the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Palisades Park NJ, in a significant legal development, a second federal lawsuit has been filed against the borough of Palisades Park, its mayor, and three council members. Austin Ashley, a former deputy administrator and public works director, alleges retaliation and discrimination, marking a turbulent period for the borough’s administration.
Background of the Case
Austin Ashley, who served as the deputy administrator until his termination in January, also held the position of public works director from 2019 until his resignation on February 23, 2024. Ashley claims his termination was in retaliation for his lack of support for a Democratic councilman and disagreements with Mayor Chong “Paul” Kim during the November 2023 election. Additionally, Ashley alleges that he was discriminated against and removed from his position because he is not Korean.
Key Allegations
The lawsuit, filed on Monday in the United States District Court of New Jersey, names Palisades Park, Mayor Chong “Paul” Kim, Councilman Suk “John” Min, Councilwoman Stephanie Jang, and Councilman Jae Park as defendants. Ashley, who is also the treasurer of the Palisades Park Democratic Club, had shown visible opposition to Councilman Min by covering Min’s name on campaign signs with duct tape and changing a Facebook account name to “Paul Kim should not be the Mayor,” urging voters against Min.
The lawsuit claims:
- Retaliation against Ashley for his political speech and actions.
- Discrimination based on Ashley not being of Korean descent.
- A conspiracy by Mayor Kim and Councilman Min to alter Ashley’s employment terms unjustifiably.
Previous and Related Legal Actions
This lawsuit follows a similar suit filed in November by then-borough administrator Dave Lorenzo, who was placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated. Lorenzo amended his lawsuit last month to add Councilwoman Jang and Councilman Park as defendants, including additional discrimination counts.
Attorney Malagiere, representing the plaintiffs, stated:
“The plaintiffs allege that they were pushed out of their jobs because they dared campaign against Mayor Paul Kim’s political ally and co-conspirator Councilman Suk Min. Additionally, the plaintiffs allege that Councilwoman Stephanie Jang and Councilman Jae Park used the mayor’s political retaliation scheme to further their goal of national origin cleansing among the employee ranks at the borough. The plaintiffs look forward to exposing these illegal schemes to a jury in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.”
Claims of Racial Discrimination
Both Ashley and Lorenzo claim they were subjected to discriminatory actions during their employment based on their race. Ashley’s lawsuit states:
“(Ashley) understood that defendants believed that Palisades Park has become a ‘Korean town’ and that its government should be managed by someone of Korean extraction and heritage rather than someone of Irish American extraction and heritage like him.”
The lawsuits provide instances from 2020 to 2023 where Lorenzo was allegedly approached by Kim, Jang, and Park, who indicated that Korean members wanted Lorenzo to retire so they could replace him with a Korean individual.
Looking Ahead
As these lawsuits proceed, they highlight deep-seated issues within the borough’s administration and raise significant questions about political and racial dynamics in local government. The outcomes of these cases could have far-reaching implications for Palisades Park and its governance practices.
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