Official release:

Statement from Councilman DeFusco on Hoboken’s Agreement with SUEZ On Friday morning, Hoboken announced the City has reached an agreement with SUEZ to continue operating the city’s water system. The deal will include much-needed investments in the city’s aging water infrastructure, and it stems from the kind of open, direct negotiation that Councilman Mike DeFusco called for between the city and the private water operator

last year. At the time, Mayor Ravi Bhalla had threatened a lawsuit against the company, an action that could have destroyed any chance of progress if not for the intervention of the City Council. Read More...

Or Shadowstan.

After taking a second job he promised not to do a mere month into the office of mayor and alienating a good chunk of the Hoboken electorate, Ravi Bhalla finds more troubling discontent behind his shoulder.

The Shadow.

Whether it’s due to the politically inept or ignorant climber John Allen running the show or a complete lack of attention or care, the jig is up not two years into a four-year term.

Was buddying up to Carmelo Garcia’s bomb thrower and appointing her to a major Hoboken board the last straw? Read More...

Official release: =&1=&=&2=& The Pulse with Peter B. is proud to announce a one night only special event entitled “The Great Debate: Left versus Right” at Willie McBrides, Monday, April 15 at 7pm. The debate will feature a moderated discussion exploring substantive issues between two of Hoboken’s own deep thinkers, Dr. Anthony Petrosino on the left and Joshua Sotomayor Einstein on the right. It will be moderated by the host of The Pulse with Peter B., Peter Biancamano. Topics covered will be economics, immigration, foreign policy and more. Questions from the audience will be taken. The Pulse with Peter B. is Hoboken’s premier local focused show covering sports, restaurant reviews, and political analysis. The half hour program features Biancamano interviewing veteran sports commentators, local food bloggers, and Joshua Sotomayor Einstein for his take on Hoboken focused politics and government analysis. The show has also gone on scene to highlight local events in Hoboken such as Mutz Fest, the Chili Cookoff, the Annual Casino Night of the United Synagogue of Hoboken, Mac and Cheese Fest and more. Dr. Petrosino, a distinguished professor at University of Texas Austin and former Hoboken School Board Assistant Superintendent, who splits his time between Hoboken and Texas, has received more than 17 million dollars in grants (from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education and the McDonnel Foundation for Cognitive Studies), and has been published in over a half dozen peer review journals, as well as papers and websites. Einstein is the elected NJ GOP State Committeeman representing Hudson County, founding member of the Hudson County Regional Jewish Council, founding member of the Hudson County Young Republicans (re-chartered in 2015), a columnist for the Jewish Standard, contributor to Chicpeajc.com, and is an essayist who has been published in over 18 news sites and papers on Jewish and political topics. “In our Politics with Peter B. segment each week, we break down local issues that you care about. In “The Great Debate”, we present the community with an important dialogue on national issues. Everyone knows what Einstein can bring; on April 15 we add the always articulate Dr. Anthony Petrosino to the mix. It’s a recipe for a great night exchanging ideas between the left and right in a deep way that we don’t usually see in the media” said Biancamano. 

Official release:

DeFusco Endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund for 2019 Council Run HOBOKEN, N.J. — Councilman Mike DeFusco has been endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund for his 2019 First Ward Council re-election. The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics while striving for equality by increasing the number of elected officials nationwide who openly identify as LGBTQ.

Councilman DeFusco is the Chairperson of the Hudson County Democratic Organization’s LGBTQ Caucus and will play a key role in helping all 12 municipalities achieve a score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. He is currently one of only two candidates in New Jersey to be endorsed by Victory Fund for the 2019 election. Read More...

A police incident ensued a week ago Friday when a Hoboken woman seeking to speak to Mayor Ravi Bhalla led to the Hoboken Police  intervening before taking a criminal complaint.

The scene of the complaint occurred far from City Hall at the Hoboken Business Center where Ravi Bhalla was holding a secret meeting sans security detail.

Whispered as “the Ravi incident,” the participants include a Hoboken woman in the local business community who was surprised to see Mayor Ravi Bhalla arrive at the building in the secluded southwest corner of town. An earlier attempt to speak to the mayor by the same woman was reportedly rebuffed last November at City Hall. Both incidents revolve around a family business interest and liquor license in a downtown bar making the news last year. A knock at a conference room door saw it opened then slammed and locked by Ravi Bhalla who didn’t want to have a discussion nor apparently, allow the woman to see who he was meeting. Banging on the door did little to change his mind. In the ensuing melee, the Hoboken police were summoned. =&0=& to the Hoboken Rent Control & Stabilization Board is deeper than originally thought. Members of the seven-member board were outraged at the utter depravity =&1=& demonstrated by appointing Hoboken’s low brow Rev. Al Sharpton imitator on an important quasi-judicial body. At least one board member threatened to resign if the City Council approved the appointment by resolution.

Four days after Ravi Bhalla appointed Waiters, he withdrew his pending resolution before the City Council meeting sparing Jim Doyle and Emily Jabbour. One of their two votes was needed for the appointment’s majority approval. Read More...

Official release:

Spring is in the air, and it’s a busy time here in Hoboken so I wanted to update you on several important issues being discussed by the City Council. PARKING METER INCREASE Last year, I was proud to vote against the mayor’s citywide parking meter hike, raising prices up to 260% as a way of plugging budget shortfalls.  I said at the time that raising these fees without first modernizing our existing transportation infrastructure, creating more garage spaces, or utilizing technology (like demand based pricing and real-time availability) is a back-door tax which hurts our residents and businesses.  Despite my concerns, the rate increase narrowly passed the City Council 5-4. When the pricing took effect last month, the community rallied against this ill-conceived plan and we brought about positive change, together.   Thanks to massive opposition from thousands of Hoboken residents and business owners who spoke out against the rate hikes, the mayor acknowledged he made a mistake and called to scale back. Hoboken should be encouraging people to visit, shop and dine in our city and enjoy all it has to offer as opposed to creating even more obstacles for businesses to succeed. I look forward to working with the mayor to develop and implement holistic solutions to modernizing Hoboken’s parking and transportation infrastructure.  To read more on the repeal,  click here.  PREVENTING A TAX INCREASE On the same day Mayor Bhalla called to repeal the meter increases, he introduced his 2019 budget which not only proposes a sizable tax increase but also that we use the above meter revenue to cover rampant overspending. This budget proposes to raise taxes by nearly $2 million while allocating an additional $1.2 million in anticipated meter revenue to plug other holes in the budget.  Simply put, the mayor is relying on money that didn’t yet exist through questionable parking policy to pay for expenses already made — a buy first, worry later mindset.  Without the anticipated revenues from the meters, our budget is now nearly $3 million deficient and Hoboken taxpayers are being threatened with a significant tax increase.   Residents should not be forced to pay for this mayor’s spending spree and do not deserve a budget that relies on backdoor taxes and gimmicks to compensate for overspending. I am calling on Mayor Bhalla to work with the City Council to develop a fair budget with responsible spending cuts, starting with the bloated staff salaries coming from his office, luxury vehicles and contracts to politically connected law firms. These expenses are threatening Hoboken’s middle-class families and it is time for the Mayor to work with the City Council to ensure that we hold the line on taxes and maintain our AA+ credit rating. MORE “MOM AND POP” SHOPS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS Mom and pop shops play a vital role in our community and it is important we find ways to help more small businesses succeed in Hoboken. Over the past three years I have consistently advocated for small business and fought to reduce the red tape surrounding opening and operating a business in Hoboken. As the Council representative on the Planning Board, I proudly advocated for productive land-use policy focused on bringing mom and pops into our neighborhoods. As a result, Hoboken’s Master Plan now includes expanded neighborhood business districts which, once adopted by the Council, will encourage makers, creators, innovators and mom and pops to open in Hoboken with less bureaucracy. Further, this allows businesses to invest in our city, making our neighborhoods more vibrant, creating jobs and tax revenue and helping Hoboken thrive.   Per the above reference map, the Small Business Expansion District Plan will include:  Expanding neighborhood retail the entire length of First Street, which will create a corridor between the waterfront and Southwest Park. Expanding neighborhood retail along 14th Street from the Waterfront to Willow Avenue Expanding the Central Business District from Fourth Street to Seventh Street along Washington Street. Expanding neighborhood retail on Washington from Seventh Street to 14th Street, with the exception of the residential blocks on the eastern side. Create a neighborhood retail district on Jackson Street between 3rd and 7th Streets to serve the growing west side of Hoboken  The Small Business Expansion District Plan will be up for a vote by the City Council later this month. PAYING FOR PUB CRAWLS Last month, I proposed a common sense plan to protect Hoboken taxpayers by creating a system to better manage bar crawls. Most of our bars and restaurants are responsible neighbors that provide economic support to our city and make Hoboken a more vibrant place, but for far too long residents have been burdened by having to pay for these private events. Though Lepre-Con was much smaller than recent events, it still cost the city over $100,000 to clean up and provide additional police officers and sanitation workers for the day. Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for that, and my ordinance outlines a system where these costs are covered and taxpayers will be safeguarded.   Protecting our quality of life, especially in my downtown neighborhood, is top priority and I’m confident that this plan will give the administration new tools to recoup tax dollars and better manage pub crawls. CLICK HERE to watch my interview NORTHWEST PARK…MOVING FORWARD The City’s Northwest Resiliency Park is moving forward, and I was proud to support this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring a 5-acre park to uptown Hoboken.  That said, in light of the budget issues discussed above we must proceed cautiously as the City is now on the hook for over $83 million in loans to pay for this park’s land acquisition and construction.  To give some perspective, this park is the largest project ever financed in the history of Hoboken and the total cost is 70% of our yearly operating budget.  This all adds to the city’s already significant debt load and threatens higher taxes in the very near-future if we do not do more to attract new, responsible, revenue to Hoboken. I am hopeful that through City Council oversight we will see this project move forward, avoiding the problems of cost overruns and delays that have plagued other major initiatives like the Washington Street redesign and Southwest Park.   To learn more about the park and its many amazing features, click here. COURT RULES AGAINST HILTON HOTEL “GIVEBACKS” Late last year, after significant back and forth with the mayor, the City Council approved an agreement for the long-awaited Hilton Hotel project on River Street, behind the US Post Office. The deal included $4.85 million in community givebacks to local organizations, but just last week a court ruled that these payments were not legally permissible, saying they “would create unacceptable possibilities for abuse and fraud and cannot be permitted for reasons of public policy.” The City Council relies heavily on the legal advice of the City’s law department and outside attorneys when making decisions on development matters like this. The administration has signaled that the ruling will be appealed and I’m hopeful that this situation will not threaten the hotel project which will bring much-needed union jobs, tax revenue and vibrancy to downtown Hoboken.   To read more about the judge’s ruling, click here eSCOOTERS ROLLING INTO HOBOKEN    Last night the City Council approved a six-month trial program with Lime — an eScooter rideshare company operating in over 100 cities worldwide.  I am proud to have been a leading voice for eScooters in Hoboken and last summer, when I hosted Lime on Pier 13 at a free pop-up event, the universal question I heard from residents was, “when will they come to Hoboken”?   The trial-run for the service will extend from May until October and riding areas will be limited to marked bike lanes, with strict enforcement from the HPD.   eScooters and other emerging transportation technologies have the potential to revolutionize how we all get around Hoboken and I personally look forward to hopping onto a scooter soon on my morning commute to NYC.  I hope you’ll take the opportunity to try out this exciting new mode of transportation and let me know your thoughts.    As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions on these issues, or if you need help on any city matters. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to bring new energy and new ideas to Hoboken. Your Councilman, Mike DeFusco Hoboken City Councilman P.S. Should you ever need anything, please email me at Mike4Hoboken@yahoo.com or call me at 646.372.4341. News Ravi – “I surrender” 04/04/201901/22/2021 by SmartyJones1 Min Reading Yesterday afternoon, the Ravi Bhalla Administration contacted the City Clerk’s office and withdrew its resolution of Patricia Waiters as the mayoral appointment to the Rent Leveling & Stabilization Board. After four-plus days, the appointment controversy pending council approval was flushed. Mayor Ravi Bhalla and John Allen, chief face puncher cried, uncle. Ravi said, “I surrender.” Patricia Waiters, of course, showed up at the council and repeated the excuse fed to her blaming the City Council. She was informed the Bhalla Administration pulled her appointment. John Allen and his fellow face punchers never told her the truth.  One face puncher was overheard in City Hall reportedly saying, “I blame Horse.” Damn right.                  There’s more to come. News Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher: ‘April happenings’ 04/04/201901/22/2021 by SmartyJones3 Min Reading Official release:   Dear friends and neighbors: As someone who wants to believe all people are inherently honest, April Fool’s day is crippling to me.  In 1996, reading about the Taco Liberty Bell in the Wall Street Journal I was amazed!  And it wasn’t that long ago that our own Hoboken Girl tried to trick me into believing Taylor Swift was moving into the Hudson Tea (I awoke panicked, as a board member at HTB thinking about all the potential paparazzi…).  Thankfully this year, HMAG’s article on job creation and HobokenGirl’s article on Justin Bieber had specific references to it being April Fool’s.  Phew.   So with that we start April, and hopefully spring, this week with a full agenda of Hoboken features to share with you.     Light It Up Blue for Autism.  Wednesday (4/3) 6-7PM.  Join us as we light City Hall up blue following Autism Awareness day for the entire month of April!  We will be honoring those in our town who have supported our autism community and help make Hoboken even more aware, accepting and supportive to those effected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. Special Meeting of the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission – Wednesday (4/3) 6-9PM.  At Hoboken Public Library, 500 Park Avenue.  In the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, the State Historic Preservation Office and HUD gave Hoboken roughly $.25M in grants to update the citywide architectural survey last completed in 1979. Please come and hear about the new survey of over 1600 properties and how it can shape the future of Hoboken. It will also be live streamed on FB. City Council Meeting – Wednesday (4/3) 7PM.  Click for the agenda and to watch online (link appears when the meeting starts).  You can watch live on Facebook as well. Includes the 2nd vote on: the repeal of the recent parking meter rate increases, new laws regulating bar crawls, and a potential new e-scooter program (more about this below). Municipal Budget Hearing – Thursday (4/4) 6PM-9PM.  City Hall.  The 2019 draft budget by the mayor includes a 3% tax levy increase.  Join the City Council as we look for ways to reduce taxes but maintain services.  You can watch live on Facebook as well.  This hearing includes presentations from our City Clerk’s Office, our Law Department and our Finance and Administration department which covers the Mayor’s office, Constituent Services and our City Engineer (including Washington St. and intersection improvements).  More hearings scheduled next week. Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 registration Read More... News Hoboken’s New Old Guard: The Ravi-Russo-Waiters Axis of Power 04/03/201901/22/2021 by SmartyJones1 Min Reading =&0=& Mayor Ravi Bhalla brought Councilman Michael Russo as his special invited guest at this Hoboken Democratic Committee meeting last year. It was exactly as foretold by Hobokenhorse.com in 2017. At the last City Council meeting, Councilman Peter Cunningham after failing to interest Councilman Michael Russo with a reasonable compromise on free parking hours for residents on Washington Street remarked Russo is “carrying water” for the Administration. It wasn’t met with kindness as a glimmer of the old Michael Russo returned with gusto. Less to decry the Ravi-Russo Alliance and more to complain his victory lap was eliminated when his resolution for four hours free parking on Washington Street for residents was summarily tabled. He whined to City Council President Jen Giattino. She bullied him. She casually responded he could find the bully when he looked in the mirror. Read More...