Another Landlord Comes Forward Against Brian P. Stack

A Union City landlord has come forward with sharp criticism of how local housing enforcement is being handled — accusations that are intensifying political scrutiny of policies tied to Brian Stack and his administration.

According to the landlord, the dispute began after a tenant allegedly stopped paying rent while seeking relief through the city’s rent-control system. The ordinance registered rent during the dispute was reportedly about $460 per month, yet the landlord claims no payments were made while the case remained unresolved for more than a year. Multiple rent-control hearings were allegedly adjourned, which the source says prolonged the process and resulted in financial losses approaching $18,000.

The landlord further alleges that municipal intervention delayed enforcement, including action taken when a court-ordered lockout was attempted. Critics argue that such interventions reflect a system that heavily favors tenants while leaving property owners to absorb financial risk.

Opponents of the administration say these disputes cannot be viewed in isolation from broader questions about how city leadership operates. Critics point to the recent reappointment of Kennedy Ng as a rent-control regulatory officer while simultaneously serving as a trustee on the Union City Board of Education, calling it another example of political patronage within city government.

Ng’s name has previously appeared in reporting tied to federal scrutiny of Union City agencies. During an FBI probe into the city’s Community Development Agency, his name surfaced because he held a leadership role within the department, though reporting indicates that others — not Ng — were charged in connection with the investigation. (Hudson County View) Critics argue that the continued reappointment of officials connected to agencies that have faced federal attention reflects a political culture where controversy rarely results in structural change.

Federal attention toward Union City has extended beyond a single incident. The FBI has conducted investigations and visits to municipal facilities and city-related offices over the years, contributing to a perception among critics that controversies surrounding local governance continue to resurface without clear resolution. (Hudson County View)

The landlord’s allegations go further, claiming that tenant assistance programs are used strategically to build political loyalty, while landlords who challenge city actions feel targeted or ignored. Critics of Mayor Stack argue that tenants make up a far larger voting bloc than property owners, creating incentives for policies that prioritize renter support even when landlords face mounting financial losses.

Mayor Stack’s tenure has included multiple prior and current controversies, lawsuits tied to allegations of misuse of authority, though settlements in those cases were reached without admissions of wrongdoing. (Wikipedia) Supporters of the mayor say tenant-focused policies are necessary to keep housing affordable and prevent displacement, but critics argue that the accumulation of disputes, investigations, and political appointments paints a picture of an administration resistant to accountability.

For landlords like the one who came forward, the issue is no longer just a single tenant dispute — it is what they describe as a broader system where political power, housing policy, and patronage intersect. As debates over rent control and municipal authority intensify, Union City once again finds itself facing questions about whether its leadership is balancing tenant protection with fairness toward property owners — or whether controversy has simply become part of the city’s political landscape.