The Hudson County View announces:

=&0=& New online media news outlet aims to keep government=&1=& “I am absolutely thrilled to undertake this new business venture to do what I believe I do best: reporting the news,” said Hudson County View owner and political correspondent, John Heinis. “I would like to thank everyone at The Jersey Journal and Hudson County TV for giving me an opportunity to showcase my talents in one of the most unique political atmospheres in the world.” “With that said I look forward to keeping local government honest and keeping the public educated on as many pressing, thought-provoking issues as humanly possible.” Heinis, a 27-year-old Rutgers University alumnus, is a former Jersey Journal intern and was the Chief Investigative Reporter for upstart news outlet Hudson County TV in his most recent journalistic gigs. The Hudson County View has also brought on board Michael Shurin, also 27, a St. Peter’s University graduate who will initially focus on running the politics and policy page of the website. Hudsoncountyview.com has gone live just moments ago and can be liked on Facebook (“Hudson County View”) and/or followed on Twitter @HudsonCoView.

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The Hoboken municipal budget passed last night on a party line 5-3 vote resulting in a nominal tax increase of 1.8%.

The increase, the first since a state takeover back before the turn of the decade under the late fiscal monitor Judy Tripodi represents the first shift from consistent reduced taxes in the last five years. 


Hoboken overall is the beneficiary of a tax reduction of 10% in that timeframe putting it in very small company compared to over 500 New Jersey municipalities in the last five years. Read More...

Last night’s City Council meeting saw discussion from the public on the 5-2 rejection of the Hoboken Zoning Board. One of the developers on the project, Hoboken resident Hany Ahmed spoke of his disappointment in the two year undertaking to bring the project before the board for approval. He said the process isn’t working and that the City Council should step up and re-examine it.

It doesn’t appear the project can be revisited however at the City Council. By regulation, only an approval can be appealed and a denial can not. Read More...

UPDATE: Lots of discussion on many aspects yesterday in comments. It bears restating the mayor and City Council have no direct authority in the vote on this project. No PILOT was on the table in the proposed development in northwest Hoboken.

Those who follow Hoboken’s political scene will recall a discussion in 2009 at the City Council where the policy question of who should hold the appointing powers to the Hoboken Zoning Board. After some argued on behalf of then Mayor Peter Cammarano, who had already taken a downpayment on his $25,000 zoning variances from a federal informant would be developer, the reform City Council members voted the powers be restored to the legislative body. Read More...

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The Hoboken Housing Authority meeting last Thursday once again elevated issues surrounding the agency’s procurement policies highlighted with a two year contract bid for boilers in the buildings.

The previous contract was issued in December 2011 to Hauser Inc., identified in an earlier MSV exclusive as contributing thousands of dollars to HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia last March.

The Hauser Inc. 2011 contract running two years was issued for a not exceeding amount of $469,000.  Actual payments continued after the end of the contract with no required emergency approval(s) from the HHA Board of Commissioners. With the work orders through Hurricane Sandy, the final tally came in at $1.3 million. Read More...