Bayonne councilman, council candidate, trade shots over $400k mosque settlement

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Bayonne 2nd Ward Councilman Sal Gullace and his chief opponent in the May 8th municipal elections, Kevin Kuhl, are trading shots over the $400,000 settlement with a Muslim group last week that will ultimately allow them to build a mosque. 

Bayonne 2nd Ward council candidate Kevin Kuhl (left) and 2nd Ward Councilman Sal Gullace (Facebook photo).
Bayonne 2nd Ward council candidate Kevin Kuhl (left) and 2nd Ward Councilman Sal Gullace (Facebook photo).

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“This is the favored strategy of the Davis Team. Rather than acknowledge that development in the Second Ward is completely out of control and that residents demand smarter planning, Councilman Gullace is more comfortable hurling false and despicable accusations and calling me names,” Kuhl said in a statement.

In last week’s edition of The Hudson Reporter, Gullace said “Everybody should have a place to pray. And if Kevin Kuhl or anyone says something else, that means they’re prejudiced.”

Kuhl, in the same story, said that he is still not in favor of the project for the same reason the zoning board voted in down in March: the 2nd Ward neighborhood in question on East 24th Street is not suited for large-scale development at this time.

“I’ve owned a small business in the Second Ward for decades and have never been accused of something so vile as to be ‘prejudiced’ against anyone’s religion. Yet, just weeks after announcing my candidacy for Council I am being attacked and slandered by Sal Gullace in the Davis team’s latest attempt at misdirection,” Kuhl continued.

“My issue with this project is not motivated by religion, it is motivated by the simple reality that Sal Gullace and the Davis team are pushing small businesses and hardworking families out of the Second Ward with all of their development.”

Kuhl added that any sort of religious bias is “slimy and disgusting” and is offended Gullace would hurl such an accusation in his direction.

Gullace could not be reached for further comment and a spokesman for the Davis campaign did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

On last week’s edition of Hudson County Review Live, former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell, who recruited Kuhl to run on his ticket, called the settlement “a failure in leadership.”

When the zoning board decision was rendered 11 months ago, both Mayor Jimmy Davis and Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-33) said they anticipated the decision would end up in court, while a secretary for the Bayonne Muslims group said he remained confident a mosque would come to Bayonne.


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1 COMMENT

  1. Mr Kuhl are you in favor of the mosque being built are you’re running mates in favor of the mosque being built is Jason O’Donald in favor of the mosque being built.

    Mr Kuhl, name the hard-working families that was displaced by the development I think your comment is just sensationalism.

    Another sensational statement
    Name the small businesses that were being pushed out of the second ward.
    The type of business the address of the business
    Was it due to lack of business from customers or the lack of customers?

    The neighbors in the area got it wrong,
    The one zoning official who lives’ in the area got it wrong.
    Zoning board in its entirety got it wrong.
    The church/Mosque then sued the city.
    The city of Bayonne has insurance for stuff like this and it appears I’ll be no out-of-pocket from the city for the 400,000 settlements.

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