Pronti’s refusal to adhere to basic CDC Guidelines is disturbing as he tries to imitate Donald Trump’s pompous and arrogant ways!
As the COVID-19 seems to continue to spin out of control because many people simply refuse to wear a mask in public or practice basic social distancing, the entire country is now embroiled in a potential spike in even more cases today than when the crisis developed some six months ago.
And North Arlington Mayor Dan Pronti seems to lead again from the back of the line with several images and videos of him in not wearing a mask or practicing basic “social distancing” as witnessed at a celebratory party he hosted at a Ridge Road restaurant with the Borough Attorney and the entire Mayor and Council all eight of them squeezed together at the same table with no one wearing a mask, gloves or any regard for the CDC guidelines that exist here in New Jersey as well as North Arlington!
Ironically, the picture is the same night on a Mayor and Council ZOOM call where Pronti, Council President Mario Karcic (seeking reelection), Brian Fitzhenry, Allison Sheedy, Lynette Cavadas, Kirk Del Russo and Donna Bocchino (seeking reelection) all voted in favor of thirty-two pay hikes including raises for the entire governing body in the midst of the worst health crisis in American history!
Not only did Karcic and Bocchino vote to give themselves a raise (Bocchino has been on the council for just six months), Karcic voted to create a job for his nephew at the Department of Public Works and Bocchino voted to give her father, longtime political operator and campaign manager to her election last year, James “Jimmy” Bocchino!
Both Bocchino’s are career government patronage job holders with the elder Bocchino now retired and a longtime political insider and chief fundraiser for Mayor Dan Pronti (See Facebook video).
Thanks to Karcic and Bocchino, Jimmy received a 23% pay hike for driving around the community on a part-time basis checking if traffic signs are faded.
Just how many times can you do that in a week and does it justify employment with the Borough and was anyone else considered for a job that seemed tailored for one person, Mr. Bocchino?
A question Pronti has been dodging about his political mentor for months!
And while Pronti and his political puppets disregard basic CDC guidelines, they continue to “urbanize” North Arlington with a proliferation of new apartment dwellings that could be in the hundreds turning Ridge Road into our version of Bergenline Avenue in Union City!
“People didn’t move to North Arlington to become an extension of Hudson County. People moved from places like Jersey City for a small slice of safety and suburbia, something that Pronti, Karcic and Bocchino want to change,” offered one observer when asked to comment.
All three are ignoring the past policies of every mayor, including the late Joseph Bianchi.
“One wonders if Mayor Bianchi would agree with this radical transformation of North Arlington from suburban to urban thanks to Pronti, Karcic and Bocchino.”
“North Arlington was always regarded the first municipality of Bergen County, now Pronti and his puppets are turning us into the last town in Hudson!”
With North Arlington being transformed in a way that has no input from taxpayers or residents, voters are seeking alternatives at the ballot box come November.
“Just like the North Arlington Board of Education that wasted over $11,000,000 on purchasing Queen of Peace HS, Pronti, Karcic and Bocchino said and did nothing while the school district’s other facilities that actually house our kids rot with no renovations or upgrades.”
“These are Pronti’s friends and supporters who populate the Board of Education and are raising school taxes with no support of the public. They have squandered over $11,000,000 on a building that is essentially empty in Queen of Peace HS!”
Pay raises and political patronage, and not the pandemic seem to be on the minds of Karci and Bocchino who neither have a single or tangible accomplishment to speak of as elected officials.
“How do you vote a raise for your father in the middle of a pandemic? A 23% pay raise no less! How do you create a job for your nephew when millions are now unemployed? This is the new North Arlington under Pronti and his puppets. Now I hear on Social Media one of his staunchest supporters calling for skyscrapers on Ridge Road? It’s madness and we need responsible and sober leadership and that’s why both Karcic and Bocchino need to be fired come November.”
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