Corruption is at present a living breathing organism in Hoboken. Back in 2009, at the time of the arrest of then mayor Peter Cammarano, division between the Russo Faction and the rise of Reform was an emerging battle line temporarily abated.

Other than a few discordant voices who said with straight faces, “Don’t hate the playa, hate the game,” an unsaid rule of thumb prevailed. Let the dust settle and the decks (and bodies) be cleared away then it will be business as usual for the Old Guard again. It was at best a tip of the hat to corruption in the salty “On the Waterfront” veiny past in the Mile Square City. It isn’t quite a novella for the history books though. Let’s examine how it may have played out in recent events. The Hoboken Housing Authority is reeling with revelations of misdeeds, incompetence and financial strangulation. Finger pointing isn’t going to solve those problems but MSV can state without final confirmation, a list continues to be unwound and the unraveling will become more a public issue. Transparency and all that jazz being a real deal for reform. Among the emerging gristy chewables: Numerous HHA residents unbelievably did not have any “normal” security in their homes. Quite literally, they had no locks on their apartment doors. The reason was a vendor agreement with a local locksmith was not paid and the outstanding bill, in the thousands of dollars stopped all work orders. Buildings also were not secured with no working entrance locks putting some residents in double jeopardy. How is it that problem never came to the fore? It was never mentioned by any HHA resident at any meeting. What does that tell you about the iron fisted fear they lived under? Early on this year when the financial irregularities were surfacing, MSV clearly saw the echoes of finger pointing at one HHA officer. It was obvious this person was going to be thrown under the bus should/when the need arise. Once the full weight of financial issues began to surface due largely to the strong investigative efforts of HHA Chair Dana Wefer, right under the bus this officer went. A suspension was thrust upon them and only after the termination of the former Executive Director took place was that wrong righted. Reports of misuse of HHA authorized vehicles has been whispered about for weeks. There’s more than one vehicle involved. One vehicle was in the sights for personal usage but the authorization of use is an open issue too. Unfortunately, a clearer explanation isn’t possible for the moment. There’s additional word from the County level of some political shenanigans tied to unnecessary and completely unjustified =&0=& More investigative work is required. 

When trouble began surfacing in the HHA, one official was tossed right under the bus. More problems are coming to light and will not be so easily whitewashed, part of the Hoboken “On the Waterfront” tradition.

With the fear of talking removed in the HHA, residents have begun stepping forward asking if they can speak to issues and problems of a personal and legal variety. It’s in the early beginnings but it’s a positive sign. What emerges will be more than a little interesting. Corruption rears its head in many forms and the nexus of corruption is very much in our midst and ready to strike, perjure, cheat and steal to advance itself and no gutter is too low to go. As cited here, it’s Hoboken’s most vulnerable who recently were paying the highest price.  Grist for the Mill is MSV’s rumor column. Have a juicy carrot for Da Horsey? Send it to smartyjones@me.com. Confidentiality is ensured but publication is not. =&1=&: Be on the lookout for another in a series of Beth Mason sponsored phone calls to Hoboken residents urging anger over the legally required reval.

Multiple reports are coming in already and the Mason family money is on the warpath. The latest in a fishy smelling political operation on behalf of Beth Mason is an attempt try and blame the reval, decades overdue, on Mayor Zimmer.

A reader emailed MSV saying a caller speaking for Beth Mason was blaming the reveal on the mayor saying she initiated it. Read More...

City of Hoboken announces:

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The Hoboken community will come together to share in its annual September 11^th Interfaith Memorial Service for the victims, their families, the City of Hoboken, and the entire nation. Fifty seven Hoboken residents were lost on September 11, 2001. The service will take place on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. on the southeast corner of Hoboken’s Pier A Park. All are invited to attend.

Murky word about an unexplained subpoena emerged pointing to the NJ Department of State, re: the office led by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno came to light late last week and the Mile Square City is the point of interest confirmed by the Attorney General’s Office.

A report by the Record brought to light the subpoena concerning “Hoboken issues,” confirmed in billing by law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher last July. Details of the questions are unknown and the Lt. Governor isn’t talking. As the sleepy summer is past, the news of the subpoena is sure to take on another life highlighting the differences between Gov. Christie’s subordinates and Mayor Dawn Zimmer who went public early this year alleging Hurricane Sandy aid approved by the State was being leveraged for her support toward a billion dollar development project in the Northwest for the Rockefeller Group. The revelations along with the controversial closure of the George Washington Bridge all but derailed the presidential aspirations of Gov. Chris Christie. He’s been trying to rebuild mythical front runner status in the Republican Party and recently took a high profile trip to Mexico. Gudagno when confronted about the “Hoboken issues,” gave a Beth Mason type response which will not bury the questions swirling around the subpoena reportedly saying, “I don’t have any idea what you are talking about. I have no idea what you are talking about.” Back in May 2013, the Lt. Governor came to Hoboken to celebrate the reopening of the local Shop Rite supermarket. Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer alleged the exchange of an attempted quid pro quo occurred in the parking lot. The subpoena did not come from the legislative NJ body reviewing the controversy but the state’s Attorney General’s Office raising more eyebrows. The last time Hoboken was mentioned in connection to the highest law enforcement office in the State was when signed affidavits of vote buying connected to the Timmy Occhipinti 2010 fourth ward council campaign were kicked up from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.  500 suspect Vote by Mail votes submitted by the Occhipinti for Council campaign, mostly out the Hoboken Housing Authority were central in the investigation. No arrests were made and no report issued by the AG’s office clearing the Occhipinti campaign of the vote buying allegations. Earlier this year, a civil trial contesting ballot one on rent control saw more controversy on the voting practices in the Hoboken Housing Authority when approximately 300 votes were nullified by the Hudson County Board of Elections.  The challenged ballots nullified a possible overturning of Hoboken’s existing rent control law and were closely connected to the underwriters of the the 2013 Timmy Occhipinti for Mayor campaign.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer at Hoboken High School coordinating emergency supplies during the Hurricane Sandy emergency. A July subpoena out of the NJ State Attorney General’s office is raising more eyebrows as questions are swirling around the NJ Department of State headed by Lt. Governor Guadagno where “Hoboken issues” are stated as the focus.

=&0=&: The last time subpoenas in Hoboken were in the news was on the smoke circling a Beth Mason connected political firm and the November 2013 local election.

NJ.com issued a poll asking readers who they believed in the SandyGate controversy, the Lt. Governor or Hoboken mayor:

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/09/poll_who_do_you_believe_in_the_hoboken-sandy_aid_controversy.html#incart_related_stories Read More...

A permanent memorial to the Hoboken victims of 9-11 may be one step away from finally becoming a reality.

On Wednesday night, the tenor on this “contentious” issue voted down last March 2013 leading into the November municipal elections appears to have changed dramatically when Councilman Michael Russo voiced his willingness to move the project ahead to completion.

“Let’s get it moving as fast as possible.. Let’s find a funding source, let’s get it done,” he urged his council colleagues saying the victim’s families deserved it and the permanent memorial was long overdue. Read More...

 Some items of interest tonight at the unofficial end of summer in tonight’s council meeting. There’s an amendment for referral to the Planning Board on the Northwest Redevelopment Plan. The area has generated a lot of interest in recent months on what is possible in that area of town. (Don’t have anything to offer in way of background.)

It appears the independent good idea approach is being succeeded with a holistic Administration approach. How one views the two is entirely up to you. Read More...

City of Hoboken announces:

=&0=& The City of Hoboken invites members of the community to three public meetings in the coming weeks regarding the Parking Master Plan, Sinatra Drive redesign, and Washington Street redesign. All meetings will be held from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Multi Service Center, located at 124 Grand Street. =&1=& What: Presentation of Parking Master Plan policy and legislative recommendations =&3=& Tuesday, September 9, 2014 6:30pm-8:30pm Where: Multi Service Center, 124 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ =&5=& www.hobokennj.org/parkingplan

Sinatra Drive Visioning & Design Read More...

At the Hoboken Housing Authority meeting Tuesday night on lower Jackson Street, a surprise guest made a visit during public portion. The proceedings were spontaneously disrupted as residents cheered his arrival.

The person entering the meeting room was Bob DiVincent. He was approved as interim director in an HHA agency agreement and board vote to act as the Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director. DiVincent served in the capacity prior to 2009 after the HHA found itself in a corruption scandal under former ED Troy Washington. DiVincent is currently the Executive Director of the West New York Housing Authority. Read More...

The Office of the Mayor announces:

Message sent via Nixle | Go to nixle.com |

Tuesday August 26, 2014 City of Hoboken www.hobokennj.org     Community: Statement From Mayor Zimmer Regarding Uber and Rideshare Services Dear Horsey, “Uber and similar companies offer a valuable transportation option that we want to make available to Hoboken residents and visitors,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Since April, I have been advocating to our State elected officials to ensure that this transportation option can operate safely and lawfully in our community. I am glad to hear that there is legislation pending before the State Senate and Assembly to address the issue. I urge the legislature to pass S2274/A3586 expeditiously so that we can safely and legally use these services which are so important to our residents. As mayor, I have an obligation to ensure the public safety of our community, and this new legislation addresses my concerns by ensuring that all drivers have safe driving and background records and proper levels of insurance in case of accidents.” Mayor Zimmer’s letter to State legislators can be found at: www.hobokennj.org/docs/mayor/4-29-14-Letter-Zimmer-Stack-Garcia-Mukherji.pdf The legislation introduced to address this issue can be found at: www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/S2500/2274_I1.HTM UberX and similar rideshare services in New Jersey use private vehicles for a commercial purpose but without a commercial license, which is against NJ Motor Vehicle Code Title 39 and Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. This is an issue that applies to these services across the entire State of New Jersey and is not specific to Hoboken. For full details, view this message on the web.