Dear Editor:
After attending the Parsippany town council meeting on Tuesday night, I am confident that the residents of our township are going to be better prepared and protected from any potential encroachment on our constitutional rights (by the federal government).
What I see in our governing body is a group (some new and some existing) of public servants who are taking their role seriously and making a concerted effort to work together to make Parsippany better.
Making Parsippany Better: Isn’t that the one thing we all have in common?? Regardless of whether you are a Republican or a Democrat and regardless of who you voted for, our common goal should now be to work together with each other and our new Mayor and council – who seem willing and open to listen to our concerns and find solutions that benefit us all.
You can call me an idealist, you can call me a lib, you can call me whatever you want, BUT if you don’t go to council meetings, if you don’t speak your mind face to face with the officials that you are so willing to criticize from your keyboard, then you do not have a leg to stand on.
On that note, I give credit to EVERY citizen who spoke on Tuesday night. What I witnessed were citizens with genuine concerns who went to the right place to voice them rather than just heading to social media to yell into the void.
I do have one major concern, however, and it has to do with the boisterous NO vote that came from Councilman Carifi and Councilman McGrath regarding the two resolutions that were the most timely and poignant of the evening. These resolutions that reinforce Parsippany’s commitment to the Safe Communities Act, the Privacy Protection Act, the Immigrant Trust Act, and to shoring up our town from any potential ice detention centers were passed by a vote of 3 to 2.
For reference, as to why these resolutions are necessary, do some research on what is currently happening in the town of Roxbury.
They were named in a Washington Post article as a potential site for a new ICE detention center and that has sparked full disapproval from every member of their REPUBLICAN council.
When you dig a bit deeper, you will find that their motives and sincerity are questionable (that’s a topic for another letter) however, they do seem to be quite concerned about the strain on the town’s utilities and resources if this were to become a reality in Roxbury.
Back to Parsippany: Just a few weeks ago, one of Parsippany’s Republican council members introduced a resolution to cancel a pilot. Did he know that his Democratic counterparts would not be able to support it due to the legal ramifications of breaking a contract signed by the prior administration and the penalties that Parsippany Township would face from the State? That too is a topic for another letter.
Regardless, I would have thought that the introduction was a genuine attempt to publicize his concern for the citizens of Parsippany and the strain that these current pilots have put on our schools and resources. But think about it. An ICE presence in Parsippany WILL put a strain on the resources of the town. As we see in real time, no one benefits from a large ICE, DHS, HSI presence in their town.
It would put schools on high alert because their role is to protect all of their students and we have seen ICE disrupting school drop offs and pick-ups. It would strain the town police department because it would increase calls to 911 when residents are concerned and outraged by masked paramilitary officers showing up in their neighborhoods and streets. IT WOULD BE A LOSE LOSE FOR ALL OF US.
I personally asked Mr. Carifi and Mr. McGrath as to why they voted no. I do expect a response and though I am unable to attend tonight’s special council meeting (Thursday 1/29/26) I would be happy to receive a call or email from either of them. My contact information is readily available through their colleagues.
I also encourage all citizens both from Parsippany as well as neighboring towns to attend tonight’s meeting at the Parsippany town hall. It would be an incredible show of support for the new mayor and members who are showing how much they care about all residents in both their words and actions.
Lisa Saladino
