At a Jackson town council meeting held on February 13 of this year, Council President Rob Nixon refused to include a resolution condemning the anti-Semitic group Rise Up Ocean County. He stated that his refusal was because the town council is not permitted to add items to the agenda without prior notification.
Recently, uncovered audio suggests that Mr. Nixon’s reasoning for denying the motion to include the resolution condemning the hate group is not truthful. On June 28, 2016, the day after then-governor Chris Christie raised New Jersey’s gas tax, Rob Nixon added a resolution in opposition to the gas tax increase without any prior notification. The Township attorney confirmed that there was no issue with adding a last-minute item to the agenda, saying “the agenda is in the control of the Chair”. Here is the audio from that meeting:
Yet, during the February township meeting, Nixon claimed that he was unable to do the very same thing that he had done in 2016. But he did not – instead he reiterated over and over that while he was in agreement with those that wanted a resolution placed before the council, his hands were tied due to procedures, and saying that they were legally prohibited from passing a resolution without prior public notice.
The apparent contradiction in Mr. Nixon’s position regarding last-minute additions to the Township agenda has local residents questioning whether he is playing politics with the Jewish community’s right to live in peace, with freedom from bigotry and hatred.
A Jackson resident, concerned and upset with the Council’s denial of the resolution, had this to say: “Council President Nixon had the opportunity to take a stand against anti-Semitism and he refused to do so. His failure to condemn Rise Up Ocean County shows that he is lacking moral character… his fear of a small number of very loud and bigoted voters is greater than is his moral fiber.”
Another Jackson local stated, “Council President Nixon has shown that his political interests outweigh the concerns of people being unfairly targeted by racists and hatemongers. He is afraid of losing the racist vote, and he therefore found a way not to condemn them. For shame.”
“There is another issue that should be raised,” continued the Jackson resident “Nixon is a lobbyist for the Police Benevolent Association. Are they aware that Nixon is a liar, someone who will hide behind excuses so as to avoid condemning anti-Semites? I can’t imagine the PBA would like the optics of employing such an individual.”
“Mr. Nixon has a lot to answer for. His refusal to even consider a condemnation of a group looking to hurt Jews will forever be a stain on his record,” concluded the resident.
As of this writing, Mr. Nixon had not responded to the seeming contradictions in his statements.
Why does the PBA employee a bigot..call them at 732 636 8860 and tell them that the PB is welcoming and diverse and should only hire honest and nice people
Rob Nixon should just admit he does not want Jews in Jackson. Mr. Nixon should realize by now that it’s inevitable; chasdei HaShem this is our
World.
WOW I can’t believe what you wrote! That is a way to promote harmony.
WHAT harmony? There has NEVER been any harmony; they pretend to accept us and tolerate us only because they know we have a record of success in combatting their overt prejudice and antisemitism, only because the spector of Hitler forces them to keep their ugly thoughts to themselves. Overt prejudice is socially unacceptable according to US laws, but it has never really left us.
The word harmony between us and “them” is like the harmony between oil and water.
i dont believe ” Its our world ” is a hashkafah to peddle. Hashem can and does what he wants. There is nothing “Inevitable” in this world besides Death. Do Mitzvos and learn Torah!
Shmuel:
Im ba l’hargekha, hashkem l’hargo. When I said “this is our world”, and Rob Nixon needs to understand that, what I meant is that the majority of us are not going to sit idly by, and allow ourselves to be victims of antisemitism, whether it comes from him, Mayor Reina, other citizens, or groups like that Rise Up Ocean County. “This is OUR world”, and we have every bit as many rights as any other group or individual has in the United States, to practice our religion as we see fit. Nixon, along with Reina are opposed to our eruvs and shuls coming to Jackson, but as I see it – Jackson Township can either quietly accept our purchasing of homes in order to meet the needs of our growing community, and accept the religious needs that go along with that growth, or they can spend millions of taxpayer dollars fighting an RLUIPA-based battle they will still ultimately lose, and really only means they will delay the inevitable. If I’m not mistaken, Jackson’s leaders have said that insurance will pay their legal costs; even if that is true, their premiums will definitely increase. Either way, insured or not, Jackson will be left in a financially-tenuous position, over a situation that could have been completely avoided, had Mr. Nixon and Mr. Reina “gone along, to get along”.
Nixon and Bobby Rivera must understand religious freedom is allowed in any where in the world and cannot be denied. Freeedom is allowed to prayers. They Jackson Township should give in freedom and stop abusing the Jewish Community. United States is Freedom of rights.
No more PBA donations from me
PBA should fire this racist
Robert Nixon sold his house on Jefferson Ct. (off East Veterans HWY) almost a year ago. Does he still live in Jackson?
Old news…what changed…Nixon is a racist who hates us..old news
The true colors come through. Very sad.
He should resign in discrace ASAP. And do Jackson a faver as a result.
Attorney General will be there shortly