Brian Stack’s Push to Turn Union City High School into a Regional Athletic Powerhouse Sparks Controversy

In what could be one of the most controversial moves in Hudson County high school sports in years, sources have confirmed that Union City Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack is set to meet with major athletic directors from across Hudson County—possibly joined by other state officials—to discuss a plan that would open Union City High School’s doors to student-athletes from beyond the city’s borders.

According to an individual with direct knowledge of the upcoming meeting, Stack has been advocating for years to allow top athletes from outside Union City—and even beyond Hudson County’s borders—to enroll in Union City High School and play for its sports teams. This would mean that students who do not live within the district could join the school specifically for athletics.

The source, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said that Stack has actively encouraged athletic directors from various districts to “push” their most talented athletes toward Union City, portraying the school as a premier destination for sports talent.

Union City schools have already faced repeated accusations of enrolling students from outside the district, raising questions about compliance with state residency rules. If Stack’s plan moves forward, critics say it could dramatically tilt the competitive balance of high school sports in the region—stacking Union City’s rosters with star players while smaller schools lose their top talent.

“This is not fair to other schools, their student-athletes, or the integrity of high school competition,” the source said. “It’s about creating an unfair advantage, and it’s deeply frustrating to those of us who believe in a level playing field.”

But the implications go beyond sports. This latest push further proves what many in Union City have long argued—that Brian Stack operates more like a dictator than an elected official, maintaining tight, unchecked control over the Union City Board of Education despite having no legal authority to do so. The Board, critics say, has no real independence, no courage, and no confidence to govern its own district. Even the superintendent appears unwilling—or unable—to act without Stack’s approval.

This is not how the system was meant to work. In New Jersey, municipal government and the Board of Education are supposed to function separately to ensure that education decisions are made in the best interest of students—not political agendas. Yet under Stack’s grip, the lines have been blurred to the point where the Board of Education is little more than an extension of his political machine.

What makes this move even more questionable is that Stack is not just the mayor—he is also the State Senator for New Jersey’s 33rd Legislative District, which includes several other high schools across multiple communities. Yet, rather than advocating for all schools in his district equally, he is focusing exclusively on Union City High School, giving it special treatment while the rest of the high schools in his district get nothing. That kind of favoritism is not only unfair—it’s a blatant misuse of political influence.

The plan raises several urgent questions that Stack has yet to answer:

Why should Union City High School be allowed to recruit from outside its own taxpaying community? What does this mean for the future of high school sports in Hudson County, where competitive balance already faces challenges? How would opening enrollment to outside athletes align with New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) eligibility rules? Why is Stack prioritizing only one school in his Senate district while ignoring the others? And most importantly—who truly benefits from this move? Is it the students, or is it about political influence and building a winning sports program at all costs?

Critics point out that public high schools are funded by local taxpayers for the benefit of local students. If the goal is to create an athletic “super school,” they argue, then it undermines the purpose of community-based education and could open the door to rampant recruitment, poaching, and inequities across districts.

For years, Brian Stack has cultivated a reputation as a political powerhouse in Hudson County, known for getting what he wants. But in this case, what he appears to want is a Union City High School athletic program fueled by the best talent from everywhere except Union City itself—while continuing to run the Board of Education like his own personal fiefdom and neglecting other schools in the very district he represents as State Senator.

Until the public hears directly from Stack about his reasoning—and how this proposal could possibly be justified—residents, athletes, and parents across the county will be left to wonder whether the real game being played is on the field, or in the back rooms of political deals.