Jersey City, NJ. Mayor Steven Fulop has fired his aide, Jonathan Gomez Noriega, following a heated dispute involving Gomez’s sister, Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate in Missouri. The controversy erupted after Gomez Noriega’s financial support for his sister’s anti-LGBTQ+ campaign came to light, prompting Fulop to demand a public disavowal of her rhetoric.
🚨@StevenFulop illegally FIRED my brother because I used my First Amendment. Justice will be served. pic.twitter.com/WF2ZVhAYQr
— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForSOS) August 8, 2024
The situation intensified when Valentina Gomez released a video on social media featuring a recorded phone call between Fulop and her brother. In the audio, Fulop can be heard telling Gomez Noriega, “Jon, if you think that is boldness, I am gonna’ fire you. I’m gonna look in five minutes, if not clear where you stand, then you’re not with me, you’re with her and you can’t work with me. Period, okay? Like, that’s it, end of story. Five minutes”.
In addition to the audio, Mayor Fulop shared text messages exchanged with Gomez Noriega, which showed the mayor’s insistence on a clear denunciation of Valentina Gomez’s campaign. Fulop instructed Gomez Noriega to say, “To be clear, I do not support my sister’s hateful speech or campaign. I love her as my sister but I don’t condone her actions that have become progressively more vile over the last few months. Anything less isn’t acceptable and doesn’t reflect the values of our office”.
Valentina – first your brother WAS an “at-will” employee for the city – as of tomorrow he no longer works there bc he doesn’t reflect the values of the city. Second, You can see how strongly I feel about the LGBTQ community and I’ll share the text messages we exchanged so ppl… https://t.co/3j1gYf8ihw pic.twitter.com/a1LFiTfH6B
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) August 6, 2024
Despite Gomez Noriega’s attempt to distance himself from his sister’s views in a public statement, Fulop deemed the response insufficient. The statement, which emphasized respect and family unity, failed to meet the mayor’s expectations for a clear repudiation of the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
The controversy has sparked significant backlash, with the Hudson Pride Center and other community leaders calling for Gomez Noriega’s removal from the city’s LGBTQ+ Task Force. Critics have accused Fulop of overstepping by forcing Gomez Noriega to publicly denounce his sister, while others argue that the aide’s actions were incompatible with his role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the city.
Valentina Gomez has threatened a lawsuit against Fulop, accusing him of acting like a “dictator” and infringing on her brother’s political beliefs. The dispute highlights the complex interplay between personal loyalty and professional responsibilities, as well as the broader implications of political discourse on family dynamics.