Mayor of Brick under fire for response to anti-Semitic tweet

The mayor of Brick Township is on the defense for how he responded to a resident on Twitter, and some are saying it's all for what he did -- and did not -- say.

News 12 Staff

Apr 25, 2019, 3:11 PM

Updated 2,056 days ago

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The mayor of Brick Township is on the defense for how he responded to a resident on Twitter, and some are saying it's all for what he did -- and did not -- say.
Brick Township Mayor John Ducey says he responds to everyone who asks him a question, but he's now taking heat for replying to someone on Twitter who asked him a clearly anti-Semitic message.
The now deleted tweet from the person using the nickname ‘The Big Kahuna,’ who has also since been suspended, reads, “Can we please do something about our parks and beaches they are being invaded by the Hasidic and Orthodox Jews and being ruined. Our tax paying residents are being forced out while our politicians sit and do nothing.”
The mayor's response was, "Our parks security has started already. Just call police with any problems and they will send them out."
Many people on social media quickly criticized the mayor for first not condemning the anti-Semitic comments, and then for replying to the poser.

Ducey spoke to News 12 New Jersey on the phone from South Carolina.
"The question posed started off in a very anti-Semitic comment,” says Ducey. “I didn't respond to those at all because I didn't want to inflame the situation. I didn't want to give credence to that actual opinion so what I did was I took the second part of his question. When he was asked what to do at a park I gave him the proper protocol. Call police and park security if there are any problems."

The mayor's comments and explanation is not sitting well with everyone in Brick Township, including councilman Jim Fozman, who had strong words for the mayor

"In light of Mayor Ducey’s out of control Twitter firestorm, I am suggesting he seek sensitivity training,” says Fozman. “I feel it's unfair to all residents of Brick for him to misrepresent the moral fibers. Good leaders need to be building a better brick. If you can't lead by example it may be time to resign."
Mayor Ducey went on to say he will likely ignore any future questions containing offensive comments.
He has no plans to resign and will remain active on social media.