Jose Ramirez Reinstated as Livingston City Manager After Wrongful Termination

On March 18, 2025, Jose Ramirez was officially reinstated as the City of Livingston’s City Manager, closing a significant chapter in a case centered on whistleblower retaliation and alleged government misconduct.

Standing Up Against Corruption

Jose Ramirez served as the City Manager of Livingston from 2011 until his termination in 2021. His termination occurred as a result of his refusal to go along with the unethical demands involving City Council members and officials. He reported the unlawful behavior which was focused on former Councilmember Gagandeep Kang and his brother, Sergeant Wapinder Kang. He alleges the Kang brothers attempted to abuse their positions of power to pressure Ramirez into misappropriating taxpayer dollars for their own personal gain for modifications to their own personal private property.

For more background on the case and its resolution, you can read the official press release from here: Whistleblower Reinstated as Livingston City Manager Following Settlement

Jose Ramirez refused to go along with the Wang brothers' unlawful actions. This staunch defiance led the Kang brothers to threaten to fire city staff, withhold funds that belonged to the people of Livingston and manipulate political power in an attempt to fulfill their deceitful goals. As such, Mr. Ramirez reported the Kang brothers’ actions to the City Attorney, Jose Sanchez in August of 2020. The city chose to ignore the glaring illegal actions of the Kang brothers. Instead, they retaliated by giving Jose Ramirez performance evaluations that were not fair in any manner which then led to the removal of Mr. Ramirez as the City Manager of Livingston. 

Allegations of Election Interference and Abuse of Power

The lawsuit didn’t end there and also revealed allegations of balloting tampering in the November 2020 election. It was reported by both residents and city employees alike that the Kang brothers collected unfilled signed ballots and then filled said ballots out with their preferred candidates. Jose Ramirez reported these legitimate concerns to not only the City Elections office and the District Attorney but also the FBI. The misuse of power didn’t end there. The case exposed other distributing incidents such as Sergeant Wapinder Kang’s involvement in a pedestrian collision but faced absolutely no disciplinary action. Former Councilmember Kang was accused of making inappropriate and unwanted sexual remarks to former Chief of Police Ruben Chavez.  

A Return to Ethical Leadership

Throughout the course of the lawsuit, Mr. Ramirez stayed true to his character and desire to get back to work as the City Manager of Livingston.

“this is about accountability and making sure public service is rooted in integrity. I’m ready to get back to work and refocus on what matters: serving the people of Livingston.”

These were the words shared by Jose Ramirez upon his reinstatement as City Manager—a clear reflection of his commitment to ethical leadership and public service. Despite the challenges he faced by pursuing a lawsuit, Ramirez remained focused on returning to his role and doing the work that matters most to the community. His actions and resolve throughout the legal process serve as a powerful reminder of what it truly means to be a dedicated public servant.