HACKENSACK BOE PUTTING OUR KIDS FIRST TEAM: SCHOOL BOARD REFUSES TO RELEASE ATTORNEY’S BILLING RECORDS – TELLS CANDIDATES “SUE US” TO GET PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 13, 2018
CONTACT: Wendy Martinez 201-563-1088
SCHOOL BOARD REFUSES TO RELEASE ATTORNEY’S BILLING RECORDS – TELLS CANDIDATES “SUE US” TO GET PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
The Hackensack Board of Education has refused to supply virtually any information about School Attorney Richard Salkin’s contract and compensation since a citizens’ group filed an OPRA request on February 26th, defying state law that requires a response within 7 business days.
School Board officials told the group that it would take up to 45 days to turn over the information and said they should file a lawsuit if they want a quicker response.
Salkin has long been associated with the Zisa family that controlled Hackensack for decades and still controls the local school system. Last May, he served as the Campaign Counsel for the Zisa backed candidates who were routed by a reform slate led by Mayor John Labrosse.
Today the campaign manager for independent “Putting Our Kids First” Team of Frances Cojelga, Lance Powell and Carlos Velez gave the Board an ultimatum: either supply the information by Thursday or face a lawsuit.
“You have to wonder what the school board is so desperate to hide that they would blatantly violate state law concerning Open Public Records,” says Wendy Martinez, campaign manager for the candidates. “But we will not be intimidated by these bullying tactics. The public is entitled to this information and we are going to get it.”
The Board of Education election is on April 17.
The letter that Martinez emailed to the Board today is attached to this statement.
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