Ex-Paterson law director Khalifah Shabazz getting $75,000 school district contract for legal work
By Jayed Rahman
Published: October 10, 2019
Former municipal law director Khalifah Shabazz, who left mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration two months ago, is getting a $75,000 contract to do legal work for the Paterson Public Schools, according to public records.
School board members were presented her contract, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019 through Jun. 30, 2020, on Tuesday night.
“She’s a competent lawyer,” said school board president Oshin Castillo.
“Khalifah was one of the runner ups for the district counsel post. Her firm does good work,” said school board member Emanuel Capers. “We need more minority firms in the district.”
Superintendent Eileen Shafer’s spokesman Paul Brubaker did not respond to a message for comment for this story on Thursday.
Shabazz worked for the Sayegh administration for 13 months. She was hired on Jul. 1, 2018 and departed on Aug. 5, 2019.
Sayegh administration officials said Shabazz managed to reduce the municipal government’s legal expenses during her tenure.
Shabazz’s law firm is based out of Newark.
Board members will vote on the contract at their regular meeting on Oct. 16.
Email: [email protected]