Argument Between Paterson Officials Nearly Turns Into a Brawl During Council Meeting

Council Member Mike Jackson and Chief Financial Officer Javier Silva engaged in a fiery argument, prompting police officers and other officials to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating further.

The incident unfolded during a public forum held in the wake of the police shooting death of Najee Seabrooks, adding to the charged atmosphere of the meeting.

Eyewitnesses recounted that approximately 90 minutes into the gathering, as a woman addressed the council, Jackson and Silva stood up and began a heated exchange of words. According to Jackson, Silva had been mocking the youths in the crowd, which prompted him to challenge Silva to back up his words.

“I questioned him, told him he needed to shut up,” Jackson revealed. “He gestured to get up out of my seat and come toward him. I said ‘I’d like to see you do that,’ so he got up and came walking toward me, and I walked toward him.”

As tensions escalated, police officers and other elected officials swiftly intervened to de-escalate the situation and maintain order within the council chambers. However, during the commotion, Jackson was seen shoving the city’s business administrator, Kathleen Long, further heightening the intensity of the altercation.

Mayor Andre Sayegh expressed his concerns about the incident, labeling Jackson as a “reckless and ruthless scofflaw” and reminding him of the pending indictment he faces, which could result in over 26 years of imprisonment. Jackson, who rejected a plea deal last year, is currently facing five counts related to the mishandling of mail-in ballots.

Responding to the mayor’s remarks, Jackson questioned why Sayegh chose to focus on his legal case rather than addressing the issue of violence plaguing the city. He criticized the mayor for remaining silent on matters of public safety while criticizing his own actions.

Responding to the mayor’s remarks, Jackson questioned why Sayegh chose to focus on his legal case rather than addressing the issue of violence plaguing the city. He criticized the mayor for remaining silent on matters of public safety while criticizing his own actions.

“The mayor is silent when we have people being shot in the street under his watch,” Jackson stated. “He’s not commenting on the murder, but he’s commenting on me. I’ve never been convicted of a crime, and I have my day in court… but he’s running the city into the ground.”

Despite attempts to obtain a comment from Silva regarding the incident, he did not respond to Daily Voice’s request as of Thursday morning, March 16.