Paterson’s black community gets new deputy mayor | Paterson Times Paterson Times

Paterson’s black community gets new deputy mayor

By Jayed Rahman
Published: February 25, 2017

Janet-McDaniel

Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres appointed a new deputy mayor for the city’s African-American community on Friday. Janet McDaniel, a social worker, was presented as the new deputy mayor for the city’s second largest community on Saturday morning at the third annual Save the Village Black Condition Conference at School 6.

McDaniel told the crowd of several dozen people at the auditorium she plans to be a conduit through which concerns of the black community can be communicated to the mayor. She is replacing Torres’ previous deputy mayor – Robert “Bobby” Vannoy — for the African-American community.

Vannoy was criticized for being out of touch with the broader black community when he was appointed in early 2015. One of his biggest critic was community activist Ernest Rucker.

Rucker was happy to see McDaniel appointed to the unpaid ceremonial post. Torres has appointed deputy mayors for various ethnic groups to hear and address their community concerns.

“Janet is going to be a dynamic deputy mayor for the city,” said Rucker. “Her entire life has been Afro centric. We now have a truly black deputy mayor.” He had difficulty finding examples of things Vannoy did as deputy mayor for the past almost two years.

Vannoy on Monday afternoon said he recommended McDaniel as his replacement. He said he was not able or willing to do some things that the community wanted him to do. “It was more of a time issue than anything,” he said. “I thought she’d be more suitable for this job.”

Torres on Saturday said Vannoy continues to serve the city on the Passaic Valley Water Commission’s board.

“She’ll do a fine job,” said Ruby Cotton, who represents the historically black 4th Ward. She said she has known McDaniel for over 20 years. McDaniel has previously served on the board of the now defunct Paterson Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA)

McDaniel is the mother of former councilman Kenneth McDaniel.

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This report was updated with remarks from former deputy mayor Robert Vannoy on Feb. 27, 2017.


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