Union City, NJ — The Union City School District is at a breaking point. Despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funding every year, the district has laid off teachers, gutted afterschool programs, eliminated bus service, and cut critical ABA and early education support. Families and staff are furious: with this level of funding, how is it possible that students are left with less?

The answer, critics charge, lies in Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack’s political machine. The mayor, who wields outsized influence over the district through his power to appoint the Board of Education, has turned Union City schools into a patronage system that prioritizes jobs for his allies over classrooms for students.

Massive Funding, Minimal Services

Union City has been described by state and local leaders as one of the most heavily funded school districts in New Jersey:

In 2023–24, the district reported nearly $389 million in operating revenue, with about $242 million in state aid alone. On a per-student basis, Union City receives more than double the aid of many neighboring districts, including Jersey City and North Bergen.

Yet even with this money, the district has slashed services. Teachers have lost their jobs, afterschool programs have disappeared, and special education supports have been reduced to bare minimums. Parents are left to wonder where the money is actually going.

Excuses vs. Reality

District officials have tried to justify these reductions by pointing to “budget cuts” from outside forces — blaming COVID-19, inflation, and even federal spending policies. But critics argue these explanations don’t hold up.

Yes, at the national level, there has been a push to rein in wasteful spending. But that is exactly the point: if Union City’s funds were being used responsibly, there would be no need for panic. The only reason the district feels the impact of any reduction is because of how it has chosen to spend its money.

Instead of directing resources to the classroom, Union City has ballooned its payroll with unnecessary, politically created jobs. The salaries of these positions — often six figures — eat away at the district’s budget, leaving less for the very students the system exists to serve.

As one frustrated teacher put it: “If they actually put the money on the kids first, we wouldn’t be in this situation. The only cuts they feel are the ones that threaten their patronage system.”

A $93.7 Million Building Amid Shortages

Even as staff and students are squeezed, Union City is spending nearly $94 million on a new middle school, the Esther Salas Academy, scheduled to open in 2025. The six-story, 900-student facility is funded by the state Schools Development Authority.

While officials tout the project as a sign of growth, many see it as an empty symbol. “What good is a new building,” one parent asked, “if there aren’t enough teachers, programs, or services inside it?”

The Board of Education: Puppets of the Mayor

Unlike most districts in New Jersey, Union City’s Board of Education is not elected by the public. It is a Type I district, meaning its seven board members are appointed directly by the mayor.

This structure gives Brian Stack enormous leverage over a system he should have no direct role in. By law, the mayor of Union City has no authority to run the schools. But by controlling the appointments, Stack ensures that the board serves him, not the students.

The result is a district where loyalty to the mayor matters more than professional qualifications. Teachers and staff report a culture where political pressure is constant, and promotions are linked to political contributions or campaign work.

Patronage Positions: Politics Over Education

Among the most glaring examples of political hiring is the appointment of Mercedes Joaquin, Stack’s girlfriend, as the district’s Director of Community Relations. Critics call this a textbook patronage job: high salary, vague responsibilities, and no direct connection to classroom improvement.

Other allies of Stack hold similar positions, many of them created out of thin air, soaking up funds that could otherwise pay for teachers, aides, or student programs.

Meanwhile, staff describe an atmosphere of intimidation. Board Secretary Justin Mercado has been accused of harassing employees, pressuring them for political contributions, and silencing dissent. Teachers say they are forced to “play politics” just to keep their jobs, in direct violation of the principle that schools should be neutral spaces of learning.

Students Pay the Price

The losers in this equation are the children of Union City. While insiders collect salaries and political loyalty is rewarded, students are left without buses, without afterschool programs, and without sufficient special education support.

Parents and taxpayers are demanding answers. With nearly $400 million at its disposal, why does Union City still claim poverty? Why are staff and families told there is “no money” when salaries for political appointees are never on the chopping block?

Conclusion: Accountability Needed Now

Union City schools should be a success story — proof of what can be achieved when a community receives significant state support. Instead, they have become a cautionary tale of what happens when politics replaces professionalism.

Mayor Brian Stack and his handpicked Board of Education have created a system where patronage comes first, students come last. The district cannot continue to hide behind excuses about COVID or federal policy. The truth is simpler, and more damning: Union City’s crisis is self-inflicted, the product of mismanagement and political corruption.

Until the district is reformed and the mayor’s grip over education is broken, Union City’s children will continue to pay the highest price — their future.

SECAUCUS, NJ — A 29-year-old man from Yonkers died by suicide at Long Shot Pistol and Rifle, an indoor gun range on County Avenue, on the afternoon of Friday, September 5, 2025, according to Secaucus police and local media reports.

According to Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller, emergency responders arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m., where they discovered the man had shot himself in the head. Although he was alive when taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, officials later pronounced him dead  .

Police characterized the incident as a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a mental health crisis, and declined to release further details out of respect for the victim’s privacy  .

Long Shot Pistol and Rifle, known as New Jersey’s largest indoor public gun range, is located just a few miles from New York City and offers rentals and educational programs  

Broader Context

While this incident is deeply tragic, it unfortunately reflects a broader pattern of rare but devastating suicides at gun ranges across the U.S. A May 2025 investigation by WSMV-4 uncovered cases of suicides at ranges in several states—including Tennessee, Florida, and Virginia—as well as a lack of standardized protocols for preventing such tragedies  

Final Thoughts

Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and loved ones of the individual who passed away. The pain of such a loss is immeasurable, and no words can adequately convey the sorrow faced by those closest to him.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please consider reaching out to mental health professionals or a suicide prevention hotline. In the U.S., the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.

If you’d like, I can help search for local mental health resources in the Yonkers or Hudson County area or provide more background on safety practices in gun ranges. Just let me know what you need.

A Hometown Hero

April Jeanette Mendez—better known by her ring name AJ Lee—was born on March 19, 1987, in Union City, New Jersey. Raised as the youngest of three children, she grew up amid challenging circumstances, including financial struggles and mental health issues in her family  . Encouraged by her brother’s interest in WWE and inspired by trailblazers like Lita, young April pursued wrestling by age 12  .

After attending Memorial High School in neighboring West New York, she briefly enrolled in film and television production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts but left due to family and financial pressures  .

Entering the Ring

AJ Lee began her wrestling career in March 2007, training under Jay Lethal and performing under the ring name “Miss April” on New Jersey’s independent circuit. She found early success in Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), capturing tag team gold alongside Brooke Carter and winning the “King and Queen of the Ring” tournament with Jay Lethal  .

In May 2009, she signed with WWE and trained in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), the company’s developmental territory, before debuting on the main roster via NXT’s third season in 2010, where she placed third  .

Rise to Stardom in WWE

AJ Lee quickly became one of WWE’s most compelling Divas, known for her “mentally unstable” character, sharp promos, and dynamic in-ring style. She captured the WWE Divas Championship three times, tying for the most reigns ever, and held the title for a combined 406 days—a significant record  . She also earned Diva of the Year honors in 2012 and 2014, plus Woman of the Year from readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated from 2012–2014  .

As her popularity soared, AJ served as General Manager of Raw and was pivotal in shifting the perception and portrayal of female wrestlers in WWE  .

Retirement and Life Beyond Wrestling

In April 2015, AJ Lee retired due to lasting cervical spine injuries and feelings of being caught between WWE and her husband, CM Punk  . She quickly pivoted to writing and creative work—publishing her memoir, Crazy Is My Superpower (2017), which became a New York Times bestseller  . She later co-founded Scrappy Heart Productions and co-wrote the Netflix film Blade of the 47 Ronin (2022), along with other comic and television projects  .

The Long-Awaited Return

On September 5, 2025, after a decade away from the ring, AJ Lee made her dramatic return to WWE during a backstage segment on Friday Night SmackDown. Accompanied by husband CM Punk, she was welcomed back warmly—including by WWE executive Triple H, who conducted a traditional contract-signing photo op  .

Her return sparked widespread excitement and nostalgic joy. Wrestlers like Bayley, Big E, Saraya, and Naomi publicly reacted—calling the comeback emotionally resonant and meaningful for women’s wrestling  . Fans witnessed AJ and Punk unite in the storyline amid a brewing feud with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, leading to speculation about tag-team showdowns and appearances at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event  .

Additionally, WWE inadvertently fueled speculation with a now-deleted Shop social media post teasing AJ Lee merchandise timed for Wrestlepalooza, which heightened fan anticipation  .

Full-Circle Moment

AJ Lee’s return marks a vivid full-circle journey—from a Union City dreamer to WWE icon, author, and creative force. It’s a powerful moment not just for her fans, but also for the evolution of women in professional wrestling—a legacy that began right where she grew up and now continues with renewed purpose.