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| One of the Hackensack City Council's most persistent critics is Daniel Carola, a member of the Board of Education, above. Some might think Carola is just trying to deflect attention from the sad state of the city's public schools, including the food service in the roach-infested Hackensack High School cafeteria. |
By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR
David R. Troast, top candidate for Hackensack city manager, says he lives in Hawthorne, and would be commuting in his own car.
In a brief conversation during a lull in Tuesday night's tumultuous City Council meeting, Troast told Eye on The Record he has already "refused" use of a city owned car, breaking with an age-old practice that inflames property tax payers.
Mayor John Labrosse and City Council members deferred action on a resolution to appoint Troast after what The Record today called "intense resident criticism of their presumptive pick for new city manager" (L-1).
The story, written by Todd South, identifies some of the critics by name, but doesn't report they are allied with local Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Hurwitz and the Zisa family's politics of greed, which dominated the city for decades.
Troast is a planner
According to his LinkedIn page, Troast is a redevelopment planner who was township manager in Sparta (Sussex County) until a year ago, and before that headed the rural township's Department of Community Development and Services.
Since 1989, he has owned David R. Troast LLC, which "specializes in professional planning services for municipalities and private clients in northern New Jersey."
His redevelopment background would seem to be a good fit in Hackensack, which has launched an ambitious plan to make over its downtown.
The Record and North Jersey Media Group abandoned the city in 2009, knocking Main Street down but not out.
Back to school
Four of Troast's most vociferous critics come from Hackensack's Board of Education, which spends more to educate a student than does the highly regarded village of Ridgewood, according to state education officials.
Board of Education Attorney Richard Salkin was fired from a second job as municipal prosecutor after the winning City Council slate took their seats in July 2013.
Two other critics, Jason Nunnermacker and Joseph Barreto, are Board of Education members who were on the losing slate, which was backed by Hurwitz and the Zisa-allied City Council members who didn't run in May 2013.
Another critic, Daniel Carola, also is a member of the Board of Education.
Carola, who harangues the council at nearly every meeting, appears to be reading from prepared remarks.
His attacks on the mayor and other council members serve to deflect attention from the sad state of the city's crowded public schools.
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| The City Council and acting city manager listening to a critic of David R. Troast, whose hiring as city manager was deferred on Tuesday night. |
Newsroom idiocy
A front-page story today asks how a man who "seemed to have everything" -- including a good job, backyard pool in a wealthy community and "even Giants season tickets" -- could kill his mother (A-1).
What idiocy.
This is the same kind of clueless media speculation that occurred after Robin Williams' suicide on Aug. 11, with editors and reporters ignoring how depression and other demons could drive someone to suicide or murder.
The lead byline on the story about suspect Nicholas Piotti of tony Ho-Ho-Kus belongs to Christopher Maag, who was assigned to cover Hackensack for a few months before taking over the transportation beat.
Maag and other reporters covering the story of a son allegedly killing his mother should just assume the suspect is "crazy" -- as is any killer -- and go from there.
In fact, Piotti is being held in a "psychiatric hospital," according to the story.
Are the editors suggesting that the Giants miserable season last year had anything to do with the slaying?
The appointee for city manager of the city of Hackensack has a very checkered past, including a gun violation charge, and a knack for not getting along with his peers. The pueblo he hails from is Sparta, an apples an oranges comparison for city management in counter to the city of Hackensack and its needs and ambitious plans for redevelopment. It is a bad choice. One that illustrates how this so called city council tries to make choices. His case opposite a former city councilperson in Sparta is stilll under investigation. Why in the world would he vene be considered? Because he is part of the same political machine as Rottino, the former interim city manager, and the rest of the bad apple crew. Your comment concerning politics runs both ways; in this instance though, there is nothing political. The choice is bad and inappropriate. In a field of 30 or so applicants this is the best choice? Obviously last evening's meeting speaks louder than words. And the offer this guy makes to not accept a city vehicle/ So what? That makes him fit for the job? As for the editors constant remarks concerning the Board of Education and especially the lunch room and conditions therein, perhaps the editor can supply proof or a city health violation to back up his off the cuff remarks concerning unsanitary conditions. Perhaps. Or is it the style of this editor to remark about things he has no knowledge of? Regardin this city manager appointee again, clearly the response is NEXT. The city deserves much better than an individualwho gets himself into trouble in small towns like Sparta..
ReplyDeleteI'll start from the bottom of your comment, so to speak, by saying my son is a senior at Hackensack High School and he has been complaining about the food for three years. He has seen cockroaches in the cafeteria, and mice in the locker room and office. There is no way for a student to warm up lunch from home. I have seen the lines out the doors of nearby pizzerias at lunchtime, and spoken to students at Starbucks about the low quality of the food, and the cafeteria is so small, high school students have to eat in three shifts, starting at 10:30 a.m.
ReplyDeleteInstead of appearing at every council meeting and criticizing officials, Board of Education members and their lawyer should be looking after improving the schools. Remember, they stiffed the city to the tune of $1 million for a resource officer after the inept prior administration forgot to bill the school district. I believe Board Attorney Richard Salkin was the one who delivered the royal F.U.
If you are such an expert on redevelopment and the right city manager for Hackensack, why aren't you in office or a public employee?
Instead, you smear David R. Troast, a redevelopment planner, by claiming he faced a "gun violation charge." The Record today reported he had an antique rifle in the trunk of his car, moron; that isn't a "gun violation charge."
And in view of the conniptions over Anthony Rottino's purchase of a remote starter for his city owned car -- at city expense -- Troast turning down a city car is a big deal, and he gets a lot of points in my book.
A couple of dozen city cars were driven home by employees of the prior administration, and it is a colossal waste of money. This council has pledged to reduce or eliminate the car bonus.
Please, as I've said before, save your stinking breath and stop sending in inane comments. You contribute nothing to the dialogue.
As an individual who has moved mountains I can only say you deserve to be under one. Mountains, not just good old Hacky, where I have far more traction than you could ever muster.
DeleteI have no doubt you have moved mountains -- of pure, unadulterated bullshit.
DeleteIf you had any balls, you'd get up to speak and identify yourself at a council meeting, not just skulk behind an Anonymous tag and fill your comments with expletives. You are a true coward.
If you want your comment to appear, refrain from personal attacks on the blogger.
ReplyDeleteDoes this work two ways?
Of course not. You should see the scurrilous stuff people say... My insults are comparatively mild.
DeleteWay to go, Victor, I haven't seen you pull the moron card for a while. Mr. Anonymous, you can now add membership in an exclusive club to your list of accomplishments.
Delete