Jersey City Recreation Director Ryan Strother has been asked to resign for allegedly hiring a registered sex offender and not firing him after learning about his criminal history, according to The Jersey Journal.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
City spokesman Ryan Jacobs told the newspaper, in part, that Strother exercised “extremely poor judgement” adding that “we can’t have a director, or any employee, who fails to appreciate the seriousness of a situation like this, where children are involved. That’s why we’re terminating Mr. Strother.”
According to the report, Strother has been given until 4 p.m. to resign or the City Council will take the appropriate action to fire him.
Strother, a campaign worker for Mayor Steven Fulop during his 2013 campaign against Jerramiah Healy, has been accused of instances of abuse and discrimination dating back to November of last year.
He faced further negative publicity back in January when his son was arrested at their home on weapons charges.
Strother could not immediately be reached by Hudson County View.
What does the City not taking responsibility for a proper background vheck have to do w the directors role.?The background checking falls w Fulop’s office. Yje rec director has done some great things. I was wishing my town had a dir like him.
I want to know if the sex offender new hire had any political connection. And was Ryan told by the “higher ups” to hire this person based on that political affiliation. Because that would explain alot for me. Ryan has done alot for the youth of the city & it will be totally unfair for him to become the scapegoat because now they want him out.