Jackson Township, NJ – Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina, who is currently defending himself and the township from multiple religious-based state and federal civil rights lawsuits has taken a stand against antisemitism in the community.
In recent months, Orthodox Jewish residents have been petitioning the Jackson Township Board of Education to improve the quality of public busing offered to private school children who attend school in nearby Lakewood.
Jackson Township has a large and growing community of Orthodox Jews and experiencing the growing pains associated with the need for more out-of-town busing of students. After being criticized by a small group of community members for his effort to lobby the school board to provide a fair busing solution for Orthodox Jewish families, Reina responded.
Ladies and gentlemen, if I may indulge myself wit [with] this statement. If anyone has fault wit [with] looking out for any child’s safety, please give me a reason to change my mind,” Reina said. “If we have children in this town that are being abused, let us know. Let the proper authorities know.”
Reina and the township council are trying to turn the page from the township’s questionable past where it was accused of spying on Jewish homeowners, engaging in hostile code enforcement tactics, and attempting to create laws to discourage Jewish families from moving into the community.
“If we have children in this town whose life is at risk, please let the police department and the government know,” Reina said. “Because the government does work for you here. I can’t say the same in Washington, but when I stick up for children who need to take a bus to school because it’s too far to walk, I don’t think I’m a bad person for doing that. If anything, I’m protecting more than the children’s lives, I’m actually removing cars off the roads.”
Reina said it is important for the Jackson School District to add the buses and routes necessary to assist the Orthodox Jewish families and their children from driving mad to get to all the different schools their children attend.
“Now, why am I so deep into this?” Reina, who is facing several federal and state religious bias and discrimination lawsuits said. “Years ago, I had to drive my son where I live into Lakewood’s Holy Family school because the bus would take an hour and forty-five minutes. So I decided to drive my son.”
Reina said while some in the community may object to him petitioning on behalf of the Jewish school community, it is his job to help all residents in town with their issues.
“We’re happy to help all of our Jackson residents,” Reina said. “So If I done something wrong, and you want to tell me I’ve done it, this would be the time and the place, but all the children in Jackson are represented equally and if some people have a problem with that, especially the ones who make statements and leave and ask questions and don’t really want an answer, that’s not my problem.”
Reina said every child in the town needs to be equally protected regardless of their religious beliefs.
“Just for the record, every child matters,” Reina said.