=&0=& =&1=& =&2=& In a minutely detailed dressing down legal analysis, the Hudson County Superior Court sent HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia’s “ethnic cleaning” lawsuit to the scrap heap possibly ending the negative attention his civil lawsuit brought on Hoboken leading into last November’s mayoral election. The dismissal of the complaint against Mayor Dawn Zimmer and former HHA chairman Jake Stuiver becomes effective within 30 days unless Garcia’s attorney amends and resubmits with permission of the court. The 18 page decision signed by Judge Lawrence M. Maron takes effect in January and dismantled each of Garcia’s claims.  The basis of the civil lawsuit was deemed invalid – that Carmelo Garcia’s contractual employment was in any way adversely impacted and the claim he was a “whistleblower.”   The court ruled in order to claim whistle blower status protected under law, it’s required to “blow the whistle” on something. Garica also claimed his First Amendment rights to speech were negatively impacted but the court sharply differed saying Garcia has consistently spoke publicly against the Zimmer administration.  Garcia actively backed Zimmer’s mayoral opponent Assemblyman Ruben Ramos in the November election. Louis Zayas, the attorney who filed the complaint betrayed in an interview months ago a lack of confidence in its legal underpinnings saying after its filing it could be enough to alter alleged interference by Mayor Zimmer in the Hoboken Housing Authority.   The mayor previously described the lawsuit as “despicable.” The claims of ethnic cleansing led to national stories on Hoboken about the case, picked up by the Associated Press and featured in the Wall Street Journal among others. 10 days ago the court issued preliminary findings at the start of oral argument two motions to dismiss from attorneys representing Mayor Zimmer with the City of Hoboken and Jake Stuiver were likely to be granted.  While the Garcia civil lawsuit claimed Mayor Zimmer’s competing Vision 20/20 plan was detrimental to minorities in Hoboken, no actual competing plan from City Hall was ever issued.  The mayor however called for Garcia’s Vision 20/20 plan to be comprehensively made public and allow citywide community input but no Master Plan has been presented. A housing authority group independent of Garcia called “Save the Projects” severely criticized Garcia’s Vision 20/20 marketing plan that would replace 17 acres of existing buildings downtown saying it was a get rich scheme meant to make minorities homeless and pointed to Garcia’s role back in 2001 undermining a lawsuit against Applied Housing which sought protection for low and middle income housing tenants in its Hoboken buildings. The tenant group led by activist HHA resident Jessica Coco became another point of contention as Coco herself became a victim of multiple crimes over months alleging numerous break-ins to her HHA apartment, vandalism to her vehicle in its parking lot and multiple acts of intimidation and threats by people, at least some believed aligned with Garcia. MSV verified the hacking of Jessica Coco’s computer after at least one of the break-ins to her HHA apartment and the alleged death threats against her.  Carmelo Garcia dismissed “all” of Jessica Coco’s claims with no investigation but an earlier exclusive story confirmed part of her criminal allegations. In oral arguments, Louis Zayas said the civil complaint by Garcia could be amended and the court agreed but it’s unclear if any such attempt will follow.  At the hearing the judge called the use of the term ethnic cleansing in Garica’s complaint “offensive to real victims of ethnic cleansing.” MSV noted a conversation previously saying the lawsuit would be withdrawn only after Mayor Dawn Zimmer would get out of the way of the massive land deal in Hoboken advocated by Garcia called Vision 20/20.  That conversation took place =&3=& the lawsuit was public. The complete legal opinion of the court is published below.  This story is breaking… Carmelo Garcia Order of Dismissal re: ethnic cleansing

There’s a couple of important, looming stories for readers who are on the whole trying to enjoy the holidays with friends and families while others are feeding their appetite here in the Mile Square City.

While Hoboken isn’t its big brother across the way where the city never sleeps, the Old Guard is almost always scheming how to “loveyourtaxmoney” as one of the convicted felons among them use to say on NJ.com or even better devise some corrupt practice of taking your money from you ways both direct and indirect. The most obvious way has often been in plain sight in a City Council meeting. It’s so corrupt, it’s liable to see your vision deterred or totally blurred in Vision 20/20.   Back on a short holiday week with more exclusive news Monday – only on MSV. =&0=&

Whaddaya got Horsey? The other thoroughbreds are lined up awaiting the latest news in Hoboken.

HFHA announces:

=&0=& The Hoboken Fair Housing=&1=&

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 

by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. Read More...

After an hour of private discussion last night in a special city council meeting, a vote to settle the Angel Alicea discrimination case failed 5-2.  Council members Michael Russo and Terry Castellano voted yes while the remaining present members voted no. *

Terms of the proposed settlement were not announced and the City released a short statement saying the litigation will continue in January next month.

Details are vague especially considering discussion on the controversial inconsistent verdict in closed session last night doesn’t allow public insight but this much is known; there will be no payout to Alicea and his attorney Louis Zayas leading into the Christmas holiday. Read More...

A pre-Christmas legal bombshell entered the fray with word another possible legal tendering centered on the Hatch Act and the arrival of Carmelo Garcia replacing his friend Ruben Ramos who is departing the Assembly seat.

Word of a possible second legal challenge when Garcia actually holds the office of Assemblyman has been broached over months but it was thought among many in legal circles to be an effort not worth filing. The news if true can’t be sweet for State Senator Brian Stack who picked Garcia on his machine slate for the position last spring and has reportedly called the selection “a mistake” to vocal Hobokenites who phoned him with their misgivings.

Carmelo Garcia who’s already facing bad news his “Ethnic Cleansing” lawsuit is likely to be thrown out of Hudson County Superior Court may see another legal challenge to his Assembly-elect seat. Merry Karmic Christmas?

The rumored legal challenge comes outside Hoboken based media on the new Hudson County political website –

Hangin’ on the Vine Read More...

Hoboken’s 2013 property revaluation has been completed and letters are going out to property owners. If you’ve received your letter with your new property valuation, you can use this worksheet from Appraisal Systems, Inc to calculate the tax implications of your new property assessment. Enter your current and new assessments in the orange boxes and see what your new tax amount will be in the yellow boxes, assuming there is no change in spending by the city, school, and county. On average, Hoboken property assessments have increased by about 3.5 times the old amount. If your new assessment is 3.5 times greater than your current assessment, your taxes will stay flat. If less than 3.5, your taxes will go down, and if greater than 3.5, your taxes will go up. This ratio is provided in one of the yellow boxes on the worksheet as well. To see how your neighbors and others have fared, find your block or building on this list: http://www.asinj.com/revaluation/docs/neighborhoodmap/283/NBHD%20Descriptions.pdf Use the NBHD number in the left column to find the corresponding assessment list here: http://www.asinj.com/revaluation.asp?p=current&id=283  The Wiley Coyote tending to varmints after the reval.

9:15 am
CBS reported on the scene of one of the arrests in Irvington. Four suspects are in custody and a press conference is minutes from beginning on most of the major TV networks.

Dustin Friedland lived in Hoboken with his wife and was murdered at the scene of a carjacking at the Short Hills Mall. The car was found in Newark the next day.
The names of the four suspects have not been released pending a press conference.
Ted Sherman of the Star Ledger filed this early morning news report:
http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2013/12/arrests_made_in_connection_to_fatal_shooting_outside_short_hills_mall.html#incart_m-rpt-1 Read More...

MILE SQUARE VIEW EXCLUSIVE

Although a written opinion will be issued next week, Judge Lawrence Maron held a hearing in Hudson County Superior Court and issued a preliminary finding deeming Carmelo Garcia’s “ethnic cleansing” lawsuit insufficient. The court’s designation means it may be thrown out of court.

The bar for the joint motions to dismiss against Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the former HHA chairman is high based on NJ law but the judge indicated in his questions he was not impressed with Carmelo Garcia’s claim he was “a whistleblower,” stating there was nothing shown in the civil complaint and you have to blow the whistle on “something.” Read More...

City of Hoboken announces the mayor is calling for a Special Meeting of the Council this Monday:

Via Hand Delivery
City Clerk James Farina
94 Washington Street
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030

Dear City Clerk Farina:

Please be advised that as the Mayor of the City of Hoboken, I hereby call a Special Meeting of
the Governing Body for Monday, December 23, 2013 to begin promptly at 7:00 P.M. in the City
Council Chambers, 94 Washington Street, First Floor, Hoboken, New Jersey, for the following
purposes:

1. CALL TO ORDER  Read More...