LINDEN, NJ — The battle to fill the 8th Ward seat will return to the courts after a divided City Council rejected a settlement offer at a special meeting on May 2. Mayor Derek Armstead-aligned council members Lisa Ormon, Barry Javick, Peter Brown, Alfred Mohammad, Ralph Strano and Michele Yamakaitis voted against the offer, while […]
LINDEN, NJ — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found no reason to look any further into accusations of discrimination on the part of fire Chief Joseph Dooley against black firefighters, City Council President Michele Yamakitis announced at the council’s April 16 meeting. “The city did send a report over and an investigation, which has […]
LINDEN, NJ — The battle for control of the 8th Ward seat on the City Council has been extended, with a judge on March 19 sounding as if she may reverse herself and side with state Sen. Nicholas Scutari in his ongoing feud with Mayor Derek Armstead. Chancery Judge Katherine Dupuis, in court documents dated […]
LINDEN, NJ — About 75 people who attended a rally in front of City Hall called for fire Chief Joseph Dooley to step down amid accusations that he has fostered “a racist culture” inside the department, including using derogatory terms for African-Americans. Gusting winds and chilly conditions did little to temper the concerns of those […]
LINDEN, NJ — Legislation that would force Mayor Derek Armstead to give back the $26,575 raise he received in December has passed the state Senate, escalating tension between him and state Sen. Nicholas Scutari. Legislation that would prohibit retroactive raises for all elected officials throughout the state passed the Senate in a 32-1 vote March […]
LINDEN, NJ — Mayor Derek Armstead has won the second round in the battle for control of the 8th Ward City Council seat. Appellate Division Judge Amy O’Connor, in a court document dated Feb. 28, denied an appeal for a temporary restraining order filed by state Sen. Nicholas Scutari to have Paul Coates seated as […]
ELIZABETH, NJ — Linden Mayor Derek Armstead will appear before a judge to face charges that he assaulted a city councilman during a caucus meeting last year as Elizabeth Municipal Court Judge Roman Montes ruled the case could move forward after hearing the mayor’s plea Feb. 22. The mayor is accused of striking Linden Councilman […]
LINDEN, NJ — Lenny Dykstra’s day in court regarding accusations that he was running an illegal boarding house on a suburban cul-du-sac was delayed when the attorney for the former Major League All-Star failed to appear at a hearing. Attorney David Bahuriak, who has a history of taking on controversial athletes as clients, characterized his […]
LINDEN, NJ — Mayor Derek Armstead escalated his political battle with state Sen. Nicholas Scutari on Feb. 19, when the City Council voted to form a committee to investigate whether the legislator had been paid for work he did not perform while a city employee. The council voted 6-4 in favor of the resolution creating […]
LINDEN, NJ — The first round in the battle for control of the 8th Ward City Council seat goes to Mayor Derek Armstead. Administrative Law Judge Katherine Dupuis, in court documents dated Feb. 14, denied a request by state Sen. Nick Scutari to appoint Paul Coates to the seat that the council had voted to […]