Will Removed Atlantic City, NJ Councilman Have to Repay Money?

We have learned that a resolution will be introduced at the upcoming Wednesday, September 11, 2024 Atlantic City, New Jersey Council meeting regarding the recently removed City Councilman Atlantic City Councilman Muhammad 'Anjum’ Zia.

We have also learned that Atlantic City Councilwoman LaToya Dunston will be the presenting prime sponsor of the following resolution.

WHEREAS, Muhammad Anjum Zia, a former member of the Atlantic City City Council, has been found guilty of not living in Atlantic City, thereby committing fraud against the city; and

WHEREAS, Mohammad Anjum Zia received a city council salary and benefits while not meeting the residency requirements, which constitutes a breach of trust and misuse of taxpayer funds; and WHEREAS, it is imperative that all elected, appointed, and selected officials of the city of Atlantic City be full time residents of the City of Atlantic City in order to properly represent and serve the interests of the community;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Atlantic City City Council demands that Muhammad Anjum Zia repay the city council salary and any benefits that were received during the time in which he was not living in Atlantic City, as well as the fees associated with the special election required to fill his vacated seat; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all elected, appointed, and selected officials of the city of Atlantic City shall be required to be full residents of the city, and failure to meet this residency requirement shall result in immediate removal from office and the repayment of any salary or benefits received during the period of non-residency;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council will take all necessary steps to enforce this residency requirement and hold all officials accountable for meeting this standard;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council condemns the actions of Muhammad Anjum Zia and reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the integrity and trust of the public office. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the Atlantic City City Council.

The measure will need 5 votes to pass. The Atlantic City Council presently is down to 8 members with Zia’s removal from elective office.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael Blee took the extraordinary step of removing Zia from office when he upheld plaintiff Maria Macca’s litigation versus Zia.

Zia was removed for not being a resident of Atlantic City … yet he maintained that he did.

For years, elected Atlantic City officials and others have stated that Zia is a resident of Egg Harbor Township.

Judge Blee agreed with this assessment.

Here’s a recent history lesson as to how a circumstance like this can be handled.

Farook Hossein school board member who was removed as an elected member because he was found not to be resident of Atlantic City.

Farook Hossein was not only removed but he also was ordered to pay for his children tuition because they lived in EHT as well as the boards' attorney legal fees.

Tracy Reilly is the Atlantic City board of education solicitor who pursued this matter. Marty and La’Quetta Small supported this action,

Farook Hossein was in support of having a thorough board of education investigation into the Kayan Frazier child molestion case.

Frazier is a close relative of La’Quetta Small.