Race or Ego issues in Paterson City Council?
Jul - 02 | By: john | 74 comments.
Filed under : Politics
There’s still no Paterson City Council President. One is looking to perpetuate his presindency others looking to bring change and step up to the task.
BY MEREDITH MANDELL
NorthJersey.com
STAFF WRITER
NorthJersey.com
STAFF WRITER
PATERSON — The City Council deadlocked on its vote to elect a council president Wednesday, angering members of the public who contend city officials can’t work together.
None of the nominees for council president — Rigo Rodriguez, William B. McKoy and Aslon Goow Sr. — was able to muster a majority during city government’s annual reorganization.
For McKoy, who served as council president for the last year, the vote failed, with council members Rodriguez, Andre Sayegh, Goow, Julio Tavarez and Jeffery Jones voting against him. Along with McKoy’s vote for himself, Vera Ames-Garnes, Anthony Davis and Ken Morris voted in his favor.
Likewise, votes for Goow and Rodriguez failed, with Goow getting only three votes — from himself, Sayegh and Tavarez — and Rodriguez receiving four, from Sayegh, Tavarez, Goow and himself.
After rounds of failed votes, members recessed for about an hour to discuss the stalemate in their chambers, but returned without an agreement.
In frustration, Rodriguez abruptly got up in the middle of the meeting and left.
“This is a joke,” he said bitterly. “I cannot support such things.”
City Attorney Susan Champion said that because council members couldn’t agree, they would need to select a temporary council president for each meeting until they appoint a permanent president.
Residents who came to speak during the public portion of the meeting expressed anger with the indecision, some hissing or muttering, “disgrace, disgrace.”
“A small group cannot agree to pick a leader — I think that says something about the state of Paterson’s political climate,” said Tom Watterson, 88, a lifelong resident. “It was the race card.”
Wilkin Santana, a middle school teacher and former city council candidate, said he also felt the council was divided along racial lines.
“The person should be chosen on merit — not on race, gender or ethnicity,” Santana said.
Others simply expressed disappointment with the lack of cooperation.
School Board member Jonathan Hodges said that the stalemate is an example of why Paterson often gets a “black eye.” He said elected officials frequently let down the public.
Davis said the contention stemmed from disagreement about how the public portion of the meeting is run, though he would not specify what the complaints are.
“This isn’t about race; it’s about ego,” said Davis. But, it was good the stalemate was aired in public, he said.
“It shows how divided we are,” Davis said. “This didn’t happen overnight; this has been brewing.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for July 14.
74 Responses to “Race or Ego issues in Paterson City Council?”
-
Man Dies in Senior Building
posted in forum Community
-
Torres Still on the Unemployment Line...
posted in forum Politics
-
Paterson Dem Committee changes guards - Jones' makes a move
posted in forum Politics
-
Childcare Options in Paterson Being Cut
posted in forum Education
Most Commented
Copyright © 2010 · All Rights Reserved · Paterson Online Media, LLC · Privacy and Terms of Use · Log in · Webmail
Part of being a leader is to share and to provide others the opportunity to prove themselves. I don’t know why councilman Mckoy wants to hold to the position, having other members who are qualified like councilman Goow and Rodriguez. That’s being selfish and a weak leader.
didn’t McCoy hold that position more than once?
I’m just wondering with so many pictures and articles on this site why is that we don’t see any pictures or articles about the african american parade as of yet, or is this only a Domican site
To answer ur question about the presidency of the city council, it’s quite obvious why Bill should keep it, because first of all Alson’s too rebellistic and lacks adequate people skills and Rigo needs to gain more experience on the city’s policies and procedures
GOOW should get it; hands down! After all these years he deserves it.
why is rigo doing there. Trust me I know him he just want the money he does not help. The men can’t even speak English right.
He going to win only cause he has family that work. With him
don’t vote for RIgo the other day i when to his office and he made a phone call. He did’t even know what he was talking about.
Get some one who speak english good
Ranchetero estipido
I believe in opportunity and I’m against those who believe they are irreplaceable.
The greed of McKoy is keeping the city without a President. Any of the other two should have the opportunity to be president. I also hate to see Jonathan Hodges suggesting that race is the issue, when he says that this shows how divided we are in the city. He tends to use it for his own advantage, trying to present a Latino Vs Afro-American battle, which doesn’t exist.
I believe that we should leave all the nonsense aside and work together. Many of the council members have their own agendas since day one. This is not benefiting the community at all. As elected officials they should be looking after the best interest of the people of Paterson. If you watch the council meetings you could see everyone’s agendas and how divided they are. Mr.” Davis said it best. “This didn’t happen overnight; this has been brewing.”
Mr. Mckoy should give someone else an opportunity to show their leadership and see how they could improve the meetings. I have not seen any improvements since the last president. I noticed that the time alloted to each council member to speak is different. He lets a specific council person speak for a long time but others are cut short. The meetings are not being ran fairly. I want to see change.
To the 3rd Anonymous,
And you should learn how to write using proper English!!!!
Good day to you!
What is your vote for him
Good day to you
Mr. McKoy tends to stop Tavarez and Rigo from speaking multiple times. He doesnt do that when Jones or Morris are speaking (Or even Davis and Vera). Why is that????? Why is it that Julio Tavarez cannot speak without being stopped by Mr. McKoy?????? I think Goow should get it, but he lacks diplomacy and people’s skills.
New 3rd Ward Resident:
Well, if you want to see change VOTE for change. Stop voting for the same people. This is why we have so many issues.
I’m glad to see that Andre Sayegh moved someone to the 3rd ward to compete against McKoy in the next election. Watch out McKoy, one of Andre’s boys is coming to challenge you.
Another question, does anyone know why Andre Sayegh likes to be around good looking young guys. Interesting!
What’s this crap about Andre moving some one to the 3rd ward does the man possess that type of money and power just to run someone against mccoy? And also let’s stop with the idiotic suggestions about him being around handsome men because if that were true then am i to guess that would exclude you. But with that that said i don’t like the fact that he (mccoy )doesn’t allow tavarez to speak, i don’t mind him silencing rigo who 95% of the time doesn’t make sense anyway.
WE’RE WAITING FOR THOSE AFRICAN AMERICAN PARADE PHOTOS PEOPLE
When I read the article by Meredith Mandell published in the July 2nd edition of the Herald News, “Council fails to elect leader” which insinuated that ethnicity played a significant role in the Municipal Council not reaching a consensus as to whom should be chosen as this year’s Council President, I was both angered and disappointed.
Let me emphatically state for the record that race is never a factor in the selection of the President of the Municipal Council of the city of Paterson. When we allow reporters or those who don’t get their way to use race as a convenient excuse when an outcome is different then they would like we do ourselves a tremendous disservice. The facts are and will remain that the man or woman we choose to lead us in the coming year must possess certain qualities and skills in order to be a successful leader. As a Councilman who served three consecutive terms as Council President in my opinion that individual must be skilled in the following:
• The ability to fully articulate the position of the Municipal Council to all stakeholders both locally, and statewide. This would require that the President possess excellent oratorical and writing skills, along with the ability to interact effectively with state and county legislators and decision makers.
• The ability to work cooperatively with the Administration in order to foster economic growth, and improve the quality of life of all who live and work in Paterson. This would require that the individual have a willingness to support the Administration on those issues that have the greatest potential for success and challenge the Administration on those issues that are simply politically motivated and have no potential for succeeding and are not in the best interest of the citizens and tax payers.
• The ability to manage effectively, utilizing decorum and diplomacy the men and women who have demonstrated by being elected that they have the support and confidence of the electorate who put them into office. This requires that as President you recognize that each member of the Council is entitled to contribute equally to the management of the city. That no one’s opinion has more value than the other. That the success or failure of the city is every Council member’s responsibility.
• The ability to interact effectively and work cooperatively with each city Department Head along with their staff. This requires the Council President to respect the experience and knowledge that staff brings to the table, and actively seek out their contributions.
• The individual chosen as Council President must have the respect of his/her colleagues. This individual should have shown through past interactions that he or she could be trusted; they must exemplify honesty and character. Their colleagues must feel that he/she will have their support in both the good and bad times during their term in office.
• Finally, the Council President must have the respect of the public. The public must feel confident that the individual will represent the interest of the residents of the entire city, not just one sub-group. The Council President is not the President of a particular Ward, community or ethnic group. He or she is Paterson’s President, and must have demonstrated in the past that he/she has represented all citizens of this great city equally and fairly.
None of the aforementioned qualities take into account a Council member’s ethnicity, religion or race. When I decide whom I will support for Council President, it is the above criteria I depend on when making that decision. I only ask that you, the public, consider doing the same.
Kenneth M. Morris, Jr., MHA, MA
Councilman-At-Large, Paterson
Este Concejal Morris, porque no baja estos taxes que estan tan altos. Estamos perdiendo nuestras csas, pagandole taxes a esta ciudad pa que este consejalito este escribiendo cartitas de cosas insignificantes. Escribir cartas si en facil! que bajes los taxes y que deje de hablar tanta baba y plepla! E’ Pa’ Fuera Que Va!
My only response is wow! I had no idea some people are so misinformed.
baba y plepla?????Cartitas????insignificantes????? tan insignificantes que usted tomo de su valioso tiempo para leerla y comentar. Positivo o Negativo usted comento!!!!Antes de decir que el no ha hecho nada para la cuidad y los residentes de Paterson tome un poco de su valioso tiempo, como lo hizo para escribir su comentarios, para ser mas astuto(a) en las iniciativas de este Concejal ..unas de ella fue la legislatura que escribio y paso para la seguridad de los residentes de esta cuidad. Tome cuentas de una de ellas—esta es para la personas que viene de otra cuidada y violan la ley al comprar dogras o solicitar prostitucion, cuando la policia le quita su carro y se le pone una fiancia, ese dinero se usa para los programa de recreacion para los niños y la juventud de Paterson, otra cosa que hizo este concejal fue el seminario que tuvo en el collegio (tuvo mas 1200 participantes) para que los residentes puedan recibir ayuda con applicaciones para apelar la injusticia de la re-evaluacion de su casas y los impuestos que tendrian que pagar (esto se hizo en varios idomas)…. El Herald News lo reporto. Siga buscando que encontrara mas… O sera que usted prefiere una persona (Rigo) que no se le entiende nada de lo que dice y no ha hecho nada en su tres años para el bienestar de TODA RAZA. E’Pa”Fuera Que Va! Habla usted del Concejal Morris o mas bien del Concejal Rodriguez. Lea los commentaries para que se de mas cuenta antes de senalar un dedo.
finally some one said it in 3 years (rigo) he has not Done any thing that will help the public
ha- this is great most action I’ve seen on this site! It’s nice to read/hear others opinions even in spanish.
E’ Pa’ Fuera Que VAN
First and fore most let me state that I am still waiting for those AFRICAN AMERICAN PARADE PHOTOS, so one might say that it is all about race and not equality. Second Rigo nor Alson has any business even thinking about the presidency let alone having it .Once Rigo can probably not govern over his own home let alone the entire council, and we all know about Alson’s arrogancy, ego, dogmatic style, dictator ways,lack of diplomacy ways,can’t get along with people, border line racist (remember the young lady who came to the city council meeting along with her sister) always in the newspaper for one negative thing or another can’t cease from arguing with the business administator. listen my arm is getting exhausted so I’ll see you in 2012 Goow when i beat the stank out of your breath in the next election, it won’t be hard thanks for making it easier than taking candy from a baby.
.
Councilman Morris is right in pretty much all of the criteria he and the rest of the councilmen should use to elect a President. Councilman Morris wrote “The public must feel confident that the individual will represent the interest of the residents of the entire city, not just one sub-group.” I would like the councilman to explain how Councilman MacKoy and he were putting the interest of public before the interest of the Mayor and themselves when they voted to have the taxpayers of the city of Paterson cover the monies the Mayor had to pay because to the lawsuit against. Basically they wanted us as taxpayers to take a bullet for the Mayor of Paterson. I’ll wait for an answer, because you look like a very respectful person, but sometimes your actions lead us to believe otherwise.
We need someone independent, not a yes-man for the mayor. Where was Morris when our TAXES went thru the roof? where was Morris when the police doesnt show up? where was Morris when they cut the Summer program? where was Morris where the council voted to pay for the mayor’s lawsuit? Being a respecftul person ONLY to the MAYOR is not enough for me to vote for him again. RESPECT THE TAXPAYERS AND DO ANOTHER REVALUATION.
If Ken Morris insists is not above race, why he always votes for Councilman McKoy for President of the City Council who is black and not for Rigo Rodriguez who happens to be latino. McKoy has been President 3 times. He needs to man up and face the music.
Their all retards anyway! One is a racist, One can’t speak english and the other one is an insecure idiot. This is the best that this town has to offer? This is more like a cast of characters on some crappy sitcom on channel 11. And to “concerned resident”, if you wanted pictures from the african american parade, you should have bought yourself a camera and taken them yourself!
it doesn’t matter who the council president is. it will be the the same old nonesense
we come to know as the Paterson City Council meeting. different concil members.
same results.
Papa Q, Elsa Mantilla cant speak english either and here our “wonderful” mayor elected her……from what I hear she wants to run for mayor………..that would be utterly ridiculous. She hasnt done anything for Paterson nor will she ever. We all know she wrote the portion of “stupid Ranchetero”…..it would make more sense to be a stupid Ranchetero than a slut from Higuey
Here we go again…it’s so sad what people write…
Can Paterson Online, provide a chat room?
What why do u call her a slut?
She look like a nice person
R u from ranchente (if u don’t know her don’t call her a slut)
WOW! people have some moderation, even for a person like the lady. Paterson has so many of those running around pretending to be LADIES and GOOD PERSONS but you don’t see me mentioning names. It is enough that they have to live with themselves, if you know what I meant. Now going back to the councils- I heard that we have a president- is this true?
To anonymous # 7
Do you have anything against the people from ranchete? Did anyone of them slept with your wife/husband? Did anyone of them took money from you? Did they lie to you? Did they promise you something? What’s wrong? I have an idea, why don’t you go and get an education and a job like most ranchetero has done and then talk to them face to face. “ESTIPIDO” I have never seen this word before. Is this Latin because I think I understand Latin and this word doesn’t look like Latin. “bardus”, “stultus”. You know what else I noticed about people from ranchete, they love Paterson more than other so-called Dominicans.
Yes Sir,it’s true in the person of The Honor able Jeffery Jones. OHHHHHHHhhh and by the way the African American citizens of this city is still waiting on the pictures from our parade.
Concerned Resident
Congrats! I’m,too, wondering what happened to the pictures. i tell you, the site new adminstrator is busy doing “Good Deeds” arround paterson. So let it be and go open your own site and post your AfricanAmerican picture since you might not see them here. ofcourse i’m just being nice to you. I’ve been to this website since it opened and I totally agree with many people that said that this site isn’t like before. New administrator, new priorities in which you are not, one of them.
Congrats….. to our new Presidente del Concejal, Jeff Jones. Mayor Candidate. Now he has the floor to go on for another hour or two (no one stopping him)and get nothing done for ALL the people. He likes the sound of his voice. Tom Watterson was on point. Oh yes, now I get it, the councilmen who supported our new Presidente del Concejal were doing those who have insomnia a favor, a sure sleeping remedy or maybe not—a continuous nightmare. All these male egos…. come on….what a joke. Take a lesson from the residents of Newark when they elected Corey Booker. Council President Jones (only in his head) and Mayor Torres will never come to that caliber.
To all concerned people here about the African American pictures. Why dont you tell your people to stop voting only for black people. For exampe when the african american parade does any event, they ONLY invite black people. They only endorse black candidates, they only support blacks. Why are you attacking this site, when this site is for ALL people in Paterson. Stop attacking tis site, because you are only for blacks.
I’m African American. I dont want to see parade pictures. I want to see pictures of how destroyed and abonded our neighborhoods are. Why arent our elected black councilmen and councilwoman doing something about it. It is our fault that they arent. We keep voting for black people who only care about their EGO and they personal and family power. STOP VOTING FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE. I’m black, but I’m not voting for blacks anymore.
Rancheteros are wonderful and hardworking people. They dont line up for welfare, like other groups. They work!
what do they loved about Paterson ( drugs cause that the only thing we have now)
oh u sure that none of ranchetero take walfare haha (that was to funny).
don’t get mad because RIgo is not going to win.
When he can speak English and write it . Maybe then people will vote for him
Who are the people running for council at large next year?
This is why Paterson always back tracks they have ignorant people “running things” in this town. It shouldnt be based out of where u come from, the color of ur skin, or if you have an accent or not. We need to worry about our corrupt politicians like Andre Sayegh and Joey Torres…..Andre is the 1st one trying to shut this website down because his infamous friend Eldsa Mantilla was being attacked about stealing the Dominican Parade money and then we have Joey Torres getting a raise that only CEO’s would get and also having the nerves to ugrade to a brand new Suburban with Paterson’s money…..is this ridiculous or what. Why does the mayor need a new truck when he shouldnt be traveling with his wife and kids,…..he should be driving a hybrid
I must say I’m soooo shocked at what has been written on this website, I had no clue this was so entertaining!!! As far as I’m concerned all of this madness concerning Councel President is such a joke. . . Such a big bark and not enough bite! They need to get it together ASAP because the only people suffering the consequences of ignorance and bad judgement are “WE” the citizens of Paterson…
One thing- REPUGNANCE!
the fact that rigo left the meeting shows how he deals wit problems…not good
We have too much corruption in Paterson. Some of our council persons think they are above the law. No one is above the law in America!