The mayor of Clark, New Jersey, Salvator Bonaccorso, faces criminal charges after an investigation into allegations of making racial slurs. According to Attorney General Matthew Platkin, Bonaccorso ran his landscaping and illegal tank removal business from his township office while using municipal resources to run the company. The charges also include witness tampering and falsifying records. Platkin added that Bonaccorso fraudulently used an engineer’s name, license number, and forged signature on permit applications.
The officials from Clark Township and the mayor’s residence declined to comment on the charges. A resident of Clark, Debbie Flanagan, called for Bonaccorso’s resignation while other residents praised the mayor for his work before the charges were announced.
Platkin also disclosed that the criminal charges stemmed from another investigation into the police department, its chief, and accusations of racist comments made by the mayor. He reported a disproportionately high arrest rate for Black individuals even though the police department and police officials were not available for comment.
Furthermore, Platkin recommended changes to the police department and called for the resignation or firing of the police chief, which only the mayor can do.
