What's driving an apparent split between Andre Sayegh and prominent NJ Democrats?

PATERSON — Mayor Andre Sayegh’s recent public disputes with Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration represent the latest cracks in a growing divide between City Hall in Paterson and the Statehouse in Trenton, political insiders say.

Sayegh this month unleashed separate criticisms against Murphy’s chief counsel and his attorney general, accusing them of being insensitive to Paterson crime victims. After those attacks, the mayor joined a lawsuit seeking to end the Murphy administration’s state takeover of Paterson’s Police Department.

“I think it was ill-advised to take issue with the governor’s administration, because this governor has been very good to Paterson and very good to Andre,” said Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly. “He’s going after somebody that Paterson needs.”

Paterson Press asked the governor’s office if Murphy has soured on Sayegh.

“The meritless lawsuit by Paterson officials, including Mayor Sayegh, challenging the attorney general’s decision seven months after it happened is an unnecessary distraction from the work at hand,” responded Murphy spokesman Tyler Jones, “and we wish that these officials would instead spend their time and efforts focusing on serving the people of Paterson.”

Are relationships weakening?

Sayegh took office in 2018 boasting about his strong relationships with Murphy, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. in Congress and Paterson’s state legislative contingent.

But those relationships have gotten much weaker since then, political insiders said.

It started when Sayegh offended Pascrell in the past two years by openly campaigning to become his onetime mentor’s successor in Congress, a move he made without waiting for the elder statesman’s blessing, political operatives said.

Even Sayegh is not contending that his relationship with Pascrell is as close as it once was. Pascrell's staff, meanwhile, said the congressman works with the mayors in all 35 towns in his district to deliver federal funding.

"He wishes the mayor nothing but the best," said Pascrell's deputy chief of staff, Mark Greenbaum, referring to Sayegh.

Several of Sayegh’s local Paterson allies noted in confidential conversations last week that state and federal officials continue to give the city government plenty of financial support, regardless of whether they are happy with the mayor.

For example, the Murphy administration in the summer awarded Paterson a major increase in transitional aid, a $25 million allocation that allowed Sayegh to avert a financial crisis that could have caused numerous layoffs. Also, as part of the attorney general's Police Department takeover, the state has earmarked an extra $10 million for law enforcement in Paterson.

What does Sayegh say?

Paterson Press asked Sayegh for an interview about his political relationships in Trenton and Washington, D.C. Instead, the mayor issued a written statement that started off with his oft-repeated talking points.

“Since my administration took office, we have reduced the number of abandoned properties from 1200 to 200, invested $100 million in improving our parks, and attracted over $1 billion in investment but we couldn't have done it alone,” Sayegh said. “Through partnerships on all levels of government from the federal to the state and the county to the council, we are positioning Paterson for even more progress.

“We are profoundly grateful to have Governor Murphy, Congressman Pascrell and our legislative delegation as partners in progress and look forward to continuing those partnerships,” the mayor added.

Sayegh also asserted that he has strengthened his relationships with prominent philanthropic organizations. He cited Bloomberg Philanthropies, which has given $1 million to combat Paterson’s opioid problem and paid the salary of a Harvard graduate to help improve the city’s troubled Economic Development Department. The mayor also mentioned The Taub Foundation, which he said has covered the salaries for three “pivotal positions in my administration” and helped improve city parks.

Lawsuit pending: Which court will handle suit over who should control the Paterson Police Department?

‘Beyond insensitive’: Sayegh wants Murphy counsel to apologize for Paterson crime post

'He’s kind of separated himself '

Wimberly endorsed Sayegh for mayor in the 2014 election, when he lost, and in 2018, when he won. But in 2022, Wimberly withheld his endorsement.

“He’s kind of separated himself from me,” Wimberly said.

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, who also represents Paterson in Trenton, said she was not familiar with the mayor’s criticisms of Murphy’s top officials.

“We don’t always get along, but there’s always respect,” Sumter said of her relationship with Sayegh.

Passaic County Democratic Party Chairman John Currie praised Sayegh for his ongoing support of the party’s candidates in county-level elections.

“He’s been a solid Democrat, helping out whenever he can,” Currie said.

Since 2018, Sayegh has built alliances with City Council members who once were his adversaries. That trend started about two years ago when Sayegh established cooperative relationships with Maritza Davila and Shahin Khalique. Over the past four months, the mayor has begun working cooperatively with former rival Alex Mendez.

Miguel Diaz had been one of Sayegh’s political supporters for about a decade before the two of them had a falling out during the mayor’s first term in office.

Diaz said he laughed when he read news stories about Sayegh’s attacks on Murphy administration officials.

“The only thing he cares about is his own opinion,” Diaz said. “The Police Department was in trouble, and the people in Paterson are happy with the takeover.”

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ Mayor Andre Sayegh dispute with NJ Democrats