Multiple sources tell TLS that Jackson Township Council President Barry Calogero will be submitting his resignation this evening.
Calogero recently came under withering criticism from TLS and other media outlets after calling on Governor Murphy to deploy the National Guard to protect his town from people “hiding behind their culture and religious belief” to defy social distancing orders – an obvious reference to Lakewood.
The Anti-Defamation League and Simon Wiesenthal Center also released statements condemning Calogero’s remarks, which were publicly shared using Jackson Township’s server.
Sources also tell TLS that an inquiry into Mr. Calogero was conducted by the Agriculture Department, where he serves as the New Jersey State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Should he resign, he would be the second Jackson Township Council President to do so in the past 6 months. Rob Nixon resigned from the same position after becoming a defendant in a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination.
BREAKING UPDATE: Council President Barry Calogero is resigning, effective May 13th.
MINIBUCKS
Religion is not an excuse, it is a way of life for some humans. ALL religions should be equally recognized. There is no above or below. Just faith.
gg, your comment implies that people HAVE been using religion as an excuse.
You are shamefully ignorant.
Just as the Council President was.
Suggestion, when you see a news item regarding Lakewood that sounds untrue, it probably is.
Do I need to enumerate the FAKE NEWS that was widely disseminated in the Fake News Local media ?
Let us start with the BIG HEADLINE of JEWISH SCHOOL BUSES HAVE BEEN SPOTTED- LAKEWOOD JEWISH SCHOOLS ARE OPEN
What about this one [notice the nuance] ANOTHER Lakewood gathering [of family members sitting on their front porch, instead of in the house]. The Implication is this ignorant assumption/template that you apparently also possess.
Lakewood is the 4th largest City in New Jersey. As of April 6 2020 they Issued 1 staggering 824 Summonses for violators. compared to a paltry few [well deserved] violators in Lakewood
We must truthfully examine the reason that there have been two resignations in such a short time.
BH…Rasha
We should take careful note how he (and others) make false claims – such as claiming that the Jews are defying social distancing parameters, and then are called out (rightfully so) for their bias. However no one should ignore his actual statement and just assume it is the truth and has merit, while assuming he was just not politically correct in the way he spoke out. He made a FALSE claim which has no truth to it!
Sure 20-30 people out of thousands of Jews in Lakewood received a summons for not social distancing, but this has nothing to do with the Jewish population as a whole who actually sacrificed more than many others by giving up their most holy of institutions including daily Synagogue prayers and Yeshivos. In fact the Jewish religion REQUIRES that we do not use religion as an impediment to practicing proper health & safety.
Moishe, what does BH…Rasha mean in regards to my comments? I looked it up and it did not seem very nice. I am not being unkind, why are you? Please explain so I understand what may have offended you. Thank you!
gg. Moishe wasn’t calling you a Rasha. He was calling Mr. Calogero a Rasha for saying anti Semitic statements.
GOOD RIDDANCE.
Watch out that the door doesn’t hit you on the way out.
Public service = serving the public – not just your friends – that means all the citizens – all.
The difference between dictators and democrats is not simply in “how” a person gets into office (Hitler was democratically elected is the most famous example) but in whom they seek to serve.
Barry Calogero seemingly viewed his service as meant to advance the goals of his very small circle of friends and not the public at large. That is what dictatorships are all about.
The health of a democracy is how it treats its minorities – Barry seems to have failed that test.
Hopefully retirement will allow him time to reflect on public service – not everyone is cut out for it.
I’m glad this guy is leaving but the real question now is, who’s replacing him.
@chris please do not assume what I was implying, or call me “shamefully ignorant”.If you disagree, disagree. No need for hurtful words. G-d expects us ALL to be kind to one another. Instead of lashing out, invite us in so that we can all work together to have righteous people in power, not the self serving hierarchy that we have now politically. I am extending the proverbial olive branch. I wish you peace and pray that you and your family keep safe.