Paterson's Joey Torres resigns effective 9 a.m.; Ruby Cotton new mayor

PATERSON – Jose “Joey” Torres resigned from the Paterson mayor’s job effective 9 a.m. on Monday, rendering moot an impending court ruling on when he would be forced to forfeit the position because of his conviction on corruption charges.

Torres sent the city a two-sentence email at 7:22 p.m. on Sunday announcing to his decision, officials said.

In Superior Court on Friday, during discussions on his guilty plea, Torres’ lawyers had opposed the Attorney General’s demand that he be removed from the mayor’s job immediately.

Torres’ lawyers said initially asked a judge on Friday to allow him to stay in office until his Nov. 3 sentencing, but then they requested he be given until after the weekend. The lawyers said time was needed for a smooth transition.

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Over the weekend, Torres attended and spoke at a public ceremony dedicating a new monument to police officers. People at the event said he received polite applause and did not mention his conviction during a brief speech.

City Council President Ruby Cotton automatically became interim mayor at 9 a.m. on Monday when Torres’ resignation became effective.

“It’s a dark cloud over our city,” Cotton said minutes before taking office. “I’m just hoping I can work together with our department heard and our council members to move the city forward.”

On the second floor of City Hall, municipal workers had removed Torres' official photo from above the door to the mayor's office by 9:30 a.m. and hung it on a wall across the corridor in the spot previously occupied by a photo of former mayor Jeffery Jones.

The photo of Jones was shifted to the location where a picture of former mayor Martin Barnes, who also was convicted of corruption charges, had hung. Barnes' picture was place on another wall on the second floor, all part of a ripple effect caused by Torres' departure.

Cotton's photo would be hung about the mayor's door as soon as possible, city employees said.

Cotton said she does not plan to run for mayor in the city’s election next May. The City Council has the option of replacing Cotton with another interim appointee, but that move must be made within the next 30 days, officials said.