The following editorial was submitted by Hoboken resident and Democratic Committeeman Phil Cohen:

To The Editor,

I write to ask our neighbors to come out and vote on June 7th and show your support for an outstanding city-wide slate of candidates working to bring transparency and accountability to local politics. We are Democrats for Honest Government running for Democratic Committee under Column C.

Each year, the local Democratic party elects representatives from each district of every ward (72 in all). In 2006, two reformers, Ann Graham and Rick Kamber, were elected to the Democratic Committee. When they requested copies of the Committee’s bylaws and financial records, they were met with silence. So four years ago, a number of like-minded neighbors decided to run together to reform local party politics. We made an impact, winning a third of the 72 seats. Three years ago, along with other reformers, I was elected to the governing Executive Committee, and appointed chair of the By-Laws Committee. Two years ago, I spearheaded the unanimous, historic passage of the Democratic Party’s by-laws which ensure transparency in spending and, among other things, prohibit funneling the party’s fund-raising to campaigns for non-partisan elections, like Hoboken’s mayoral races. Last year, for the first time, reformers took majority control of the local Democratic Party. We worked hard to build the party, successfully supported our Democratic Team in the General Election, and stayed true to the spirit of our new by-laws. Read More...

Talking Ed Note:  There’s a number of positive factors coming together on behalf of Ravi Bhalla’s campaign to nail down the second Assembly seat against Jersey City’s Sean Connors.

Union City Mayor Brian Stack has not shown much interest in backing Sean Connors, many say he is viewed as an ambitious threat and the same holds true in Jersey City itself with declared mayoral candidate Steve Fulop.

In Weehawken the whispers are that Mayor Turner told Sean Connors not to come.  It’s unclear if it was meant to say no need to bother or more along the lines of the votes will be there. Read More...

From the desk of Democratic Committeeman Phil Cohen:

I am running for Democratic Committee with my running-mate Melissa Abernathy in my district, and a great team of Committee people across Hoboken also are running for Democratic Committee.  You can find us under Column C, running as “Democrats for Honest Government”

Our influence in the Democratic Committee over the last few years has led to the passage of by-laws that stopped the massive funneling of money from political machines and developers to Hoboken’s mayoral campaigns, as was done to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, when Mayors Russo and Roberts controlled the Democratic Committee.  Michele Russo (Mayor Russo’s wife and Michael Russo’s mother) heads the HCDO’s opposing Democratic Committee team. Read More...

According to the NJ Open Meetings Act, a body such as the Hoboken City Council must provide 48 hours notice before holding a meeting fulfilling several requirements.

Included among them is 48 hours written notice with complete details including the agenda of the meeting to the extent known.

Another essential aspect required is the public meeting notice must be transmitted to two newspapers and published in advance of the 48 hours.  The letter Beth Mason sent to the City was on Friday with the Jersey Journal included in the distribution. Read More...

MILE SQUARE VIEW EXCLUSIVE

In a new match up of Old Guard money, ELEC reports show Frank Raia and Ricky Mason, husband of Councilwoman Beth Mason made large donations to the BoE slate that swept the elections last April.

The beneficiaries of the monies as it turns out called themselves “Independents for Education,” a ticket consisting of HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia, Peter Biancamano and Francis Rhodes-Kearns.

Frank Raia who has had his hands in many elections even when he isn’t running as a candidate for office, staunchly opposses the Kids First BoE majority and their brand of education where kids are placed higher on the list of importance than handing out jobs or worse jobs with little work required. Kids First has angered the Old Guard by slashing positions and cutting costs where legally possible, upsetting those who look on the school system as a source of jobs and benefits. Read More...

The glue is coming apart with the FBI recently visiting Hoboken and MSV gives you exhibit A testifying to that fact.  Here’s a video clip of the appearance on the infamous witch hunt for emails in the Beth Russo resolution well, it’s before the discussion on the resolution itself.

First some background, after a long day like others, the last place you want to be on a beautiful day is at a City Council meeting, let alone feeling compelled to speak at a Council meeting.  What does one do when jammed up and doing a million things like so many others in our bustling town? Read More...

Talking Ed Note:  It’s important people know unaffiliated independents (small i) can vote on Tuesday on Column C and put Ravi Bhalla on his way to an Assembly seat.  After the election you can always change back to registered independent if you choose.

Hoboken may in fact decide the outcome of this race.  If you want two voices from Hoboken, you can go with both Ruben Ramo and Ravi Bhalla.

Word is out on the street the other candidate from Jersey City, Sean Connors is in trouble with the political forces there and in Union City.  A whisper campaign suggests people have been told and will be voting for Ravi Bhalla. Read More...

Here’s the comments leading into the zeroing out completely of the $4.1 million surplus.  The city hoped to have the professionally advised minimum of 5% but now lands up with zero.

Councilman Nino Giacchi gives a convoluted answer on why he is voting for no surplus.  He talks about budget gimmicks and accuses the Zimmer administration of same but doesn’t provide the reasons for the accusation.

Hoboken Patch posted a story earlier where Mayor Zimmer called the Council irresponsible, adding “…they don’t give a damn about Hoboken.” Read More...