Real Accountability Protects All of Us.

The noose handed to Firefighter Patrick Thomas is not an isolated act. It is the clearest sign of a deeper culture that has allowed anti Black racism, harassment, and abuse of power to go unchecked for years in Bloomfield. When a system fails one of us, it becomes unsafe for all of us. Whether you care about racial justice, workplace safety, or how your tax dollars are being spent, this moment demands action.

We demand immediate action:

Fire Walter Coffey with No Pension Payout or Transfer
A noose is a symbol of racial terror. It has no place in any workplace, especially not in public safety. Keeping him on payroll or rewarding him with pension dollars is an insult to every taxpayer.

Remove Fire Chief Louis Venezia
This culture did not emerge out of nowhere. Leadership is responsible for allowing a hostile environment to grow. Removing the chief is the first step toward rebuilding trust and protecting workers.

A public apology to Firefighter Patrick
We are calling on Bloomfield Township leadership — including former Mayor, now Assemblyman Mike Venezia, and his brother, Fire Chief Louis Venezia, along with current municipal officials — to issue a formal public apology to Firefighter Patrick Thomas. This was a public act of racial harm. And when the harm is public, the acknowledgment must also be public. Accountability cannot happen behind closed doors. Respect cannot be whispered. Justice cannot be silent.

Former Mayor and now Assemblyman Michael Venezia must step down!
This happened under his leadership, and the broader culture of discrimination took root during his administration. Public office is a position of trust. If you failed to protect all residents and employees of color, you should not continue to hold power.

Full Attorney General investigation across all township departments
We need a top-to-bottom review of internal affairs, discrimination complaints, and abuse of power across every department, not just fire. This protects all employees and every taxpayer who deserves a transparent and honest government. All findings must be made public. If, for any reason, the Attorney General does not comply, we ask for the same process from the Essex County Prosecutor. 

Publish Employee Complaints All reports of employee complaints involving bias, harassment, racism, intimidation, and discrimination, along with the findings and outcomes, must be published on the township website within 10 days of the investigation’s completion. Personal names and addresses should be redacted, but departmental information must remain visible. This practice should become standard moving forward. And apply to every department, Board branch, and Commission of the Township. 

Why this matters for everyone
When racism and abuse of power go unchecked, it costs all of us. It leads to lawsuits, payouts, wasted tax money, dysfunctional departments, and unsafe working conditions. A broken system not only harms Black people; it drains community resources, destroys trust, and makes the entire town weaker. Standing up now is not divisive. It is the only way Bloomfield becomes a town where every resident, every employee, and every taxpayer can have confidence in the people who serve them.