“Transparency” – the condition of being transparent. Trans-par+nt: tran’spe(e)rent – Honest and Open – Not Secretive.

This is what the Diaz administration and some of the current City Council members ran on when they were campaigning. Unfortunately that is not what is being provided, and that is a shame! We have a city that I love so dearly that is lacking leadership and pride. Morale is very low in every city department and one of the reasons is that the administration is very secretive in its ways. Many of the board meetings are not televised as they used to be and I believe that one of the reasons is to keep certain information hidden from the public. They also discourage residents who speak up, and they target anyone who is a community activist.

Hmmm…sounds like history is repeating itself. I have been going to the Perth Amboy City Council meetings for more than 20 years and it was very refreshing to see a full house at the last meeting. Many residents voiced their concerns and disgust with the “current lack of Quality of Life in Perth Amboy.” Hopefully the record of that council meeting will not be edited as others have been, and will be shown in its entirety. “lt is our Right to have a voice and be heard.”

I respect the business administrator, Mr. Gregory c. Fehrenbach, but I don’t respect his last comments targeting everyone that goes to the city council meetings to voice their concerns. According to him and the Diaz administration, we “have little knowledge of what is really going on in this city.” Well…start televising “every board meeting” and start answering some of the many questions we have and maybe we will be more enlightened.

Some residents have questioned whether Mayor Wilda Diaz’s Facebook page is an official City page or the Mayor’s personal social media page. It is very interesting that she had the Perth Amboy City Seal on her page. Walking a very thin line between the separation of Church and state, the Mayor went on Facebook and typed a proverb that also targeted many community activists.

I just want to state that I am religious also, but I don’t go on social media advertising every good deed I do. I don’t use my religious faith as a means to promote myself or my business. Since the administration and the city council like using quotes and bible verses I have a few for them: “Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.” – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

“For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” – LUKE 8:17

City officials are being sneaky in their ways, but the truth will all come out very soon. All the secretive and unethical actions of so-called leaders in this community will be revealed to the public and everyone hiding the truth will be viewed as just as guilty.

To All Elected Officials: remember that there is a legal and ethical duty to let the community know what is going on in this city. It is not a matter of choice, it is an obligation – it is what all of you were elected to do!

Respectfully,

David Caba