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Proving election season is here and ambition springs eternal even in the dead of a cold January winter, Tim Occhipinti who holds the seat of fourth ward councilman submitted a letter to the Jersey Journal attacking Mayor Zimmer for not paving roads last year.

The letter makes a number of charges the mayor failed to spend 400K in available funds for repaving streets leading into Hurricane Sandy.  It begins with a very polished reference in the form of a historical reference to a former NYC mayor: Read More...

In an unusual development, Timmy Occhipinti showed up for class at the Board of Education meeting last night.  Occhipinti has not shown much interest in the BoE having been one of the few darksiders among the Old Guard not to attend last February to fight against November elections where more people would decide at the polls.

Timmy time at the BoE?

That Valentine’s evening saw a small army of the Old Guard descend on the meeting with Michael Russo, Terry Castellano and Beth Mason all in tow. All came out in support of their people deciding and not more of those voters who don’t sell their ballot for $40 a pop. Read More...

Hoboken Housing Authority Chairman Jake Stuiver announces:

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There’s a job opening for the Old Guard and applications are being accepted with this sample ad in an upcoming Hoboken Reporter:

Wanted: Old Guard candidate for Hoboken mayor.  Must have an affinity for corruption, nepotism, massive development, back room deals and contempt for the public at large, especially busy professionals not paying attention when money is going out the back door.  Enjoy taking “yuppies” for a ride wherever possible.  Must show reverence for Hoboken traditions re: bar owners over homeowners, the Russo clan and be willing to kiss the Masonic ring, bowing to its temple of self-worshiping doom. Read More...

This week a series of letters between members of the Hoboken Housing Authority followed a contentious meeting the previous Thursday with extra police called in and one Beth Mason political operative cursing out an elected official as reported on Grafix Avenger and confirmed with witnesses by MSV.

HHA Chairman Jake Stuiver and commissioner Eduardo Gonzalez exchanged views and accusations on unrelated matters.  The dispute centers on changes to the auditing and legal professionals, a process ongoing over months with a disputed RFQ process yielding a limited response from vendors. Read More...

“WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HOBOKEN”

Hoboken Events Committee to produce community testimonial video as part of their
ongoing effort to promote the city as a prime 2014 Super Bowl events venue.

The Hoboken Events Committee—in cooperation with the City of Hoboken, the
Hoboken Board of Education and the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce—is
proud to announce the launch of an initiative aimed at generating support and
awareness for the city, its residents and its businesses in the wake of the devastating
flooding brought on by Hurricane Sandy.
Read More...

Sometimes a dispute leads to going to the videotape.  In this case, there was some grandstanding on whether council members Beth Mason, Tim Occhipinti, Michael Russo and Terry Castellano were ordered by a judge to finally appear at the same council meeting and vote as a body on the Jim Doyle appointment.

Laughably and to no small consternation across the table, Tim Occhipinti claimed not to be aware of any court order compelling him to be at the City Council meeting and vote on the Jim Doyle appointment.  Speaking last before the vote, Councilwoman Terry Castellano would feign ignorance herself saying she “never received anything from the judge.”  Council President Peter Cunningham would read directly from the court order (below) causing more agita for MORTe who were squirming at Occhipinti’s disingenuous pretense there was no court order calling for he and his allies to vote. Read More...

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As anticipated, the City Council’s vote of all members as ordered by the Hudson County Superior Court resulted in a 5-4 vote for Jim Doyle’s appointment.  Two of the no votes mirrored prior votes where at different meetings, Council members Beth Mason and Michael Russo voted to abstain.

Corporation Counsel Melissa Longo stated for the basis of the vote, an abstention would be counted as a “no” vote based on her reading of NJ case law.  Mayor Dawn Zimmer stepped up to cast the tie breaking fifth vote. Assignment Judge Peter Bariso who called for the full council to vote on the appointment will now hear arguments when the vote results are brought to him possibly within a week.  The judge has said he will examine the vote and listen to arguments on both sides how an abstention should be counted.

The abstention votes will be the point of the legal examination with no small irony as both Beth Mason and Michael Russo certainly are a “no” on the idea of Jim Doyle becoming the decisive vote on the council. Read More...

It’s Showtime at 7:00.  Jim Doyle vote of the FULL COUNCIL TBD – based on Mason’s late arrival.

Video streaming by Ustream

Well it is somewhat odd to be getting ready for a meeting with an open council seat up for a court ordered vote and no one in the regular local media having even mentioned one word of it.

Is there a strike against good news or something?  No bias there, it’s just a misunderstanding.  Let’s put it in our new 2013 file of Hoboken media coverups and move on.  (Thankfully Katie Colaneri just earlier confirmed our reports with a lead-in to tonight’s meeting for Hoboken Patch.)  Jim Doyle’s vote is resolution 1b. Read More...

After a handful of meetings awaiting a full vote of the eight council members, Jim Doyle’s time has come.  Not at the barrel of a gun but at the stroke of a pen when the NJ Appellate Court tossed the Old Guard Council’s laughable legal argument they were “irreparably harmed” like Florida voters in the 2000 presidential election – but not if they lost their vote – no, if they were made to vote.

Only overpriced, overpaid New York lawyers (and self-absorbed clients) can come up with a legal strategy that bad it drew nothing more than a one word written response: denied.  So full circle we are back as in October with the fun and games as the Old Guard Council weighs strategies to take from the Hoboken voters what is not theirs in the first place: the fifth swing seat on the City Council. Read More...