“No one cares about policy in Hillside"

Moving forward it is essential we are in lockstep to unite our community in our common goal; township resurgence.

“No one cares about policy in Hillside, to get elected…all you have to do is give them fried chicken!”

“What do you have to lose?” In 2016, Donald Trump summarized a view of the entire African-American community and concluded that we should vote for him. As he spoke, I imagined a movie scene with a stumbling, bottomed out alcoholic whereby in a state of disgust, another character yells, “Look at you!...” and then proceeds to run down a list of failures that the disgraced person is already keenly aware, but just doesn’t know how to stop addiction.

People were angry at Trump, but like that alcoholic, we have a history of voting for candidates who have yet to serve in our best interests or improve our circumstances, but how do we get candidates to do so? Many black elected officials who have tried to make a difference are shackled, punished and have had their political careers ruined for going against the power structure and sadly, there are not many of us left. After I wrote an Op-Ed in October 2019, black elected officials gave me warnings, “You didn’t get permission to write that article.” “You better be careful.” “You are going to pay for what you did.” And the most shocking of all plantation politics advice… “No one cares about policy in Hillside, all you have to do is give them fried chicken,” as stated by a Councilman.

“How do we get beyond the protest?” We hold a protest about the way things are, but allow the very politicians who have served as the gatekeepers to this dystopia, talk to those of us who are suffering, about change.

As the Mayor of my town, I now understand why black elected officials have failed in this system of white supremacy. When one needs $50,000 to run for school board, whoever provides that seed money is your master. So, when people ask me why I have been disenfranchised from the Democratic Party? The answer is: I dared to raise my own money.

How Do We Get Beyond the Protest?

When the Township Council devastates the budget, puts politics over the people and causes utter destruction of township by dismantling public safety in preparation for the next election.

How Do We Get Beyond the Protest?

When the Township elects the Mayor to fix all day-to-day problems including those problems associated with police brutality and s/he faces obstruction, disrespect, neglect and the undermining of his/her authority by the Chief, the Township’s own attorneys, the Council, the County Government and the State of New Jersey.

How Do We Go Beyond the Protest?

When a Superior Court Judge compels the Mayor to hold onto a Police Chief with a history of police brutality and one who routinely harasses and intimidates police officers by way of targeting and unjust suspensions. How Can Those Officers Feel Safe to Come Forward? How do they avoid being the next cops charged with murder for failing to intervene when a politically protected officer suffocates someone with his knee?

How Do We Go Beyond the Protest?

When the Governor of the State of New Jersey chooses to walk elbow to elbow with the Democratic Chairman who is under federal indictment and then participates in a political campaign rally disguised as a BLM protest in violation of his own executive order to demonstrate to the Mayor that she will get zero cooperation from the State to investigate said corruption or help her salvage the township budget by simply enforcing the law.

If Trump’s question were posed toward any other people, the correct, last resort response would be, “my life,” but in the presence of strange fruit, even that response cannot suffice. I was hurt and angry that he was able to make light of it. I was hurt and angry because it was the truth.

As a Mayor seeking to make changes Beyond the Protest, I plan to allocate funds from the police department to hire a social worker who would serve to identify problem areas, EAP assistance and service the community as a liaison with regard to domestic disputes, mental health issues and other social issues that need not necessarily be policing matters.

I plan to initiate a Civilian Review Board who will be responsible to review procedures, implement reform and investigate complaints by members of the public concerning misconduct by officers.

I plan to implement Citizen Zero policies otherwise known as “Compulsory Reporting” to eliminate the silence required behind the blue line. If officers see inappropriate behaviors while on duty with another officer, it is understood that they too will be held complicit in the act if their presence is later determined.

I plan to introduce a Risk Management Program,

to identify and eliminate unacceptable risks or liabilities as well as to encourage buy-in and personal ownership; and,

I plan to hire a Public Safety Director,

who would be responsible for all administrative and budgetary functions for the Fire Department and Police Department, which reduces costs of promoting two (2) Chiefs and provides direct accountability to the administration to enact immediate cultural, social and policy change.

The people of Hillside elected me to be transparent, accountable and bring Hillside into the light of its greatest potential. I need your help as citizens in breaking down the barriers set in place to ensure that we as a community continue to suffer under “good ol’ boy” plantation politics of Union County where we are forced to bow to the whims of a federally indicted Chairman.

I need your help in pushing Hillside…Beyond the Protest.