Members of Trenton City Council Tuesday walked on a resolution to name Arch Liston director of housing & economic development. Liston eventually walked out of Council Chambers without his interim identification although a 7-0 confirmation of his appointment lacked principles associated with good government. Liston served as the chief-of-staff to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora from April 2021 to July 2023. In July 2024, Gusciora tabbed Liston as interim economic & development director. The entire incident played like a grand conspiracy that removed residents from this governmental process. Walking on the resolution to upgrade Liston from interim director to director, kept the public unaware. Acts of conspiracy continued as City Council members alerted that they would only hear public comments on items listed on the docket. Since the resolution regarding Liston had been walked on, his appointment and any concerns about his confirmation registered as off-limits. This entire fiasco represented a corrupt act that denied residents due process. In this instance, individuals impacted by the Liston decision deserved advanced notice of City Council members’ intent to offer him the position of director. City Council should rescind the Liston appointment and restart the process, especially since some members of the public have stated a desire to speak on this matter. If after this do-over, City Council members confirm Liston then their decision should stand. As is, the Liston appointment lists as an affront to transparency and good government. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].