MYSTERY MAILINGS TO MAYORAL CANDIDATE EXPOSE DISCONTENT AMONG THE RANKS IN BOROUGH HALL!
EMPLOYEE EXPOSES UNION WOES, CITES USE OF PUBLICLY OWNED VEHICLES BY THREE DEPARTMENT HEADS REGARDING COST OF GAS, EZ PASS!
North Arlington – All are not happy with the way NA is being managed by the all-Republican Mayor & Council headed by real estate agent Dan Pronti!
It’s been a trying year for Pronti, as North Arlington has experienced two major crime incidents with the first a federal raid of a Belleville Pike business that has since closed and vacated.
The raid was drug related, and the owner had a prior history of illegal drug activity dating back as far as 2017!
Here is a photo from 2024 from Pronti’s FACEBOOK page celebrating their grand opening.
The second was the double homicide murders of two individuals on Ridge Road, just around the corner from the Belleville Pike raid. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in cooperation with the NAPD apprehended, and since arrested four suspects now in custody.
With property taxes rising again, Pronti engineered raises for himself and the entire Borough Council as residents endure the unbridled proliferation of more apartment construction compounded with the continuation of rolling tax reassessments that are pricing out longtime residents, especially seniors!
And the Republicans voted 6-0 for these tax hikes led by Mario Karcic and Donna Bocchino!
In this latest twist of events, Democratic mayoral candidate John Balwierczak who is challenging the embedded incumbent Pronti, has received two anonymous letters from what appears to be a very unhappy employee of the borough.
Delivered by the US Post Office from what appears to be the Dominick V Daniels facility located in Kearny, it is named after the former Hudson County Congressman who ironically is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery here in North Arlington.
Balwierczak’s address was taped to the envelope, and in each case, there was no return address.
After receiving a second letter, he shared the correspondence with NA Today.
The first letter questions the usage of municipally owned vehicles by Borough Administrator Stephen Lo Iacono, DPW Supervisor Mark Cunningham, and Construction Official Robert Kairys.
Based on the letter’s observations and criticisms of the usage of these vehicles, Balwierczak has made a “public records request” seeking the details and facts regarding the amount of gas, and EZ Pass usage.
It was filed with the Borough Clerk, and Balwierczak is still awaiting an official response.
Here is a copy of his request:
In the fall of 2025, an image of a North Arlington vehicle was parked at an Atlantic City casino.
Pronti has been highly critical of these public information requests by Balwierczak.
“The people have a right to know what is going on, Dan. Maybe if you didn’t waste $10,000 on a taxpayer funded newsletter that talked about you eating hot dogs and pizza, in which your picture appeared a record 23 times over 12-pages, and provided real and actual information about the borough’s tax hike, these requests wouldn’t be necessary.”
“This is why Dan won’t debate. He can’t withstand the political heat and his failed record,” offered the lifelong resident and graduate of North Arlington High School.
Here is just a page from that bogus newsletter: 
“North Arlington is embarrassed by the way Pronti communicates with residents. Pronti had no comment on a federal raid, and now disgruntled municipal employees are seeking help and assistance, as you try to figure out another way to take over the NA Board of Education after getting spanked in last year’s election,” charged Balwierczak who is seeking to become the first Democrat to serve locally since 2019. Balwierczak is running with homeowners Dennis Papile, a school cross guard, and Cengiz “Jim” Sever, a union tile installer who has been endorsed by the New Jersey AFL-CIO.
In neighboring Belleville, Pronti’s mentor, former Mayor Michael Melham was defeated by landslide proportions last May by over 1,000 votes by promoting the same failed overdevelopment we see on Ridge Road every day. Melham is Pronti’s political advisor and a vendor to the borough. Melham is also a major political campaign contributor to Pronti and the Republicans.
Alpha Dog Solutions has made thousands of dollars running NA’s website, www.northarlington.org
Melham owns Alpha Dog Solutions.
Pronti is seen here with Melham as he arrogantly displayed a sign on his lawn for Melham even though his property is in North Arlington!
“People have had enough. These letters prove there is dissention in the ranks. Pronti runs North Arlington like a communist state with real information at a bare minimum. Nobody cares about how much pizza and hot dogs you can consume, Dan. They want to know why North Arlington property taxes are rising, why you support rolling reassessments, why you are trying to politicize our school board, and why massive overdevelopment continues on your watch. Time to take responsibility for your failed policies and actions.”
Meet the next Mayor. 
Have a question?
Call John Balwierczak direct at (201) 655-8497 or via e-mail at [email protected]