The Tax Assessor

"I will get you," said Schundler!

Schundler became an activist  during the 1988 Revaluation.  The Reval had problems and eventually lead to a new administration (McCann).  Mayor McCann attempted to "correct" the reval by a 1989 reassessment on businesses.  The business firms had their assessment doubled, but they appealed in tax court and the city had to give refunds by bonding.

McCann went to jail for legal problems not related to his administration.  This lead to a special election that Schundler won.  During this time, Schundler decided to correct the reval.

On January 25, 1993, Schundler asked the McCann council for a resolution that would hire Robert and Stanley Rubenstein-Realty Appraisal Co.-certified tax assessors, to perform an analysis for $70,000.

Councilman O'Dea asked the tax assessor, Peter Casamasino, if the state would allow this special assessment considering the problems the city faced in the 1989 reassessment.

On January 26, 1993, the Jersey Journal wrote, "Casamasino felt that the mayor's plan does not meet the state's guideline, which calls for full-fledged reassesment, and anything else would be illegal."

The tax assessor's opinion, caused Bret Schundler to lose control.  He banged on the desk, his face turned red, and his lower lip quivered.  I personally witnessed this behavior. At this point Schundler threatens Casamasino. The newspaper called this "heated words".

Schundler waited until he won the May 1993 election with his own council.  He spent, tens of thousands of taxpayers to remove Casamasino from his job.  The city awarded contracts to Brian McAlindin, a Republican friend who ran for Congress in 1994.   The mayor's wife was his treasurer.  Also employed at Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker  is Kathleen Morarity, spouse of Michael, the Police Director.

In the beginning Peter Casamasino won his appeals.  Then Jim Kennelly of the Jersey Journal reported on May 28, 1999, "The state Supreme Court voted 5-2 yesterday to uphold Mayor Bret Schundler's firing of Tax Assessor Peter Casamasino, ending a six-year taxpayers funded legal fight and long public feud between the two men."  

Schundler friends at the law firm Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker made money on this fight.  Schundler combined the legal fees of this firm from many legal actions and told the Judge that CERT was responsible for this money.