RED BANK: HAZIM YASSIN Q&A

Nov 2, 2018

Democrat Hazim Yassin is seeking a council seat. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

At stake in Red Bank’s November 6 election: the mayor’s post and two council seats.

On the ballot are: incumbent Mayor Pasquale Menna, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Pearl Lee; and council candidates Michael Clancy (R), Allison Gregory (R), Kate Triggiano (D), Sue Viscomi (I) and Hazim Yassin (D).

Here are Yassin’s written responses to questions posed to all candidates recently by redbankgreen.

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November 2, 2018 - 7:00 am |

RED BANK: AUDIT LED TO YASSIN CHARGES

May 10, 2022

Students and teachers digging into the primary school garden funded by the Red Bank Education Foundation last month. (Red Bank Borough Schools photo. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

By JOHN T. WARD

A “housekeeping” audit led to criminal charges, disclosed Monday, that former Red Bank councilman Hazim Yassin stole $7,650 from the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation, its president told redbankgreen.

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May 10, 2022 - 7:53 am |

RED BANK: YASSIN CHARGED WITH THEFT

May 9, 2022

Then-Councilman Hazim Yassin at a Red Bank Education Foundation fundraiser at the Red Bank Elks Club in 2018. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Former Red Bank Councilman Hazim Yassin has been charged with stealing more than $7,600 from the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday.

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May 9, 2022 - 5:00 pm |

RED BANK: YASSIN EVICTED

Jan 6, 2022

Hazim Yassin at a council meeting in 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

By JOHN T. WARD

With just days left on his term, former Red Bank councilman Hazim Yassin was ordered evicted from his apartment last month, court records show.

The action came less than two months after Yassin agreed to pay his landlord more than $32,000 in overdue rent.

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January 6, 2022 - 6:00 am |

RED BANK: YASSIN SETTLES RENT CASE

Oct 29, 2021

Councilman Hazim Yassin, lower right, listens as Judge Kerry Higgins, upper left, reviews the settlement. (Screengrab from Zoom. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Lame duck Councilman Hazim Yassin dodged possible eviction from his Red Bank apartment with an agreement to pay his landlord more than $32,000 in back rent Friday.

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October 29, 2021 - 1:30 pm |

RED BANK: YASSIN FACES BACK-RENT LAWSUIT

Sep 8, 2021

Hazim Yassin at his first meeting as a council member in January, 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

UPDATE: September 9, 2021: See Yassin’s response to this article below.

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Councilman Hazim Yassin hasn’t paid the rent on his apartment in 18 months and owes more than $29,000, his landlord alleges in a lawsuit.

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September 8, 2021 - 7:00 am |

RED BANK: YASSIN MOVES TO COUNCIL FORE

Jan 4, 2021

Councilman Hazim Yassin at a council meeting in February, 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

After a year of butting heads with most of his fellow Democrats, Red Bank Councilman Michael Ballard lost his seat on the budget-shaping finance committee Friday.

He was displaced by first-term Councilman Hazim Yassin at the borough government’s annual New Year’s Day reorganization meeting. More →

January 4, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: YASSIN GETS POLS TO PONY UP

Apr 2, 2020

Councilman Hazim Yassin in February, 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Councilman Hazim Yassin tells redbankgreen he has assembled a bipartisan coalition of elected officials from across New Jersey to donate funds from their campaign warchests to the fight against the coronavirus.

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April 2, 2020 - 10:30 am |

RED BANK: GOP QUESTIONS YASSIN’S RISE

Oct 25, 2018

Hazim Yassin, with running mate Kate Triggiano, at the West Side Community Group candidates’ forum Tuesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

One day after a low-friction debate, Red Bank Republicans went on the attack against a Democratic opponent Wednesday.

The GOP, chaired by council candidate Michael Clancy, posted on Facebook a press release titled “Who is Hazim Yassin?” questioning Yassin’s rapid ascent within the local Democratic party and accusing him of “fraud” on either investors or voters.

Yassin dismissed the attack, telling redbankgreen it was “littered with fabrications.”

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October 25, 2018 - 10:50 am |

RED BANK: HORGAN LOOKS BACK, AND AHEAD

Jan 6, 2023

Former Councilwoman Kathy Horgan at home in December, above, and on the night of her first council win, in 2007, below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

What’s a 77-year-old former Red Bank councilwoman to do when her political career ends and she’s suddenly got loads more free time?

Go back to college, maybe. That’s one item on Kathy Horgan‘s bucket list, she told redbankgreen.

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January 6, 2023 - 7:55 am |

RED BANK: DEMS TO SKIP ONE OF TWO FORUMS

Oct 5, 2022

Democratic council candidates John Jackson and Angela Mirandi at National Night Out in August. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank’s two Democratic council candidates have decided to skip the traditional West Side Community Group forum scheduled for this month.

Instead, John Jackson and incumbent Angela Mirandi are expected to participate only in a virtual League of Women Voters’ event the same week, a choice their Republican opponents criticized Tuesday.

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October 5, 2022 - 6:30 am |

RED BANK: ZIPPRICH, TAYLOR TRADE BARBS

Sep 21, 2022

With Mayor Pasquale Menna in the background, Councilman Ed Zipprich attached a borough pin to the jacket worn by Angela Mirandi after her swearing-in as council member in February. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Eight days after former councilman Mark Taylor blasted current Councilman Ed Zipprich as the source of “chaos” in Red Bank government, Zipprich returned fire Wednesday.

In a prepared statement, Zipprich slammed Taylor for “ineptitude” as a council member and for purported failures of leadership at the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation.

Taylor, in turn, doubled down in his attack on Zipprich.

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September 21, 2022 - 2:00 pm |

RED BANK: PORTMAN SEES INTERIM ROLE

Jun 6, 2022

Billy Portman addressing supporters at a fundraiser held at Tino’s Restaurant in late April. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank mayoral contender Billy Portman is “not looking for a lifetime in politics,” he says.

In fact, if all goes according to plan, he’ll be able to hand the reins to his successor just five months after being sworn in, he says.

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June 6, 2022 - 7:55 am |

RED BANK: ZIPPRICH DERIDES ‘SMEAR’ WAR

May 27, 2022

Councilman Ed Zipprich, right, with then-Councilman Erik Yngstrom at a workshop session in March, 2020. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich has been “exonerated” after a two-year “smear campaign” meant to “dehumanize” him, he said in a statement to redbankgreen Thursday.

Zipprich’s statement came in response to special attorney’s finding that he did not “interfere” in the award of a trash collection contract two years ago.

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May 27, 2022 - 11:55 am |

RED BANK: ZIPPRICH CONDUCT ‘NOT UNLAWFUL’

May 26, 2022

Councilman Ed Zipprich, right, with Councilman Michael Ballard in February. (Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich did not “interfere” in the award of a trash collection contract two years ago, according to an unreleased report obtained by redbankgreen.

Special attorney Scott Salmon’s report also says “there is evidence to suggest” that former business administrator Ziad Shehady was the the anonymous source of internal emails about Zipprich that were leaked to redbankgreen.

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May 26, 2022 - 2:25 pm |

RED BANK: DEMS TO SHARE ‘COUNTY LINE’

Apr 1, 2022

Councilmen Ed Zipprich and Michael Ballard at last year’s September 11 memorial ceremony. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

In the rare Democratic primary race shaping up in Red Bank for June 7, all candidates from two opposing factions will share the coveted “party line,” redbankgreen has learned.

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman David G. Brown II has rejected a demand by borough party Chairman Ed Zipprich that only incumbents from the 18-member committee that runs the party be given the preferred ballot position.

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April 1, 2022 - 7:55 am |

RED BANK: YNGSTROM QUITS, CITING TOXICITY

Jan 19, 2022

Erik Yngstrom celebrates his first election to council in 2016. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

By JOHN T. WARD

Citing political “divisiveness” and “toxic rhetoric” about his recent marriage, Erik Yngstrom resigned from the Red Bank council Wednesday morning.

His departure from the all-Democratic governing body sets the table for a possible power shift back to party regulars headed by Councilman Ed Zipprich, an outcome Yngstrom said would only make things worse.

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January 19, 2022 - 11:30 am |

RED BANK: EARLY SPLIT AT REORGANIZATION

Jan 3, 2022

Jacqueline Sturdivant arrives for her swearing-in, with fellow council members Ed Zipprich at left and Erik Yngstrom at right. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Amid calls for comity, three Red Bank council members tried but failed to derail the appointment of a fourth to a ceremonial post Saturday.

The New Year also began with a resident accusing a council member of “lying” about his place of residence.

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January 3, 2022 - 12:15 pm |

RED BANK: AGENCY FUTURE IN SPOTLIGHT

Dec 29, 2021

Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Cherron Rountree speaking at the borough library earlier this month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

With the cancellation of its year-ending meeting scheduled for earlier this week, Red Bank’s Redevelopment Agency closes out 2021 having met just twice since July.

Going into 2020, whether it will survive to its third anniversary is an open question.

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December 29, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: COUNCIL WRAPS UP 2021

Dec 17, 2021

The council meeting was the final one scheduled for 2021. (Screenshot from Zoom. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Red Bank council’s final regular meeting of 2021 included a new police contract, a plan to recombine workshop and regular sessions, a new used Tesla, and praise for a departing colleague.

Here’s an overview.

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December 17, 2021 - 7:10 am |

RED BANK: COUNCIL ‘NO’ TO CHARTER SCHOOL

Nov 24, 2021

The New Jersey Department of Education will decide whether the Red Bank Charter School can operate for five more years. (redbankgreen photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

After nearly three hours of passionate and divided public input, the Red Bank council unanimously supported a resolution calling for a non-renewal of the Red Bank Charter School Tuesday night.

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November 24, 2021 - 7:58 am |

RED BANK: HURDLES FOR SKATEBOARD EVENT

Nov 11, 2021

An unidentified skateboarder in Riverside Gardens Park in 2011. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A proposed skateboarding event encountered early hurdles during the Red Bank council meeting Wednesday night.

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November 11, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: STURDIVANT, TRIGGIANO WIN

Nov 2, 2021

Jacqueline Sturdivant, left, and Kate Triggiano. (Candidate and redbankgreen photos. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Political newcomer Jacqueline Sturdivant outpolled two opponents to win one of two open seats on the Red Bank council Tuesday night.

Incumbent Kate Triggiano won the other one, with independent candidate Sue Viscomi squeezed out for the second time in three years.

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November 2, 2021 - 10:45 pm |

RED BANK: COUNTY CHAIR BLASTS ZIPPRICH

Oct 20, 2021

A mailer sent by Zipprich-backed newcomer Jacqueline Sturdivant obscured the name of fellow Democrat and incumbent Kate Triggiano. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

By JOHN T. WARD

Two weeks before election day, a bitter split between Red Bank and Monmouth County Democratic powerbrokers went wide Tuesday.

In a letter immediately made public, the party’s top county official, David G. Brown II, blasted borough party head Ed Zipprich for “clearly not supporting” incumbent Councilwoman Kate Triggiano, who is seeking a second term.

Zipprich, also a council member, responded with accusations of his own against Brown and Triggiano, with whom he has sparred for more than year.

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October 20, 2021 - 7:40 am |

RED BANK: CENTER REPAIR FORUM(S) POSSIBLE

Oct 7, 2021

The Senior Center has been idle since a fire suppression system leak in January, 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Six months after the Red Bank council agreed to repair the water-damaged Senior Center, a presentation – or two – is in the works to get public input on the plans.

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October 7, 2021 - 7:45 am |