In a troubling display of power, North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec has come under fire for involving local police in a personal vendetta against a resident over a spoof Facebook page that criticizes him. Tylec's actions, which included dispatching two uniformed officers to question Jacob Quinn, an employee at Restful Sleepin’, raise serious concerns about the abuse of authority by an elected official.
As a result of Tylec's actions, members of the North Tonawanda Common Council sent a letter to City Attorney Edward A. Zebulske demanding an investigation into the matter.
LETTER
Dear Mr. Zebulske,
The North Tonawanda Common Council is deeply alarmed by the allegations raised against Mayor Austin J. Tylec during the January 21st council meeting.
As publicly confirmed by both the Mayor and the Chief of Police, two officers visited the workplace of a private citizen on Tuesday morning to question them about their potential connection to an obscure satirical Facebook page parodying the Mayor.
Following this incident, the individual reported to the Common Council, alleging that Mayor Tylec may have “weaponized the North Tonawanda Police Department” as an act of
political retaliation.
The Common Council is greatly disturbed by the possibility that taxpayer-funded resources
were used to suppress political speech at the direction of an elected official. We strongly
condemn any actions that infringe upon citizens’ constitutionally protected right to free
speech. Such behavior represents a serious violation of public trust.
Irrespective of the Mayor’s apology about this situation, as the city’s legislative branch, we request that the City Attorney’s Office conduct a thorough review of the Mayor’s conduct in
this matter. We are particularly concerned about any civil liability and ask for an assessment
of any potential litigation costs to taxpayers. The Council remains committed to monitoring
this situation closely to ensure it is handled appropriately.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards,
Joseph Lavey, Jr., Council President
Robert Schmigel, Alderman, 1st Ward
Frank DiBernardo, Alderman, 2nd Ward
Joseph Marranca III, Alderman, 3rd Ward
Joseph N. Loncar, Alderman-at-Large
The controversy erupted when Tylec expressed his concerns about the parody page, which has been active for two years and, according to him, has caused confusion among residents. He labeled Quinn an “antagonist” and claimed that the impersonation could lead to misinformation. However, Quinn, who has publicly distanced himself from the page, described the mayor's actions as a blatant misuse of power, suggesting that Tylec is weaponizing the police for personal grievances.
Quinn, who previously voted for Tylec, allowed officers to examine his phone to prove his innocence regarding the spoof page. He characterized the mayor's move as an attack and retribution for past conflicts including a 2019 incident where Quinn circulated a photo depicting Tylec as Adolf Hitler. Tylec dismissed the photo as fake, but the underlying issue remains: the mayor's response to criticism has crossed a line.
While North Tonawanda Police Chief Keith Glass acknowledged that the spoof page is not a crime, he stated that it contains “a lot of misinformation.” This raises the question of why Tylec felt it necessary to involve law enforcement in a matter that should be addressed through dialogue and not intimidation. The Constitution protects citizens' rights to free expression and Tylec's attempt to silence dissenting voices is a concerning overreach.
The spoof page includes a clear disclaimer indicating its satirical nature. It is not the role of the mayor or police to enforce Facebook's terms of service. For Tylec to dispatch police officers over a matter of free speech is not only shocking but also indicative of a troubling mindset among public officials who cannot tolerate criticism.
Quinn's assertion that Tylec has targeted him for years adds another layer to this controversy. The mayor's apology during a recent board meeting, where he offered to explain the situation to Quinn's employer, does little to mitigate the damage done. In fact, the apology sounded insincere and condescending: “So, I will apologize, though, that they went to your place of work, and I’d be happy to call your boss and explain the situation further."
At no time did he apologize, or attempt to explain, the abuse of power by ordering police officers, of whom he essentially signs their paychecks, to harass a resident. It is a stark reminder that the misuse of power can have real consequences for individuals who simply wish to express their opinions.
The mayor's behavior not only undermines the principles of democracy but also sets a dangerous precedent for how public officials engage with their constituents.
North Tonawanda Common Council Demands Investigation into Mayor Austin Tylec's Abuse of Power