What A Sad Time For Perth Amboy

What a sad time for Perth Amboy. I missed the last Council meeting and was shocked to find out that that Mr. Blunda was terminated without cause. If you know the reason why, Council President, I believe the residents of Perth Amboy have a right to be informed.

Not only was Mr. Blunda terminated after seven unblemished years of service to this City but the way in which it was done shows the true character of Mayor Diaz. The process was frantic, unprofessional and shameful. It seems only Fernando Irizzary and Mr. Blunda left the meeting with their integrity intact.

I also find it interesting that Mayor Diaz announced she is running for a third term within days of appointing Ms. Perez and 15 months before the election. Ms. Perez is quoted in the Amboy Guardian as saying that she considers herself both a politician and a lawyer.  Nowhere in her job description as Director of Law is the term politician used. Ms. Perez will be compensated with public tax dollars mostly supplied by the over-taxed residents of Perth Amboy. I would expect that when the urge comes for Ms. Perez to be political she will resign.

Finally, some thoughts about the speech from our new law director as the keynote speaker at a brunch recognizing the nineteenth amendment. True to her political self, Ms Perez mentioned Hillary Clinton being “qualified”  to be president [the constitution states that the only qualifications for the office of President are 1- you must be a natural born citizen and 2- attained the age of 35 and been 14 years a resident of the United States]. Then she went on to say women must be supportive of other women. So my question is this—Why hasn’t the Mayor been supportive of the women in the Police Department who have been harassed for years. Why has she been supporting the male harasser and not the women?

Sincerely,

Kenny Balut

Displeasure in the Selection Process

I would like to express my displeasure concerning the selection process for the City Law Director. To have it appear as a late starter tells me that this appointment has been hurried and hasn’t gone through a proper process. This is not acceptable.

lf the emphasis is going to be just to hire a Latina, I would like to know why were there no Dominicans considered for the position. After seven years of Mayor Diaz and elections In 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, only one Dominican candidate has been endorsed by the Mayor; ironically he was one of the first city employees to be let go by Mayor Diaz after she was elected in 2008. I believe ho was the highest paid Dominican in the city and Mayor Diaz terminated him (without cause).

Were any Dominicans Interviewed for the BA position, Director of Code Enforcement,

Director of Public Works, Law Director, Personnel Director, Chief of Staff, Public Information Officer, City Planner, Parking Utility Director, Recreation Supervisor or any

other higher level position? There are more Dominicans in Perth Amboy than any other

population group yet we are not considered by the Mayor or the Council for any

Supervisory and/or policy making positions and this is unacceptable. The hiring of the law director and other key positions In the City without a Dominican even getting an interview has brought this issue to a boiling point.

It is time for Mayor Diaz to recognize the Dominican community; and not just by having one of us in a political position to appease us when election time comes around. Besides, what happens if we get a new Mayor – the political appointee gets fired, Just like our last one? We need to be considered during the hiring process for positions of

authority.

We should no longer be taken for granted.

Sincerely,

David Caba