The Trenton Times published the following article on May 26, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Editorial: Taxpayers shouldn’t pay for Trenton Mayor Tony Mack’s corruption defense and his $126K salary

By Times of Trenton Editorial Board 
on May 26, 2013 at 7:14 AM, updated May 26, 2013 at 7:20 AM

Over nearly three years, the administration of Mayor Tony Mack has cost the city plenty.
It was robbed of dignity when the story about scrounging for toilet paper made headlines around the entire world.

It is bereft of trust in City Hall following a succession of scandals and scatterbrained initiatives.

It has no leadership to speak of, just reactionary responses from a chief executive who plays the glad-handing role of mayor rather than taking part in tough decisions to guide the city toward better times.

And now, we’ll all have the privilege of helping to pay for Mayor Mack’s defense against federal allegations of corruption.

He’s been indicted on extortion, bribery, wire fraud and mail fraud following an FBI sting operation that fabricated a plan to build a downtown parking garage.

Mack, who maintains his innocence, has insisted on remaining in office despite pleas across the political spectrum for him to step down until the case is resolved.

He also continues to draw his $126,000 salary. Yet, Mack has been afforded pro bono counsel. Hamilton attorney Mark Davis, who has stood by Mack since his arrest in September, has been accepted as a court-appointed lawyer for the duration of the case at the standard $125 hourly rate that public defenders receive.

So the federal government will be paying for the prosecution of Mack and his alleged cohorts, as well as subsidizing the mayor’s defense — while the city of Trenton continues to pay Mack’s salary and contributes to the federal tab. Such rigamarole is indicative of the “Through the Looking Glass” tone of Mayor Mack’s time in office.

The city is now paying two men to be park ranger — Michael Morris because the Civil Service Commission ruled he was unjustly booted from his job when Mack appointed ally Robert “Chico” Mendez to the position. Mendez continues to work in that capacity because Mack is appealing the decision.

After shutting all but the city’s main library, the mayor has reopened some of the shuttered branches as “learning centers” with sporadic hours, no librarians and little adult supervision.

As part of what was touted as a measure of transparency, Mack instituted a series of open sessions with residents which quickly became one-on-one meetings with the mayor behind closed doors. The media were barred for the “public” meetings.

It’s very true that Mack inherited a lot of problems from the previous administration. But instead of rising to meet those challenges, he has largely stood by as they have worsened.

Once again, we call on Mayor Mack to step down from office until he is exonerated or convicted of the charges against him.

City residents shouldn’t be forces to pay for his defense, his ineptitude and his salary.