Political parties rule at City Hall

The proposal to eliminate the city treasurer's health insurance (and thereby put that job in conformity with the city policy of not paying insurance premiums for part-time employees) was defeated in a straight party-line showdown during last night's council meeting. The six Republicans voted against it and thereby demonstrated - again - why Newark citizens should insist on non-partisan elections for city offices. Political parties and who's running for which offices should have nothing to do with a vote on enforcing city policy - but they very clearly did.