Three of North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco’s running mates for the May 12 municipal election alleged that a Union City laundromat owned by political opponent Larry Wainstein has been operating without a certificate of occupancy since 2002. However, a Wainstein representative called the press conference a publicity stunt.
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North Bergen Commissioners Hugo Cabrera and Alan Pascual, joined with on of their running mates – Board of Education President Julio Marenco – alleged that Superwash Laundromat has been operating without a certificate of occupancy since 2002.
A letter from Kara Kaczynski, an attorney for Scarinci Hollenbeck, wrote in a letter sent to counsel for Chasan Leyner & Lamparello yesterday that “the certificate of occupancy was revoked by the direction of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. A temporary certificate of occupancy was issued and subsequently expired.â€
The letter refers to 3900-14 Palisade Ave. in Union City, residential and commercial space.
The letter also says that the Sewer Connection Permit will be reviewed and does not make any mention of why the CO was revoked or exactly when it was revoked.
Luis Gutierrez, Wainstein’s campaign manager, said that the letter referred to the apartment buildings above the laundromat and that Superwash has a valid CO.
Paul Swibinski, Sacco’s campaign manager, insisted that the CO was indeed expired.
After the press conference concluded, Gutierrez and Swibinski engaged in a brief war of wards.
Virgil Cabello, the Executive Director of the Union City Housing Authority, confirmed with Hudson County View that the housing authority manages the mixed-use building at 3900 Palisade Ave., but said he was unsure if Wainstein’s CO was up to date or not.