Public commenter at Middlesex County meeting says local Democratic group told press to leave public event in New Brunswick

A public commenter at a Middlesex County meeting accused a local political organization, referred to in remarks as "MCDO," of telling press to leave a public-area event on Aug. 12 in New Brunswick.

The commenter said he attended an event organized by an entity he called "NCDO" and that the gathering was advertised online and expected speakers included New Brunswick's mayor and a congresswoman he named as Cheryl. He said NCDO staff told him the space had been rented and was closed to the press, and that he later confirmed with the property's management company that the group had not paid for the space and therefore had no authority to remove people who were otherwise using the public seating.

"They were immediately told by NCDO staff that they had, quote, rented out the area, and it was closed to the press," the commenter said during his allotted public-comment time. He described the event as "a real disaster" and said attendees heckled the New Brunswick mayor. The commenter said the episode raised questions about whether the organization was acting democratically.

The commenter identified a colleague, Carlos Ramirez, as present and recording the meeting, and he addressed "mister Rios" during his remarks. He urged the county's top elected party official to discourage the practice of excluding press from public events, saying, "If you're the press, we can kick you out. We can't come. That's behaving secretively. That's not democratically. That's not open, and it's 1 reason that support for our party, the Democratic party, is eroding."

The transcript records the commenter's account but does not contain a response from property managers or officials, nor does it include documentation verifying the claim about payment status. No formal action or investigation was recorded in the meeting minutes excerpt provided.

The commenter also asked rhetorically, "What does the d in MCDO stand for?" and criticized the organization for what he described as inconsistent application of its own constitution when restricting attendance at internal events. The transcript includes no formal reply from the organization referenced.