The Rudin Report

Dear Neighbors,

West Orange’s former police chief earned nearly $333,000 a year. That’s almost 30 percent higher than the salary of Newark’s police chief, a city twice the size of West Orange and 6.5 times larger in population.

That results in a monthly pension of $21,000 for life. In addition, the former chief is set to receive an anticipated retirement payout approaching $800,000.

These are taxpayer-funded dollar amounts that deserve clear explanation and accountability.

Attached is an article from yesterday’s Star-Ledger regarding the payout to our former police chief, on which I have been requesting transparency and supporting documentation.

For months at council meetings, I have asked when the public bid for a forensic audit, strongly recommended by our Citizen’s Budget Advisory Board, will be posted. Money for the audit was set aside last year. Each time the response has been: not yet.

With approximately $170 million in municipal debt, greater oversight is needed. West Orange would benefit from a comprehensive independent audit. We deserve to know whether we are following best practices and how we can right our badly listing fiscal ship.

I will continue to raise questions about how taxpayer dollars are spent. From municipal vehicle usage to cell phones to everyday expenditures large and small, my job as your Councilmember is to ask these questions for you. You deserve accountability, clarity and always transparency. The era of croneyism, backdoor deals and treating your taxes like a personal slush fund must end.

Thank you for staying engaged and involved. Always feel free to reach out to me.

More soon,

Joyce