Trenton, NJ – State Senator Doug Steinhardt (R-Hunterdon/Warren) is spearheading legislation that would make New Jersey the first state in the nation to classify political violence as a hate crime. Standing beside him as a co-sponsor is none other than Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City). At first glance, the partnership looks like bipartisan unity against extremism. But scratch beneath the surface, and Stack’s involvement is a glaring act of hypocrisy.

A Documented Record of Violence and Intimidation

For nearly two years, investigative journalists who have scrutinized Stack’s use of city resources and political machine tactics have reported being harassed, assaulted, and intimidated by his supporters. These aren’t vague allegations—they are backed by police complaints, arrests, summonses, and court records. While charges in some cases may have been dismissed, the very existence of such reports confirms that incidents serious enough to trigger police action did occur.

Stack himself is no stranger to physical altercations. His history includes documented incidents of violence, and his infamous photograph with a black eye—widely circulated and mocked—remains a public reminder of his volatility and “tough guy” posturing.

Even Union City’s police leadership has been implicated: the city’s police chief, Anthony Facchini, was caught harassing an investigative journalist at a Stack political rally. When the very institutions charged with protecting the public are weaponized against critics, Stack’s moral authority to sponsor an “anti-violence” bill evaporates.

The Fear Behind the Bill

Stack’s sponsorship is not just hypocritical—it may also reveal his growing anxiety and paranoia. With investigative journalists continuing to expose allegations of corruption within Union City and the State Senate, it is hard to ignore the timing. By attaching himself to legislation that shields politicians from violence, Stack appears less like a champion of safety and more like a man desperate to insulate himself from the backlash his own actions have invited.

GOP’s Cowardly Silence

Sen. Steinhardt and the New Jersey Republican Party also deserve criticism for their willful blindness. While Republicans frequently decry corruption in New Jersey politics, they remain silent about the mountain of evidence against Stack—choosing political expediency over principle. By holding up Stack as a co-sponsor, the GOP is effectively whitewashing his record and enabling the very behavior they claim to oppose.

A Rotten Foundation

Yes, protecting public officials from violence is a legitimate goal. But when one of the bill’s main backers has a history littered with police complaints, arrests of his supporters, intimidation of journalists, and even personal incidents of violence, the legislation itself becomes tainted. Far from a bold stand against political extremism, it reeks of political theater and self-preservation.

Until both parties confront Brian Stack’s corruption and history of intimidation, this so-called “first-in-the-nation” anti-violence bill will remain nothing more than a hypocritical shield for one of New Jersey’s most notorious machine politicians.

Hudson County residents deserve leaders who prioritize their safety, not politicians chasing headlines with reckless policies. Unfortunately, County Executive Craig Guy seems more interested in pandering to the extreme left than standing with law enforcement and the hard-working families who simply want safe communities.

ICE Presence in North Hudson County, Braddock Park

Recently, videos circulating on social media show ICE officers patrolling the area around North Hudson County Braddock Park in North Bergen. Their presence is not only lawful, but essential. ICE agents are tasked with removing violent offenders, gang members, and dangerous individuals who have no legal right to be in this country. Sheriff’s officers stationed in the county park are tasked with the same responsibility: keeping the public safe. Any attempt to interfere with their cooperation only makes the job harder and the community less secure.

Sanctuary County Agenda

According to an anonymous source within Craig Guy’s own circle, he has expressed a desire to turn Hudson County into a 100% sanctuary county. Even more troubling, he allegedly wants Democrat incoming sheriff (if he wins against the Republican candidate for sheriff) Jimmy Davis to issue an order directing sheriff’s officers not to cooperate with ICE. This would amount to political interference in law enforcement, tying the hands of officers who swore an oath to protect and serve.

Such policies would effectively shield dangerous criminals from federal authorities, turning Hudson County into a safe haven for lawbreakers. By doing so, Craig Guy isn’t protecting immigrants—he’s protecting violent offenders at the expense of the law-abiding residents of our county.

Bail Reform’s Failure in Hudson County

Craig Guy’s sanctuary agenda only adds fuel to a fire already burning out of control. Bail reform, touted by Trenton insiders as a “progressive victory,” has been a disaster for Hudson County. Criminals are arrested and released within hours, often going on to reoffend before their cases even make it to court. Residents in Union City, Jersey City, North Bergen, and beyond have seen the results: more violent crimes, more repeat offenders, and more fear in our neighborhoods.

Law enforcement officers—whether they wear a sheriff’s uniform or an ICE badge—deserve support, not sabotage. They are on the front lines cleaning our streets of criminals. When politicians like Craig Guy push sanctuary policies, they undermine this mission and embolden those who threaten public safety.

Time for Accountability

Craig Guy’s reckless political games invite the attention of the federal government, and deservedly so. By attempting to obstruct cooperation with ICE, he is putting Hudson County at odds with federal law and jeopardizing the safety of its citizens. One can only hope that federal authorities, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, take note of Guy’s actions and hold him accountable.

Hudson County deserves better. We deserve leaders who stand shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement, not against them. Sanctuary policies do not protect families—they protect criminals. Craig Guy’s sanctuary obsession is a betrayal of the public trust, and the residents of Hudson County should not stand for it.

JERSEY CITY / HOBOKEN / WEEHAWKEN / BAYONNE — September 11, 2025. On the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hudson County communities gathered along the waterfront facing Lower Manhattan to honor the nearly 3,000 lives taken and to thank the first responders, service members, medical teams, maritime crews, and volunteers whose actions saved countless others. 

The scale of New Jersey’s loss—and the state memorial that bears their names

New Jersey’s official 9/11 memorial, Empty Sky in Liberty State Park (Jersey City), was dedicated in 2011 and features two stainless-steel walls inscribed with the names of 746 victims who lived in New Jersey or had strong ties to the state. 

Local outlets and guides often cite a slightly different New Jersey total (749–750). The state Treasury’s official page remains the authoritative tally for the memorial’s engravings (746), while other counts reflect evolving identifications or differing inclusion criteria across lists. If precision at the town level is required, readers should cross-check the state memorial list with the National 9/11 Memorial’s name database. 

Where Hudson County stood that day—and what happened next

Across the river, Hudson County rapidly became a triage, treatment, and transportation corridor. Jersey City’s waterfront was organized into large treatment zones as evacuees and responders came ashore by ferry and other vessels. 

The day’s maritime evacuation—now widely remembered as the “Boatlift”—moved hundreds of thousands off the tip of Manhattan to New Jersey and Brooklyn. Contemporary and retrospective accounts place the number between roughly 300,000 and 500,000 people over several hours, making it the largest water evacuation in history, with NY Waterway alone estimating more than 150,000 people ferried by its crews. 

Hudson County memorials and places of remembrance

Empty Sky (Jersey City, Liberty State Park) — New Jersey’s official memorial, aligned toward the former Twin Towers site, open daily for reflection.  Bayonne’s “Teardrop” — To the Struggle Against World Terrorism, a 10-story sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli, gifted in 2006 and listing victims’ names from 9/11 and the 1993 WTC bombing.  Weehawken’s Hudson Riverfront 9/11 Memorial — Honors the boatlift, the emergency response, and residents who perished (including five from Weehawken).  Hoboken’s Pier A Park memorial — The city commemorates residents lost; current city communications and local reporting list 56 names engraved, while other coverage has referred to 57; the city’s latest public notices cite 56. 

2025 Hudson County observances

This morning, Jersey City officials held their annual waterfront ceremony directly opposite the former World Trade Center site, at the local memorial where first responders treated victims in 2001. 

Community roundups also list multiple Hoboken and Jersey City interfaith services, vigils, and moments of silence scheduled this week across the county. 

The continuing toll on first responders and survivors

The health impacts persist. The World Trade Center Health Program (CDC/NIOSH) publishes quarterly statistics on enrollment and certified conditions among responders and survivors—data that continue to grow nearly 25 years later. 

Within the fire service, the FDNY recently added 39 names to its World Trade Center Memorial Wall for members who died in the last year from 9/11-related illnesses—bringing post-9/11 illness deaths among FDNY members to more than 400, a figure now exceeding the 343 who died on the day of the attacks. 

Gratitude—today and always

Hudson County’s remembrances specifically thank:

First responders—firefighters, police officers, EMS, emergency managers, dispatchers—who ran toward danger and sustained the region through triage, decontamination, and transport. 

Maritime crews—from NY Waterway and scores of tugboats, ferries, pilot boats, and private vessels—who made the largest maritime evacuation possible. 

Healthcare workers—from hospitals on both sides of the Hudson—who treated the injured and stood ready as the scale of the crisis unfolded.  Service members and veterans—whose deployments and sacrifices followed in the months and years after the attacks. (For current federal recognition and program updates for affected populations, see the WTC Health Program and recent federal rulemaking expanding eligibility to Pentagon and Shanksville sites.) 

How to verify names and local histories yourself

Empty Sky (NJ Treasury) — official memorial details and the 746 engraved names figure.  National 9/11 Memorial & Museum name finder — search any individual name and verify panel location at Ground Zero.  Weehawken / Bayonne memorial pages — context on the boatlift memorial and the “Teardrop” sculpture.  Jersey City ceremony coverage — local reporting on this morning’s waterfront observance.