To the Editor of The Independent Press of Bloomfield:
This letter is to set the record straight as to why the Bloomfield Democratic Committee, made up of Democratic district leaders throughout town, has endorsed Councilman Joe Lopez for Mayor and Kathy DeMarino, Jo Lewis and Yudi Sobharam for council at-large. Recently, Mayor Michael Venezia has gone on social media claiming that I am forcing him out because I want to control the town, but nothing could be further from the truth.
In 2013, when Michael Venezia lobbied the Bloomfield Democratic Committee for its endorsement, we supported him wholeheartedly because we believed that he would do what’s right for the town. However, the record shows that Venezia has wasted tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, has created a culture in his administration that fosters corruption, and, as evidenced by his Hot 97 interview, has embraced the endorsement of both convicted felon Danny Chalet, who admitted to scamming Home Depot out of $490,000 worth of merchandise in a five-state robbery spree, and Councilman Eli Chalet who was indicted on bribery, official misconduct and other charges.
The $11 million dollar bond that was floated for the Liongate property and the town’s purchase of a private property on Clinton Street are examples of wasted taxpayer dollars. After a developer purchased Liongate, received approvals to build 104 units and was in the process of erecting the development, Mike Venezia decided to purchase the project by floating an $11 million dollar bond (a 40-year mortgage) to make it open space.
The cost of the 40 year bond including the loss of the tax dollars that we would have realized had the project been built is estimated to be over $50 million. Yet, when Councilman Joe Lopez suggested that this matter be put on a ballot question to let the people decide if they wanted to spend that much money, Mayor Venezia and council persons Pomares, Davis and Joanow would not consider it.
Venezia also has purchased a private property on Clinton Street for $250,000 because neighbors were complaining it was an eyesore. The town is going to make it a pocket park at an estimated cost of $3 million, including demolition and creation of the park. Ironically, Watsessing Park is a few blocks away. Before the vote, Joe Lopez asked Venezia if he was planning on buying every private property that was an eyesore in other neighborhoods and he said yes, the town would buy any property that was for sale. This is another perfect example of irresponsible spending of taxpayer dollars.
The Democratic Committee supported Eli Chalet in 2011 and 2014 and Mike Venezia, Carlos Pomares, Wartyna Davis and Joe Lopez in 2013 because we believed they would make the Democratic Party proud and would do a good job for the citizens of Bloomfield. Unfortunately, after Joe Lopez pointed out several instances of conflicts of interest pertaining to Eli Chalet, Venezia, Pomares and Davis ignored him, even referring to Joe as a troublemaker.
Eli subsequently got arrested for bribery after which the state attorney general widened its investigation when they subpoenaed boxes and boxes of records dating back to Jan. 1, 2011, the day that Venezia was first sworn into office as councilman. Eli didn’t get on the council until Jan. 1, 2012. So, in addition to the waste of taxpayer dollars, the Democratic Committee cannot in good conscience endorse Venezia, Pomares and Davis because just like Mike Venezia was “shocked” when Eli Chalet was arrested on bribery charges, we have no way of knowing if there will be more “shocking” arrests in this administration.
Joe Lopez seems to be the only council person looking out for the citizens by consistently asking questions about various issues whenever he feels something isn’t right. And Venezia, Pomares and Davis consistently ignore Lopez’ concerns and just follow whatever Mike wants them to do.
There are many other instances that I can cite but space does not allow.
The bottom line is, I have no desire to control the decisions the governing body make. But I do have the obligation as chairman to ensure that the candidates the Bloomfield Democratic Committee endorses are honest, diligent and make every decision with the citizens of Bloomfield in mind.
Peter Strumolo, chairman
Bloomfield Democratic Committee
Editor’s note: Questioned about the $50 million revenue loss regarding Lion Gate, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia called the figure a wild exaggeration. Regarding the $3 million expense for a Clinton Street pocket park, Venezia said it has yet to be determined how the land will be used.
About the Author
How about working for the people of Bloomfield that elected you. Our property taxes keep going up, I refuse to put an addition on my house because it will be taxed at a higher rate. Why punish a person for doing improvements to their home? I think people who take care of their home should be rewarded instead of punished. An extra$50 million would go along way towards that. Get this guy out but please do not replace him with another crook.
Mr Lopez is a good choice,he’s shown Integrity as the Board School President
CORRECTION: Please delete previous post and use the following:
Mr. Strumolo’s characterization of the purchase of the Clinton Street property as irresponsible is really off the mark.
My house and 20 other residential properties overlook that lot. Each of those properties is worth less because of their proximity to the site. Because real estate value is determined by ‘comparable listings’, hundreds of properties in the south end of Bloomfield are negatively affected by this lot.
When a group of my neighbors approached the previous Mayor and council we were informed that a few years back there had been a special deal cut with the owners of the property, making it legal for them to use the residential lot for industrial storage, to clarify:
The government of the town of Bloomfield told us that the government of the town of Bloomfield had written special law to make this legal, and so there was nothing that they, the government of the town of Bloomfield, could do about it.
Now THAT is the literal definition of ‘irresponsible.’
Mayor Venezia and the council voted to acquire the land for a relatively small amount of money and in so doing he has corrected a zoning variance disaster perpetrated by an earlier administration.
As far as I know there has been no decision on what to do with the lot. I have suggested that it could be used as unpaved green space to passively help to ameliorate flood risk in this FEMA designated flood zone. If it was determined feasible we could potentially use Blue Acres funds to engineer more active flood mitigating function into this lot.
I am grateful to the Mayor and the council for working to make Bloomfield a better, safer, more prosperous place to live. I will be supporting him in the upcoming primary.
As a person who lives adjacent to the lot on Clinton street, I find this commentary ignorant and short sighted. That lot was more than just an “eyesore” but also a health hazard. You will lose a ton of votes when I show this opinion piece to my neighborhood that strongly supported the lot purchase.
One thing that bothered me was Venezia inserting his name around town on the welcome to Bloomfield signs .many may remember
When Mayor Norton ended the practice by putting welcome to Bloomfield by the citizens of Bloomfield . Not something narcissistic
Etna, if you call the Tax Assessor he can help with a 5 year tax abatement if you are making major improvements to your house. This has been in affect since 2002. That way you can save money on your taxes.
Personally I will be a one-issue voter: I will support whichever candidate(s) promise to support the animal shelter. Over the 20 years I’ve been involved, shelter volunteers have had to reorganize at least 4 times due to mishandling and disinterest on the part of the township and Board of Health. We are once again in a good place and it can only get better – as long as the township once and for all supports the efforts made by shelter staff and volunteers and stop screwing it up.
How many would run on the promise that they would quit if they don’t fulfill thier promises?????? I bet not one.
Boss man Strumolo was happy when he thought Venezia was in his pocket, but finding Venezia to be his own man, Strumolo now wants him out, and now wants Lopez to be our mayor. I’ve had enough of the out of town kingmakers telling us who our candidates will be. Lopez was horrible as school board president. He alienated his fellow board members, like he has alienated the current council members, and left a school budget hole that we’ve finally dug our way out of. Lopez plays both ends against the middle and I wouldn’t elect the man as dog catcher. He’s the Trump of local politics.
I didn’t vote for Venezia last time because I won’t vote for any of Strumolo’s picks, as Stumolo embodies everything that’s wrong with Essex County politics. But Venezia has shown himself to be independent and he seems to be getting things done. I will vote for Venezia, and I’ll even put one of those stupid signs on my lawn.