Union City Property Owner Claims Harassment by Mayor Stack in New Lawsuit

A Union City landlord who previously filed an ethics complaint against Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack is now pursuing broader legal action, alleging harassment, unlawful searches, and political retaliation.

Victorina Salvador, chief operating officer of AVGS Holdings, began clashing with Union City officials in early 2022, shortly after her company purchased a property on 24th Street. “We’re definitely getting special attention from the city: they are calling and there are summonses, [issuing] violations were there were no violations,” Salvador told HCV in 2022.

She also objected to campaign literature repeatedly left at the property. “Since the company purchased the property, they’ve left stacks and stacks of pamphlets that created garbage and then the city code official would come around and say I have to clean up the building,” she said.

Salvador said that after a phone call with Stack in February 2022, during which he allegedly “yelled, cursed, and talked down to her,” she filed a complaint with the New Jersey Senate’s Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards. The committee dismissed it in November, citing jurisdiction limits related to Stack’s mayoral—not legislative—conduct.

On August 8, 2025, Salvador filed suit in Hudson County Superior Court against Stack, Union City, and Health Director Alex Velazquez. In the complaint, Salvador’s attorney wrote: “Defendant Stack – believing he is above the law – disregarded the [cease-and-desist] letter and proceeded to post his promotional materials on the Property thereafter.”

The suit alleges that “on or around 6:00 p.m. on October 31, 2023 – a mere nine hours after the complaint was lodged with the Health Department – John Doe police officers from the UCPD entered the Property and broke into four boiler rooms over Plaintiff’s objections and without a warrant.”

Salvador contends this and other actions have resulted in financial strain and reputational harm. “Every time I receive a citation or summons, counsel must be utilized,” she said in 2022. “I’ve already spent a couple of thousand dollars and expect that figure to double.”

The lawsuit alleges that officials acted in retaliation for Salvador’s “engagement of activities protected under Article I.”

Past statements from Stack’s counsel suggest city actions were based on tenant complaints. “These are their homes and just because they don’t own the property, that doesn’t mean they aren’t afforded basic rights,” said attorney Ralph Lamparello in 2022. “Union City will continue to protect the rights of tenants and will not permit violations of municipal ordinances. No matter what the owner of the property threatens.”

The case, filed by Brach Eichler LLC, seeks injunctive relief, damages, and attorney’s fees. A jury trial has been requested.