The Trentonian (Trenton, NJ)

Good government needs better home in Trenton

- L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@ Trentonian.com.

Back in the day, former Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer and wife, Christiana (Foglio) purchased a second home in Hunterdon County.

Then the rumors started. Critics accused Palmer of nonresiden­cy, said his Hiltonia home represente­d a shameful sham.

People kept telling a lie and they eventually presented their fabricatio­n as non-fiction. In fact, they alleged having photos of the Palmers always at home in Hunterdon County.

If a person had this kind of proof, those photos would have been more valuable than gold.

Nothing, no smoking gun or smoldering backyard grill although Palmer alleged stalkers watched his city home while Hunterdon

County neighbors said they occasional­ly witnessed a stranger hanging around the Palmer’s compound.

Whether Trenton At-large Councilman Santiago Rodriguez resides in Trenton remains to be seen. Still, it’s amazing that several council members standing knee-deep in this issue, have invested time playing private investigat­or instead of focusing on serious city issues — like landlords.

In fact, since innuendo drives opinions in this capital city, let’s start this allegation — city officials are on the take, receiving payoffs for overlookin­g crimes being committed by many absentee landlords and business owners.

Proof? Not necessary. This is Trenton. No need

for facts when fake news overrides any sense of reality.

Of course, this registers as folly but it’s amazing how BS drives our city government.

Last week, many municipali­ties

focused on Small Business Week, Teacher Appreciati­on events and National Nurses Week.

Perhaps, Trenton did note these special objectives but nothing passed my desk or arrived via

emails.

The Mr. Rodriguez residency question should not overshadow newsworthy events that potentiall­y benefit our city.

Did you hear Trenton Mayor Gusciora lives in

Princeton? Gotcha. (I think).

 ?? SCREENSHOT ?? Councilman Santiago Rodriguez’s onetime home on the 400 block of Commonweal­th Avenue.
SCREENSHOT Councilman Santiago Rodriguez’s onetime home on the 400 block of Commonweal­th Avenue.
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