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Community Activists Submit Recall Notice of Mayor Wilda Diaz

Press Release 6/5/19

PERTH AMBOY, NJ – A day after the Primary Elections, three Perth Amboy community activists submit a notice of intention to recall elected official Wilda Diaz from the office of Mayor. The recall notice was filed with the City of Perth Amboy Clerkʼs office this afternoon. What sparked the recall was recent news received by many city residents that they have been exposed to dangerous contaminants in their drinking water. The Cityʼs municipal drinking water is managed by a share partnership between the municipality and a firm called Middlesex Water Company, in which a subsidiary firm, USA-PA operates and manages the Cityʼs drinking water. This initial public and private water partnership started during the term of office of previous Mayor Joseph Vas, and has been continued under the term of office of current Mayor Wilda Diaz.

Similar to a notice sent to Flint, Michigan, residents, which faced a water crisis, Perth Amboy residents received a notice that TTHMs are in their drinking water. Further, at a presentation conducted by the EPA at the City Hall Council Chambers on May 22, residents were informed that three of the Cityʼs water wells have been contaminated by plumes of 1-4 Dioxane. The EPA presentation held on May 22 was an informal public presentation which highlighted the cleanup of a contaminated Super Fund CPS/Madison site, which is currently on a National Priorities List (NPL) and located in Old Bridge, NJ. The Runyon Watershed which holds the Cityʼs water wells is located down-gradient to the contaminated Superfund site. The official EPA public meeting was previously held on May 8, 2019 at the Old Bridge Municipal Complex.

“It is unconscionable to hear that our water utility has been mixing clean water with contaminated water and serving that water to the Perth Amboy public,” said Sharon Hubberman, a Perth Amboy resident, community advocate, and former Perth Amboy mayoral candidate. “Listening to this news at our last council meeting was not only disconcerting, but it troubles me deeply that our residents have been exposed to such dangerous toxins in our drinking water. Clean water is a fundamental right, and we must safeguard it and be good stewards of it, because without it, we cannot have life. We must put our Perth Amboy Residents First and we want Clean Water NOW.”

Miss Hubberman joins Maria Rodriguez, a retired business owner and Former Perth Amboy Board of Education Candidate, and Jesus Varela, a community activist, and Former Assembly candidate, in the Committee to Recall Wilda Diaz from the office of Mayor. “We must take action Now to prevent further harm to our people,” said Jesus Varela, “Our children deserve better.”

“Someone has to watch out for us,” said Maria Rodriguez, “There is no transparency regarding our drinking water because the City does not hold monthly public meetings regarding our water. A lot of our residentsʼ concerns have been ignored by Mayor Wilda Diaz, and any issue regarding our water is a serious matter.”

Once the notice of intention to recall Diaz is approved, the committee will be collecting petition signatures from City Residents over a period of 160 days. Residents are asked to contact 732-800-2017, via text or voice mail to show their interest in signing the Recall Mayor Wilda Diaz petition or via Facebook page

RECALL MAYOR WILDA DIAZ.

Submitted by Sharon Hubberman

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