How To Destroy A Change Agent | Part I

The Attempted Political Hit Job on Sai Akiri- Why It Matters and Why It May Back Fire — January Through April 2022–

Many reading this will know how the story ends. They may not know that many violations alleged in the District’s tax payer-funded political hit job were dismissed, and what is left will likely be dismissed. They may not know that the remaining allegations misquote the ethics violations alleged and erroneously attribute quotes to Ms. Akiri when she was simply quoting an article written by me and are in a very tenuous spot when they come before a judge.

Sai Akiri and Dr. Foregger were ushered into office on the promise of change. Last year a concerted effort on the part of Dr. Varley, Julie Kot, Michael D’Aquila, Angela Penna, Joy Young, Pamela Stanley and Robert Cianculli to make sure she failed along with a controversial and legally questionable ballot position cost her the election. Below is a timeline of the tax payer funded political hit job on Sai Akiri.

January 2022 – Month 1

The following quote may already seem familiar –

“Merely weeks after being elected, Ms. Akiri attempted to fulfill one of her primary campaign promises on accountability and transparency by encouraging the BOE to follow their policies on interviewing an attorney-something the District still needs to do in almost two decades.”

It was from an article that I wrote that provided strong evidence of a concerted effort on the part of the Superintendent, Board Attorney and BOE Majority in blocking Ms. Akiri from holding the BOE accountable to it’s policy on interviewing BOE Attorneys. This was important given the history of issue with legal guidance provided to the District and feedback from the community that a change was needed.

During a BOE Meeting that same month, Ms. Kot evades, and Michael D’Aquila covers Sai Akiri’s questions on the use of Covid funds.

February Through April 2022

After the most secretive and problematic Budget process in Berkeley Heights History, Robert Cianculli snickers as Ms. Akiri tries to express her concerns about the Administrative costs contained in the budget.

The Budget process was so broken that it prompted former BOE Member and President John Sincaglia to speak on the issue publicy twice over the course of that year.

Also, in March Ms. Akiri challenges Dr. Varley on her ridiculous notion that DEI cannot be measured. The BOE majority admonished Ms. Akiri for being “anti-DEI” when in reality, she was simply trying to make sure the program was accountable.

This is the same BOE Majority that did not even know whether it had passed DEI.

Ms. Akiri also challenges a bogus survey sent out by the District to prop up the botched reconfiguration (BOE Member Pamela Stanley attempted to remove this article).

Ms. Akiri attempts to get a handle on the District’s legal bills in response to a 22 Thousand Dollar Bill for just one month of services. The Attorney interjects improperly in trying to cover her firm, and Mr. Cianculli and Ms. Young shockingly yell and snicker as she speaks. The District now faces an 88% increase in legal bills. In January, the Attorney attempted to instruct the BOE that Ms. Akiri should not be allowed to vote on the matter of the Attorney Contract – how convenient.

What you should be worried about is that, if successful with what remains of its’ ethics complaint against Ms. Akiri,this BOE would set a strange and deviant precedent that would dangerously shield both the Superintendent and Business Administrator from BOE scrutiny- one of the primary functions of the BOE.

And not just for Berkeley Heights BUT the ENTIRE State of New Jersey.

The irony is, that as a result of their actions, even if the BOE majority is successful in the few allegations left against Ms. Akiri, they will very likely end up with far more upheld violations against themselves as a result of their complaint.

We will cover that in the next part of the series.