustrations in Thomas following a controversial comment he made that suggested Greenville residents who can’t afford their homes should sell it and move.
In the interim, Kyle Greaves will serve as Acting Finance Director, Kimberly Wallace Scalcione will serve as Acting Press Secretary and Director of Housing and Economic Development Annisia Cialone will continue leading the City’s housing efforts as stated by the presser.
“To lose your entire leadership team in less than a year is a feat not even Trump could match,” Eric Connor, a Jersey City resident posted on X.
