HACKENSACK, NJ – The Labrosse/Canestrino Team for Hackensack City Council has taken their retaliatory tactics to new heights in a clear attempt to distract from being caught red-handed misusing taxpayer resources to further their political careers in their latest Swibinski authored press release. Running on a disastrous fiscal record and an embarrassing record of chaotic management in City Hall, Mayor John Labrosse has decided that his only chance of re-election is with a steady stream of false attacks on the Hackensack United for Progress ticket of respected community activists.

In a clear case of playing tit-for-tat, and a blatant disregard for the legal system, their latest Labrosse/Canestrino ridiculous claim is that Hackensack United for Progress Campaign Manager Caseen Gaines is engaging in campaign activities while at work. “It should be a surprise to no one that a Mayor and Council who have made intimidating their opposition and retaliation hallmarks of their administration would make such an offensive accusation,” Gaines said earnestly. “I have kept my roles separate.”

In an extreme case of chutzpah, the Labrosse/Canestrino Team is clearly hoping residents forget an embarrassing blemish on the early days of their administration. Staff members at Hackensack High School have complained for the past several years that David Sims, a member of the Labrosse/Canestrino Team, has taken frequent unauthorized leaves from his responsibilities as a para-educator at that school to campaign with Labrosse and Deputy Mayor Kathy Canestrino at daytime events. “Everyone has been afraid to make an issue of it because he boasts about how powerful he is, and has been seen walking around the building with a jacket that has COUNCILMAN prominently displayed on it,” said one teacher, who spoke only after a guarantee of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

In fact, Sims was the subject of an investigation after a female Hackensack police officer complained of inappropriate remarks made by him to her at the school for which he was disciplined by the Hackensack Board of Education. “Each day it becomes clearer that their ‘honest government’ tagline isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” Gaines said. “Maybe that’s why they stuck the taxpayers with the bill.”

Swibinski’s latest attack seems to stem from a response issued today from Hackensack United, which was drafted last night after their campaign received a copy of the Labrosse/Canestrino Team’s press release that dropped today. This comes during a tumultuous time for the Labrosse/Canestrino Team, which has been grasping at straws in an attempt to change headlines from the ethical and legal questions mounting over a controversial mailer sent to likely voters with taxpayer funds. “I take my responsibility as an educator very seriously,” Gaines said. “It is irresponsible to ask for an investigation because you were caught betraying the public trust in a very serious way. This is the exact kind of politics that people hate, and it has no business in Bergen County.”

“We will stay focused on our issues concerning responsible development, fiscal responsibility, and ending the chaos at City Hall caused by the Labrosse/Canestrino Administration,” Gaines said. “And scare-tactics like these.”

Hackensack United for Progress candidates Lara Rodriguez, Jason Some, Michael Williams, Carlos Merino and Rommy Buttafuoco have a long history of community service and are eager to restore honest and responsible government to Hackensack. They plan to increase ratables through responsible development and end the reckless borrowing which is destroying Hackensack’s future. They plan to hire and promote employees based on merit and put an end to the cronyism and unlawful conduct of the Canestrino/Labrosse Administration.

Hackensack United for Progress is a broad-based coalition of residents, merchants and organizations united to end the chaos and corruption of the past four years and put Hackensack back on the path to success as a community.