Mayor Felix E. Roque Files Lawsuit to Stop Political Interference Within West New York Town Government

West New York, New Jersey – Mayor Felix E. Roque through his attorney Joshua Zielinski from the law firm of O’toole, Scrivo, Fernandez, Weiner Van Lieu filed a lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court against West New York Commissioners Gabriel Rodriguez, Cosmo Cirillo, Margarita Guzman and Town Counsel Michael Jimenez, who has also been serving as Acting Town Administrator, since assigned that dual role by Commissioner Guzman.  Mayor Roque’s complaint asks the court to reverse the unlawful actions taken by the Defendants solely for political gain.

The lawsuit asserts that for nearly a year, Rodriguez, Cirillo, and Guzman have abused their authority as Commissioners to consolidate power for themselves in advance of the May 2019 election, while trying to marginalize Mayor Roque and Commissioner Susan Colacurio.

Mayor Roque stated, “It is very sad that these commissioners have violated their oaths and are interfering with our government for their political purposes.”  Rodriguez, Cirillo and Guzman have removed the Mayor as the head of the Department of Public Safety after over 7 years of service where he hired 30 new police officers to improve a depleted police force as many were laid off by the prior administration and helped to cut the crime rate in the town by 17%.  In addition, they unlawfully refused to give the Mayor adequate staffing to perform his duties.

The Mayor further challenged the conflict of interest which now exists due to the Town Counsel serving as both attorney and acting administrator. This lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment compelling the removal of Mr. Jimenez as administrator and compelling the commissioners to cease their illegal actions seeking to marginalize the Mayor and Commissioner Colacurcio

Mayor Roque stated, “this lawsuit is necessary to curb those excesses of power and to ensure that public resources are not abused for political gain. The Board of Commissioners are elected to run the town responsibly.  Rodriguez, Cirillo, and Guzman have abdicated that duty and I am confident that the Court will address their abuses of power and restore integrity to our government.”