Jersey City Ward E Councilwoman Eleana Little says she is “deeply concerned” about the recent exits of several department heads at City Hall, calling for an explanation and a plan from the administration going forward.
Screenshot via Instagram Reel.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am deeply concerned about the recent departures from City Hall and how they will affect the day-to-day operations of city government. The Council relies on the Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Mayor, and Corporation Counsel for guidance, so any abrupt transition hurts our ability to do our jobs and deliver for residents,” Little said in a statement.”
“Bill Viqueira, Keshav Poddar, and Sarah Levine are experts in their fields and consummate professionals. They were doing important work that must be carried forward, from managing the city’s finances to negotiating for a new school downtown.”
Levine, a former deputy attorney general, gave her resignation on October 6th, just two weeks after Communications Director Nathaniel Styer left. Then on October 8th, three more department heads announced their departure, all as HCV first reported.
Jersey City CFO/Finance Director Bill Viqueira, Deputy Mayor of Housing and Urban Development Keshav Poddar, and Acting Communications Director Megan Malloy left the city on Thursday, which Mayor James Solomon said was part of a restructuring at City Hall.
While Little did not touch on Mallow, she noted that she was surprised by some of the allegations Levine made in a letter to the council and other department directors about being locked out of the city system yesterday and being asked to leave City Hall.
“I’m especially shocked that Ms. Levine was locked out of City Hall, leaving our already understaffed Law Department with even less capacity. This also raises serious questions about whether proper procedures were followed for terminating a council-approved department head,” the downtown councilwoman asserted.
“The City Council needs an explanation of what happened, what the transition plan is, and what’s being done to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Late this afternoon, Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros weighed in on the situation as well, noting that the circumstances of Levine’s departure sound “hasty and irresponsible.”
“Our city is now in a worse position to deal with key fights, from saving Christ Hospital, to holding developers accountable, to stopping private helicopter tourism over our neighborhoods. Much dysfunction in City Hall today was inherited from the Fulop Administration,” the councilman said in his own statement.
“What happened to Ms. Levine was not. What reason is there for denying ourselves a smooth transition in an understaffed department carrying such critical work? We urge Mayor Solomon to reflect on this moment seriously, and make appropriate changes to the city’s management and personnel policies. Not only do hardworking public servants deserve better in City Hall, but every Jersey City resident deserves better, too.”
City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione declined to comment beyond what the city had already said about Levine.
“Ms. Levine chose to separate from the City, and so as per municipal code, her responsibilities have been turned over to Lisa Scorsolini, whom Sarah Levine vetted and hired as the First Assistant Corporation Counsel,” she noted.
“Being mayor means making tough choices and putting the people of Jersey City ahead of politics. While Ms. Levine proposed to make her last day November 20, the administration must move forward with what is in the best interest of the residents and City overall. A search to permanently fill the role is already underway.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Jersey City Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros.
