Union City, NJ — Multiple current and former employees of Union City Emergency Medical Services (EMS) say the department has been dealing with serious workplace problems for years, including harassment, retaliation, and conflicts of interest within the chain of command.

Several employees have provided letters, emails, incident reports, and other documentation describing what they say is a pattern of misconduct involving EMS Supervisor Yanci Gutierrez, formerly known as Yanci Acosta. The employees requested anonymity because they fear constant retaliation if their identities become public.

According to the whistleblowers, complaints about the supervisor have been raised repeatedly for years, but they say nothing has been done to correct the situation.

Years of Employee Complaints

Documents shared by employees describe a range of workplace issues they say have occurred over multiple years. From outdated, defective equipment to workplace harassment and bullying.

In several written complaints, employees and former employees, describe being called into offices and criticized over charting and paperwork issues in ways they say were humiliating or aggressive. Some employees say they were spoken about to coworkers instead of being addressed directly.

Other letters describe situations where former employees say they were treated differently than coworkers performing the same duties.

Another account by a former employee describes the supervisor speaking sarcastically and making comments that employees say were meant to belittle them.

Employees also say that once they raised complaints internally, the situation often became worse. Several whistleblowers claim that after speaking up, they were subjected to increased scrutiny, disciplinary write-ups, or negative comments.

According to employees, the pattern often ended the same way: the employee would eventually leave the department due to the husband, Chief and Director shielding her from accountability.

Claims of Interference During Patient Care

Some complaints go beyond workplace treatment and involve operational issues during emergency calls.

In one documented incident, an employee reported that during a trauma call the supervisor allegedly interrupted the EMT’s assessment of a patient and began asking questions that had already been asked.

According to the employee’s report, the situation delayed transport of the trauma patient and caused confusion on scene and undermining the employees medical judgement and micromanaging.

Allegations of Discrimination

Another complaint describes a situation in which a coworker allegedly made a racially offensive statement in front of several employees. Witnesses were reportedly present when the remark was made.

The whistleblowers say concerns about that incident were raised internally but claim they did not see meaningful action taken afterward.

Concerns About Workplace Culture

Several employees say the issues they described have created what they call a toxic workplace environment within the EMS division.

Whistleblowers state, employees often feel discouraged from reporting problems because they believe complaints will not be investigated properly by the administration and the city.

“People complain, nothing happens, and eventually they leave,” one employee said.

Some whistleblowers say the environment has become so difficult and state that EMTs across New Jersey who are thinking about applying for jobs in Union City may want to carefully consider the hostile and retaliatory working conditions before doing so.

“When interviewed for a position in Union City EMS, she would make inappropriate sexual comments about her and her husband during the interview!”

“Who does that?! We apply to get a job as EMTs and our first impressions with her is inappropriate sexual comments while I was getting interviewed! It was the most uncomfortable and unprofessional interview I have ever experienced.”

“All this in front of the chief of the department and her husband!”

Conflict of Interest Concerns

Employees say one of the biggest issues preventing accountability is what they describe as a conflict of interest within the department.

According to multiple employees, Supervisor Yanci Gutierrez is married to Administrative Supervisor Jose Gutierrez, who reportedly has authority over disciplinary actions, operations, schedules and personnel records within the EMS agency.

Whistleblowers say this arrangement makes employees question whether complaints against the supervisor can be reviewed fairly.

Some employees are rumored to believe complaints about the supervisor may not always appear in official personnel records. They believe complaints against this supervisor are rugged and not filed officially to maintain her record clean.

Employees say this situation has created a perception that the supervisor is protected from discipline.

“She can’t do anything wrong, she can do the worst thing to anyone and they will justify it to protect her just because of her marriage. No matter how stupid their excuse sound.”

“No matter what, we are always wrong and she’s always right to them. That’s how she gets away with it all the time.”

Questions About Oversight

Employees also raised concerns about the structure of the city’s personnel system.

According to whistleblowers, the city does not have a traditional internal human resources department. Instead, personnel matters are handled by a third-party personnel consultant hired by the city. Particularly by Judith Gottlieb.

Some employees say they believe this consultant is politically connected to city leadership, and is a regular financial contributor to Mayor Stack’s political campaigns; which they say raises questions about independence when investigating complaints involving municipal departments.

Employees also say that the city’s outside law firms, O’Toole Scrivo LLC, Scarinci Hollenbeck LLC and CSG Law PC, provide legal advice and are political donors to the administration, which they believe further limits independent oversight of workplace complaints.

Additionally, the Director of EMS, is a political appointment position by the Director of Public Safety, aka Mayor Brian Stack. As of the publication of this article, this position is currently held by Union City Police Captain Michael Bergbauer, who already is facing his own controversies and criticisms not just within the police department but also within EMS. According to the whistleblowers, Bergbauer is just another layer of political protection to this supervisor because of the alignment with the Mayor.

“We even have a Chief of EMS who does not know how to manage personnel issues. They all cover for each other while we have no other alternative but to take this public and lawyer up.” Said a former employee.

Allegations of Payroll Irregularities

In addition to harassment concerns, some former employees have raised a new allegation involving payroll and overtime.

According to these whistleblowers, the supervisor in question is alleged to have previously manipulated her work schedule in order to receive overtime pay for hours by excessive call outs or vacation time while simultaneously working overtime hours. The employees say they believe this issue should have been reviewed through an independent investigation.

“There was a time when she would always call out of her regular work days while also picking up most of the overtime shifts within the same week.”

New OPRA Request Filed

Concerns surrounding Union City EMS have recently drawn additional attention after a new Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request was filed.

The request, submitted on March 3, 2026, seeks records related to a medical emergency response that occurred on February 6, 2026, at 615 23rd Street in Union City.

The OPRA request asks for police and EMS records connected to that incident, including:

Police CAD dispatch logs Dispatch notes and radio transmissions Police body-camera footage EMS supervisor reports EMS supervisor daily activity logs Internal EMS incident reports Any documentation showing the timeline from dispatch to when the ambulance returned to service after the hospital transport.

The request also asks whether the EMS supervisor working that day recorded activity logs or reports documenting their work during the incident.

The records are intended to reconstruct what happened during the emergency call and determine whether the official reports match dispatch records and other documentation.

New Allegations Continue

According to whistleblowers, the concerns about harassment and bullying have not stopped. A whistleblower stated they have posted previously “no bullying” posters in their workplace because of this supervisor in which not long after it was removed.

Employees say there are new complaints currently being documented involving the same supervisor. Some employees claim the same patterns described in earlier complaints are continuing today and is currently being retaliated against.

Employees Seeking Legal Representation

Several whistleblowers confirmed they are now looking for legal representation to review the allegations and advise them on possible legal actions.

Employees say their goal is not only to address individual complaints but also to push for a broader review of how the EMS department handles workplace issues.

Calls for Independent Investigation

The employees say they believe the only way the situation can be resolved is through an investigation conducted outside the city’s internal administrative structure.

They argue that an independent review would determine whether the allegations represent isolated disputes or evidence of larger problems within the EMS division.

Until then, the frustration continues to grow with current and former employees that leaves them to speak publicly.

“We just want someone independent to look at everything, not family, not the chief, not political allies of the Mayor. We have years of documentation” one whistleblower said.

“No one should experience work place harassment like this. This would not happen anywhere else with her, she would be fired that’s why she’s only here.”

“We tried to handle everything internally, but it’s futile, so we have no other choice but to go public.”

Editor’s Note:

The allegations described in this article are based on documents and statements provided by current and former employees who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation. No outside investigative body has yet issued findings regarding the claims described above.

Union City, Nueva Jersey — Febrero de 2026

Una nueva ola de críticas públicas ha surgido en Union City luego de la circulación de una segunda carta enviada por un grupo que se identifica como los “Padres Preocupados de Union City”, la cual responde directamente a la reciente carta de defensa del alcalde Brian Stack y eleva significativamente las acusaciones contra el liderazgo municipal y la Junta de Educación de Union City.

La correspondencia, distribuida a residentes durante el mes de febrero, demuestra que la controversia relacionada con el liderazgo escolar y la seguridad estudiantil no está desapareciendo — está intensificándose.

Una respuesta directa al alcalde

La nueva carta se presenta como una contestación directa a la defensa pública del alcalde Stack, acusando a la administración de evitar el tema central planteado por los padres: la seguridad de los niños.

Según el documento, los padres exigieron la suspensión inmediata del subdirector de Union City High School, Edwin Marinez, mientras se realiza una investigación independiente sobre alegaciones descritas como conducta sexual indebida y abuso que involucran a estudiantes.

La carta sostiene que, en lugar de ofrecer tranquilidad a la comunidad, la respuesta del alcalde se enfocó en defender su administración y desacreditar a los críticos.

Los autores afirman que el liderazgo municipal:

no suspendió al educador mientras se realizaba una revisión imparcial, no abordó directamente las alegaciones, ni ofreció garantías claras de que los estudiantes están protegidos.

El mensaje de los padres es contundente: se respondió a la política, no a las preocupaciones de las familias.

Críticas que van más allá de un solo incidente

La carta de febrero amplía sus críticas más allá de un caso individual. Los autores alegan la existencia de un patrón más amplio bajo la actual administración, en el cual las denuncias son minimizadas y quienes alzan la voz enfrentan represalias.

El documento hace referencia a controversias pasadas y afirma que personas acusadas de conducta indebida han sido protegidas o reasignadas en lugar de ser examinadas con total transparencia.

Al presentar el problema como sistémico y no aislado, la carta desafía directamente la credibilidad tanto de la Junta de Educación como del liderazgo municipal.

El papel de la Junta de Educación

Uno de los puntos centrales del nuevo mensaje es la frustración ante lo que los autores describen como silencio institucional.

La Junta de Educación de Union City — encargada de proteger a los estudiantes — es criticada por una supuesta falta de acción y transparencia. La carta argumenta que la confianza pública se debilita cuando los funcionarios escolares no demuestran independencia frente al poder político.

Para muchos residentes, la pregunta ya no es solamente si existen alegaciones, sino si las estructuras de supervisión funcionan de manera verdaderamente independiente.

Las escuelas públicas dependen de la confianza comunitaria. Cuando esa confianza se pierde, las consecuencias afectan a toda la ciudad.

El anonimato y el miedo a represalias

La carta dedica una sección completa a explicar por qué sus autores permanecen anónimos, afirmando que miembros de la comunidad temen perder sus empleos, sufrir represalias profesionales o enfrentar acoso público si hablan abiertamente.

Independientemente de la postura política de cada residente, la organización anónima refleja un problema más profundo: la percepción de que disentir públicamente puede tener consecuencias personales.

En una sociedad democrática, el anonimato suele surgir cuando la confianza en las instituciones comienza a erosionarse.

¿Un punto de inflexión político?

Quizás el aspecto más notable de la carta es su tono. Lo que comienza como una demanda de investigación evoluciona hacia un llamado más amplio a la acción cívica.

Los autores argumentan que décadas de poder político concentrado han reducido la rendición de cuentas y advierten que la autoridad sin supervisión conduce a la complacencia.

El mensaje dirigido a los residentes es claro: el cambio comunitario requiere participación pública.

La carta concluye invitando a los ciudadanos a compartir sus experiencias y exigir transparencia, presentando el momento actual como algo que trasciende la política educativa y toca la naturaleza misma del gobierno local.

Un mensaje directo al público

Ya sea que los residentes apoyen la postura del alcalde o las preocupaciones expresadas por los padres, la aparición de una segunda carta organizada demuestra una creciente división entre sectores de la comunidad y quienes ocupan el poder.

Nuevos denunciantes salen a la luz 

Tras la circulación de la segunda carta, fuentes vinculadas a los padres preocupados afirman que varias presuntas víctimas adicionales han comenzado a presentarse y han expresado su disposición a hablar públicamente sobre sus experiencias.

Según dichas fuentes, estas personas planean ser entrevistadas esta semana por el periodista investigativo independiente Leroy Truth junto a su colega y amigo David Snow, del programa The Exposure Report en YouTube, donde se espera que aborden nuevas alegaciones relacionadas con el subdirector de Union City, Edwin Maranez, y compartan lo que describen como relatos profundamente perturbadores.

Se recomienda al público mantenerse atento, ya que Leroy Truth anunciará próximamente la publicación de estas entrevistas como parte de una investigación en desarrollo.

La democracia local no depende únicamente de elecciones, sino también de la rendición

Union City, New Jersey — February 2026

A second wave of public criticism has now emerged in Union City, as a newly circulated letter from a group identifying itself as the “Concerned Parents of Union City” directly responds to Mayor Brian Stack’s recent defense letter and sharply intensifies accusations against both City Hall and the Union City Board of Education.

The mailing, delivered to residents throughout the community in February, signals that the controversy surrounding school leadership and student safety is not fading — it is growing.

A Direct Rebuttal to the Mayor

The parents’ letter positions itself as a response to Mayor Stack’s public defense, accusing the administration of avoiding the central issue raised by families: child safety.

According to the letter, parents demanded the immediate suspension of Union City High School Assistant Principal Edwin Marinez pending an independent investigation into allegations described as involving sexual misconduct and abuse affecting students.

Rather than reassurance, the letter claims the mayor’s response focused on defending his administration and dismissing critics.

The authors argue that key actions were not taken, stating that leadership:

– did not suspend the educator pending review,

– did not directly deny or clarify the allegations, and

– did not provide assurances that students are protected.

The message from the parents is blunt: leadership addressed politics, not parental fears.

Expanding Criticism Beyond One Incident

The February mailing goes further than a single personnel dispute. It alleges what the authors describe as a broader pattern under the current administration — one in which complaints are minimized and critics face retaliation.

The letter references past controversies and claims that individuals accused of misconduct have previously been protected or reassigned rather than fully scrutinized. Whether residents agree or disagree, the political significance is clear: the controversy has evolved from an isolated allegation into a referendum on governance itself.

By framing the issue as systemic rather than individual, the parents’ message directly challenges the credibility of both the Union City Board of Education and City leadership.

The Role of the Board of Education

A central theme of the new letter is frustration with institutional silence.

The Union City Board of Education — entrusted with safeguarding students — is criticized for what the authors characterize as inaction and lack of transparency. The mailing argues that public confidence erodes when school officials fail to visibly demonstrate independence from political leadership.

For many residents, the question raised is no longer simply whether allegations exist, but whether oversight structures function independently enough to investigate them without political influence.

Public schools operate on trust. When parents believe that trust is compromised, the damage extends far beyond any single controversy.

Anonymity and Fear

The letter dedicates an entire section to explaining why its authors remain anonymous, claiming community members fear retaliation, job loss, or professional consequences for speaking publicly.

Regardless of political perspective, the existence of anonymous civic organizing reflects a deeper issue: a perception among some residents that open dissent carries risk.

In democratic communities, anonymity is often a symptom of distrust in institutions meant to protect free expression.

A Political Turning Point?

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the February letter is its tone. What begins as a demand for investigation evolves into a broader civic call to action.

The authors argue that prolonged political dominance has concentrated power too heavily and warn that unchecked authority leads to complacency and lack of accountability. Their message to residents is explicit: community change requires public participation.

The mailing closes with a call for residents to come forward, share experiences, and demand transparency — framing the moment as one that extends beyond education policy into the character of local government itself.

The Larger Message to the Public

Whether one agrees with the accusations or with Mayor Stack’s defense, the emergence of a second organized mailing demonstrates a growing divide between segments of the public and those in power.

Democracy at the local level depends not only on elections but on accountability between them. When parents believe their concerns are ignored, frustration turns into mobilization.

The controversy now confronting Union City is no longer just about a letter or a response. It has become a test of public trust — and a reminder that political authority ultimately derives from the people it serves.

For supporters of the administration, the letters may represent political attacks.

For critics, they represent whistle-blowing and civic courage.

But one reality is undeniable: a portion of the community is demanding answers, and the conversation is no longer confined to City Hall.

As the parents’ letter makes clear, the debate has entered a new phase — one defined by a growing call from residents to stand up, speak openly, and challenge what they view as the misuse of political power.

New whistleblowers coming forward

Following the circulation of the second letter, sources connected to the concerned parents say that several additional alleged victims have now come forward and have expressed willingness to speak publicly about their experiences.

According to those sources, the individuals plan to be interviewed this week by independent investigative journalist Leroy Truth alongside his colleague and friend David Snow of The Exposure Report on YouTube, where they are expected to discuss new allegations involving Union City Assistant Principal Edwin Maranez and share what they describe as deeply disturbing accounts.

Viewers are being advised to stay tuned as Leroy Truth prepares to release these interviews in the coming days as part of an ongoing investigative series.

A Spanish version of the letter is displayed in the back of the letter.