North Caldwell mayor apologizes for comments about Muslim congresswomen

The mayor of an Essex County town is apologizing for insensitive comments he made on Facebook about two United States congresswomen.
North Caldwell Mayor Joseph Alessi said that comments he made Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were insulting, xenophobic and wrong. He went on to say that he should have known better, especially since his father was an immigrant from Italy in 1913.
“As an elected official, I represent and work for and owe duty to the people of this great community. No matter what their race, their color or their creed, or their political beliefs. Please accept my heartfelt apology,” Alessi said at a recent town council meeting.
News 12 New Jersey reached out to the mayor for an interview but did not hear back.