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Horsey’s Timely News Posts

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Councilman can you spare a vote?

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Logrolling: n.
The exchanging of political favors, especially the trading of influence or votes among legislators to achieve passage of projects that are of interest to one another.

The practice of logrolling is not illegal in New Jersey.  In Hoboken, the City Council representative who annually demonstrates the best logrolling execution is presented with an an award and a taxpayer paid free dinner for two at Arthur’s Steakhouse.

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Which leads us to the point of our story here, an arrangement that placed two candidates into their respective appointments: Mary Camporeale, a senior citizen residing in Fox Hills, a fifth ward housing complex and well known stomping ground for senior votes and Tony Soares, the President of the Hoboken Zoning Board.  Camporeale rumored to be closely aligned and godmother of HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia earned a unanimous 9-0 vote while Tony Soares squeaked through on a 5-4 vote earning required votes from both Russo to get his second board appointment. How can those two votes so vastly different be connected? Read More...

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Guest of the Stable: Amar Singh Bhalla

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
As a new member of our Library’s Board of Trustees, I write to respectfully introduce myself to the community and request support for this important public institution.

By way of introduction, I have lived in our amazing town for eight years now with my wife Dilly.  We have a one and a half year old boy and another boy on the way next month! By training I am an attorney, but I have spent the past 9 years working as the co-founder of a small non-profit, building it from one employee (myself) with a budget of less than $75,000, to a national organization of 11 employees with a budget just over one million dollars, and offices in New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, DC. Read More...

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The deaf, dumb and blind: Al Sullivan & the Machine

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

No matter how bad you think the state of journalism is, and based on the recent journolist scandal it’s very bad, nothing really touches the inglorious standards and machinations of Hoboken’s local rag, the Hudson Reporter.

Having lost a fine journalist in Timothy J. Carroll, edited heavily at times to accommodate machine standards – it’s not only the hands of the editor you need to worry about, it’s the essence of basic fact one needs to often question.

Although the cynicism of a group once owned by real estate interests is a given, a modicum of journalistic “integrity” you would think Al Sullivan could find manageable. His complete mischaracterization of the of the recent events of the Hoboken Democratic Committee election was so bad, so extraordinarily imaginary, he printed a mea culpa of sorts claiming he had been “spun hard.” Gee Al, nice way to take personal responsibility. Way to go. Read More...

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Kids have the escape…

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
=&0=& =&1=& =&2=&=&3=& With weekend temperatures predicted to reach 95 degrees, the City of Hoboken is taking steps to help residents keep cool.

Though usually open Monday through Friday, the City will open the community pool at the Boys and Girls’ Club (123 Jefferson Street) for ages 5 to 12 on Saturday, July 24th as well, from 11 am to 5 pm. The City will also open two cooling centers at 11 am at 220 Adams Street and at 311 13th Street and will monitor the situation throughout the day to determine how long to keep the cooling centers open. Read More...

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Gov. Christie on reform, ‘I’m just warming up’

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Gov. Christie coming off his victory capping property tax increases is moving on not to greener pastures but the nitty gritty.  Slowing down future growth of increases obviously does nothing in relief for the current overtaxed New Jersey homeowner.  The real challenge still lies ahead.

The State Legislature is going to be the place for key battles leading into the fall and determine if there is any chance to take New Jersey’s current crisis and have the state reinvent itself after years of growing structural problems in pension, arbitration, and benefits. Read More...

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Guest of the Stable: Police Captain Ed Mecka

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

The following Guest of the Stable story comes from retired Police Captain Ed Mecka. 
MSV understands it’s been submitted to the mayor almost simultaneously.


Dear Mayor Zimmer:

I have reviewed the PBA funded analysis of the DLGS (Division of Local Government Services) audit of the Hoboken Police Department.

Unfortunately, I agree with the conclusions of Northeast Labor Consultants, Inc. that the DLGS report regarding first line “patrol” officers is based on errors, miscalculations, omissions, and contradictions. Read More...

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Hoboken the next Gaza Strip?

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Hoboken already one of the most densely populated areas in the United States is facing decisions around new development.  If you enjoy the summer air and the Hoboken sewer system’s contribution, along with the traffic patterns weaving through the back streets in an attempt to get in and out of town, you’ll certainly appreciate the large scale designs being proposed by developers including the two most recent applications to the Hoboken Zoning Board.

An observer at the last meeting offered this report and MSV is printing the approved portion for public review. Read More...

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Mayor Zimmer Press Conference on Layoffs

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

A subdued Mayor Zimmer officially announced 36 layoffs at City Hall earlier this afternoon.  Speaking in a soft spoken voice, she described the decision as the toughest of her public career.  Emphasizing the reductions as needed for Hoboken’s fiscal health, the mayor added the city employees were not to blame for the losses describing them as hard working.

Half the reductions proposed, pending the State Civil Service Commission review will come from the Hoboken Police Department.  Mayor Zimmer asked members of the media to state the reductions will not lead to any lessening of patrolman on the streets of Hoboken.  In the questions and answers, she added there had been a meeting earlier this morning with Police Chief Falco.   In a discussion on background with an administration official, the process for reducing staff in the police clearly meant that union “bumping” rules would impact younger officers on the force.  It’s hoped however that some senior members may elect to submit retirement papers before the State of New Jersey’s pension rules change reducing the impact to the department. The savings to Hoboken is estimated at $2.5 million annually.

Related: Hoboken Patch posted a story where police union head, Vince Lombardi complained about not being told this morning about the impending layoffs. Read More...

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Mayor Zimmer proposes 36 layoffs, half on police force

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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As the City of Hoboken moves forward to address its financial challenges while ensuring that the City’s public safety and quality of life are protected, the Zimmer Administration today announced the proposed layoffs of 36 employees. If approved by the State of New Jersey Civil Service Commission, the personnel changes are projected to save taxpayers a net $2.5 million per year. Read More...