Author: SmartyJones

News

City Council President Jen Giattino: “9/24 Vote Jen Again Fundraiser!”

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Official release:

    Dear friends and neighbors, Please join me for some fun at my re-election launch fundraiser!
  • WHEN: Tuesday, September 24
  • WHERE:  80 River Hoboken (in the location of the former Cadillac Cantina) 80 River Street, Hoboken
  • TIME: 6pm – 8pm

As many of you know the hardest thing for me to do is to ask for money but campaigns cost money. You have always been so generous supporting me. Each and every one of you makes a difference.  Will you support me with a donation of $25 or more? Checks payable to Jen Giattino for 6th Ward or you can DONATE ONLINE.  Read More...

News

Ravi Bhalla announces temporary retreat to unwind the 2011 pay to play ordinance for election attack on Councilman Mike DeFusco

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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With the Friday reveal uncovered in an exclusive report on Hobokenhorse.com showing Mayor Ravi Bhalla and his Administration orchestrating an assault on Dawn Zimmer’s 2011 Pay-to-Play ordinance, an end of day retreat last week was announced.

Ravi Bhalla will temporarily halt unwinding of the 2011 Pay-to-Play ordinance leaving it intact for the duration of election season. Bhalla and his council slate instead will turn their guns on Councilman Mike DeFusco with a non-binding resolution claiming its intent “to enforce” the 2011 ordinance. Read More...

News

Statement from Councilman Mike DeFusco on Mayor Bhalla’s Proposed Pay-to-Play Resolution

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Official release:

Earlier today, Mayor Ravi Bhalla released a statement doubling down on Hoboken’s embattled local pay-to-play law, even after a review by outside legal counsel called for it to be repealed. Councilman Mike DeFuso is releasing the following statement in response:  

“This is a blatant attempt by the Mayor to distract attention away from the fact that his slate of Council candidates is being supported by a powerful, dark money Super PAC controlled by the city’s health insurance vendor,” Read More...

News

Ravi Bhalla prepares more dirt for the Reform Movement’s grave

by SmartyJones3 Min Reading
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=&0=& =&0=& =&2=& =&0=& =&4=& In 2011, former mayor Dawn Zimmer pressed forward with an update to Hoboken’s pay-to-play ordinance seeking to limit the amount of money from outside special interests impeding Hoboken sovereignty. Eight years later, Mayor Ravi Bhalla and his administration are seen undermining that signature Reform legislation in the Mile Square City, one he co-authored at the time, as alleged Dark Money and City vendor conflicts emerge from the shadows in bombshell allegations. Last August, Hobokenhorse.com obtained a public letter sent by Joel Mestre, President of the Municipal Supervisors Association union. The letter, published for the first time here, oddly sought to undo the landmark 2011 Hoboken ordinance. The letter from Hoboken’s small union complained about Hoboken’s limitations on political contributions being far below those of the State of New Jersey claiming it was a handicap and a “potential liability” for a lawsuit. In over eight years, there’s never been any Constitutional challenge to the ordinance in Hoboken. Other municipalities of New Jersey implemented similar pay-to-play restrictions prior to Hoboken and have seen no successful legal challenge since. On August 1st, in a telephone interview with Mestre, he claimed to author the letter. In a discussion of the ramifications with far larger special interests outside Hoboken, Mestre asked for additional time to review the situation and promised to follow-up. Hours later, Mestre phoned and stated, “we rescinded the letter” saying the City Council was notified in writing the Hoboken Municipal Supervisors Association was reversing course and would not be pursuing the matter.  Asked to explain the sudden reversal in a single week, Mestre pointed to an unwillingness to see opened a “Pandora’s Box” of far larger and more powerful NJ special interest groups and Dark Money entities enter Hoboken. Other sources within City Hall point to the mayor’s office and a recent move with Ravi Bhalla’s Chief of Staff John Allen moving into the Hoboken Law Department as prompting ongoing efforts to undo the Dawn Zimmer reform. “It is counterproductive to a small municipal union to have Dark Money and statewide special interests invited in to push Hoboken around,” said one who asked not to be named to avoid retaliation from the mayor’s office.  =&6=&

Then this week, the Hudson County View published a story identifying one potential PAC (Political Action Committee), NJ Community Initiatives, as preparing to throw money into Hoboken’s upcoming council ward races. The PAC reportedly hired Stephanie Wohlrab, a professional fundraiser.
According to that exclusive Hudson County View report, Wohlrab counts among her clients, former mayor Dawn Zimmer and Ravi Bhalla. 
On September 3rd, an 18-page letter to Corporation Counsel Brian Aloia from a lawyer, Raymond Hamlin of Hunt, Hamlin, and Ridley stated it had been “tasked” to write on the constitutional basis of Hoboken’s 2011 Pay-to-Play ordinance.
Hamlin’s letter to Aloia concluded, “I trust this is responsive to your inquiry.” (emphasis added).
In a follow-up interview by phone with Joel Mestre yesterday afternoon, he said he doesn’t know Raymond Hamlin and had no involvement in having him “tasked” to prepare an 18-page letter challenging the 2011 Hoboken Pay-to-Play ordinance.

“I never got a call from this guy,” Mestre stated. 


Read More...

News

City Council President Jen Giattino: “Thank you for your support and looking forward!”

by SmartyJones4 Min Reading

Official release:

=&0=& Dear friends and neighbors,

Thank you to everyone who signed a nominating petition for me.  With your support, I will officially be on the ballot for re-election to Hoboken City Council as the 6th ward representative!  Hoboken matters so much to all of us and I am grateful for the chance to continue to work alongside you and to be your advocate for the next four years.  

My focus has always been, and will continue to be, on improving quality of life issues, working to keep taxes low, helping those who have less, supporting our local businesses, and protecting our neighborhood feel that makes Hoboken so special.  Our track record together is strong including:
  • Making zoning changes that preserve the historic character of the community
  • Fighting to keep our taxes as low as possible
  • Adding loading zones in neighborhoods
  • Supporting building a new American Legion and six new homes for homeless veterans
  • Installing stop signs throughout the 6th ward to ensure safe pedestrian passage
  • Advocating for Union Dry Dock to be added to the open space plan since 2012 
  • Completing necessary upgrades to city parks (grass in Church Square)
  • Expanding affordable housing resources and 
  • Securing more County funding including $250,000 for dog park upgrades  
I have also advocated to ensure that local nonprofits are able to continue operating and to fix a loophole in the city’s rent control law to protect tenants and as part of the mayor’s task force, I have worked to reduce homelessness in Hoboken.  A highlight for me was securing a Section 8 housing voucher and a new home for one of Hoboken’s chronically homeless women.
As we look ahead, we have to continue the progress we have made including completing Rebuild By Design to make our community resilient to storm-related flooding, working even harder to keep our taxes as low as possible in a rising cost environment, ensuring new development works for Hoboken including less reliance on cars and inclusion of more affordable units, launching our new Special Improvement District to help local businesses thrive, and finishing our plans for open space including the NW, SW, Harborside Parks and connecting the last two remaining pieces of our public waterfront park.  
There is a lot to do and I am excited to have your support and together, tackle what lies ahead.  As I continue to knock on doors and meet with neighbors, I am honored to hear phrases like “you’re everyone’s neighbor” and “thank you for always listening”.  I have strived to cultivate a reputation as an advocate for our neighborhood and pride myself on being accessible to my constituents for problem-solving while providing independent, responsible leadership on the City Council.  
Serving the residents of Hoboken is something I take very seriously and our community deserves a true advocate who has always, and will always do whatever they can to deliver to residents and put Hoboken first.  I have had the honor to lead the City Council four times since taking office as Council President, having been elected by my peers reflecting what I believe is my dedication to public service and willingness to be a consensus builder and leader.  Although we all work well together and agree most often – 83% of the time we voted 9-0 on the mayor/council agenda under this administration – at times I make tough decisions on what’s best for our city without bowing to political pressure.    
I have been proud to be your representative on the City Council and, with your continued support, will be honored to keep working together on what matters most to all of us, Hoboken.    
Thank you again for your support!  Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to join me on the campaign trail.
-Jen
201.780.6779

Read More...

News

Matt Calicchio sentencing for his role in Hoboken voter fraud postponed

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
MILE SQUARE VIEW EXCLUSIVE Matt Calicchio, the controversial political operative once employed by former Councilwoman Beth Mason will not be sentenced tomorrow in Newark Federal Court for his role in voter bribery as originally scheduled. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey in Newark, Calicchio’s sentencing is postponed. No new sentencing date has been set. In June, Calicchio testified on behalf of the government as a key witness against Frank “Pupie” Raia who was later convicted for organizing a Hoboken voter bribery scheme in 2013. Raia’s criminal conviction is pending appeal. Last May, Calicchio became the fifth person to be ensnared in a federal probe of criminal voter fraud activities connected to Hoboken’s 2013 and 2015 elections.  He pleaded guilty last spring to his role in voter bribes for both municipal elections.
Matt Calicchio, a years long employee of former councilwoman Beth Mason will not be sentenced for his admitted role in voter bribery activities in the 2013 and 2015 Hoboken election. No new sentencing date has been set.
Below Calicchio front is Dio Braxton who also awaits sentencing and Michael “Big Holmesy” Holmes who testified in the Raia trial in lieu of prosecution for the government.
Coming a day after word of Dio Braxton’s sentencing being delayed, alarm bells will be ringing in Hoboken as additional criminal indictments in the 2015 and possibly 2017 elections await.  Last January, the first indictment in the 2015 Hoboken election came down against Fox Hill Gardens resident Willie Rojas by the US Department of Justice. =&1=&: Last May, Hobokenhorse.com highlighted the admitted guilt of the former Beth Mason political operative in an article inquiring who was paying for his attorney writing: =&2=& The delay in sentencing will further boost fears of further action in the federal investigation into Hoboken voter fraud. For months, Ravi Bhalla political operatives have been pointing fingers in the fourth ward all the while misidentifying the council candidate mentioned in federal court documents connected to the 2015 Hoboken election.  At the Raia trial, Calicchio dispelled those claims testifying he worked for the uptown fifth ward 2015 campaign of Eduardo Gonzalez. In the 2015 Hoboken municipal ward election for City Council, $15,000 was splashed around Hoboken on “campaign workers” similar to the amounts Frank Raia spent in 2013 and similarly tied to hundreds of Vote by Mail ballots. The

2015 funds, however, came from Councilman Michael Russo Read More...

News

18 years after the World Trade Center fell to Islamic terrorism

by SmartyJones3 Min Reading
The World Trade Center as seen from the Hudson River in September 1999.
All rights reserved – The Hudson Mile Square View smartyjones@me.com

At 8:46 am, a moment of silence honors the thousands of Americans killed on Patriot Day, as designated on December 18, 2001, in a joint Congressional resolution.

The nearly 3,000 victims killed by name is available on the 9/11 Memorial & Museum website. Among them, 56 Hoboken residents who went to work and were murdered.

On Patriot Day, we solemnly remember the nearly 3,000 people who perished on September 11, 2001.  With gratitude, we honor the brave first responders, resolute members of our military, and ordinary Americans who showed extraordinary courage to save others on that fateful day.  We will always be grateful for the heroic men and women of our Armed Forces who fought in defense of our country in the aftermath of the largest terrorist attack on American soil, and we will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our liberty and freedom.

Many Americans vividly recall the precise moment when terrorists killed our fellow Americans at the World Trade Center in New York City; at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia; and on a quiet field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  A beautiful September morning was marred by stark disbelief, agonizing sorrow, and profound suffering.  America’s strength, courage, and compassion, however, never wavered.  First responders instantly rushed into harm’s way to save their fellow Americans from the wreckage of the attacks, the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 decisively fought back and saved countless lives at the cost of their own, and Americans from across the country provided aid, assistance, and comfort to those in need.  Against the backdrop of cowardly acts of terror, America once again demonstrated to the world the unmatched strength of our resolve and the indomitable power of our character.
This year, I was proud to sign into law the Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.  This bipartisan legislation, named in honor of New York first responders Officer James Zadroga, Firefighter Ray Pfeifer, and Detective Luis Alvarez, permanently reauthorizes compensation for victims and their families, first responders, and those on the front lines of rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero.  Through this legislation, our Nation is fulfilling our sacred duty to those who risked their lives for their fellow Americans on that infamous September day 18 years ago. Read More...

News

Councilman DeFusco Announces Plan to Revitalize Neglected Park at Newark and Garden Street

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Official release:

A gated park at the Newark and Garden streets intersection has been underutilized and inaccessible for years, but now Councilman Mike DeFusco is proposing to activate the space and give it new life by adding food and beverage kiosks. Under the current zoning plans for the property at 77 Park Avenue, the City is entitled to access the space but because of the poor condition of the park neither building residents or the public at large are utilizing it. 

Councilman DeFusco has been in touch with Equity Apartments, the Chicago-based owner of the property, to discuss opening a pocket park at the location to better serve the people of Hoboken.  Read More...

News

Mayor Ravi Bhalla issues municipal layoffs to maintain bloated mayoral office staff

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
The issue of the Ravi Bhalla mayor’s office and its budget came up at last week’s City Council meeting exposing an apparent scheme to retain bloated staff increases, long a point of contention.

What was exposed in the rollback of the mayor’s office budget to 2017 former mayor Dawn Zimmer levels?

Layoffs!

Word of half-a-dozen municipal scheduled employee layoffs in City Hall came up Wednesday night at the City Council meeting. The mayor’s bloated staff have apparently moved into dual “roles” outside the mayor’s office with layoffs clearing the way for their arrival.

According to the Bhalla Administration, mayoral aides are now working for the Hoboken Parking Utility and the Legal Department. The scheme allegedly allots one-quarter of their salaries charged to those departments. Read More...