West New York Public Affairs Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo hit Gov. Phil Murphy (D) for saying New Jersey School Development Authority funds are “my money.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It’s not Murphy’s money, it’s our money. The people’s money. I have knocked on thousands of doors throughout this campaign, unlike my main opponent,” Cirillo, a mayoral hopeful, said about Murphy’s endorsement of Albio Sires on Saturday.
He also doubled down on his proposal to have a recreation center at the site of 65th Street and Broadway.
“West New Yorkers want much more parking and a community recreation center at that site,” Cirillo added in a brief phone interview.
He originally addressed the situation in a Facebook post late Thursday night that ended up being deleted.
With town and school officials on hand, Sires announced his plan for a new middle school back in March, with his team adamant that the land is owned by the state and can’t be used for anything other than a school.
Nevertheless, Cirillo said at the time that the area was better suited for a rec center.
Murphy and New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chair LeRoy Jones came to West New York to back Sires on Saturday, where Murphy has faced scrutiny for the phrasing he used to support Sires’ proposal for a new school at the aforementioned site.
” … Remember one thing when anyone says otherwise, tell ’em Murphy said the following: It’s my money, and that’s how it’s gonna be spent!”
In particular, this has drawn the ire of two Republican rivals: former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who Murphy bested by about three points in 2021 and state Senator Ed Durr (R-3).
“This slush fund mentality that’s shared by Governor Murphy and the Democrat insiders who have ruled the Legislature for two decades is exactly why New Jersey has the highest tax burden in the nation for families and businesses,” Durr said in a statement on Monday.
Ciattarelli, who again shared a clip of the remark in question from this weekend’s event (which originally streamed live on the HCV Facebook page) on Twitter this afternoon, was critical in a tweet on Tuesday.
“King Philip strikes again. Now he said our tax dollars are ‘his money.’ Not a joke, Murphy said the state budget is, ‘my money & that’s how it’s going to be spent.’ Who says that Let’s give Republicans control of the legislature so we can stop Murphy from spending OUR money!”
Cirillo and Sires are engaged in the waning hours of a non-partisan municipal contest where they’re each spearheading a team with four other commissioner candidates.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 9th, though early voting started today and will be available on Saturday and Sunday as well.
 for saying New Jersey School Development Authority funds are ){kind=link}
Phil Murphy is the biggest knucklehead.
Even in a world of petty politics and politicians it seems petty.