Mayor thrown out of office after objecting to Pride flag raising outside township hall

The mayor of Rochelle Park, New Jersey, was removed from office last week after objecting to the raising of a Pride flag outside the township hall, News 12 the Bronx reported. Rochelle Park in Bergen County is just a few miles west of New York City.

What are the details?

Now-former Mayor Perrin Mosca, a Republican, was ousted last week when the other three other Republicans on the township committee voted with Democratic Councilwoman Linda Boniface — who promoted the Pride flag — to force out Mosca, News 12 the Bronx said.

(L to R) Committeewoman Linda Boniface, Deputy Mayor Jennifer Appice, Mayor Perrin Mosca, Committeewoman Gail Artola, Committeeman Vincent BessettiImage source: Township of New Rochelle, New Jersey

The station reported that it all started during a "contentious" council meeting late last month when Mosca objected to the township flying a Pride flag outside the township hall for Pride Month.

"A majority had agreed that as a township we would not put up any flags that singled out one group over another group," Mosca said, according to the station. "That should have been the end of the issue."

According to the Daily Voice, Mosca had the following to say in regard to the Pride flag: "My position is that private flags do not belong on public property. The only flags that represent the entire community of Rochelle Park are the American flag, the [New Jersey] state flag, the county flag and our township flag. All other flags will only create division and open up our township to a myriad of other issues. I am not the only one who believes this to be the best policy."

Critics told the outlet that Mosca "called everyone he knew" to join his effort to prevent the Pride flag raising, but some fellow Republicans disagreed. The Daily Voice characterized those GOP members as already being "at war" with Mosca for unrelated reasons.

Mosca remains a committeeman and is scheduled to run for re-election in November, the outlet said.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer Appice is now acting mayor, News 12 the Bronx said, adding that the township council will select a replacement to serve the rest of Mosca’s term within the next week. The station said Mosca still could return to the mayor's seat after November’s election.

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