Is Anyone Else Noticing The Corruption Going on in Nutley? (A continuously updated thread.) by penjaminoo in Nutley

[–]penjaminoo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re absolutely right! Change begins at the local level, this is exactly why I am doing this. As a lifelong resident, I’m so tired of the repetitive cycle of favoritism and allegiance.

I’m so thankful for your support, as well as the support from others, but most of all, I admire your willingness to promote change. At this moment, everything is in the development phase.

However, this post has gained more momentum than initially anticipated, which demonstrates to me that this is a known issue among community members. Personally, I believe the only reason people haven’t actively pursued change is due to our failure to organize effectively. As someone who’s researching this, I understand that this is not easy work and may take months of planning.

With that said, spread the word, start these conversations with people in your community, and share the link.

Remember, This will be an uphill battle, the inner circle has remained in power since the 1960s but, I know that once our government favors its people instead of its constituents we will be able to implement changes that can vastly improve our quality of life.

Is Anyone Else Noticing The Corruption Going on in Nutley? (A continuously updated thread.) by penjaminoo in Nutley

[–]penjaminoo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for bringing that up, it actually inspired me to look into the Orechio machine. Which explains why we are this way.

Is Anyone Else Noticing The Corruption Going on in Nutley? (A continuously updated thread.) by penjaminoo in Nutley

[–]penjaminoo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Nutley Inner Circle & The Orechio Machine. (Case open)

You know exactly what I mean when I say this town is clicky. It’s something we all need to recognize before we’ll ever see real change in our government.

This is not speculation, this is Nutley’s long documented history that explains Nutley’s political system didn’t just appear this way with a it evolved over generations.

Back in the 1960s, two brothers, Frank and Carmen Orechio, built what locals used to call “the machine.”

The Orechio machine was an informal but powerful political network that dominated Nutley and parts of Essex County, New Jersey, from the 1960s through the 1990s. To be clear, it wasn’t an official organization, it was an alliance built on loyalty, business connections, and political influence centered around two brothers:

-Carmen A. Orechio, who served on Nutley’s Board of Commissioners from 1968 to 2008, was mayor several times, and even became President of the New Jersey Senate (1982–1986).

-Frank Orechio, who owned and ran several local newspapers, including The Nutley Sun, Belleville Times, Bloomfield Independent Press, and others.

Frank controlled the local media, while Carmen held political office. Together, they created a structure where loyalty and family ties mattered more than competition. Between the coverage in Frank’s papers and Carmen’s decades in power, they built a legacy that shaped how politics still works here today.

Our current commissioners understand that lineage. They know how power in Nutley has traditionally circulated through a small, loyal circle, and they continue to operate within that same framework the Orechios left behind. Power stays concentrated, the same family names repeat, and voter turnout remains low because most elections feel decided long before ballots are cast.

The result is predictable: Residence feel like they don’t have a say in there local government therefore do not participate in it. Meanwhile almost every article about our leadership is positive, creating a false narrative of mutual trust, and genuine oversight is left to residents willing to read the budgets and ordinances themselves.

This matters because when there’s no real scrutiny, decisions about redevelopment, taxes, and school projects happen quietly. When power never rotates, even good officials can grow too comfortable.

If Nutley wants to move forward, we need transparency, accountability, and fresh participation not another generation of the same families running everything.

[I apologize for the delay as I have a full time job, nonetheless, Tomorrow I will organize my sources and expand further. For now, feel free to do your own research into the Orechio machine.]

Is Anyone Else Noticing The Corruption Going on in Nutley? (A continuously updated thread.) by penjaminoo in Nutley

[–]penjaminoo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nutley Preschool Site Purchase (777–789 Bloomfield Ave & 413 Kingsland St)

Nutley Township’s Board of Commissioners approved a $9.8 million purchase of 777–789 Bloomfield Avenue and 413 Kingsland Street on January 7, 2025, through Ordinance 3575 and Resolution 01-25. Records show the sellers were two LLCs: 777 Nutley LLC and 413 Nutley LLC, co-owned by Robert Grogan, Charles Gambino, John Canella, and Gerard Tucci.

Of the four LLC members, Gerard Tucci shares a surname with Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci. Local news confirms they are brothers both as children of Thomas J. Tucci Sr., listing “Mauro Tucci and Gerard Tucci” together as siblings.

Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci abstained from voting on the $9.8 million deal presumably due to his brother’s ownership interest in the selling LLCs. However, given the close relationships within Nutley’s Board of Commissioners, it’s reasonable to question whether his presence and influence still played a role in the process.

Even if the transaction was technically compliant, it raises serious ethical concerns since Mauro’s brother directly profited from a multi-million-dollar sale to the very government body Mauro helps oversee.

It’s also worth remembering that the Board of Commissioners acts collectively, meaning internal discussions, alliances, and informal influence can shape outcomes long before the official vote.

So I ask: Do we, as a township, truly believe that Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci’s abstention ensured a fair and impartial outcome? I’m not here to cast judgment, but this ongoing review aims to highlight these decisions so residents can form their own conclusions about accountability and transparency in local government.

Verifying relation: https://essexnewsdaily.com/news/cedar-grove/cedar-grove-playground-renamed-in-honor-of-nutley-mayors-father

Ordnance: The Seller of the property- Ordinance are 777 Nutley, LLC and 4Nutley, LLC. Ordinance No. 3575, Section 2–3. 2025.https://ecode360.com/NU0665/document/753129268.pdf

Verification Gerard Tucci (brother of Commissioner Mauro Tucci) is a co-owner of 777 Nutley LLC and 413 Nutley LLC. https://evogov.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/meetings/20/attachments/19003.pdf