WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—A public relations consultant the borough hired in March said he would “leave no stone unturned” in focusing efforts on positive borough communications related to zoning and associated lawsuits against the borough that allege religious discrimination.
The firm also took a hand in promoting Blossom Fest, is working on efforts to get the town represented on a board that handles aircraft noise complaints, and according to Mayor Carlos Rendo “likely” will work on the Galaxy Gardens project.
In mid June 2018, the federal Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Woodcliff Lake, mirroring Valley Chabad’s 2017 lawsuit alleging discrimination against the religious organization.
The lawsuit claimed the borough had improperly rejected and denied the Chabad’s efforts to expand their synagogue on several properties over more than a decade.
The borough answered the federal suit in August, claiming there was no improper treatment and that the borough “treated Valley Chabad like any other property owner.”
The Borough Council approved a one-year $36,000 contract for Caldwell-based Lenox Consulting at its March 18 meeting. Most members declined comment on the contract.
“There has been no outreach or messaging related to the Valley Chabad lawsuit to date, and future communications in this matter will be dictated by the actions of the court,” Lenox told Pascack Press May 29.
He added, “Residents will continue to see improved and more robust communications from local officials as the contract progresses.”
According to his firm’s website, prior to launching Lenox Consulting, Steve Lenox served as state director to New Jersey senior U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of Lautenberg’s offices in New Jersey.
His background includes a reported 3 1/2 years as legislative affairs coordinator for the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, an umbrella organization of more than 1,000 affiliated local unions.
Lenox wrote in a February proposal that he would “communicate to a desired audience” via social media, blogs, podcasts, and traditional media.
“As we have discussed, the otherwise idyllic community has been embroiled in a legal dispute with an Orthodox Jewish group that has attempted to construct a larger synagogue within your borders.”
He acknowledged that despite the borough attorney for the case, Henry Klingeman, responding to the lawsuits “by pointing to the vast amount of research and due consideration the Zoning Board put into their decision to deny the application, the federal government continues to push forward on charges of improperly rejecting the application.”
He added, “The lawsuits continue to cast a dark cloud over the borough’s otherwise fine reputation as an ideal place to live and raise a family and present the risk not only costing taxpayers significant amounts in legal fees and forcing a development that will cause a negative impact on the community’s infrastructure.”
He said the actions also create “an appearance that local leaders are less than welcoming to future development and investment opportunities.”
When two residents at the meeting questioned the consultant’s hiring, Council President Jacqueline Gadaleta said it was “strongly recommended to us by our attorneys representing us in various lawsuits. It wasn’t told to us once [or] twice; it was strongly recommended.”
Lenox said he would “engag[e] the media to ensure that the borough’s message continues to be delivered and that neither the federal government nor the opposing party in the proposed development are allowed to seize the messaging and the narrative.”
He said, “Where traditional media may chose not to accurately relay stories, or provide adequate coverage, Lenox Consulting will work with our partners on the project to reach stakeholders through other mediums.”
He cited other partners as Matthew Krayton and Millennium Strategies’ Bernadette McPherson, a director of outreach for the grant consulting firm.
Valley Chabad reacts
In turn, Rabbi Dov Drizin, of Valley Chabad Center for Jewish Life, said he could not comment but expressed surprise at the borough’s move. He referred to organization attorney Roman Storzer of Storzer and Associates, Washington, D.C.
Storzer told Pascack Press, “We are pursuing litigation at full speed and we remain open to any reasonable efforts by the borough to resolve the matter.”
Storzer has been lead attorney in several discrimination lawsuits against Orthodox Jewish organizations, winning recent victories under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which provides wide latitude for religious organizations to expand facilities often restricted by local zoning codes.
“The borough’s efforts would be better directed at making all the members of the community feel welcome than spending any time on public relations,” said Storzer, who also expressed surprise that the borough had hired a messaging firm.
Asked if the borough and Valley Chabad had ongoing communications or negotiations, he declined to say.
Told that the proposal describes the suits “casting a dark cloud” over Woodcliff Lake, Storzer said “We welcome their narrative changing if it includes the Valley Chabad” in the borough’s future.
He said he was hearing about the public relations firm “for the first time” and that it would be good if it could help “represent all interests, not just a subset of the community.”
He said he would be disappointed if Woodcliff Lake and Valley Chabad did not work out a resolution for Valley Chabad’s expansion this year.
Rendo said in late 2017 that a settlement agreement was possible but no action was taken then by either side.
New Jersey U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in the government’s complaint last June that “Federal law protects all religious communities from discrimination and unlawful barriers when they seek to build a place of worship.”
According to the complaint, the Borough of Woodcliff Lake “imposed a substantial burden on Valley Chabad’s religious freedom by repeatedly meddling in its attempts to purchase property in the area and citing subjective and misleading reasons to justify denying its zoning application.”
So far, Lenox Consulting has assisted with the borough’s Second Annual Spring Blossom Fest, as well as efforts to get a local representative on Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee to provide input.
A 2016 TANAAC report showed 24 aircraft noise complaints from six residents. Recent council discussion has indicated complaints are becoming more frequent.
The proposal notes Lenox will work “with the communication tools already in place” including the borough newsletter, social media and the borough website “and implement a strategy to make them more effective.”
Calls and emails seeking insight into other initiatives Lenox Consulting is helping the borough with were not returned by press time.
Gadaleta said May 28 that Lenox Consulting is “not changing the narrative [about Chabad litigation]…but making sure what we’re doing is portrayed in the best manner.”
Rendo said May 29 that when a “newsworthy” event regarding Valley Chabad negotiations occurs, Lenox Consulting will spread the news.
He noted Lenox assisted with Blossom Fest and likely will help communicate about Galaxy Gardens.
Both Gadaleta and Rendo mentioned a likely meeting between borough and Valley Chabad attorneys planned in June to continue possible settlement discussions.
Storzer declined to comment.