Bakery and broken promises
22 months ago | 90 views | 0 
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Predicting that Mayor Elwell would break his promise not to use the Demascus Bakery debacle for political gain was as easy as predicting baseball would return in the spring.
At the last council meeting I asked the Mayor why, as he often does, he took a position on a major issue without first discussing it with the Council. I did not even mention Demascus Bakery and my question had nothing to do with the bakery. Instead of answering the question, Mayor Elwell went into an extended, obviously prepared, speech on how I am supposedly neutral as to Demascus Bakery and as well as his demand that Secaucus be removed from the Meadowlands Commission. In fact, he mentioned the work "neutral' so many times I thought he may have been stuttering. I was crystal clear the Mayor was trying very hard to make people believe that I did not care about the bakery or the actions of the Meadowlands Commission. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have strongly supported the efforts to oppose the Bakery from the beginning. The only statement made by the Mayor about me during his prepared speech that was accurate is that I live in the area of the proposed site for the bakery. In fact, my house is closer to the site than that of any other council member. I voted in support of the opposition. I have read all of the legal filings which have been provided and it is my sincere hope the Town will prevail. Mayor Elwell's attempt to distort my position on this issue is easy to see through; just check the record!
When we voted to oppose Damascus Bakery everyone on the council agreed that we would work together for the good of the residents and the bakery would not become a political issue. I took this promise to heart and have not made any politically charged statements about the bakery. Unfortunately, Mayor Elwell cannot say the same. As I expected he has been methodically using the events surrounding the Bakery for political gain. That became very clear at the last council meeting and was solidified by the letter he placed in the Reporter and Home News.
In that letter the Mayor again tried to paint my position as "neutral' as it relates to his request that Secaucus be removed from the Meadowlands Commission. Wrong again! I agree that Secaucus needs to regain control of our land and revenue sharing needs to be completely eliminated or revamped. What I do not agree with is the approach the Mayor is using. Like it or not we will be part of the Meadowlands Commission until such time as there is a change in legislation. Therefore, we have to maintain a working relationship with the Commission. However, the Mayor's approach is short sighted and does not recognize our need for continued cooperation. His "bull in a china shop" approach is not, in my opinion, in the best interest of the town. Until such time as there is a change in legislation, we must maintain as good of a relationship as possible with the Commission. After all, let us not forget that if we are successful, the Commissions will be hearing the Demascus Bakery matter.
In the letter to the newspapers the Mayor, referring to Demascus Bakery, states that he finds it "surprising that Councilman Gonnelli...has been silent on the issue." He also intimates that Councilman Gonnelli supports the Bakery. Once again, this is a statement the Mayor knows is false. Councilman Gonnelli has repeatedly stated that he is abstaining on any votes related to the Bakery and limiting his comments so that his voice can be heard when it most matters; the day the matter comes before the Commission for a vote. In fact, both the Mayor and our town attorney have recommended that Mike abstain on all issues surrounding the bakery. Mayor Elwell knows this but chooses to play politics.
I will continue my pledge to not make Demascus Bakery a political issue. I only hope Mayor Elwell can do the same as his current path is only going to lead to divisiveness, which is not in the best interests of the town or the residents most effected by this issue.
Councilman Gary Jeffas
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