TRENTON –  Stuart Meissner, a prominent whistleblower attorney, who is considering a campaign for U.S. Senate, sent the following letter to Newark, NJ Mayor Ras Baraka regarding on the water crisis in Newark:

From the Desk of Stuart D. Meissner
PO Box 8825
Trenton, NJ 08650

September 9, 2019

The Honorable Ras J. Baraka
City Hall
920 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

Dear Mayor Baraka:

I hope this letter finds you well amid the terrible crisis the City of Newark is facing. I am deeply concerned about the health and well-being of Newark residents who are struggling to access safe drinking water.

As a former prosecutor, who spent a significant part of my career prosecuting fraud, I am especially pained by the fact that this crisis was caused – in part – by the misdeeds of political cronies, who put their own greed above the citizens they were called to protect. With almost no oversight, the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation (“NWCDC”) devolved into a hotbed of corruption—according to a report from the New Jersey State Comptroller—leaving no one in charge to consider critical infrastructure upgrades to the water system. Disturbing new allegations have also emerged that NWCDC political appointees pressured vendors into making contributions to then-Mayor Cory Booker’s campaign. It is imperative that we investigate these charges and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

In recent days, I have observed with some interest how Rev. Al Sharpton has become involved in efforts to help Newark. As a lawyer in private practice, I have been fortunate enough to attain some success in life, and I am looking now to lend my time and resources to ensure that the residents of Newark have clean drinking water.

Please advise as to when and where my efforts—whether it is a donation of water or helping to pass out supplies—might be the most useful during this troubling time.

Sincerely,

Stuart D. Meissner