Year: 2013

News

Hoboken’s Beth Mason tries to buy Jersey City mayoral race!

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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It’s not officially “fity” large yet, but the buzz is out with “Beth takes Jersey City” and it’s not going to be corked back into the bottle with a week left before the Jersey City mayoral election next week.

A counterpart to the Hoboken universe in Jersey City, Johnny Action Space Punk caught wind of the Grafix Avenger story yesterday along with the largesse of the Mason family’s almost $50,000 mega-donation to the Healy campaign and doesn’t sound too happy about it. Read More...

News

Richard and Beth Mason watch: $46,000 contributions to Mayor Healy campaign

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

Da Horsey awoke to a report of massive (illicit?) monies from Beth Mason’s family to the re-election campaign of Jersey City Mayor Healy.

The amount of money given is far and above any individual legal amount even wheeled via the Mason family ongoing political committee, “Friends of Beth Mason.”  The data in the report apparently from NJ ELEC suggests the following Mason family contributions: =&0=&
Ricky Mason, underwriter to Mason family political expenditures and lawsuits.
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Beth Mason is making a big splash throwing money around.  This time in the Jersey City race.  
But is it legal?
The breaking story comes way of a Monday story on Grafix Avenger: =&2=& =&3=&: MSV can’t verify the details of this story early in the am.  Just yesterday in subscriber content reference was made to Beth Mason political donations in the NJ counties of Passaic and Bergen, spanning 2012 =&4=& to all points beyond. What exactly is Beth Mason buying in this massive shopping spree?   More importantly, is any of this legal and will the media question it? Coming on the recent story of the FBI looking into Mason political donations, this is a blockbuster. =&5=&: The massive infusion into the Healy campaign is legal if toxic from the Mason family based on nine open council seats and the mayor’s position.  So the Mason’s are just below the legal limit =&6=& is giving to the Healy campaign of $2,600 per person. So what do the Masons believe they get for 46 large?  Is Hudson County Executive available?

Evening Update: There’s quite a buzz on this story and strong traffic so the political junkies are chowing down on this one and it’s not all coming from Hoboken.  Finboy who directs Beth Mason which way to sneeze certainly has some questions his way on how this massive infusion to Mayor Healy occurred as connections to the Fulop campaign were burned to smoldering embers. Read More...

News

“Hoboken Votes!” voter drive this Sunday looking for volunteers

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
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Dear Neighbors,
  
Great weather has finally arrived and I hope you all are enjoying time outdoors!

I am writing to remind everyone about the spring Hoboken Arts & Musical Festival this Sunday, May 5th, from 11 am to 6 pm.  The weather forecast is looking good and this should be a spectacular city event as usual.

We are once again, though Hoboken Votes!, an initiative launched last year by residents, sponsoring a Voter Registration Table to assist and encourage new residents to register to vote, and to assist anyone who has moved within Hoboken to update their registration.

Can you spare a little time on Sunday to volunteer at our Voter Registration Table?

If so, please email me at councilmanbhalla@gmail.com or call me at 201-647-6090 to sign up!

Last year, Hoboken Votes! successfully registered over 750 Hoboken residents, and we hope to continue the progress to make sure every eligible resident in Hoboken is registered and enthusiastic about participating in the electoral process.

Finally, as I am sure you know, a lot of important things have been happening in Hoboken civic, governmental and political affairs over the last several months.  I hope to provide you with a substantive update, from my perspective, early next week.

But for now, enjoy the weekend and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!  

Sincerely,
Ravi S. Bhalla
Councilman-at-Large
News

Garcia Assembly ballot appeal reaches the New Jersey Supreme Court!

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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In a new development in the Garica Assembly ballot battle, the New Jersey Supreme Court has requested briefs from the lawyer representing the five Hoboken residents due at 3:00 pm today.

The legal team representing Carmelo Garcia will have until Monday noon to submit their brief on the case.

The latest action means the state’s highest court will determine the outcome of whether Carmelo Garcia can run for the 33rd legislative district.

Yesterday, the NJ Appellate Court declined to reverse its decision with a second look at the case with the issue of Carmelo Garcia’s salary being paid in full by the federal government through his position as Executive Director of the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA).  The HHA is part of the federal agency HUD – the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Read More...

News

The attack of racist from Hoboken’s Michael Russo has one color in mind: green

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
Wednesday night was a revelation.  The meeting was moving along at its typical backbiting pace but with no earth shattering surprises.  Then a “brief” presentation by Hoboken Housing Authority executives at the end would allow council members and the public to get to sleep at a normal hour.  Instead, it transformed into a verbal brawl for more than an hour with a less than official ending as reform council members departed, refusing to be held hostage to the artificial deadlock sans Councilman-in-waiting Jim Doyle’s open seat.

Councilman Michael Russo added to the storied history he’s made for himself attacking the mayor as he did during the hospital sale calling her a con.  Coming from the Head of State to the City’s senior grifter family, his fact-less charge was at a minimum entertaining.

Michael Russo in a moment of insight sees racism in Reform for not immediately caving in to the green visions of the Vision 20/20 plan
but he’s color blind on the uniformity of color at home, re: Church Towers.  How come no HHA residents ever find their
way moving “uptown” becoming neighbors with Michael Russo?  He doesn’t have the foggiest.

Then Russo grew frustrated he couldn’t advance phase one of the Vision 20/20 plan in one fell swoop.  And all hell broke loose.

Working himself into a semi-frenzy (real or not makes no difference, he’ll always give a grade B- or better performance).  Russo laid into Councilman Ravi Bhalla the last minute resolution for the 20/20 plan was not going to occur.  What then came out of Russo’s mouth may be less a personal problem in his ward where he’s not held accountable for flapping (or much else), but it certainly is damaging. Read More...

News

Garcia Assembly ballot battle sees second appeal

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Lawyer for the five Hoboken residents confirms, ‘If necessary, we will take the battle to the NJ Supreme Court’

The lawyer for the five Hoboken residents, Flavio Komuves who won the original decision in Hudson County Superior Court knocking HHA Executive Director Carmelo off the ballot for Assembly confirmed the battle isn’t over.

In a phone interview earlier, Komuves confirmed there was disappointment in the appellate panel’s ruling but the appeals process is well underway to again challenge Garcia’s eligibility. Read More...

News

Illegal vote to force HHA 20/20 plan down Hoboken’s throat as council fracas concludes meeting

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

The City Council meeting ended in a frayed conclusion past midnight as members walked out after demands by the Hoboken Sopranos to vote on a 20/20 measure as part of a last minute HHA deadline.

A letter designated as a “letter of need” was required as part of a hectic, last minute 30 year pilot demand for the first HHA building in the controversial 20/20 plan became a pitched midnight battle with council members walking out and the ugliest veil lifted on the actions by the council minority led by Councilman Michael Russo. Read More...

News

City obtains one acre property and $1.5 million from URSA in northwest

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
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City of Hoboken
   

Community: City to Receive 1 Acre Property & $1.5 Million From Settlement With Developer

The City of Hoboken has settled litigation with URSA regarding a dispute over whether the developer provided all of the benefits to which the City was entitled under a Redevelopment Plan approved in 2000. Because of the dispute, the City would not provide Certificate of Completeness to the developer.

As a result of the settlement, the City of Hoboken will become the owner of Block 102, lots 1-8 and 25-32 – an approximately one acre property in Northwest Hoboken. The property is located north of 11th Street between Madison Street and Monroe Street, immediately south of the PSE&G Madison Street Substation. URSA will be responsible for the environmental cleanup of the site and will also make a payment of $1.5 million to the City.

“I am committed to using the funds from this settlement to address the infrastructure needs of Northwest Hoboken rather than for general operating expenses,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “I look forward to working with the City Council and the community to determine the best use for these funds and land, whether it is for parking, parks, community space, affordable housing, or other priorities.”

The City is pleased the matter could be resolved amicably in a way that results in a significant benefit to the infrastructure needs of the community.