Paterson’s acting mayor forbids employees from speaking to disgraced former mayor Torres

Acting mayor Jane Williams-Warren issued an executive order on Thursday prohibiting employees from speaking to disgraced former mayor Jose “Joey” Torres.

“City employees who receive a communication from former mayor Jose ‘Joey’ Torres on matters of city business are hereby directed to decline to speak to Mr. Torres and report the incident to their department director,” read Williams-Warren’s order.

Williams-Warren could not be reached for comments on Friday morning. She was appointed by the city council as acting mayor following Torres’ late September guilty plea.

Torres has been contacting municipal employees with issues. The order also tells employees not to handle Torres’ requests relayed by an intermediary.

Williams-Warren began serving as acting mayor starting Oct. 10. She has not made any major staffing changes in the administration.

The former city clerk has kept Torres’ department directors.

Torres’ plea deal carries a five-year prison sentence. He is scheduled for sentencing next Friday.

Catherine Clark

Mayor Warren obviously needs to appoint her own department heads. The people their have a continuous allegiance to the former mayor. The city must cleanse itself of the stench that will continue to prevail in city hall until all remnants of his corrupt administration are erased.
Catherine Clark

Mayor Warren should consider replacing some of the present department heads, obviously there are some people there with continuing loyalty to the former mayor. City Hall must be expunged of the stench of the former administration. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be having communication with the former mayor. Admittedly Torres did do some things that should be considered admirable for the city, but his administration has been found to be corrupt and self serving. It's time to say goodbye and move on and hope that the next administration will truly serve the citizens of our city.
Billy the Kid

Not even a month and this Williams-Warren could not be reached for comments on Friday morning. Surely not a good sign….

Ms. Warren is a nice women but wrong person for the job.
Andres Rodriguez

It is very shameful that this delinquent still trying to trick people by inventing things. he is a convict like any other convict.He deserves no consideration at all.Because of actions a lot of people lost their properties. He filled his packets with the people money and he only help a small group of rich people who take our money to their cities.