The Hudson Reporter posted a story on the back and forth calls for oversight by the NJ State Attorney General’s office referencing the two press releases issued by the respective campaigns in the fourth ward special election November 2nd.
As part of the releases the Reporter notes the following complaint coming from the Occhipinti for Council campaign:
“We are concerned about the Michael Lenz campaign targeting first-time voters and anyone they have identified as opponents,” Occhipinti said in a letter to Dow. “The Lenz campaign and a number of blog surrogates are targeting residents by paying ‘bounties’ for names of those who vote by mail, and using intimidation tactics intended to suppress new voters and those in minority communities.”
Lenz for Council announces:
HOBOKEN COUNCILMAN MIKE LENZ AND HIS CAMPAIGN CALL FOR AG OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION INTO VOTER INTIMIDATION AND VOTE BY MAIL FRAUD
First of all, we welcome Tim Occhipinti to the Clean Campaign discussion. For nearly a month we have been talking about the importance of signing a Pledge promising a clean campaign that respects the voters. Tim Occhipinti has continually refused to sign and has described our call for a clean campaign as “silliness” that “doesn’t deserve a response.” The reasons given by Mr. Occhipinti for his request that the AG’s office supervise the election are inaccurate and misleading. He is apparently troubled that Hoboken’s Mayor Dawn Zimmer has endorsed Mike Lenz, claiming this will somehow make the election unfair. Mayors routinely endorse candidates in local elections and special elections are run entirely through the Hudson County Board of Elections and not through City Hall.
Occhipinti for Council announces:
Hoboken 4th Ward City Council candidate Tim Occhipinti called on the state’s Attorney General to oversee the November 2 city council election in Hoboken to ensure equal access to the polls and to guard against intimidation of voters. “We are concerned about the Lenz campaign targeting first-time voters and anyone who they have identified as opponents,” said Occhipinti. “They say they want to run a clean campaign but they are targeting voters who vote by mail with ‘bounties’ and intimidation tactics intended to suppress new voters and minorities.” Occhipinti said ensuring fair elections is the cornerstone of a strong democracy. He called on Lenz to join him in renouncing the intimidation tactics and the suppression of voters. He said Mayor Zimmer “With the mayor so clearly on one side of this election, it’s important to have an unbiased outside source come in to make sure that everyone who wants to vote gets an opportunity to vote,” he said. =&0=& October 13, 2010 Paula Dow Attorney General 25 Market Street Trenton, NJ 08625 Dear Ms. Dow: I am writing to express my concern about the upcoming special city council election in Hoboken on November 2. The inalienable right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy, and I am committed to fighting for fair elections for the people of Hoboken.
We are concerned about the Michael Lenz campaign targeting first-time voters and anyone they have identified as opponents. The Lenz campaign and a number of blog surrogates are targeting residents by paying “bounties” for names of those who vote by mail, and using intimidation tactics intended to suppress new voters and those in minority communities.
To complicate matters further, Mayor Zimmer has thrown her full support behind the Lenz campaign, using her office and its inherent authority in political coordination with the Lenz campaign. This calls into question the mayor’s ability to be an honest broker if issues of voting or ballot irregularities arise, or if public safety becomes an issue during this hotly contested election. In addition, Mr. Lenz’s position within the county administration political structure creates at least the potential for the appearance of a conflict.We believe your office provides the best opportunity for a fair election overseen by an honest arbiter with no vested interest. I urge you to make the presence of your good office felt in order to ensure that our state’s elections meet the highest standards of honesty and integrity. I stand ready to assist in any way possible.
I am writing as an active and concerned Fourth Ward resident to call
on all Hobokenites who care about reform to do anything and everything
they can toward electing Mike Lenz on Nov. 2.
This is an absolutely critical election. I’m very concerned that
election fatigue after a recent string of reform victories is
distracting many people from the unbelievably high stakes we have
before us. This is not just a ward race, this is a citywide election
whose outcome will have repercussions for each and every member of our
community for years to come.
Mike Lenz is an extraordinarily talented and knowledgeable councilman
who has brought enormously valuable skills and insights to the
position over the past year. He has been attentive and responsive to
concerns in the ward. What’s more, Mike is the fifth and deciding vote
in Mayor Zimmer’s five-vote majority, and the importance of that role
cannot be overstated. Walking the streets of the ward in recent
months, I’ve seen and heard how much the mayor’s supporters appreciate
the changes that are under way.
For example, we’re seeing the installation of a downtown flood pump
that is expected to alleviate flooding by 80%. Taxes are going down –
not yet by enough, but we’re finally headed in the right direction.
Smart development is being planned that respects the desires of the
community for reasonable-size buildings and a long-needed southwest
park. And we’re getting improved public transportation and innovative
parking solutions.
Dawn Zimmer is truly delivering “change that works,” and Mike Lenz is
a necessary part of her team. Maintaining a council majority is
absolutely essential to continuing the progress.
Each and every Hobokenite who cares about reform and believes in the
mayor’s agenda must fight tooth and nail to win this election. We are
facing an opposition that is highly motivated, hungry and energized
for a return to the ways of the past that created so many of the
problems we now face. We cannot allow them to roll back the progress
we have made. The choice is very simple — continued progress or a
sharp, swift reversal of everything we’ve accomplished.
Please come to the headquarters at 60 Madison Street and volunteer, as
often and energetically as possible. Send a donation, as large as
possible (within the $2,600 legal limit, of course). And if you live
in the Fourth Ward, please make sure you come out and vote for Mike on
Nov. 2.
Mike’s longtime service to this community has helped bring us to a
place we never would have reached without him. In order to keep moving
forward, we need to pull out all the stops and win the election on
Nov. 2. This is our shared responsibility as a community, and I am
personally imploring you to stand up and help fight this very
important battle for all of us.
Jake Stuiver is the campaign treasurer for Lenz for Council.
MSV anticipates a submission shortly from Occhipinti for Council.
City of Hoboken announces:
=&0=&On Monday, October 18, 2010 United Water Jersey City maintenance crews will shut down the water supply aqueduct for the City of
EatDrinkHoboken announces:
EATDRINKHOBOKEN FANS we are teaming up with Hoboken Volunteers to support Project Play and the Hoboken Homeless Shelter. This is going to be a very fun afternoon event of German Music, Helmers food, Hoboken Bar and Grill sponsored German Beer, Vision Vodka-all new ultra premium Vodka & BullDogg Gin will be on hand serving you your favorite cocktails.
Please join this fundraising event for two great Hoboken charities, starts at 12:00pm. No cover, food and drink tickets will be inexpensive, food and music will be great! Expecting over a 100 people already…see you there.
| The candidates sat on opposite sides and were on opposite ends on many issues. |
| Occhipinti Campaign Manager Jamie Cryan |
| Some of the crowd in attendance. For an event of such importance, there was plenty of seating still available |
RESIDENTS OFFERED FREE OVERNIGHT GARAGE PARKING
The City of Hoboken is providing free parking in Municipal Garage B (located on 2nd Street between Hudson and River streets) from 8pm Thursday, October 14 through 8am Friday, October 15 to Hoboken residents with a valid parking permit who live in flood-prone areas. The Hoboken Parking Utility is also extending the courtesy to Hoboken residents with Residential parking permits to keep their vehicles in Garage B from 8am until 8pm on Friday, October 15 at the reduced Resident rate of $5.00.
Complete video of 4th ward debate
Nov 2010 4th Ward Candidates’ Forum from Eric Kurta on Vimeo.
The debate held tonight went over live stream courtesy of the Wiley Coyote, Eric Kurta from People for Open Government. Congrats for the first ever live online debate in Hoboken.
Here’s the video shown earlier with no editing. MSV will not be doing any editorial on this to allow the readers to view at their leisure. We’ll have some initial comments from the respective campaigns this week and then analysis later.