BY Jack Davis, The Western JournalMarch 12, 2023
1 year ago
BY 
 | March 12, 2023
1 year ago

Major Metro Fooled in Sister City Scam - Would You Have Been Fooled by Something So Obvious?

In its dash in the fast lane to embrace diversity, the city of Newark, New Jersey, drove into a pothole.

On Jan. 12, Newark officials signed a “sister city” agreement with the United States of Kailasa that was going to support trade and other activities that would allow Newark to cite a connection with a Hindu nation.

"I pray that our relationship helps us to understand cultural, social and political development and improves the lives of everybody in both places that helps us to understand where we are and who we are and our connectivity to one another and helps us to become better people in this process, better people individually and as cities and nations," Mayor Ras Baraka said then, according to the website Tap Into Newark.

But alas for such good intentions, Kailasa does not exist except in the alternate reality of the internet.

On Jan. 18, Newark quietly voided the sister city agreement, but it was not until early this month that word of the blunder reached the media.

Newark representative Susan Garofalo, said in a statement that “as soon as we learned of the circumstances, the City of Newark immediately took action to cancel the sister city agreement.”

[firefly_poll]

“Based on fraud, the ceremony was baseless and void. Although this was an unfortunate incident, the City of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from different cultures to enrich each other with connection, support and mutual respect."

As noted by Politico’s Matt Friedman, the ramifications of the fraud go beyond the city looking foolish and gullible.

“Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is often mentioned as a potential candidate for governor in 2025. If he actually wants to run, this embarrassment won’t help him,” he wrote, noting someone else also fell down on the job.

“TAPIntoNewark noticed it after numerous English language Indian outlets reported it. But if a major New Jersey newspaper had a reporter dedicated to covering government in this state’s largest city -- especially one who knows how to use Google -- perhaps news outlets from halfway across the world wouldn’t have had the story first,” he wrote.

Kailasa was created by Swami Nithyananda, a fugitive from India who was accused of rape in 2019 and has a reputation as a scammer,  according to CBS.

Some Newark residents were disappointed no one checked into the alleged sister city.

"Whose job was it to do a simple Google search? No one in City Hall, not one person did a Google search, so maybe we need a transformation of City Hall 'cause not one person said, let me go and Google and figure out this was a fake city," Newark resident Shakee Merritt said.

"I'm really sorry for the city that they got duped in that way," Newark resident Amaris Mitchell said.

"It's great, show love to the Hindu brothers and sisters, but... yeah, it's a moment."

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Written by: Jack Davis, The Western Journal

NATIONAL NEWS

SEE ALL

Stanford Faculty Member Under Fire For Biden Murder Comments

In a shocking declaration, Hamza El Boudali, a teacher's assistant at Stanford University, has publicly called for the assassination of U.S. President Joe Biden. This…
20 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Boeing Whistleblower Comes Clean In Blow To Biden Administration

In an alarming incident that has shaken the aviation industry to its core, an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced explosive decompression at nearly 15,000 feet…
20 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Kelly Clarkson Opens Up On Difficult Divorce

In an era when celebrity divorces are often headlines for their contentiousness, Kelly Clarkson's recent reflections offer a poignant counternarrative. Kelly Clarkson's journey through a…
20 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Democrat In Battleground State Won’t Seek Re-Election

In an unexpected move that has stirred significant conversation, Annie Kuster, a seasoned Democratic Representative from New Hampshire, has decided not to seek re-election in…
21 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Pilot Allegedly Pulled Rudder Before Smashing Into Bridge

In what seems to be an unfortunate mechanical failure, a freighter's loss of power led to a catastrophic collision. Dali's pilot attempted to avoid a…
21 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

DON'T WAIT.

We publish the objective news, period. If you want the facts, then sign up below and join our movement for objective news:

    LATEST NEWS

    Newsletter

    Get news from American Digest in your inbox.

      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: American Digest, 3000 S. Hulen Street, Ste 124 #1064, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, US, http://americandigest.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
      Christian News Alerts is a conservative Christian publication. Share our articles to help spread the word.
      © 2024 - CHRISTIAN NEWS ALERTS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
      magnifier