Belleville Mayor-Elect Faces Allegations of Car Repossession Amid Political Tensions
In Belleville, New Jersey, the newly elected mayor, Frank Velez, is embroiled in controversy following claims by outgoing Mayor Michael Melham that Velez's car was repossessed. This accusation came shortly after Velez's electoral victory over Melham, who had served as mayor for eight years. Melham, in a Facebook post, denied that his own car was repossessed, instead asserting that it was Velez's vehicle. Velez, who is set to take office on July 1, acknowledged the repossession but attributed it to a clerical error that has since been resolved. The election, marked by low voter turnout, followed a significant warehouse fire in Belleville, which had led to evacuations and school closures. Despite the fire's impact, Velez won decisively, securing 59.41% of the votes. 
